Bohrnsen Biology Blog: 7

Showing posts with label 7. Show all posts

Friday, May 27, 2016

Hippotherapy

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome

Image Via National Geographic

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria is a fatal rapid aging disease that affects 1 in 20 million people worldwide. It is caused by a spot mutation in the gene LMNA in which a Thymine is put in place instead of a Cytosine. This mutation results in the protein Progerin to be created. The mutation is dominant and the Progerin makes the nucleus of a cell unstable which leads to premature aging and disease. The aging is purely physical as children with Progeria age mentally as the same rate as children without due to the fact that LMNA is not present in brain cells. Children with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria have an abnormal amount of Progerin production leading to symptoms associated with aging such as heart disease, hair loss, arthritis, high blood pressure, and strokes. Thus, children with the syndrome usually die at the age of 13. Research for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria has taken off in the last 20. There have been major advancements in treatments, however there is no cure.

Debate on Autism: Genetics or Vaccines?

Image Via WebMD

Autism is a developmental disability that impairs ones ability to communicate and socially interact. Autism is defined on a spectrum, ranging from the difficulties based how severely someone is affected by their autism. Depending the level of severity, autism affects people in different ways. Autism is something someone is born with and it is not caused or developed from social circumstances over time. There is no scientific cure for autism, but treatment can include therapy or medication, depending on what part of the spectrum the person is on. Symptoms can be minimized over time if treatment is used. The question on if autism can be caused by vaccinations has been a common topic debated among researchers, scientists, doctors, and parents of children with autism. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, has claimed that there is no link between vaccinations and autism, however, many parents with children who have autism claim it was the vaccine that caused their child to be diagnosed with autism. In protest, many parents refuse to vaccinate their children, because they believe the MMR and Thimerosal vaccines are too unsafe for their young child. Researchers say that there is no tie between vaccines and autism, so conclusions parents are making are said to be incorrect. Research on how autism is caused is still being investigated, but most researchers suggest that it is caused by a genetic and environmental change. This debate will likely continue as protective parents push to end vaccinations for young children.