Erica+Knorr

= WikiPost #1: Alternative Splicing (Genetics) =

Dec 20, 2012


Here is a quick video to talk about Alternative Splicing media type="youtube" key="FVuAwBGw_pQ" height="315" width="420"



What is alternative splicing? Splice refers to the connection of two ends of RNA. Alternative splicing is a process when multiple RNA transcripts are produced from one single gene. This is the splicing of pieces of exons to make successful RNA. This RNA is important because it will make the proteins that are crucial to creating a functional organism. The proteins will form amino acids that will do many things within the cells and help in many other ways too. This will help the cells make exactly what they need to make for that organism.

Within DNA, scientists have found that many genes in similar places have very close genetic make ups. That may not always be true; Donny Licatalosi was asked about some recent studies being done, and said “It was somewhat generally assumed that splicing differences that you see between brain and muscle in the mouse would be similar between brain and muscle in the human, but what both of these studies are showing is that is not the case. There is a large amount of species-specific alternative splicing.” The studies he mentions were both published in the magazine Science Dec 20, 2012.

One of the mentioned studies took place at MIT, where researchers took samples of four different mammals- a rhesus monkey, a rat, a mouse, and a cow- and also added in chicken genes too. They then took nine tissue samples (brain, colon, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, spleen, testes) from 3 different members of each species. They found that the genes for the same tissues were very similar in expression, no matter which species it was. When they actually got into splicing the genes, the differences began to show. Chris Burge, professor at MIT for biology and biological engineering, said “Different tissues from the cow look more like the other cow tissues, in terms of splicing, than they do like the corresponding tissue in mouse or rat or rhesus.”

__Further Readings__
Evolution by Splicing Evolution: It’s all in how you splice it Genes could explain disease susceptibility Scientists Create New Approach to Destroy Disease-Associated RNAs in Cells

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 * WikiPost #2: Breast Feeding (Bodily System) **
 * Erica Knorr **
 * Bio 122 **
 * Jan 21, 2013 **

When babies are born, they cannot begin to eat solid foods for a few months, so they need to either be bottle fed with formula (if it’s a homosexual male couple, single dad, or the mother chooses not to) or the mothers choose to feed them with their breast milk. For the women who do choose to breast feed, there are a lot of positive reasons to do so.

Some of the benefits can be that the mothers and babies can make a special bond with one another through skin to skin contact. The also benefit from the nutrients in the milk. It can also help with maintaining the weight of both mother and child. Also, some parents will choose to do it because then they do not have to pay for formula.

Like anything you could possibly be doing, there are also negative reasons to choose breast feeding. One reason it that breast milk is missing vitamin d. another is there is a possibility that the mammary glands will become infected, but the chances of that happening are small. The biggest negative reason is that you shouldn’t do it because you feel like you have to. If you want to do it, by all means, do it, but if you are not comfortable about it, don’t succumb to peer pressure.

A final problem with breast feeding is that it is generally look down upon if you do it in public. It is so unwelcomed, that it is actually illegal in certain places. This is frankly ridiculous. If a baby needs fed, then the mother should have the choice about when and where to do so. So when it comes to the time that you will have a child that needs to be fed, make the coice you want on how you think you need to feed your baby. media type="youtube" key="mm_Gs4uyQ_U" height="315" width="560" align="center"

__ Further readings: __ Breastfeeding Overview How breastfeeding works 5 Reasons Breast Feeding Isn't That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is) Breastfeeding in Public -- a Human Rights Issue

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 * [|http://images.medicinenet.com/images/breastdiagram.gi]


 * WikiPost #3: Lying (evolution) **
 * Erica Knorr **


 * Bio 122 **


 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Jan 21, 2013 **





<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">H <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">umans are, have been, and always will be, highly social beings. Daily interactions, communicating, and <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">our race forwards. The reason humans have evolved to be what we are today is due to our brains. Along with our brains, the other reason we are thriving is because we <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">have survival instincts. Humans will do whatever it takes to survive, and that includes lying.socializing are what drives



Humans are not the only liars in the world. Koko, the gorilla who learnt sign language, once told her handler that her cat, Smoky, was the one who pulled the sink out of the wall.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Humans feel the need to lie because we feel like doing so will keep other people happy (but if you have ever seen a romantic-comedy, you will realize that lies usually end horribly). In a ten minute conversation with a stranger, studies show that you will lie at least three times, sometime without even realizing that you are.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Pathological liars are people who feel a compulsion to lie constantly. They feel the need to always tell lies, even if the truth is simple. Their brains are actually made up of more white matter. White matter is the area of the brain that can keep different things in order, making it easier for pathological liars to weave their giant web of lies. The only problem is that because it is a condition of the brain, these liars often do not know that what they are saying is actually lies, they believe what they are saying is true.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">It has also been shown that we are a lot better at telling lies than we were in the past because through evolution. If people always told the truth, the prospects of them finding a mate would be a lot lower. Sure, everyone deserves the truth, but if they knew the truth was going to hurt someone that they loved, it makes just as much sense to lie to them, and hope they never find out the truth.

media type="youtube" key="MX3Hu8loXTE" height="315" width="560"

__** Further Readings: **__ Into the Brain of a Liar Ten Ways To Tell If Someone Is Lying To You A brief history of lying How Often Do People Lie in Their Daily Lives?

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