Final Post

Ø  "..the antimicrobial pesticide (triclosan) has been proven to be no more effective at killing germs than regular soap and water..." What is your view?

It's crazy! Even with the research, Colgate is standing by their toothpaste saying it's safe and fine. It doesn't surprise me that it's been proven to be no more effective at killing germs than regular soap and water. Like most things, it's all about money. I'm sure when it first came out, it was branded as this great and 99% effect antimicrobial pesticide that was a must have. Why is this still in toothpaste?!?! Because Colgate has the money to "back the research" saying its safe. 

Ø  Post about your Biology Research Topic - either a brief review, or your Research Presentation if you prefer

One of the hardest and most frustrating things that people may experience is fertility issues.  Infertility can be caused from an array of things, from an organ being impaired, or simply  reasons that are unexplained.  While Western medicine relies heavily on hormone therapy and procedures that may be invasive, Traditional Chinese Medicine, also known as TCM, is a great alternative for those seeking for fertility solutions.  Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at the whole body as a system versus just a specific part.  Rather than just looking at specific symptoms like infertility, TCM would look at the patient’s overall health and address what other symptoms they may have (chronic headaches, poor digestion, low back pain, etc). By gauging one’s overall health, it’s possible to determine what the root of the problem is, and treating that will consequently fix the infertility problem.

Acupuncture can increase fertility by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine system.  Stress can negatively affect the body in a number of ways.  Because of the delicate balance between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and reproductive glands, stress is capable of preventing a woman from ovulating entirely.  Acupuncture is known to be a great stress reliever.  During and after a treatment, patients are often in a calmer state. When needles are placed into specific acupuncture points, it helps bring blood and circulation to that area of the body.  By doing so, acupuncture can help increase the blood flow to the reproductive organs. With an increase of blood flow, it can help build a thicker lining in the uterus, which increases the chance of conception.  Acupuncture points do not have to be local; distal points can be equally or even more effective.  For example, a point on the lower leg may be used to help bring blood flow to the uterus.  Acupuncture can balance the endocrine system by activating the brain to release hormones that will stimulate the ovaries, adrenal glands, and other hormones for reproduction.  Herbs can also be used in combination with acupuncture to help fertility.  Combining these two will help nourish the body and not only help conceive, but help carry a healthy baby to term.  While fertility issues are often looked to as a female issue, males do have issues with low sperm count or motility; and these can be addressed through TCM as well. 

It is important to note that results are not instantaneous, and treatments are generally done 1-3 times a week for a long period of time (4 months), especially when trying to conceive.  Even after conception, treatments last up to 12 weeks to help prevent miscarriage.  Unlike some Western treatments that can be quite expensive, invasive, and have side effects; TCM is safe and viewed as a more natural approach.  It can also be used in conjunction with In Vetro Fertilization, and has been shown to be more effective than those that did not use acupuncture with IVF. 

To conclude, TCM is a great approach to fertility issues.  With a combination of acupuncture and herbs, both females and males will be able to help find the underlying root of their problem.  The treatments help with stress, which can be a major factor.  It also helps blood circulation and the body’s endocrine system.  Traditional Chinese Medicine is a practice that has been around for over 3,000 years.  Who are we to say that a medicine with this much history should be ignored? 

Free Radicals and Antioxidants

"People should still eat healthy food" - do we rely too heavily on supplements to provide antioxidants?

I believe we do. We live in a society where we want things in an instant. We want to be able to do things fast, get results fast, but not necessarily put the work or time in. I think we're constantly looking for super foods so we can load up on those to get our nutritional value and eat anything else we want. By relying on supplements to provide antioxidants, we think we're being healthy. However, its important to eat healthy foods to benefit our body's and our overall health. Supplements can only do so much. It's up to us to do the rest. 

"Aspirin a day could dramatically cut cancer risk”  What are your own thoughts on this?

While there may be some research that an aspirin a day can cut cancer, I personally don't believe it's healthy to take a pill everyday. I feel like there's not enough research done to truly show the benefits, let alone the consequences. I'd be more open to it if the significance of taking an aspirin a day was over 50%, but even then I'm wary about the side effects. To take aspirin for at least 5 years and continue to take it for 10 years just seems too excessive. As I mentioned in the previous question, our society wants a shortcut to be healthy, and this is an example of that. 

Vaccination and Public Health

Should “parents take a more active role in designing their children’s immunization schedule”?

I think that parents should take a more active role in designing their children's immunization schedule by being educated and basing their decision off of research and what's right for them.  This is a controversial hot topic that's been in the media lately and it's difficult to determine which "side" is right.  There's one side that says that vaccinations should be enforced and too many children are being exempted.  The other side doesn't want the government to essentially take away their right and choice of vaccination. I think with either decision, there will be an uproar if one side "wins".  However, I do think it's important for parents to research and get educated and not base their decision on what the majority or minority think.  

Would you support making vaccination programs “compulsory”?

As I stated in the previous question, I think it's a controversial topic so it's difficult to choose a side because both have pros and cons. However, I'm more inclined to support making vaccination programs compulsory because if they're not, and more children don't get the vaccine, then the herd immunity is no longer effective and there will be a mass outbreak. If I was a parent, I would be devastated if I did my part but because other parents didn't want their children to be vaccinated, it would cause an epidemic where children who are too young to be vaccinated could die. 

Restoring American Bison

  How would you prioritize the reintroduction of the American Bison?
 

I think reintroducing the American Bison is somewhat important for overall ecosystem, but I think it's more important for Native Americans. Bison are good for the land because they do not clear graze like cattle.  Unfortunately, they were driven to extinction.  Prior to this class, I didn't know that hunting American Bison was a past time that they did so nonchalantly.  They didn't even use the American Bison, just shot to kill. It's really unfortunate, and for the Native Americans where it's such an important animal for them, I feel that's why they're gathering together to reintroduce American Bison and have them no longer be so distinct.

“...we had six grizzly bears, and the Canyon pack of wolves that were all visible in the morning, and throughout the day. And really, all week.” Do you feel we are resetting the natural balance here?

I'm not sure I think that putting all these wild animals in at once is resetting the natural balance. Yes, it is good for the environment and will be beneficial in the long run. But I'm also a bit concerned that all these wild animals will be dangerous for humans. As long as they stay in the wild, then it's fine. But if there becomes an issue and they start coming to the urban areas, I can see the trouble that would occur. I"m not sure we're really resetting the entire natural balance because the environment has changed so much, and reintroducing animals won't fix a solution.

Ecosystems and Deep Ecology

What do you think about the “eight-point Deep Ecology Platform”?

The "eight-point Deep Ecology Platform" has good principles, but I think it's difficult to enforce.  It does make me reflect on how I treat the environment, and what I can do to help be a better influence in the deep ecology movement.  Unless there are some drastic changes that happen, the nonhuman life is doomed. As humans, we just consume consume consume without thinking of the consequences that it may cause.  I think if we slowly enforce little changes, we'll see an improvement. Now the question is, how?

Can you explain why “Ecosystems are both strong and fragile”?

Ecosystems are both strong and fragile because they range in sizes.  It can be "as small as a pond or as large as a planet."  Healthy ecosystems change, and this can either help it or harm it. This is why they are strong and fragile, because it works so closely within itself.  The loss of one facet can impact the rest of the ecosystem.  When there are natural boundaries and rural landscapes, it helps.  However, urban developments create new divisions and changing things in a short amount of time can harm a ecosystem.  They all need to be working together in harmony to be strong, but can crumble with a small factor.

Post your thoughts on one of this afternoon's class discussions

"Why May the Chickens Hit the Road?" I thought this article was interesting, but I agree with the people who don't like the chickens! Just because I can imagine what a nuisance it would be. I also don't like when humans feed animals, just because it makes the animals dependent on humans and will continue to bug them because they know they'll get food. And I couldn't imagine having to hear them every morning at 3:30am!

Cell Biology : HIV/AIDS

How do you feel about western approaches to HIV/AIDS?

I think western approaches to HIV/AIDS is one that is the same to western approaches to most things-funding and research. There seems to be a lot of funding and research for HIV/AIDS and as time goes on, more and more information is being collected. I think that the main concern is finding a cure rather than a treatment, and even if the side effects are horrific, as long as the advancement of the illness is delayed, then it's progress. Unfortunately, the virus is tricky because of how sophisticated it is and how quickly it can change.

What are your thoughts on the prospects of a vaccine for HIV/AIDS?

 I really do hope a vaccine will be developed soon for HIV/AIDS. But part of me knows that when it is available, the price will be outrageous. When drugs first come out they are expensive, and it's not until after the patent has expired that they can become more affordable. This makes it almost impossible for people in poverty or third world countries to receive the vaccine. Hopefully, it will become easily acceptable sooner, rather than later

Can TCM strengthen our immune systems?

Definitely! TCM is remarkable because it can do so many things, and strengthening our immune systems is just one of them! TCM looks at the entire body compared to just a symptom. It can strengthen the body's overall functions and help eliminate pathogens that harm the immune system.  Toxic Heat, Phlegm, and Blood Stasis are example of TCM evils that can invade the body but can be eliminated through treatments/herbs.  It is also good to use in combination with HIV/AIDS to treat side effects from medication and reduce stress and anxiety.

Cell Biology and Cancer

How sophisticated is our understanding of cancer?

I feel like our understanding of cancer is not that sophisticated,  especially in the U.S. I think it's such a complex disease and is constantly changing, so it's difficult to know exactly how it works and its an ongoing battle to be able to determine what will treat it. The article "Is America better at treating cancer than Europe" is such an eye opener. I think as Americans, we pride ourselves on how great everything is. In reality, we probably just have this sense that it's great, but look at the results! America is ranked 11th out of 11 other developed countries. We spend the most on health care, yet it seems that our overall health care is horrible for the average person.  Through this, we can tell that our understanding is very small. While it is constantly growing, I think it will be a continual learning process. 

How does a TCM approach to cancer differ?

The TCM approach to cancer is a bit different in some ways, yet similar in other ways.  In modern Chinese hospitals, when cancer patients have western treatments, it's often combined with herbal medicine and acupuncture to help maintain the person's overall health.  In western hospitals, they just undergo treatment and are sent home to rest.  In TCM, qi is an essential part of health.  Weak qi leads to illness.  When there is no qi, the person would essentially be dead.  PET scanning technology shows that molecules are arranged in crystaline networks in living organisms and this network froms a communication system where information flows.  This corresponds to the Chinese qi network with meridians in the body.  Emotions and diet are also important in both TCM and Western medicine. 

Nature of Life

How would you distinguish between living and non-living systems?

In a living system, components change continually, versus a non-living system there are components that have been put together and are fixed.  A manufacturer puts together parts that have been designed, manufactured and formed. A living system synthesizes and dissolves structures, and eliminates waste products. Living systems are constantly changing to explore mass and exchange energy. Living systems have cells and organs that require food, while non living systems do not. 

"DNA doesn't determine race. Society does" Would you agree?

I would agree with this statement.  Genes reflect geography versus race, and that race is socially constructed.  I think this makes sense, because we're very visual.  When people look different to us, we just assume that they're different, since we see with our eyes. However, there is a significant number of different chimpanzee populations compared to humans, which I find interesting.  To us, they look very similar. Race is a very tricky and sensitive topic, because those who feel superior act that way to those that they feel are inferior to them.  I think it's become part of the human mindset to act individually versus collectively. Unfortunately, I don't think all humans (at least a small group) will give up race.  It's been too engrained in their head and for whatever reason, they find it an excuse to act superior. 

Complexity of Life

How might the news of a “New species of early human discovered” affect your view of our own evolution?

Just when we think that we know our own evolution, we discover more that seems to throw us in for a loop. It's exciting that there is a new species of early human that's been discovered.  It makes sense that there were several hominids living in East Africa 3.5 million years ago, but the fact that there's an entire new species is exciting and this discovery will just give further insight into evolution.  As for my views on our own evolution, I don't have any strong ones or beliefs. I just enjoy learning about new discoveries.

Do you vote for the chicken or the egg?

I voted for the egg! The reason being that how could a chicken just appear, when there were no chickens around? It makes more sense that two non-chicken parents got together and through a genetic mutation, hatched a chicken.

Pattern of Life

Post your thoughts on how we view animal intelligence?

I think it's hard for humans to acknowledge that animals are intelligent, just because we view ourselves as the top of the food chain. When there are tests formulated to measure animal intelligence, we assume that the way we think of things is how animals would think of them. When they fail to do the tests the "correct way," we conclude that there is less intelligence. However, there have been new studies that show animals just think differently, which of course makes sense. I think the difficulty in measuring human intelligence is HOW.  In the article "The Brains of the Animal Kingdom" it discusses how animals have been underestimated. Elephants were viewed as incapable of using tools because they would not use a long stick to retrieve food outside their reach. However, it wasn't until recently that the test was viewed from the animal's perspective - as soon as the elephant picks up a stick, it loses its main sense organ, it's nose. I hope that with further tests, animals are not underestimated, and that researchers think outside of the box on how they would respond.

Stem Cell and Genetic Evolution

The topic of stem cells and genetic evolution is one that I'm not too familiar with, but I thought that the class gave a lot of insight and I liked how we saw different perspectives of the topic.  The one topic that I found interesting was the female woolly mammoth.  It's mind boggling that there could be a possibility of "resurrecting" them back to life.  However, I think it's opening Pandora's box because there is so much unkown.  Would they be able to live in today's environment? What would they eat? How would the surrogate mother (elephant) feel about it's non elephant baby and vice versa? What if all of this effort was put into bringing the mammoth back and it just died after a year? While I have no doubt that scientists will eventually do this, I'm still wary about the whole process.

1. D
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. D
6. D


I thought the tutorial was simple and was a good refresher on cells.

Evo-Devo

When it comes to Evo-Devo discussion, I was most interested/fascinated with the thinking of whales and dolphins. As humans, we assume that we're the most intelligent species on the planet because we're on top of the food chain. We're able to communicate fully with other humans, and can do a plethora of things that other species cannot.  However, we are not able to show images to other humans without talking; something that whales and dolphins can do.  Their primary sense is visual and their primary means of communication is auditory.  Can you imagine being able to transmit ideas to another person and they just SEE the image?! That's remarkable! I think we take marine life for granted, and I'm excited to see what scientists uncover more about them.

Darwinsim matters to me because it helps further understand evolution in all species.  The three principles that explain Darwin's concept are variation, heredity and the struggle for existance.  Essentially, those that have a specific trait to help them survive, will pass that trait down to their offspring.  Those that do not have this trait and do not adapt, will die off.  

Biology Week 1

Hi Everyone!

My name is Noelle and I'm a second year student (quickly approaching third year).  I was born and raised in Florida, and moved to the California just for school since the licensing is more rigorous. I absolutely LOVE the Bay Area, but will most likely move back after a few years (but it'll definitely be tough since I've gotten so used to being here...and this weather..don't get me started on that!) Unlike some people, I never quite had that "a-ha!" moment where I knew that I wanted to be an acupuncturist.  I knew that I wanted to be in the medical field, but after being pre-med for a year I quickly knew that wasn't for me. Since my dad was in the holistic field, I slowly became interested in perusing this during my undergrad and moved here after I graduated. I'm enjoying the program so far, and it's a great feeling to apply what I've learned and actually see results on myself or people!

It was interesting to see the different perspectives on bio-engineering, and while both sides do have valid points, I can't help but feel that we shouldn't play God and that we should let nature be. I think it's amazing when we can use science to be helpful and resourceful (like using feces as energy in third world countries) but when we start messing with plants and nature to do something that doesn't necessarily need to be done...it starts to tread on a dangerous line.  When will enough be enough? I think most people don't have a problem having a flower turn a new color to tell time. Yet many would find being able to choose what traits you unborn child could have. When is it enough to stop? I think it's difficult for us being in such a scientific world, that we want to do more and make changes. But the scary thing is, what will the after effects be??