Kathleen+J.

__**Wiki Post #1**__
=**Epidermolytic** **Hyperkeratosis**=

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is a skin condition that the person affected has since birth. Affected babies usually have very red skin and severe blisters. As the people affected get older, blistering is less frequent, and the skin becomes thick, especially over joints or on the scalp or neck. Skin that isn't thick usually is quite thin and prone to scrapes. The thickened skin is usually darker than normal skin. Bacteria can grow in the thick skin, often causing a distinct odour. Some cases are more extreme than others. Only 1 in 200,000 - 300,000 people are affected worldwide.





Mutations in the KRT1 or KRT10 genes are responsible for epidermolytic hyperkeratosis. These genes provide instructions for making proteins called keratin 1 and keratin 10, which are found in cells called keratinocytes in the outer layer of the skin (which is called the epidermis). The tough, fibrous keratin proteins attach to each other and make fibers called intermediate filaments, which make networks and provide strength and resilience to the skin.

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis can have different inheritance patterns. About half of the cases of this condition result from new mutations and occur in people with no history of the disorder in their family. When epidermolytic hyperkeratosis is inherited, it is usually in an "autosomal dominant pattern", which means one copy of the mutated KRT1 or KRT10 gene in each cell is enough to cause the disorder.

Here's a short video about this condition: media type="youtube" key="5FZ0H2njMas" width="504" height="283" align="center"

Further Reading: []

[]

[]

[]

Sources: [] [] [] [] [] []=

[I am very familiar with this condition as my Father and my little sister both have it. I was lucky and didn't inherit this skin condition. Their skin isn't as bad as it could be, but even the lowest form of this condition is difficult to live with. They constantly get blisters and scrape very easily when they hit something. I was very curious to what caused it and how I didn't inherit it but my sister did. This project was very enlightening. (My little sister was very nice to me and modeled for some pictures) :) ]

__**Wiki Post #2**__
=**The Evolution of the Great Dane**=

Great Danes are characteristically known for their large stature, mile long legs and cartoonish goofy ears. Lovingly called gentle giants, their calm demeanor makes them the ideal pet for any type of family. These goofy and lovable canines haven't always been this way. They used to be courageous, strong and swift hunting machines for the ever feared European boar in the mid 16th century.

Europe's Wild Boar were the most powerful and savage of the Continent's big game. To hunt this animal, the Germans needed a dog that was fast, agile, strong, and super tough. That is exactly what they created with the early Great Dane, a Super Boar Hound with English Mastiffs imported from England crossed with German greyhounds. This combined the speed of the greyhound with the strength of the mastiff, giving the dog a slightly slimmer appearance than the Mastiffs. These dogs would hold down the boar until the humans had the chance to kill it. Danes used to be a little shorter and stockier, with more muscle and ears cut short and cropped so that they didn't get caught during hunting. They looked more like a Mastiff than what we know them as today.

In the mid 1600's, these super Hounds were being bred in great numbers. Many German noblemen would take the biggest, most intimidating of the dogs and keep them at their grand estates. These select dogs would enjoy all the amenities of noble life and were referred to as //Kammerhunde//, or Chamber Dogs. They wore collars lined with velvet, this was the era in Great Dane history that began the transformation of the breed from a fearless hunter, to a loving companion and protector.

In 1880, a meeting was held in Berlin where judges and breeders agreed that the German breed was now distinctly different, taller, leaner, and more chiseled than the imported English Mastiffs. Over time, importing Mastiffs ceased and the Germans concentrated on their own newly recognized breed. This breed looked more like the Danes of today and it was named "//Deutsche Dogge//", or "German Dog". //The Deutsche Doggen Club of Germany// was founded, and the new breed name spread across Europe.

In the mid 1800's, some fanciers in the United States began importing dogs, primarily from Germany. A specialty breed club was organized in 1889, which evolved into The Great Dane Club of America in 1891. The American Dane enthusiasts continued to import and breed, refining and delineating the breed's characteristics, eliminating the short legs and coarse bodies and breeding out the aggressive behavior that was characteristic in the early imports. Snouts were now longer, ears were favored to be cropped not for practicality but cosmetics, legs were now longer and the breed more delicate looking than fierce. Now the Dane has turned into a show dog and companion. Humans slowly bred the dogs into their ideal "perfect" form.

As the dane slowly evolves into the sweet goofy dog we all know and love, it hits the show ring by storm, and the swirling vortex of pedigrees and purebred breeding happens. This creates a lot of health issues in the future. Most common is hip dysplasia and bloat.

Now Great Danes are tall, long and lanky with goofy ears and a super calm demeanor, barely a shadow of their old selves. Once a mighty hunting dog has been reduced to a docile companion. Even the procedure of cropping the dogs ears is used rarely, and the dogs are left with their natural ears. These are the standards according to the AKC:

"The essence of Great Dane type is created by the balanced combination of sculptured headpiece; long, tapered, clean neck; well developed body; strong bone; and heavily padded feet; clothed in a glossy coat of correct rich color and moving with precision and grace. A substantial deficiency in any of these attributes will result in a lack of true Dane type - a "common looking" dog. The presence or absence of breed type is the single most important factor in assessing the overall quality of the Great Dane."

A lot of Danes are now therapy dogs because of their strong empathies towards humans. Most Danes now, instead of fiercely and courageously hunting boars, live the life of luxury on the nearest couch.

Here's a short video on the Great Dane:

media type="youtube" key="l9F7TgX-nrE" width="560" height="315" align="center"

Something Extra on Dog domestication from Bill Nye:

media type="youtube" key="4qEqesmUWio" width="560" height="315" align="center"

Further Reading: []

[]

[]

[]

Sources: []

[]

[]

[]

{Thanks to my models, Ruby and Sophie}