Nathan+B.

=// __WikiPost #1: Genetics__ //=

Cystic Fibrosis Disease
Video Description of this disease: [] Ever had the time when you were sick and you had large amount of mucus just filling until your chest? People don’t realize just how hazardous to our health that mucus can have on our bodies if there is too much of it in our bodies. What if you were someone who had a buildup of thick sticky mucus, would you think it would affect your body’s organs? __Cystic Fibrosis__ disease is a genetic disease where someone has amount of thick mucus in their body and it starts to become a health risk to the person. It can also block up the pancreas which is very harmful to the body as this organ that produce insulin for control the blood sugar. This disease can bring someone a lot of digestive, respiratory and chronic pain.



This photo just explains my words into something visual as this disease has affects on your breathing and creating insulin.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

The cause for Cystic Fibrosis is the mutation of the CFTR gene (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator). This gene provides instructions that transport negatively charged particles that make a channel which is known as chloride ions that come in and out of the cell. Chloride is important to our body as it is a component for a common salt that is found in sweat called sodium chloride. As well, it helps with the movement of water that affects the production of making thin mucus. With the mutation of CFTR gene, chloride ions can not regulate normal and creates thick mucus along the walls of your lungs, pancreas and other organs.

Picture above is showing the difference between a normal CFTR gene and a mutation of a CFTR gene. The picture of the baby, is showing how perfectly normal someone can look when having this disease. It doesn’t affect those with the disease outside, but more internally where it can have a health effect on all the major organs.

How common is Cystic Fibrosis?

This disease is mostly common in those who are Caucasian (white) as the ratio is 1 out of every 2 500 to 3 500 Caucasian newborns. The disease has less effect on other ethnic groups. Currently there are more than 70 000 people worldwide that has this disease of thickness of mucus. The CFTR gene is located on the long arm of the 7th chromosome



More Information about Cystic Fibrosis, new born screenings and other cancers from this gene! [] [] [] []

Sources: [] [] [] []

= = =//__ WikiPost #2 - Genetics Cont.. __//=

Albinism

Video Description : media type="youtube" key="r4q4V2LbzD0" width="387" height="200" align="center"

What is this genetic disease known as Albinism? Someone who has this genetic problem usually has little to no pigments in hair,eyes or skin making them seem colorless. There are inhertied genes that do not make the regular amount of pigment that is known as, Melanin. The disorder is known as a autosomal recessive disorder. Those with the genetic condition usually have parents who are perfectly normal. This can happen with both parents being heteroygous creating a chance of their children to be affected. Not all of those affected by Albinism have the same features. Although the common color for eyes are red, some can also have blue, hazel or brown eyes, depends on the varition of pigments. Also not only are humans affected by this genetic disorder, animals can have the disorder which we most commonly see in rats and rabbits. There are more than just one typeof this genetic condition.



This photo shows a punnett square of how two people with heterozygous recessive genes that inherit the disorder, can have a child that would suffer from the disorder of being albino. There is a 1 out of 4 chance of the offspring to develop albinism.

Melanin


 * Melanin is a pigment that gives color to the skin, hair and eyes. Melanin in the skin is created by Melanocytes which is found in the epidermis layer. There isn't just melanin, but different types that are in hair and in the iris of the eye.



This is a picture showing where melanin is in the skin that gives us color to our skin, eyes and hair.

__ Autosomal Recessive __

The one of many several ways on how traits disorders and disease that are passed down to families is known as Autosomal Recessive. This means that there needs to be atleast one abnormal copy of the gene in each person in order to pass it down to someone who can have two of the abnormal genes that would give them the disorder. Having a mutation on one of the first 22 nonsex chromosomes is a automosmal recessive. The first wikipost on Cystic Fibrosis is a good example of autosomal recessive.

The diagram shows what autosomal recessive is and how carriers can affect their offsprings.

How common in humans and animals?

It may show in statistics that both genders can have this disorder eqaully, but science has seemed to prove that men are more likely to have this disorder. 1 out of 17 000 people in the world have some type of Albinism and can affect anyone no matter what race. Having albinism isn't a disorder that can worsen over time and there is no treatment for this disorder. Those who are albino usually have to wear sunscreen and sunglasses no matter if it is sunny or cloudy as people with albinism is very sensaitive to the UV rays. Albinism is rare in animals but can be found in mostly any species as long as they have the pigment melanin, than they could get albinism.



More information on Albinism that affects humans and animals. [] [] [] []

Sources: [] [] [] []

=__//** WikiPost #3 - Evolution **//__=

The Evolution of Cell Phones :

media type="youtube" key="JcnXOhrmDB8" width="420" height="315" align="center"

The video can give you a very good visual understanding on how the phone has changed over the years. It displays a variety of different cellular devices and shows how the shape and size of the phone were different then from now.

First Ever Cellular Device:

The first cellular device was invented on April 3rd, 1973 by a man named Martin Cooper. At the time he was employed for the Motorola Company. Not only was this the first time that the cell phone was created, but it had been the first time it was used by Martin Cooper himself. The features that the cell phone had were talk, listen and dial. This cell phone was called Motorola Dyna-Tac Phone. The first ever phone was:

This is Martin Cooper himself with the first ever phone, as you can tell it was very thick and would not fit very well in your pocket.
 * Weighed 2.5 pounds
 * 9 X 5 X 1.175 inches
 * Talk for 35 minutes
 * Recharge for 10 hours
 * 30 Circuit Boards

Different Types of Phones Over The Year:

After the first cell phone was presented to the public, the push for cell phones began and changes started quickly. Over the years, it is evident that the cellular device became smaller and more easier to carry around. The physical features changed just as well as the features that someone is able to do with a cell phone. Back then when you the phone just came out, the only thing you could do with it was to call someone else and have a conversation for 35 minutes max. Now in 2013, people can be on the phone for hours and it wouldn't die. Phones really started to become popular in the mid 1990's and that is when talking on the phone use to be the main reason for the cell phone. Not only the phone itself has changed, but the way we use it to communicate with the world around us. Talking on the phone is still common to this day but something faster and less costly has now taking over. This way of communicating with the cell phone is known as text messaging.

The photo shows a small timeline in the size and shape of cellphones from beginning (Left Side), to now (Right Side). Not only text messaging was add to the cell phone but so were several different features such as :
 * Speed (faster messaging and talking)
 * Shorter time for Recharging
 * Easier to carry
 * Adding music
 * Internet Use
 * etc.

Text Messaging : SMS (Short Message Service), mostly known as Text Messaging, is the main source for communication with using a cell phone. It is a short message that can be typed with a keyboard that sends to anyone you want it too. SMS was created in the late 80's by Matti Mackkonen. The first time a SMS message was sent had been in 1992 from a computer to a cellular device. From overloading the system of the message, most phones can only send 140 characters max. Text messaging can be used for a lesser cost and widespread across the land. As for calling someone these days can cost for long distance and cost a lot for someone on thier phone bill. This way of messaging to others may have a positive impact, but also has a negative one too. The way the next generation spells or the level of grammar can be blamed by the way text messaging has assisted them. Not spelling the word right, using the wrong or no punction and briefing words, can cause a negative effect on someones writing skills. This photo gives some humour of the different way the old generation and the new generation communicates. The Future: Who really knows what the future can hold for cell phones. Cell phones will become faster, easier to use, and the change in design so that cellular devices are more convenient. It is predicted that the speed, free internet access everywhere and the ability to fold your cell phone will be just a few features that the future technology device may have. Picture of a future phone that we could see someday on the market.

More info with Changes in Cell Phones : [] [] [] []

Sources : [] [] [] [] __//** Wiki Post # 4 - Body Systems **//__ Alzheimer's Disease. media type="youtube" key="9Wv9jrk-gXc" width="452" height="228" align="center"

This video gives a great visual on what happens to the brain when someone has Alzheimer's disease.

What is Alzheimer's Disease? Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes memory, thinking and behaviour. It is when two abnormal structures known as plaques and tangles, attack and kill the brain cells. It first starts to attack the part of your brain where your first memories are stored. It can make you forget what you did a few days or hours ago. Alzheimer's disease is very slow and gets much worse over time. The more that these abnormal structure spreads around the brain, makes it depend on the level of Alzheimer's you have. The more it is spread, the worse the disease. It is a progressive disease and takes years to become at it's worse. You can say that it is slowly killing you.

The image shows the difference between a normal brain and one with the disease. You can see how the tangles and plaques attack the brain cells and kill them.

Symptoms include: There are several symptoms for this disease but it depends on how severe it is for someone. Question marks are a symbol for confusion and the lose of memory of an individual who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.
 * Memory lose
 * Confusion
 * Slow thinking
 * Difficulty speaking
 * Lose of walking
 * etc.

Treatments

There is no current cure for this disease but there are treatments for symptoms. The treatments cannot stop the progression of the disease but can slow down or delay the processes of dementia. Although there are not many treatments for this disease, there are things that we can do daily that would help with our brain become stronger and lower the chances of developing the disease. Reading or doing brain games often can really help your brain stay in check and keep it freshly thinking.

The photo above shows books because reading is very healthy for our brain and can prevent the risk of developing the disease.

Scientist Dr. Alois Alzheimer was the first to discover them after looking into the death of a woman in 1906. He was a German physicist, and named this disease after himself.

I chose this topic for my wiki post because my family suffers from this disease. Currently my grandmother on my mothers side has this disease and it developed in her mid 50's. We were told that she is very young for someone to develop this disease as it is mostly seen in those who are 70 years of age or older. Right now, she is living at a care centre and cannot walk or talk at all. It is a very sad experience to see someone so close to you slowly die right in front of you. Not only does she have Alzheimer's, she as well has severe dementia and Parkinson's disease making her twitch a lot and lose control of her arm motions.

More information on the disease: [] [] [] []

References: [|http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp#symptoms] [] [] []

__//** Wiki Post #5 - Genetics **//__

=Heterochromia=

media type="youtube" key="wZ0789i4FfM" width="560" height="315" This is a great person video about this girls experience with this genetic condition and what she has gone through with it. At first she was born with the same two colored eyes but now she has two different colored ones. Why?? Watch to find out!

Heterochromia- A difference in coloration in two structures or two parts of the same structure that are normally alike in color.

When heterochromia is seen in someone's eyes, it occurs when the pigment that makes your eyes a certain color (melanin) isn’t dispersed and concentrated in equal amounts inside the irises. Most of the time, heterochromia is inherited from parents, but it also can be caused by a disease or a syndrome, or even an injury. Actress Mila Kunis has heterochromia. One eye is green and one is brown. Never thought she had two colored eyes until researching it and finding out that she does.

An example of this would be David Bowie’s artificial heterochromia. He got into a fight in a bar and damaged his eye. Since then, one pupil became permanently dilated, thus resulting in it looking darker than the other one. David Bowie appears to have heterochromia, but he was not born with this. His left pupil, permanently dilated, appears darker than the right.

As for genetic disorders it may be caused by, there are several that could cause it, including Waardenburg syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and Parry-Romberg syndrome. For example, in Waardenburg syndrome, the modified genes will disrupt the movement of melanocyte in many different regions of the body, and can cause patches of skin of different colors, not just different eye colors. Something else that can cause heterochromia is chimerism, a rare disorder that occurs when two fertilized eggs create one embryo. The different set of genes will act by their own instructions, but overall make one person. They will just have two different eye colors . A look at how the amount of melanosomes have on eye color.

Although heterochromia is a unique condition, there are many causes of it. It is interesting and rather shocking that our body is capable of doing something like this. So is it received through genetics? Absolutely, but heterochromia has been proven to be much more than just a hereditary condition.

More information on this genetic condition:

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