Loafing
I did some loafing on Wednesday. I woke up at 5:00 to be in SF at 7:00 in the morning for my weekly acupuncture treatment. This was a little strenuous and harder to do since I knew I did not have class to follow. But after that I went home and took a 3 hour nap. I have been having trouble sleeping because of the stress of school. But after my treatments I sleep like a baby. So it was very nice and relaxing to get to go home and sleep. Then I woke up and worked out and did homework.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Week 7
How sophisticated is our understanding of cancer?
I think we have a somewhat sophisticated understanding of cancer. But for the amount of money we spend on cancer research I think we should be much farther ahead of other countries then we are. Cancer is a tough disease that is always evolving. I do not know if it will be possible to ever have a cure for it but I do hope that our research gets better. I hope that we can start using our money more wisely in research. My biggest hope though is that equal cancer treatment can be available to everyone in the US. Although I know that is a big stretch
How does TCM approach cancer different?
TCM has a much less invasive approach against cancer. We do not perform surgery, use radiation and pump people full of drugs. Our approach is more of one of balancing the body, trying to dispel the tumors/masses, fight the cancer cells and strengthen the body. We can do this through acupuncture and herbs. I know people that only treat people for cancer through acupuncture and I know people that use herbs and acupuncture. I do like this approach better. Although if the cancer is in a very severe stage a removal of a tumor might be necessary combined with some chemo or radiation. But no matter what I think TCM medicine should be used. Using TCM alongside a Western cancer treatment I think should always be down. TCM is very good at strengthening the body, when a cancer patient can be very weak. I helps move qi and blood to help the healing process. I could go on forever about this. I have a big hope that western doctors start implementing TCM medicine for cancer treatment
I think we have a somewhat sophisticated understanding of cancer. But for the amount of money we spend on cancer research I think we should be much farther ahead of other countries then we are. Cancer is a tough disease that is always evolving. I do not know if it will be possible to ever have a cure for it but I do hope that our research gets better. I hope that we can start using our money more wisely in research. My biggest hope though is that equal cancer treatment can be available to everyone in the US. Although I know that is a big stretch
How does TCM approach cancer different?
TCM has a much less invasive approach against cancer. We do not perform surgery, use radiation and pump people full of drugs. Our approach is more of one of balancing the body, trying to dispel the tumors/masses, fight the cancer cells and strengthen the body. We can do this through acupuncture and herbs. I know people that only treat people for cancer through acupuncture and I know people that use herbs and acupuncture. I do like this approach better. Although if the cancer is in a very severe stage a removal of a tumor might be necessary combined with some chemo or radiation. But no matter what I think TCM medicine should be used. Using TCM alongside a Western cancer treatment I think should always be down. TCM is very good at strengthening the body, when a cancer patient can be very weak. I helps move qi and blood to help the healing process. I could go on forever about this. I have a big hope that western doctors start implementing TCM medicine for cancer treatment
Week 6
How would I distinguish between a living system and a non-living system?
A living system interacts with the environment and has components that change continually. A non-living system has been manufactured and has fixed components. I would distinguish if the system has been born or manufactured.
DNA doesn't determine race, society does. Would you agree?
In reading the article, "Why Your Race isn't Genetic, it made sense that society has more to do with race. The article talked about the DNA differences getting bigger with the increase of geographical distance. So when people started to settle down and multiply back in the day in locations it resulted in genetically close relationships. In the olden days people did not have the ability to travel and just move like we do today. So it makes sense to me why genetically close relationships formed in societies and why people have similar DNA. It would take a very long time to change something like that.
A living system interacts with the environment and has components that change continually. A non-living system has been manufactured and has fixed components. I would distinguish if the system has been born or manufactured.
DNA doesn't determine race, society does. Would you agree?
In reading the article, "Why Your Race isn't Genetic, it made sense that society has more to do with race. The article talked about the DNA differences getting bigger with the increase of geographical distance. So when people started to settle down and multiply back in the day in locations it resulted in genetically close relationships. In the olden days people did not have the ability to travel and just move like we do today. So it makes sense to me why genetically close relationships formed in societies and why people have similar DNA. It would take a very long time to change something like that.
Week 5
Do you suppose new species will continue to emerge?
Yes I think new species will continue to emerge. Different animals are getting breeded together all the time. Bio engineering is continuing to take place. And natural selection will continue as long as the world exists
The Chicken or the Egg?
This is a hard one. I think that a chicken has to come from an egg but a chicken has to make the egg. But I am going to go with the egg came before the chicken. Although I could go in an endless circle with this
Yes I think new species will continue to emerge. Different animals are getting breeded together all the time. Bio engineering is continuing to take place. And natural selection will continue as long as the world exists
The Chicken or the Egg?
This is a hard one. I think that a chicken has to come from an egg but a chicken has to make the egg. But I am going to go with the egg came before the chicken. Although I could go in an endless circle with this
Biology Week 4
How do I view Animal Intelligence
I view animal intelligence as somewhat unknown. We can try to study animals and make conclusions based on studies but we do not know what is going on in their minds. I think it makes sense that we want to learn about animals. They are very interesting and beautiful. I believe that animals are very intelligent and I believe they have emotions. Watching some documentaries on killer whales it was concluded that they are have more emotion then humans and this is because they have an extra spot in their brains for emotions that humans do not have. In seeing the video and their reactions I saw why this conclusion was drawn.
I think it is also hard when we compare animal intelligence to human intelligence. Animals and humans live in much different environments and have different ways of communicating. Watching videos and seeing animals communicate and the love they have for each other is so beautiful.
I view animal intelligence as somewhat unknown. We can try to study animals and make conclusions based on studies but we do not know what is going on in their minds. I think it makes sense that we want to learn about animals. They are very interesting and beautiful. I believe that animals are very intelligent and I believe they have emotions. Watching some documentaries on killer whales it was concluded that they are have more emotion then humans and this is because they have an extra spot in their brains for emotions that humans do not have. In seeing the video and their reactions I saw why this conclusion was drawn.
I think it is also hard when we compare animal intelligence to human intelligence. Animals and humans live in much different environments and have different ways of communicating. Watching videos and seeing animals communicate and the love they have for each other is so beautiful.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Biology week 3
99.4% of the most critical DNA in humans is identical to chimps
I did find this fact to be surprising. I am not used to studying this kind of information so I had no idea. I find it interesting that our DNA is so close yet our appearance and ways of communication are so different. Yes we might have some similar appearance characteristics but I feel there is a lot more difference then .6%.
Quiz
I got 2 out of 6 correct on the quiz
Blog on today's class
I was interested in the article about placing stem cells in knees to help regenerate cartilage. Cartilage is on of the hardest things to regenerate because of lack of blood flow. Lots of money has gone into research to find a sufficient replacement for cartilage but no solution has been reached yet. Knee injuries are a big problem for many athletes. But not just athletes, people who love working out or just people that inherited bad knees. I think this sounds like it is having some success. I am interested to see what future outcomes are. I think placing some stem cells in a knee is a lot less invasive then getting a knee replacement. The reason for knee replacements is because all the cartilage is worn down and a person has bone on bone contact. This seems like a good solution to me if it can keep on having results.
I did find this fact to be surprising. I am not used to studying this kind of information so I had no idea. I find it interesting that our DNA is so close yet our appearance and ways of communication are so different. Yes we might have some similar appearance characteristics but I feel there is a lot more difference then .6%.
Quiz
I got 2 out of 6 correct on the quiz
Blog on today's class
I was interested in the article about placing stem cells in knees to help regenerate cartilage. Cartilage is on of the hardest things to regenerate because of lack of blood flow. Lots of money has gone into research to find a sufficient replacement for cartilage but no solution has been reached yet. Knee injuries are a big problem for many athletes. But not just athletes, people who love working out or just people that inherited bad knees. I think this sounds like it is having some success. I am interested to see what future outcomes are. I think placing some stem cells in a knee is a lot less invasive then getting a knee replacement. The reason for knee replacements is because all the cartilage is worn down and a person has bone on bone contact. This seems like a good solution to me if it can keep on having results.
Biology Week 2
Evo-Devo
Evo-Devo is a biology that compares the developmental processes of different organisms to see the ancestral relationship between them and see how this development evolved. So it starts back at the origin of the ancestor and then sees the process of development the organism goes through. I think think this is cool to look at to see how and why organisms develop into different things. There are many factors that go into an the development of an organism. I think one of the main things that causes change in development is ones environment.
How does Darwinism matter to me?
Charles Darwin developed the biological theory of natural selection. Natural selection is a theory where all small species of organisms develop through the natural selection of small, inherited traits that increase the individuals ability to compete, survive and reproduce. I do not know how this really matters to me but I think Darwin makes a very good case. It is survival of the fittest. The individuals that inherit the traits that help them survive longer will outlive the individuals that inherit weaker traits. Thus, this species will survive longer and these stronger traits will continue to reproduce.
Evo-Devo is a biology that compares the developmental processes of different organisms to see the ancestral relationship between them and see how this development evolved. So it starts back at the origin of the ancestor and then sees the process of development the organism goes through. I think think this is cool to look at to see how and why organisms develop into different things. There are many factors that go into an the development of an organism. I think one of the main things that causes change in development is ones environment.
How does Darwinism matter to me?
Charles Darwin developed the biological theory of natural selection. Natural selection is a theory where all small species of organisms develop through the natural selection of small, inherited traits that increase the individuals ability to compete, survive and reproduce. I do not know how this really matters to me but I think Darwin makes a very good case. It is survival of the fittest. The individuals that inherit the traits that help them survive longer will outlive the individuals that inherit weaker traits. Thus, this species will survive longer and these stronger traits will continue to reproduce.
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