Julie+MacFawn

**Wiki Post #1: Genetics**
December 19, 2012

Statues!


Everyone has seen a statue before, but some people are living, breathing statues. There is a disease called Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva; this disease causes a persons muscles to turn into bone over time. This means that they will eventually not be able to move because they will have no muscle. It is a rare disease, only affecting approximately 1 in 2 million people. The bone growing can be provoked by a simple bump, and once the bone is there, it does not leave; even surgecially removing the bone will not help, it may cause it to become worse.

This is a photo of a victim of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, it is obvious where the extra bones which have grown.

The real question is, if this disease is so rare, what causes it to show up? For a person to inherit fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, all it takes is either the mother or father passing on the defected gene. Sometimes, however, it can be present in people who have no family history of the disorder.

This photo shows the cells of a person who carries the disease.

The ACVR1 gene is responsible for FOP, this gene is what produces the protein that is found in tissues, mucle and cartilage. It helps to grow bones and muscles, and helps to replace cartilage or muscle with bone as a baby, like the softspots on their head. This protein is deactivated at somepoint, but in FOP patients, the gene never deactivates.

There are early signs of FOP, however, it is so rare that is isn't thought of very often. Symptoms start as a child when they start to form tumor-like bumps in the upper half of the body. Many show up after the child has fallen or bumped into an object. When new bone starts to actually form, it is painful and takes up to 6-8 weeks, fever can be a side symptom. This disease is also many times misdiagnosed; FOP patients are often diagnosed with cancer and other diseases.
 * __Diagnosis__**

This is what the toes of an FOP patient would look like.

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this video explains what FOP is

__Further reading:__ [] this is a link to a blog of a girl with FOP [] this is a link to the international fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva association, it gives info on the disease, ways you can help, and much more information. [] this website explains past findings of FOP and where researchers will go from here. [] this link shares many children's stories of living with FOP, and has ways to help victims of this disease.

__References:__ [] [] [] []

Wikipost #2: Evolution
December 30 2012

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean- Baptiste Lamarck wasa invertebrate taxonomist who was very interested in evolution. He did not inititally follow evolution, but changed his mind when he found organisms that were no longer on the planet and asked the question "where did they go?" He did not believe these animals went extinct but that they evolved. Jean-Basptiste believed that the simplest organisms were constantly being spontaneously generated.

__His theory__
Lamarck came up with his theory of evolution, the "Two-Factor Mechanism". He believed that complex species were older, and would have a larger lineage than more simple organisms. His belief on evolution itself was that orgamisms adapted to their environment; this is where the two factors come in. The first is the use and disuse factor; the second is the inheritance of acquired traits. Both of these factors can be explained by the popular giraffe example. He believed that giraffes originally had short necks, but adapted to their evironment. They needed to adapt because as time went on they could not reach their food supply, thus they needed to reach for their food, making their necks longer. This follows the factor of use and disuse because the giraffes used their necks to reach, causing it to grow; it also follows the inheritance of acquired traits because when the giraffes' necks grew, that was believed to be passed on to their offspring.



This picture shows the Great Chain of Being, which Lamarck believed in.

This shows Lamarcks theory and his giraffe example.

media type="youtube" key="4HBdxDBqfHc" height="315" width="560" This video explains Lamarck's beliefs and how it may be correct.

Further reading:
[] This is a biography of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck and his scientific thoughts. [] This is a timeline of the theory of evolution and shows where Lamarck comes in. [] Part of this website explains where Lamarck was different from Darwin. [|http://www.sparknotes.com/biology/evolution/lamarck/problems_1.html#explanation2] This website answers general questions such as: what additions Lamarck made to evolution and how did he propose species acquited new traits.

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 * Sources Cited**

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Smith's notes.

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=Body Systems= Jan 17th 2013 Neurological Disease

Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's is the most common form on dementia, it is disagnosed mainly in people over the age of 65, and is a progressive disease that ends with death. A big part of this disease starts with amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid plaques are made up of protein and cellular material around the nerve cells in the brain. The tangles are twisted fibers that build inside of the nerve cells. Scientist Dr. Alois Alzheimer was the first to discover them after looking into the death of a woman in 1906.

This is Dr. Alois Alzheimer, the man who dicovered the plaques and tangles.

Progression of the diease causes the nerve cells in the brain to shrink and eventually die. These cells can be very important in brain activity, being a huge contributor to the cells in neurotransmitters.

This diagram shows the progression of Alzheimer's and how the brain changes througout.

Symptoms and signs
- Having difficulty performing routine tasks that have a bit of difficulty - Getting lost in familiar places - Having a hard time naming everyday objects - Misplacing thing - Change in personality and social skills These are the early symptoms of this disorder

As it progresses, the symptoms become worse: - Basic tasks become more difficult, such as changing and cooking - Losing memories of the past and losing ones self - Writing and reading become difficult - Socializing lessens - Less ability to sense danger - Mispronouncing words, jumbling sentences, using the wrong words - Violent behaviour

And lastly patients with severe Alzheimer's: - Do not understand language - Do not recognize family or friends - Can not complete everyday tasks

media type="youtube" key="9Ak1tgzv_0Q" height="315" width="560" This is a sad video of an Alzheimer's patients who is awake all throughout the night, but doesn't realize he was asleep, why he is awake, or where he is going.

Problems
- Abuse by care-givers who are stressed by patients - bedsores -Loss of motion - Falling (breaking bones) - Violent outbreak towards others - Unable to communicate and interact - Dehydration

[] so..... wiki isnt letting me insert photos... annoying I know. This is just a picture of the main characters in The Notebook, where the woman has Alzheimer`s and the man is trying to get her memory back by re-telling her their whole love story.

[] And this is a map of what Alzheimer`s is, where it is in the brain, stats and tests on mice.

Read this: [] this site talks about how clinical trials are made for Alzheimer's [] this site states normal aging vs. Alzheimer's [] this is what family members need to watch for and how they can detect the disorder [] Doctor Oz gives some tips on preventing Alzheimer's!

Sources: [] [] [] []