Investigation (2)

 Peroxisome Disorder

                In class, we learn all the material in our book. We are told to also look at various diseases that can occur when something malfunctions. Last week, we were talking about the importance of peroxisomes. We were also asked for examples of what will happen to our body if a peroxisome were not working. Let's look at what the original function of a peroxisome is. It is an oxidative organelle that uses hydrogen peroxide to detoxify toxins like formic acid and ethanol. When this function is not carried out, you are unable to detoxify anything in your blood and it can cause deadly results. There is a disorder that deals with malfunctioning peroxisomes. Zellweger spectrum disorder is when the body is unable to make peroxins. Peroxins are essential in the formation and function of a peroxisome. These peroxisomes are unable to function properly due to mutations in genes. These mutations don't let peroxisomes to form and work as it normally should. Eventually, the body is unable to detoxify toxins and it accumulates. Children with this disorder can develop issues with their organs and their tissues. The normal body functions are not normal when compared to an average person without the disorder. They are unable to live very long due to this condition. There is no real cure for this syndrome and the treatment is based on the symptoms of the patient. 

              It is important to understand that even though we may learn how everything should work, it is quintessential to know what to do when things go wrong. We have to know what to do. As a Biology major, the purpose of me learning about the body is to know how to fix malfunctions. We may not understand certain things in life but it is always important to try your best!

Works Cited:

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/zellweger-spectrum-disorder

https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/7917/zellweger-syndrome/resources/1

Investigation (1)

Methemoglobinemia

                In class the other day, we talked about a disease that had to do with keratin. It made me think about how so many things in our bodies can go wrong. I wanted to research a disease that most people have never even heard of. I was searching various diseases and one that caught my eye was the disease called Methemoglobinemia. This is a type of blood disorder that produces abnormal amount of methemoglobin in the blood. Now we all know that too much of a good thing can be bad. So, what exactly is Methemoglobin? It is a type of hemoglobin that is unable to bind to oxygen. We know that hemoglobin has a Fe2+ (Ferrous) but methemoglobin has a Fe3+ (Ferric). This is something that is detrimental because our bodies need oxygenated blood to survive and if we do not have oxygen, we can ultimately die. People who have this disease, their blood is dark brown. Their skin also has a blueish appearance. A severe case of this disease is life threatening. People tend to feel tired and weak. A medicine called methylene blue is used to treat severe cases. Ascorbic acid and hyperbaric oxygen therapy can also be used. You are able to get this due to genetics. 

                  This disease has a lot to do with me Cell and Molecular Biology class. We learn so much about the cells of our bodies and how the cells are able to help the body function as a whole. Red blood cells are a type of cells that help oxygenate our blood and any malfunction could be serious. We may never know every single disease that exists but learning about them one by one is a step.

Works Cited

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/methemoglobinemia-beta-globin-type

Encounter (3)

                                                                     Appendicitis


                    Every saturday at my church, a big group of people decide to visit members who are sick and pray for them. This week, there was a member who has appendicitis. The member had an inflamed appendix. No one actually knows what the specific function of an appendix is but some believe that it houses good bacteria. If this burts, then all the infectious contents inside could spill inside the abdominal cavity and cause serious issues. You would need antibiotics to be treated if this occurs. You are able to get this if the passage to the appendix has been blocked. If you have this, you tend to become weak and have sharp pains in your abdomen. This relates to cell and molecular biology in many ways. Foreign substances are able to block the appendix as well as cancer or the stool. When there is a foreign substance blocking the appendix, inflammation occurs. Inflammation also occurs when you get a cut and foreign substances enter your body. Also, if the appendix bursts, this could cause an infection. In this, white blood cells can only do so much to help but antibiotics are required to help fight it.




                                                                  Works Cited Page

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/appendicitis/Pages/overview.aspx