Esther+Park



 WELCOME to **Esther's wikispace :) **

= = =Did you know that amphibians are the world's most threatened group of animals? = = = A coalition of organizations established the Amphibian Survival Alliance this month to conserve species threatened by deadly fungus, habitat loss, pollution, pesticides and climate change. The scientists said amphibians are the world's most threatened group of animals. Though they thrived on Earth for more than 360 million years, and as many as 122 species have gone extinct since 1980.

Amphibians have so much to offer humans. Many have an arsenal of compounds stored in their skin that have the potential to address a multitude of human diseases. But as amphibians die out, so do opportunities to develop new medicines. The southern gastric brooding frog, for instance, could have led to the development of a treatment for human peptic ulcers had it not gone extinct.  

 = =  * We simply cannot afford to let the current amphibian extincion crisis go unchecked! What we can do then?  1 Make a garden pond to encourage frogs to breed.  2 Frogs spend most of their lives on land so give them long grass, leaf and log piles, trees and shrubs in your garden to feed and hibernate under.  3 Pass on your knowledge of frogs to others.  <span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 굴림; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 Do not keep endangered frog species as pets and never release a pet frog into the wild. <span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 굴림; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 굴림; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 Organise a clean up of rubbish from local ponds and streams. <span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 굴림; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 굴림; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 Take part in the Hop To It Irish Frog Survey and help us learn more about the status of frogs in Ireland. <span style="font-family: 'Bodoni MT'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 굴림; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Goudy Old Style'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 굴림; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> Amphibians are the world's most threatened group of animals. (2009, September 19). Retrieved from www.cnn.com

=<span style="background-color: #c4c4ed; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;">3 Win Novel for Ribosome Research =

Three scientists who showed how the information encoded on strands of DNA is translated into the thousands of proteins that make up living matter will share the 2009 Novel Prize, the Swedish Academy of Sciences said Wednesday. (I just wanted to inform this news on my wiki to let you know that we should study hard now cuz this subject might get us nobel prize later if because i know that many of us want to become scientist)

For the further information : [] OVERBYE, DENNIS. (October 7, 2009, october 7). //3 win nobel for ribosome research//. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/science/08nobel.html?_r=2&ref=science

Secrets of the Cell = Self-Destructive Behavior in Cells May Hold Key to a Longer Life !! = = = =<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;">Increasing our body’s ability to self-destruct may, paradoxically, let us live longer =

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">Our cells build two kinds of recycling factories. One kind, known as the proteasome, is a tiny cluster of proteins. It slurps up individual proteins like a child sucking a piece of spaghetti. Once inside the proteasome, the protein is chopped up into its building blocks.

For bigger demolition jobs, our cells rely on a bigger factory: a giant bubble packed with toxic enzymes, known as a lysosome. Lysosomes can destroy big structures, like mitochondria, the sausage-shaped sacs in cells that generate fuel.

Self-destruction may seem like a reckless waste of time and energy. Yet it is essential for our survival, and in many different ways. Proteasomes destroy certain proteins quickly, allowing them to survive for only about half an hour. That speed allows cells to keep tight control over the concentrations of the proteins. By tweaking the rate of destruction, it can swiftly raise or lower the number of any kind of protein

It has long been known, for example, that animals that are put on a strict low-calorie diet can live much longer than animals that eat all they can. Recent research has shown that caloric restriction raises autophagy in animals and keeps it high. The animals seem to be responding to their low-calorie diet by feeding on their own cells, as they do during famines. In the process, their cells may also be clearing away more defective molecules, so that the animals age more slowly.

Self-destructive behavior in cells may hold key to a longer life. (2009, October 5). Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/science/06cell.html?_r=1

= Cell Phones and Possible Health Hazards =

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Do you know that all the chitchats on the phone may cause some health problems?



<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Normal phones are harmless because they transmit sound as electrical pulses through those wires that snake through pipes or tunnels underground. Cell phones use a different strategy. Every word you speak into a cell phone becomes a digital message that gets sent out into the air as pulses of microwave radiation.

Some people worry that letting all that radiation pulse across your brain can cause serious health problems, including cancer. Now, scientists in Sweden report evidence that radiation from some cell phones kills brain cells in rats!! No one's sure what this means for people. No other studies have so far uncovered significant health effects in animals or people, and other scientists have yet to confirm the Swedish results. Just in case, however, it might be wise to keep your calls short and to use a hands-free headset to increase the distance between you and your cell phone.

Cell phones and possible health hazards. (2003, Feburary 26). Retrieved from []

= You can study biology through the vidoe games! =

media type="youtube" key="KTRV4FKDNvo" height="344" width="425"<span style="background-color: #d9ff00; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: left; vertical-align: sub;"> Video games aren't just for kids!

Researchers are now using the same technology that runs games to create realistic simulations of biological systems. As ScienCentral News reports, this approach could speed up research into diseases and drug therapies.

It's easier and more fun to learn those biological systems. I would really want to get those video games! Imagine studying biology while you play a video game! It's so awesome:)

// Video games and biology. (2008). [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTRV4FKDNvo //

= = = Would you choose your child's gender? =

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #6a66d6; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> Genetic screening techniques that allow parents to choose their children's gender are now more accurate than ever and are becoming increasingly mainstream, but experts are divided over whether the technology should be used in this way.

A technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was originally developed two decades ago to allow embryos to be tested for genetic disease. It requires parents to use in vitro fertilization, where eggs are fertilized outside the womb.

With PGD, the embryos are tested for genetic disorders and only those that are free of disease are transferred to the mother's uterus. It means that parents who carry genetic defects can ensure they don't pass on a genetic illness to their children. But PGD also can also be used to allow people undergoing in-vitro fertilization to select the gender of the embryo implanted in the mother's uterus.

//Would You choose your child's gender?. (2008). Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/08/video.wall.gender.baby/index.html//

= Sea Urchins Reveal Medical Mysteries = = Sea Urchins' Genetics Add To Knowledge Of Cancer, Alzheimer's And Infertility = = = =<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidifontweight: bold;">Sea urchins might not seem to have much in common with human beings but scientists with the Sea Urchin Genome Sequencing Project, recently completed sequencing of the genome. They found that the sea urchin genome is very similar to that of humans, and may hold the key to preventing and curing several human diseases. = =<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidifontweight: bold;">Researchers are using the sea urchins to study and understand diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and muscular dystrophy. Although they are invertebrates, the creatures share a common ancestor with humans and have more than 7,000 of the same genes. With a complete map of their DNA, scientists can learn how to treat and prevent diseases in humans better. = <span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 100px; text-align: center;"> = = =<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; text-align: center;"> = <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 80%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> +++ WHAT IS A GENOME?
 * <span style="color: #71c6c6; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">A genome is all of the DNA found in an organism, including its genes and DNA that does not contribute to genes. Every animal and plant has its own unique genome. Genetic DNA carries information for making the proteins required to sustain a living organism. The genome of the purple sea urchin is comprised of 814 million "letters" that code for 23,300 genes. Of those, it has 7,000 genes in common with humans, including genes associated with Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as muscular dystrophy. Despite having no eyes, nose, or ears, the creature has genes involved in vision, hearing and smell in humans. **

= = //Sea urchins' genetics add to knowledge of cancer, alzheimer's and infertility. (2007, March 1). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0304-sea_urchins_reveal_medical_mysteries.htm//

= How to Determine Your Blood Type =

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">. If they have this information, this is the easiest way of finding out. > The fields contain antibodies, which will provoke a reaction with antigens on your red blood cells. > -Use a new toothpick for each field to mix the blood with the impregnation, creating an about dime-sized smear. > > <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> > media type="youtube" key="yqGaX6W6CY8" width="425" height="350" > //(2010). Retrieved from []//
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Ask your doctor
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Donate blood. When you go in, ask them if they can tell you your blood type after you're done. They typically won't be able to tell you right away, as the unit of blood (or the specific component -- red blood cells, plasma, platelets) needs to undergo several tests, including typing.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Look on your birth certificate . Your blood type may be listed there.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Guess at what your blood type might be. Blood type is genetically inherited, so if you know your parents' blood types, you can find out yours (or at least narrow it down).
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Find a "bed-side blood type test" ( SeraFoil(tm) or similar). If you or someone you know happens to work in a medical setting, see if you can get your hands on one of these tests.<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">-Depense one drop of your blood to each field on the test card. Use a sterilized needle.
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If you have blood type A, clots will appear in following fields: anti-A
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If you have blood type B, clots will appear in following fields: anti-B
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If you have blood type AB, clots will appear in fields anti-A, anti-B
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If you have blood type O, no clots at all appear.

= Wake Up, Sleepy Gene!! = = = = = = = = = = = = = > > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Genes tell our bodies and brains what to do. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">People have about 40,000 genes, and each gene can have different forms. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">So, for example, certain forms of some genes make your eyes blue. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Other versions of those genes make your eyes brown. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">In a similar way, new research suggests that > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> a gene called //period3// affects how well you function without sleep. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">The discovery adds to older evidence that //period3// helps determine whether you like to stay up late or get up early. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">The //period3// gene comes in two forms: short and long. > <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">

> <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">who had either two short or two long copies of //period3//. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Study participants had to stay awake for 40 hours straight. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Then, they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">when numbers flashed on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">Results showed that the people with the short form of //period3// > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">performed much better on these tests > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">than the people with the long form did!! > <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">

<span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working at top form. > <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> I wish everyone in this class have a short period 3 gene!! > (2009) Retrived from [|http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org] >

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= Sleeping Soundly for a Longer Life =

<span style="color: #f25b21; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">If you know what's good for you, you'll go to bed on time. Now, scientists are saying something more about going to sleep. And you may lose more than just TV privileges if you don't listen. You might end up shaving years off your life.
 * [[image:http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20030212/a80_1559.jpg align="left" caption="Sleeping soundly might lead to a longer life."]] ||

<span style="color: #f73f02; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">For 19 years, psychologist Mary A. Dew of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine tracked 186 healthy elderly adults, who were mostly between 60 and 80 years old. Part of the research involved monitoring brain waves of the people as they slept. At the end of the study, the people who had trouble falling or staying asleep were more likely to die sooner from natural causes compared to those who slept well, the researchers reported. Scientists aren't yet sure why losing sleep might shorten lives. Some experts think sleep deprivation weakens the immune system, making it harder to fight off illnesses. Other studies have linked sleep disorders to heart and brain diseases. The new study focused on older people. But there may be a lesson here for all of us: __Work hard, play hard, sleep well. You just might wake up to a longer future__.—//E. Sohn//

Sleeping soundly for a longer life. (2003, Feburary 12). Retrieved from http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org

= Wonders of the Human B od  y = media type="youtube" key="yahn1zM1siY" width="425" height="350" <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> This is the video that my brother watched in his biology class. This video examines the marvels and mysteries of the human mind and body. From brain implants to artificial intelligence, they explore the complexity and achievements of the human mind.

Source: []