Hailey+M.


 * Post One** **March, 2016**

**Fungicides Trigger Autism-Related Gene Expression Changes in Mice** Mice’s brain cell genes seem to be changing; they are beginning to look like individuals brain cells who have autism and Alzheimer's disease. According to the results of a new study, scientist believe that this change is happening because of a new class of fungicides.



Researchers cannot confirm that this chemical will cause the same effect on humans, however, they are looking into it.

In order to research the findings, mice ’s brain cells were exposed to over three hundred different types of chemicals. The researchers used RNA sequences in cells that were exposed to different chemicals and compared them to RNA sequences in cells that were not exposed.

Using a series of different programs scientist were able to figures out what chemicals triggered reactions in the brain cells of mice and what chemicals did not. They discovered that six groups of chemicals made changes.

Only one of the six groups altered the levels of a lot of the same genes as Alzheimer's and autism. The chemicals in this group reduced the speed of genes that play a role in brain cell communication. They also increased the speed of genes connected with the nervous system inflammation.

These chemicals are being used more on different foods we eat everyday. The researchers know nothing about how these chemicals help the human brain but it is something they are going to research.

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__Further Reading:__ [|__https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160331082500.htm__] - Fungicides could have an affect mice’s brain cells. [|__https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/31/agricultural-fungicides-are-bad-news-for-neurons-study-suggests__] - Agricultural fungicides are bad for neurons. [|__http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/autism-like-changes-in-gene-expression-caused-by-common-pesticides/81252550/__] - Autism like changes in gene expression. [|__https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/mar/31/agricultural-fungicides-are-bad-news-for-neurons-study-suggests__] - Agricultural fungicides are bad news for neurons’,studies suggests.

__ Source: __ [|__http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308432.php__]

**Post Two** **May, 2016** **The Evolution of Hoatzin Birds ** Hoatzin birds, also known as stink birds, are said to be related to the Cuckoo bird (which lives in South American Rain Forest) with a strange reptilian like resemblance.



These birds are known as stink birds because they are said to smell like cow manure or sometimes hay. Hoatzin birds are leaf eaters.

In 1776 when the Hoatzin Birds were first discovered, many taxonomists where indecisive about where the origins of this bird came from. They Originally thought that the birds originated from pheasants, but then other people thought they originated from anything to pigeons to cuckoos to turacos.



After a while, Hoatzins separated from other bird groups and became their own family. The family is called the Opisthocomidae. However, it is unclear when the Hoatzins became their own family because only one fossil of the bird has been found.

Hoatzin are unique birds because the babies are born with claws on the end of their wings. These claws help the birds to climb up the trees in order to get to the leaves.



This bird is seen as living evidence of the transition between reptiles and birds. With the claws on the young birds it is often seen as ancient ancestry.



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__Further Reading:__ [|A story of somebody's personal experience of viewing the Hoatzin Bird] [|Information about Hoatzin] [|Facts about the Hoatzin Birds] [|More facts about the Hoatzin Birds]

__ Sources: __ http://listverse.com/2013/03/25/10-weird-cases-of-incredible-animal-evolution/ http://www.discoverwildlife.com/animals/hoatzin-meet-stink-bird http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00bm2c7 http://earthsky.org/earth/lifeform-of-the-week-hoatzins-are-odd-birds

** Post Three ** ** June, 2016 ** ** The Impact of Drugs on Neurotransmission **

Some drugs mimic neurotransmitters. Opioid drugs are chemically similar to the brain’s natural opioids and therefore can efficiently can engage the brain’s receptors.

Heroin engages more receptors than the brain uses in a normal cycle of endorphin and encephalin realise and in brining. This results in abnormal amounts of opioid activity.



Marijuana and hash mimic cannabinoid neurotransmitters. The cannabinoid neurotransmitters affect your auditory skills and your visual perceptions.



Alcohol passes directly from the digestive system to the blood vessels. It affects the brain in different ways. Alcohol alters the brain’s neurons by changing their membranes. It also affects the neurons by changing their ion channels, enzymes, and receptors.



The affect of caffeine comes from the way that it acts on the adenosine receptors. Caffeine binds to the receptors but it doesn’t reduce neural activity. This means that there is fewer receptors and neural activity speeds up as a result of that.



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__ Further Reading: __ [|Impacts of Drugs on Neurotransmitters] [|Drugs and the Brain] [|Effects of Drugs] [|How Drugs affect neurotransmitters]

__Sources:__ http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_alcool.html#drogues http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_cafeine.html#drogues http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_03/i_03_m/i_03_m_par/i_03_m_par_heroine.html#drogues https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2007/10/impacts-drugs-neurotransmission