Underwater Volcanoes and Pumice

I don’t know if you have heard about this, but recently there was an underwater volcano that erupted nearby Japan on August 13th. Even though the volcano is underwater, it works just the same as volcanoes on dry land. The process of volcanoes erupting is called subduction. As cool as volcanoes being underwater sounds, it has been quite the problem for Japan. When the volcano erupts, it forms these stones with air pockets in them that float above the surface of the ocean. These stones are called pumice, and they are very abrasive. Many have washed up on Japan’s coastline in the Okinawa Prefecture. 

 

 

Pumice is actually very common after an underwater volcanic eruption. Large amounts of it are formed and it's very cool to look at. If you look up a video, it would look like the beach is moving along with the waves of the ocean, but the damages that it causes are not something you would look forward to. Because of their abrasiveness along with the movement of the ocean, it will cause damage to boats and any structure that is at the surface of the water. Disrupting fishing vessels, damaging piers, and more. Which one would expect since it is technically a form of rock, but floats. 

 

Pumice will usually float to a coastline of some sort and become part of the coast that it lands on, but if it doesn’t, then it can possibly just float around wandering the ocean for months or maybe years before it can be broken down or eventually sink. It’s quite an interesting topic to research if you are into marine biology and such. I’m surprised that there haven’t been many preventative technologies to stop pumice from damaging boats and other things. Or a way to collect it from the ocean so the situation can be resolved quickly. Either way, it is quite interesting how much one underwater volcanic eruption can do.

 

https://www.newsweek.com/underwater-volcano-pumice-japan-waves-1643498

Selena Yim (6)

Is Junk DNA What Makes the Human Brain Unique?

In our genome, about 98% of DNA sequences are non-coding regions that were previously dismissed as junk DNA.” However, Junk DNA contains a variety of regions which directly control the expression of genes. Taking this into account, a team of researchers at Lund University has investigated aspects of our DNA that makes human and chimpanzee brains different and found that the answer underlies non-coding DNA.

The study was conducted using stem cells grown in a lab, as a substitute of cells derived from living humans and chimpanzees. The stem cells were reprogrammed from skin cells, and then were developed and examined as brain cells. Using the stem cells, Professor Jackonsson and colleagues were able to grow brain cells specifically from humans and chimpanzees and compared the two types of cells. As a result of their experiment, they found that humans and chimpanzees use a part of their DNA in different ways, which appears to play a role in the development of our brains. This part of DNA was a structural variant of DNA that was previously called junk DNA, a long repetitive DNA string which was claimed to have no function.

Previously, researchers have searched for answers in the part of the DNA where the protein-producing genes are located, which only makes up about 2% of our entire genome, and examined the proteins themselves to find examples of differences. The new findings of Lund University indicate that the differences appear outside the protein-coding genes, suggesting that the basis for human brain’s evolution include genetic mechanisms that are a lot more complex than previously thought, since the answer is not in the 2% of the genetic DNA and is perhaps hidden in the overlooked 98%. These new results may also contribute to genetically-based answers to questions about psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

Source: http://www.sci-news.com/biology/human-brain-junk-dna-10156.html 

Tugba Kahveci (5)

Obesity In House Pets

Obesity nearly affects 24-40% of house pets (1). This is usually because of a tactic called “free feeding” which is when pet owners leave a bowl of food out which then allows the pet to gain unlimited access to the food. Another example of why pets may be obese is because of little to no exercise. If the animal sits around all day and does not have a place to run around, it is difficult to keep them in shape. This may cause health risks to them later on in life especially if an operation needs to be performed. 

In the article “Pet Obesity is an Epidemic” by Tony McReynolds, he discusses how 51% of adult dogs seen at the Banfield Hospital are classified as overweight. When animals are overweight, it can cause several health conditions, some include: endocrinopathies, metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, functional alterations, such as joint disorders and decreased immune functions. This leads the animal to have a shorter lifespan because they are so unhealthy.

Overall, pet obesity is unfortunately very common in the United States. It is ordinary that people give their animals treats or table food which is the leading cause of obesity. This adds up immensely and before the owner knows it, their pet is considered obese and then have to support their animals further to make sure they are healthy again.

https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2020-02/pet-obesity-is-an-epidemic/ 

 https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/01/why-are-so-many-of-our-pets-overweight/ 

Lara Pereira (5)

Increased risk for COVID-19 in patients with vitamin D deficiency

 

As we begin to enter the autumn and winter months the sun starts to give us a lot less warmth and energy, we cover up in extra layers, and we stay indoors far more than during the summer. Along with this, we will get a lot less vitamin D, a nutrient that aids in maintaining blood calcium and phosphorus levels. Contact with ultraviolet radiation from the sun allows our body to produce vitamin D. Most people get a large proportion of their vitamin D from sunlight, so vitamin D deficiency rates begin to rise. Unfortunately, covid-19 also is on the rise during the autumn and winter when we are cramped indoors.

 

A study that was published last year looked into the relationship between the risk of covid-19 infection and vitamin D deficiency. The researchers found that those who were vitamin D deficient were 4.6x more likely to test positive for covid-19 than patients without a vitamin D deficiency. The researchers also controlled for other factors that were known to contribute to covid-19 infection rate. Factors like: sex, malabsorption of vitamins, dental diseases, race, diabetes, age, and obesity. From a population of 987,849 patients found on the University of Florida patient registry platform, 887 of the patients contracted covid-19 and 31,950 had vitamin D deficiency, and 87 patients had both vitamin D deficiency and covid-19.

 

I think, despite the vast accumulation of knowledge that has occurred over the past year with covid-19, it is important to understand risk factors for infection. In the span of time since this study was conducted, we underwent a vaccine rollout that has significantly impacted the rate of infection among those who received either one or two shots. I feel that this association between risk of covid-19 infection and vitamin D deficiency is pretty surprising. I wonder how this association stands in the wake of our vaccination effort. Are those who are vaccinated still more likely to be infected with covid-19 if they are vitamin D deficient? Additionally, I wonder if rises in vitamin D deficiency during the colder months along with increased time indoors add appreciable amounts to positivity rates of covid-19.

 

Alan Papenfuhs (5)

Alzheimer’s Disease

 The Alzheimer’s Disease is a pressing issue in the field of Biology as it affects many individuals with symptoms of memory loss, difficulty completing traditional tasks, and new problems with speaking or reading words. This disease is neurodegenerative and effects all kinds of mentation abilities, and in 2021 its estimated that over 6 million Americans suffer from the disease. It is known that pathological proteins can cause the spread of the disease to other tissues, leading to the symptoms that are presented with the disease. The first evidence that proteins other than prions could be pathologic was described in 1994, when the introduction of brain tissue from a patient with Alzheimer's disease into the brains of aged marmosets was followed by the seeding of Aβ plaques. These Aβ plaques are lesions in the brain that identify the disease in patients through MRI scans of the brain.

Luckily, there are some new treatments being made for patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s. Some of the new Alzheimer's treatments in development target microscopic clumps of the protein beta-amyloid plaques. New studies with monoclonal antibodies prove significant, as they mimic the effects of antibodies the body would naturally produce as an immune system response to the disease. These unique antibodies have been evident in removing the amyloid plaque and are now in phase 3 human trials. This clinical trial includes 3,000 patients to evaluate how effective the new treatments may be for the disease and may be approved in the coming years. Monoclonal antibodies have also been used to treat some patients with Covid-19 because of their relieving effect to boost the natural immunity of the immune system response. This idea is being applied to diseases like Alzheimer’s now to limit the buildup of plaque on the brain as well as stop the spread of the disease-causing proteins.

There is lots of room for hope for the future as studies on new treatments continue to develop and pass clinical trials. Unfortunately, there is no signs of a cure for the disease. The field of biology has been working relentlessly on treatments for neurodegenerative diseases that offer relief of pain or symptoms, and in many cases halting the onset of the disease, which adds life expectancy for patients who suffer from severe cases.

Sources:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmcibr1202401

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers- treatments/art-20047780

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7745791/

Tyler Whiffen (5)

Exercise and Telomere Length

It is common knowledge that to lead a long, healthy life that one must watch what they eat and drink, be consciences of what substances they put into their bodies, and of course, adopt an exercise regimen. But what are the exact benefits of working out specifically? Could it possibly be because with exercise comes strengthened joints and muscles, or maybe it increases blood flow? The answer may not be just our bones and joints but may lie within our genes and genetic makeup. 

Telomeres are the end caps located on our chromosomes and serve a similar purpose to that of an aglet on a shoelace- telomeres stop the chromosome from fraying or from sticking to other chromosomes. Telomeres have been linked to aging as they progressively shorten over time in response to stress signals. In essence, telomeres serve as a biological clock in humans- so how does exercise influence telomere length? 

Telomere length is inversely related to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer and it has been found that athletes have longer telomeres than non-athletes later in life. A study from Brigham Young University found that “…adults that got 30 minutes of exercise five days per week had telomeres that appeared to be nine years ‘younger’ than those who were sedentary” (MD, M. H.). While the relationship of telomere length and life longevity is still not 100% clear, chronic physiological stress may be the main culprit as to why the telomeres shorten overtime. Exercise helps moderate the stress response thus preventing the telomeres from shrinking early on. 

Individuals with high stress jobs (doctor, lawyer, financial analysts) and individuals with sedentary jobs (office worker, phone operators, etc.) are at the highest risk for telomere shortening compared to professional athletes or just individuals with a higher activity level. Fortunately, it only really takes 15 minutes of exercise per day to keep your telomeres in check and to prevent them from prematurely shortening. Essentially, if you walk across campus every day you are all set, and you have very little to worry about!

 

 MD, M. H. (2021, April 3). How exercise changes your biology. Medium. Retrieved November 2, 2021, from https://medium.com/beingwell/how-exercise-changes-your-biology-9f9107ef3ffb. 

Hannah Krzyszton (5)

Mosquirix

Malaria has been terrorizing sub-saharan Africa for well over two millennia and it unfortunately claims the lives of more than 260 thousand African children annually. In the 20th century alone, Malaria has claimed the lives of over 300 million people worldwide, accounting for 5 percent of all deaths in this time period. 

        

The WHO recently endorsed a vaccine known as “Mosquirix” designed to target the plasmodium parasite that causes Malaria. The emergence of a vaccine would significantly benefit those living in sub-saharan Africa as the death toll from malaria would decline. 

The following article presents the important details about the vaccine. It’s highly cost-effective, has no negative impacts on existing measures put in place to prevent the contraction of malaria and the vaccine has already had 2.3 million doses administered without any negative side effects to accompany it. 

In order to make a significant difference in malaria cases in the future, the WHO is recommending the widespread use of the vaccine all across sub-saharan Africa. 

Tikweze Namadzunda (5)