Meghan+O.


 * Wiki post #5: Endocrine System **

The endocrine system is the system of glands, each of which secretes different types of hormones directly into the bloodstream (some of which are transported along nerve tracts to maintain homeostasis. The endocrine system is in contrast to the exocrine system, which secretes its chemicals using ducts 

This picture clearly shows all the glands that are a part of the Endocrine system.

**Hypothalamus Gland:** This part of the brain is important in regulation of satiety, metabolism, and body temperature.

**Pituitary Gland**: It is often considered the most important part of the endocrine system because it produces hormones that control many functions of other endocrine glands.

**Thyroid Gland:** It produces thyroid hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. It also plays a role in bone growth and development of the brain and nervous system in children.

**Parathyroid Glands:** T hey release parathyroid hormone, which plays a role in regulating calcium levels in the blood and bone metabolism.

**Adrenal Glands:** The adrenal glands are made up of two parts. The outer part is called the adrenal cortex and the inner part is called the ardeneal medulla. The outer part produces hormones called corticosteroids, which regulate the body's metabolism, the balance of salt and water in the body, the immune system, and sexual function. The inner part, or adrenal medulla, produces hormones called catecholamines,. These hormones help the body cope with physical and emotional stress by increasing the heart rate and blood pressure.

**Pineal Body:** It secretes a hormone called melatonin, which may help regulate the wake-sleep cycle of the body.

**Reproductive Glands:** The reproductive glands are the main source of sex hormones. In males it is the testicals and in the female it’s the clitoris. Both help create hormones.

**Pancreas:** The pancreas has digestive and hormonal functions.  This picture shows the hormones and their target tissues of the endocrine system 

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Crash Coarse on the Endocrine System.media type="youtube" key="WVrlHH14q3o" width="560" height="315" <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Overview of endocrine system physiology. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> media type="youtube" key="_F0iGuOVd2o" width="420" height="315"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sites To Check Out:

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wiki post #4: Meiosis <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Meiosis is the process of reduction division in which the number chromosomes per cell is cut in half through the separation of homologous chromosomes in a diploid cell. Meiosis produces 4 gametes that are completely different from each other and their parent cell.This process can be broken down into two distinct divisions called Meiosis 1 and Meiosis 2. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Before Meiosis 1 occurs, interphase takes place where there are 3 parts.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">G1: The cell grows and new proteins and organelles are created <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">S Phase: DNA is replicated and chromosomes become sister chromatids. Preparing for Meiosis. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">G2: Cytoplasmic organelles are replicated. Preparing for Meiosis.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Go: "Stasis" phase, doesn't move one to the next phase. Cells become totipotent (stem cells).

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This picture above shows the next steps after Interphase.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Prophase 1: Nuclear envelope breaks down, cytoskeleton breaks down and spindles and centrioles form. Each chromosome pairs with its corresponding homologous chromosome which are called tetrads and crossing over occurs. Crossing over is the exchange of DNA of the homologous chromosomes which produces new genetic information. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This photo shows tetrads and the crossing over process.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Metaphase 1: Tetrads line up to form a metaphase plate. Spindle fibres attach to outer kinetocords/centromeres. The inner kinetochords do not attach so the sister chromatids don't separate.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Anaphase 1: Sister chromatids remain attached and tetrads separate to opposite ends of the cell and are these opposite ends are now considered haploid.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Telophase 1/Cytokinesis 1: An contractile ring of actin filaments pinches the cytoplasm into a cleavage furrow. Homologous chromosomes in 2 different daughter cels. Chromatin does not replicate again, some cells go into Interphase 2 and come go directly into Prophase 2 very quickly without S phase.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">After this, the cell moves on tho Meiosis 2 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Meiosis 2 is very similar mitosis.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Prophase 2: Same process Prophase 1 excluding the tetrads and crossing over

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Metaphase 2: Sister chromatids line up a to form metaphase plate. Kinetochords connect spindles to centromeres.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Anaphase 2: Spindles pull the sister chromatids to opposite ends of the cell.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Telophase 2/ Cytokinesis 2: Meiosis 2 results in 4 haploid daughter cells.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Here is a video explain Meiosis. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">media type="youtube" key="D1_-mQS_FZ0" width="420" height="315"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Understanding Mitosis is key to understanding Meiosis. Here is a video differentiating the two. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">media type="youtube" key="_IzfJSxa-uA" width="420" height="315"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sites To Check Out: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[]

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Autonomic Nervous System

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This picture may seem hard to follow but it summarizes how the autonomic system affects our heart beats and the ability to digest.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The autonomic nervous system is a part of the peripheral nervous system (the part of the nervous system that is outside the brain and spinal cord.) It acts as a control system which regulates unconsciousness and internal functions. It also controls some of the muscles within the body. We are often unaware of the ANS because it functions involuntary and reflexively. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The picture above shows the components of the ANS. The autonomic nerves come from the spinal cord and brain to create their own nervous system that control unconscious movements.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The ANS is most important in two situations: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">- In emergencies (fight of flight situations) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">-In nonemergencies (rest and digest)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Which is why the autonomic nervous system is broken up into 3 parts. The sympathetic system is responsible for your body's 'fight or flight' reaction. The parasympathetic system looks after the workings of your body during rest and recuperation. It also controls your heart rate and body temperature under normal conditions. And the final part, the enteric system controls the workings of your stomach and gut. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The diagram shows which organs are affected by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The sympathetic system deals with “fight or flight” responses to stress. It increases heart rate, opens the lungs, helps with digestion and gives the body resources it needs to protect from stress or danger. The parasympathetic conserves, is known as the “rest and digest” system; it promotes digestion, reduces heart rate, increases salivation, increases urine secretion from the kidneys and constricts the pupils.The enteric system is the third division of the autonomic nervous system that you do not hear much about. The enteric nervous system is a meshwork of nerve fibers that innervate the inter organs such as the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This is chart I found useful in understanding the two main divisions of the autonomic system.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The way these movements happen are through synapses of neuron. The cell bodies are located in the spinal cord, it projects to ganglia very close to the target organ and makes a synapse. This synapse uses the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This video gives a clear explanation of how this synapses happens.media type="youtube" key="LT3VKAr4roo" width="560" height="315"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This video provides an overview of the Autonomic Nervous System and its divisions: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">media type="youtube" key="PhD6CEOcuno" width="420" height="315"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sites To Check Out: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://news.menshealth.com/could-a-good-laugh-give-you-a-heart-attack/2013/05/14/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14768 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130513-909281.html?mod=googlenews_wsj <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/auto.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Resources: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://biology.about.com/od/organsystems/a/aa061804a.htm <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://myithlete.com/blog/?p=1297#.UZpoKY4yBNw <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autonomicnervoussystemdisorders.html <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://psychology.about.com/od/aindex/g/autonomic-nervous-system.htm <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.journals.elsevier.com/autonomic-neuroscience-basic-and-clinical/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.ndrf.org/ans.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wiki post #2: Evolution

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">According to Webster’s dictionary evolution is “a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.” Though the evolution of man has been widely discussed and questioned, one type of evolution that cannot be denied is the evolution of cell phones. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This image shows not only how cells phone have progressed in technology but also how they have decreased in size.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Cells phones have become the centre of our everyday lives nowadays. From teenagers to old men, everyone has a cell phone. As our generation has become addicted to living our lives through social media, we have also become addicted to our phones that allow us to do so. But the cell phones from back in the day look nothing like they do today. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This is Marty Cooper, former Motorola employee, who made the first mobile call almost 40 years ago (1973). The model he is holding was the prototype of one of the first cell phones.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">During this time cell phones were rare and chunky, the one above weighed almost 2.2 pounds. The mobile network were few and far between so many people didn't have cell phones. The technology wasn't very advanced and some people didn't accept new things. Much like the discussion of evolution man, some people completely rejected the idea of having a cell phone. One thing that every beginning cell phone had was a antenna. This was key for getting a signal on the few mobile networks. But like everything, technology started to progress and cell phones started to catch on.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In 1998 Nokia came out with new models that feature more compact coloured cases and a black and white LED screen perfect for text messaging.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">After the antenna was ditched and the LED screen was introduced. Cell phones were begging to become more and more popular. Then in 1993 the way people communicate changed completely. This is when the first text message was sent from one phone to another. Since this creation people have been using texting not only to communicate, but also to form relationships. This started the socializing through technology. Along with social media sites, it seemed everyone was communicating through technology. As texting became more popular, cell phone developers starting designing phones that were easier to text on. Soon full keyboard were introduced and T9 (an old way of texting when letters are predicted) was out. After this cell phones continued to develop. The got smaller and more stylish with newer technologies.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This picture shows the first ever touch screen release in 2000 and Apple's newest technology, the iPhone 5 release this year. Both of these phones helped make steps towards new technologies.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">With the new touch screen phone in 2000 and came a lot of other new technologies. Calendars, alarms, games and internet were now accessible on your phone. This only helped continue to the cell phone obsession. Now everyone wanted a cell phone. Parents wanted them to keep tabs on their kids and kids wanted them to talked to their friends. Cell phones continues to develop and change the way we communicate. After the release of the iPhone 3 in 2007 everything changed. Cell phone users now had access to their email, facebooks, pictures and other apps with just a touch. This was also the introduction to 3G which is a network that allows the cell phone user to have access to the internet anywhere. Apple continues to stay on stop and has sold 85 million phones since 2007.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Apple doesn't plan on slowing down. Here is a video explaining what apple has coming up next this year: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">media type="youtube" key="JDVsFDkNbc8" height="315" width="560"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Along with the evolution of cell phones has directly came the evolution of how we communicate. Today as a society we crave communication and the progressing technologies and social medias give us this oppurtunity. It is hard to go anywhere without someone having phone in their face. This can create some problems, but personally I think cell phones and their technologies have improved societies communication.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Here is a video that I found interest of Clay Shirky of TEDtalks, he discusses how cell phones and social media have changed the way we exchange information. He talks about how these things give us the ability to change history and communicate honestly. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">media type="youtube" key="c_iN_QubRs0" height="315" width="560"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sites to check out: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1636836_1389493,00.html <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/photos/the-evolution-of-cell-phones-1359561474-slideshow/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">https://blog.lookout.com/blog/2011/02/03/evolution-of-cell-phone-to-smartphone/ (animation) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/05/the-evolution-of-cell-phone-design-between-1983-2009/

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sources: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/evolution-of-mobile-phones/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.geeksugar.com/History-Cell-Phones-29019196 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2301836&Language=en <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.zdnet.com/first-cell-phone-call-kicks-off-an-amazing-journey-photos-3040149668/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.pitt.edu/~atteberr/comp/0200/samplepap/defpaps/cellphones.html <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.personal.psu.edu/swm5212/finalproject.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wiki post #1: Genetics <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">It is important to know about genetically modified plants because as Canadians almost all the food we buy at grocery stores are genetically modified.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Genetically modified organisms (also known as GMOs) refer to plants that are made for human or animal consumption. GMOs have either had its genes (DNA) changed to act in an unnatural way or contain genes from another organism. Basically, these plants can be changed to have more desirable traits for growth and consumption. Typically, the enhancement of theses desired traits have been created through breeding, but some plant breeding methods can take a lot of time and do not work all of the time. Instead, genetic engineering is used. Genetic engineering is changing the structure of genetic material in a living organism. It creates and uses a recombinant DNA (Which is fake DNA that has been made by combining genes from different organisms.) Next it creates bacteria that can help replicate these genes very quickly and accurately.

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In this picture it shows the process in which corn can be genetically modified. Restriction enzymes select the specific genes and is cut out. This specific gene is now inserted into the corn, which is now put into the plasmid to be replicated. Next these genes are now inserted into the corn and the corn is now considered to be genetically modified food.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In Canada GMOs are not labeled. This is because the labeling process would be very difficult because foods that are genetically modified are used to make other foods Using corn as an example, it can be used as an ingredient is many other foods such as cereal, yogurt, frozen entrees and canned soup. All of these foods would need to be labeled as having genetically modified ingredients. Knowing this, most foods Canadians buy at grocerystores have been genetically modified. In other parts of the world like Europe, it is mandatory to label GM foods. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Comic on labelling genetically modified foods

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Just because they are not labeled doesn’t mean they are completely dangerous. There are actually some advantages to GMO’s. It’s proven that these foods grow more quickly then normal crops giving the population more food. Also these food crops can be grown in places with poor climate, which also means more food. They also decrease the use of pesticides. And finally, genetically modified food are said to be high in nutrients and to contain more minerals and vitamins normally grown foods.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This map shows the number of countries that have chosen to grow genetically modified crops
 * || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[[image:http://sitemaker.umich.edu/sec006group5/files/this_map.jpg caption="this_map.jpg"]] ||  ||

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Despite all of these advantages, there is also a fair share of disadvantages. The biggest threat caused by this food is that they can have harmful effects on the human body. It is believed that consumption of these genetically engineered foods can cause the development of diseases that are immune to antibiotics. Another concern is cross-contamination. Fields that grow GMOs may contaminate other fields that are close by. This may happen if the seeds from a GM crop blow into a neighbouring field.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Here are some documentaries that explore genetically modified foods. The first one has a lot of good information and is a little boring and the second is alot more entertaining. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> media type="youtube" key="Vd_X1-moZkc" height="315" width="560" <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">media type="youtube" key="_9Bbk2Why64" height="315" width="560"

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sites to check out:

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sources:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[|http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Food-] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">[]