Blue Eyes

Scientists have known for a while that blue eyes were caused by a genetic mutation about 10,000 years ago. Just recently, they found the mutated gene, called the OCA2 gene. This gene, located in the chromosomes, controls melanin production in the iris, which gives your eyes their color. Brown eyes contain a lot of melanin, while blue eyes contain little. Depending on the amout of melanin, eyes can be any color from brown to green. Originally, all people had brown eyes. Scientists say that all blye-eyed people have exactly the same DNA sequence, linking them all to one common ancestor. All blue-eyed people inherited the genetic switch in the same spot of DNA. The genetic switch somehow spread throughout Europe, and now other parts of the world.

I found this article interesting, being blue-eyed myself. I also found it interesting because I have ancestors from Denmark, one of the countires this study was conducted in. My question is, how did this mutation take place?


One Common Ancestor Behind Blue Eyes LiveScience
http://www.livescience.com/health/080131-blue-eyes.html

Plasticity Lab

In science class, we did a lab to demonstrate the plasticity of Earth's mantle. To do this, we used cornstarch and water, and combined them in a large beaker. The result- though very hard to stir- was extremely interesting. This mixture created a substance that went between liquid and solid. It seemed to melt when you did not handle it, but when you touched it again it was solid. Because it went between being liquid and solid very rapidly, I think it was both.

As I stated before, this lab was to demonstrate the plasticity of Earth's mantle. The mixture that we created was similar to the mantle because it reacts the same way that scientists have found that the mantle does. It has the same texture as well. Both substances are solid, yet behave like a liquid, and also behave somewhat like plastic.

I enjoyed this lab a lot. I want to try this again at home, because the mixture that we created was so interesting and fun to play with!

Source:
Wikipedia.org

October Sky Blog

In school we watched a fascinating movie called "October Sky". It was about four teenage boys who decide to try to build a rocket after being inspired by the Russian sattelite, Sputnik. But the boys face a problem- they are growing up in a mining town in which you were expected to only finish high school, then go to work in the mines. Though the main character, Homer Hickam, faced many failed attempts, as well as an unsupportive father, he eventually succeeded in building a rocket, won the national science fair, and got a scholarship to college.

"October Sky" can be connected to science, math and character education because Homer used science to both build his rocket, and make it fly. The Russian sattelite Sputnik is also relevent in the same ways as rockets. In addition, the health hazards that the miners faced are also valid connections, because the human body and health are also part of science.

Math was used in figuring out how to get it off the ground, how fast it would go, how high it would go, and where it would eventually land. Adding to this, Homer proved that the boys's rocket did not start the forest fire by figuring out how high it would go, and how far it had traveled. Homer had calculated the exact spot that the rocket would have landed- and found it right there.

The character traits Homer and the "Rocket Boys", as they were called, displayed can be connected to CARES. For example, the boys worked together to build the rocket, showing cooperation. Homer used assertion when talking to his father about continuing to try to build his rockets, though showing respect for his wishes. This would show both assertion and respect. Empathy was shown when Homer's father told the son of a man who was killed in the mines what a great man his father was, and how terrible it was that the accident that had killed him occurred. Throughout the movie, Homer showed self-control by not physically hurting his father, no matter how rude and uncaring Mr. Hickam was to his son.

I enjoyed the movie "October Sky" very much, and I think that all the science and math connections, as well as connections to character education, are very relevent to our curriculum.

Response to: Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle Cell Anemia, a genetic disorder that affects bone marrow, seems to be an interesting disease. I feel bad for the people with Sickle Cell Anemia, because it can be a lifelong disease if the Sickle Cells reproduce. According to softballgirl96, it affects many people worldwide. I hope that a cure is found soon, though a rather risky one is bone marrow transplant. It seems that many genes that cause genetic disorders are mutated, rather than being absent or having extra copies. In my opinion, the sooner a cure is found, the better. I would like to learn more about Sickle Cell Anemia.

Source:
softballgirl96

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the skin and bowels. The symptoms and possible complications of people with this disorder are:

• very salty-tasting skin

• persistent coughing, at times with phlegm

• frequent lung infections

• wheezing or shortness of breath

• poor growth or weight gain in spite of a good appetite

• frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movement

30,000 people in the United States have Cystic Fibrosis, and 70,00 people worldwide. Children and adolescents are most vulnerable to the disease. People that had cystic fibrosis used to die young, but now, with new treatments, they live into their 30's, 40's, and beyond, though the median age is 37.

At the molecular level, there is a mutated gene. For example, genes G542X, G551D, N1303K, W1282X, and ΔF508. The gene mutation ΔF508, the most common mutation involved in Cystic Fibrosis, is a deletion of three nucleotides.

Though there is no known cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a good nutrition and active lifestyle can help. Knowing this, I am sympathetic to people with Cystic Fibrosis. With the median mortality being 37 years old, that does not seem like a very long- or comfortable- lifetime. I hope that in the future, there is a cure for this dreadful genetic disorder.

Source:
Wikipedia.org

Social Studies Blog

This week, New Jersey Senate committee approved a bill to decrease taxes in small buisnesses. The bill, as stated by an online article on www.nj.com, "was an element of the economic stimulus package proposed in October by Gov. Jon Corzine". Simply put, it was based on an idea that Governor Jon Corzine stated in October. This gives the state of New Jersey more money for other causes that the government feels is important. The vote was unanimous, all fourteen representitives for New Jersey voting for this bill. This may help small buisnesses not go out of buisness, also helping the economy. I think this was a good decision, and more small buisnesses will probably succeed because of this new law.

"Senate committee approves bill to spur loans to small businesses, individuals"

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/senate_approves_push_for_econo.html

My Roller Coaster

Sachmokido