Cancer Vaccine to be Approved

• A new vaccine that effectively treats cancer may be available next month
  
• more people with prostate cancer will be able to survive
• cancer vaccines are finally starting to show results
• it is highly unlikely that this vaccine will be declined

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_520011.html

This new vaccine shows how far our knowledge of medicine has evolved. We have almost found the cure to cancer, which has been an enigma to the human race for so long. This vaccine will most likely lead to a variety of discoveries involving cancer research. I feel that this new discovery is the gateway to a branch of new findings.

"Cancer Vaccine to Be Approved." The Straits Times. 28 Apr. 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. .

Protein Found in Alzheimer's Patient Brains May Be Linked to Immune System

• physicians previously thought little of the protein that was a product of other processes in the brain
• evidence suggests that not only are the proteins a part of the plaques found in an Alzheimer patient's brain, but they may also provide immunity to the body
• researchers are looking into these results further to determine whether or not they can use these findings to create immunity
• more research must be conducted on the protein

http://www.betterhealthresearch.com/news/protein-found-in-alzheimers-patients-brains-may-be-linked-to-immune-system-19649393/

I found this website as I was looking for an interesting topic. It took me a little while to find a topic that was worthy of sharing, but I finally found this one. The fact that the protein found in Alzheimer's could help with the immune system treatments is astonishing, but how will they take this protein and use it? Does it harm those innocent people, or is it as harmless as taking blood?

Park, Donna. "Protein Found in Alzheimer’s Patient’s Brains May Be Linked to Immune System." Better Health Research. 3 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. .

Fish-Killing Virus Spreads to Lake Superior

• identified in 28 freshwater species in Great Lakes watershed
• viral hemorrhagic septicemia - VHS
• causes fatal anemia and hemorrhaging in many fish species
• no threat to humans
• has been responsible for massive fish kills in some Northeast waters

http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/01/fish-virus-spreads-to-lake-superior.html

This disease is serious. Many fish are at risk of dying. Fish are a key source of food. The fish are also part of a food chain. If the fish die, other animals that prey on these fish die as well. The virus is deadly.

"Fish-killing Virus Spreads to Lake Superior - NatGeo News Watch." National Geographic Blogs on Travel, Environment, News, Books, Photography, More. 28 Jan. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. .

Second Wave of CJD Begins: Most Recent Victim had Different Gene

• 166 people have died from variant CJD
• They all shared a certain gene
• known as vCJD
• somebody can incubate the disease for most of their life time

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19861.cfm

I feel that this is a very good article. This is scary because of the fact that CJD can mutate like that. The variant CJD, "known as CJD," was obtained from consuming BSE-infected dairy products. This makes me aware of all dairy products that my family buys.

"Second Wave of CJD Begins: Most Recent Victim Had Different Gene." Organic Consumers Association. 18 Dec. 209. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. .

Adult Stem Cells help Spinal Cord Get the Signal

• an international team of scientists had used modified adult stem cells to repair the spinal cord in rats
• the protective insulating sheath around the spinal cord is destroyed in a spinal cord injury
• scientists isolated adult spinal cord stem cells, then modified them to produce the protein CNTF
• CNTF is a growth hormone that stimulates cell survival and nerve growth
• patients have already been treated with nasal adult stem cells

http://www.frcblog.com/2010/02/adult-stem-cells-help-spinal-cord-get-the-signal/

I found this article searching for stem cell research. This article caught my eye after a long search. I remember talking about multipotent stem cells and how they could only change into a select few cells. When I saw that an adult stem cells could help cure a specific injury, I chose this article. I find this article very interesting because of how difficult it would be to fix a spinal cord injury. This article is very informative and I feel it should be shared.

Prentice, David. "» Adult Stem Cells Help Spinal Cord Get The Signal." FRC Blog. 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. .

Genetic Engineering Cats and Dogs

Genetic Engineering Cats and Dogs

• the biggest allergen in cats is the glycoprotein
• this is found in the fur, saliva, urine and hair roots of a cat
• protein is produced by the Fel d1 gene
• a specific cat breed produces a different version of the Fel d1 gene
• this cat no longer triggered people's allergic reaction to cats

http://sweet-lucys.com/gedogs.html

Reflection:

I chose this because I think that it is very cool. My father is allergic to cats, but thinks that they are cute. If we were going to get a new pet, I would definitely recommend this to him. The fact that scientists can do this sort of stuff is scary though. Scientists could switch the wrong gene and we could have huge genetic mistake.

"Genetically Engineered Cats & Dogs - Truly Hypoallergenic?" Sweet Lucy's. Web. 25 Apr. 2010. .

Down Syndrome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycrPCTP2mFE&feature=related

• mistake in meiosis
• chromosomes don't split when they are supposed to
• 90% of all mistakes are in egg cells
• extra chromosome

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f01/web3/okeefe.html

I chose this website because I am interested in how down syndrome is caused in the body. It is a very serious disease and I know someone who has it. my next door neighbor's son has this disease and I feel sorry for him. The effects on his life have been great but he is very kind. So in conclusion, I think that this is a very serious and unfortunate disease that is created by a small mistake in meiosis.

O'Keefe, Caitlin. "Down Syndrome." Serendip's Exchange. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. .

Controversial PGD licence for genetic condition that impairs eye movement

• CFEOM is an extremely rare autosomal dominant congenital condition that causes inability to move the eyes
• individuals with this condition are unable to raise their eyes above a certain point
• may have droopy eyelids, appear cross-eyed and lack binocular vision
• surgery to the eyes may improve some aspects of the condition but results are limited and variable

http://www.phgfoundation.org/news/3319/

We were just discussing diseases in class, so I thought it would be cool to search an article like this one. I chose this because I thought that it was interesting. There are many rare diseases in this world so i picked a disease that I had no idea about. This disease would be terrible to have, I am waiting for more on this topic to come out.

Stewart, Alison. "Controversial PGD Licence for Genetic Condition That Impairs Eye Movement." PHG Foundation. 11 May 2007. Web. 18 Apr. 2010. .