Abstract This essay talks about the biochemical nature of the enzyme lactase. The paper includes a discussion of it's production, the reaction it catalyzes and the physiological effects of this enzyme. In particular the essay includes an explanation of the physiological effects experienced with a deficiency of lactase.
From the Paper "Lactose is a disaccharide that is the principal carbohydrate found in milk and other dairy products. To digest lactose the enzyme lactase is required to catalyse the hydrolysis reaction to produce the monosaccharides glucose and galactose. This enzyme is usually present at birth but often decreases in activity as the child matures. The condition where an individual has a deficiency of lactase is known as lactose intolerance and produces symptoms such as nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea"
Abstract The paper discusses how human cloning is a controversial issue that cannot be overlooked by anyone and how the formula offers few benefits to science, while requiring unacceptable risks and undermining the very concept of our humanness. It shows how some find it acceptable, while others object for various reasons, by providing a brief introduction to the cloning process and examining the arguments for and against. Issues discussed include the advantages of transplants, the reproductive option for people with problems in conception, and cloning a person dying from a non-genetic disease, as well as ethics, the use of embryos, technological problems such as creating abnormalities, religion, and Kant's categorical imperative.
From the Paper "One religious argument against cloning is the insinuation of playing God. Genetic blueprints are the province of God and cannot be owned as "patented inventions" by any human being or institution (Donegan 1105). It is ethically disturbing to think that a person could one day possess complete control over someone else's life. That person could control not only whether the other person will live or die, but also will have some say in what traits the other person will acquire. Life is more than a commodity. Anees, an Islamic scholar, argues that the human body is God's property, not man's laboratory (Masci 414). Replacing a dying individual with a clone would distort the meaning of death as we see and face it today. It would alter the whole process of life through death. Right now we can replace a fused light bulb, but later we may be replacing dead or "injured" humans. Is it acceptable for us to replace our loved ones with their copies? Does this not undermine human dignity? "
Tags: kant, genetics, ethics, god, conception, dna
Abstract This paper explains the medical technique of cloning and then looks at its moral, ethical, medical, and sociological implications. Arguments that both favor and oppose human cloning are discussed and analyzed. The paper presents scientific, ethical, and theological arguments on both sides of the debate.
From the Paper "Supporters of cloning believe that their efforts will mostly be for the good of humanity. The potential medical benefits of genetic engineering override any fears (perceived or real) from cloning. They agree that the technology should be pursued until safe and reliable and should be applied to humans with caution. They believe that there are dangers in attempting to make blanket legal and political assertions on human cloning. This issue is too important. It needs debate. They believe that a ban would be irreversible and preclude further discussions. They also believe that just as antibiotics vaccinations were eventually proven as lifesavers, this new technology should be embraced. Therapeutic cloning offers, for example, an in vitro embryo the chance to evolve into a human being free from painful and debilitating diseases."
Abstract This paper analyzes the tremendous impact and the immense contribution of the science of magnetism in the technological arena. It begins by introducing the concept of magnetism and then discusses how it applies to nuclear magnetic resonance. It then discusses performing in-vivo studies and magnetoencephalography (MEG). It finally discusses how the technology is used in magnetic storage and magnetic chips.
From the Paper "This era is characterized by the rapid advancements made in technology and the remarkable breakthroughs in every frontier of science have dramatically altered our lives. The phenomenon of magnetism in particular has made a great contribution in this technological revolution. The electron microscope, which is based on principle of magnetism, was one of the important and earliest scientific achievements (1930) which broke the barriers in the study of cell biology. Extensive research and development in the field has deepened our understanding of magnetic science and today we are better equipped than ever before to harness the power of magnetism. The application of magnetism is diverse and extends to almost all fields of science right from critical medical diagnosis to space engineering and information technology."
Abstract This paper discusses how the idea of cloning humans has always stirred debate, raising moral and ethical issues. It looks at how, as research and experiments continue delve into the frontiers of technology and science, we inch closer to the possibility of cloning becoming a reality. It examines how, in order to deal with the implications of cloning, we should not hesitate to consider the cost cloning would have on society as a whole. It puts forward the argument that human cloning is unethical because we cannot know the results, because it alters societal roles, and because it degrades humanity.
From the Paper "One very important aspect of the cloning debate is the death of Dolly last year. According to New Scientist Magazine, Dolly suffered from ?arthritis - a condition that occurs most often in the elderly,? which suggests that Dolly "was aging prematurely" (New Scientist). Although it remains unclear if cloning or genetics caused the arthritis, many are skeptical of the cloning process. In Dolly's case, cells called telomeres were shorter than they should have been compared to sheep her age that are born normally. This may seem trivial, however, it is important because she was cloned from a sheep that was six years old. What this means is that Dolly might have been older than she looked. From her birth date, she was six years old, but genetic age was 12 years old."
Abstract An examination of bio-terrorism. The writer explores the type of threat posed by bio-terrorism and the extent to which the nation has prepared for it, especially after the events of 9/11. The paper shows the various types of materials that can be used in bio-terrorism and how each of them can be prevented and treated.
Contents
Introduction
What is Bioterrorism?
How Can it be Used Against Us?
What Types of Things Can Be Used to Commit it?
What Now?
Steps That Were Taken after 9-11
Government Readiness
School Readiness
The Future
What Should be Done for Future Protection?
International Cooperation
Protecting our Borders
From the Paper "For almost two hundred years Americans were lulled into a false sense of security with the belief that nobody could penetrate the "invisible" shield of protection around the country. While chaos was happening around the world by way of attacks, bio-terroristic threats, wars and other problems, Americans went about their daily business believing it could never happen here. And then the events of 9-11 unfolded. Americans were horrified and glued to television screens as the World Trade Centers came down. From that point on the nation understood it was not invincible and the concern about possible bio-terrorism began to grow."
Abstract This paper examines the scope of the problem of global deforestation, including frontier forests, tropical rainforests, and other kinds of forests, and also reports on why one suggested formula for a solution might not be in the best interests of the planet.
From the Paper "Just a few years ago, in the late 1990s, it seemed that the mushrooming problem of deforestation was receiving wide media attention. High school children and university students, and conservation activists throughout Western many societies, including to a large extent, America, were receiving publicity while they conducted fundraisers and seminars to help ?save the rainforests.? Television news channels ? along with other mass market media like the Internet, magazines print journalism, and film ? covered the calamitous loss of forestland with regular reports. But there are urgent and more dramatic issues ? such as terrorism, conventional war as part of the Bush Administration's search for so-called ?weapons of mass destruction,? and fears of biological attacks (anthrax, smallpox) ? which have dominated the news since September 11, 2001."
Abstract This paper looks at the vital role that the oceans play regarding the regulation and control of the world's temperature, winds, and precipitation.
From the Paper "Through the agency of ocean currents, heat and cold may be distributed over thousands of miles, for it is possible to follow the course of a mass of warm water that originates in the trade wind belt of the southern hemisphere, where a good portion of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans can be found. This redistributing function of the ocean tends to compensate for the uneven heating of the globe by the sun. As it is, ocean currents carry hot equatorial water toward the poles and return cold water equatorward by surface drifts, such as the Labrador Current, and other deep water currents."
Abstract Umbilical cord blood offers great hope for the future of stem cell research and use. This paper examines the potential of these types of stem cells in order to demonstrate how stem cells from umbilical cord blood can help scientists solve the ethical debate and provide sick patients with hope for life.
Paper Outline
Introduction
Stem Cell Background
About Umbilical Cord Stem Cells
Umbilical Cord Blood Process
The Great Stem Cell Debate
Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper "Estimations regarding the need for a given cord blood sample vary. One estimate of a child needing his or her own cord blood stem cells is 1:10,000 (Wolf, 2002). Another places the odds at 1:1000 to 1:2000. The probability of use varies depending on individual circumstances. Disturbing statistics reveal that every year there are about 8,000 new cases of cancer in children under the age of 15. These children could potentially benefit from the use of cord blood stem cells, so perhaps expectant parents should make the effort to donate their newborn's cord blood or store it for their own family's potential use."
Abstract This paper explains that, although the West Nile Virus (WN) has been around since 1937 when it was first discovered in Uganda, the summer of 1999 marks the first introduction in recent history of an Old World flavivirus into the New World. The author points out that mosquitoes are the principal vectors of the West Nile Virus; the virus has been isolated from 43 mosquito species in Africa, Asia, and the United States. The paper states that there is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection; although, in more severe cases, intensive supportive therapy is indicated, often involving hospitalization, intravenous fluids, airway management, respiratory support (ventilator), prevention of secondary infections (pneumonia, urinary tract, etc.), and good nursing care.
From the Paper "Studies have shown that the West Nile Virus replicates in a wide variety of cell cultures, including chicken, duck, and mouse embryo cells and continuous cell lines from monkeys, humans, pigs, rodents, amphibians, and insects, but has not caused obvious cytopathology in many cell lines. Although we know glycosaminoglycans play a major role in flavivirus entry, there is evidence that additional host cell surface molecules are necessary for flavivirus entry. Because flaviviruses are transmitted between insect and vertebrate hosts during their natural transmission cycle, it is likely that the cell receptor they utilize is a highly conserved protein. It is known that the virions enter cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis followed by fusion of the viral membrane with the endosomal vesicle membrane releasing the nucleocapsid into the cytoplasm."
Abstract This paper provides a study of this virus by examining its pathogenesis, symptomatology, diagnostics, and possible treatments and preventions.
From the Paper "Ebola hemorrhagic fever, or the Ebola virus, is a devastating illness that has the highest mortality and morbidity rates among all viruses (Mwanatambwe et al., 2001). This virus results in certain death for 50 to 90 percent of all clinical cases, and since the virus was first discovered, there has been approximately 1,500 documented cases with more than 1,000 deaths (World Health Organization, 2000). The form of the virus that is found in humans has been found mostly in central African areas that surround rainforests, such as Sudan, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire). Within a timeframe of 19 years, two major outbreaks of the Ebola virus have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which both had devastating effects with several hundred people infected and killed by the virus. The virus gained its name through association to the Ebola river, which runs through Yambuku, a village in the northwestern part of Congo, where the first outbreak surfaced."
Abstract This paper provides a review of the book, "River Out of Eden", by Richard Dawkins. The review provides summaries of the main arguments from each chapter and a discussion, in particular, of the different thresholds mentioned by Dawkins.
From the Paper "In the first chapter, The Digital River, Dawkins introduces the idea of evolution by comparing it to a river, metaphorical, and changing over time. The river, he tells us, contains all of the DNA that has survived up until that point, and through the course of time, the river has deviated from its original path, producing different routes for the river, different branches, as he calls them. On each of these different branches of the river, he says, different combinations of DNA have been put together, and different genes have been constructed, giving different forms of life on each of the different pathways."
This paper is an extensive discussion of genetic modification (GM) of food, also known as genetic engineering, genetic manipulation, gene technology, and recombinant DNA technology, which is the most recent application of biotechnology to food.
Abstract This paper explains that, for many centuries, farmers fought pests using everything from usual plant-breeding techniques to chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides; but, as new chemical treatments increased health and environmental concerns, gene modification became the agro-scientists? tool for advancing molecular biology. The author points out that over 40 plant varieties have completed all of the federal requirements for commercialization as per the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The paper explains that, although customers in the U. S. are accepting GM foods, customers in Japan are beginning to show a strong liking for unmodified fruits and vegetables in supermarkets offering both GM foods and unmodified foods.
Table of Contents
Do We Need Genetically Modified Food?
Does the Human Race Need GM Food?
Background Information on the Types of Plant Genetic Engineering
The Worldwide Issue of GM Food, Advantages and Disadvantages
How Prevalent are GM Foods?
What Plants Are Used?
Genetic Engineering Techniques
Other Issues
How GM foods are Regulated and the Government's Role
What Limits are Put on Farmers?
How they are Labeled for the General Public?
Ethical and Social Aspects Involved and Implications for the Third World
From the Paper "Genetically modified foods (GM foods or GMF) provide opportunities to swiftly enhance crop nature such as yield, pest resistance, or herbicide tolerance, which is not successful with conventional methods. From the predecessor to plastics to consumable vaccines, GM crops can be molded to make completely artificial substances. The methods of modern genetics have made it probable for the direct action of the genetic makeup of organisms. Using genetic engineering, plants from wild relatives, other distantly related plants, or almost any other organism can be relocated with simple genetic qualities into the crop."
Abstract Research has recently indicated that there are multiple genetic pathways leading to the development of bipolar disorder. This paper presents a detailed examination of the incidence of bipolar disorder among identical twins. The author explores bipolar disorder's genetic components and then explores whether or not identical twins have a higher incidence of the disorder than the general population.
From the Paper "The understanding that mental illness, including bipolar disorder, is genetically based has created curiosity about where the biology is involved. One of the things that have been examined is whether or not identical twins have a higher incidence of the disorder. It is an interesting question because of the fact that identical twins have identical DNA. If a higher incidence or a correlation can be found between identical twins and bipolar disorder, it will be further evidence of the biological basis for the disorder as well as a closer look as to its biological origin being before birth, and not something that happens after birth(Taylor, 2003)."
This paper discusses that, although the etiology is unknown, a number of theories are being suggested for autism, a mental handicap that results from abnormalities in brain development.
Abstract This paper explains that autism is not a disease in itself, but rather a condition or a disorder of development; children afflicted with this disorder exhibit a strange behavioral complex, do not form normal social relationships, and have seriously impaired communication ability. The author points out that the biological theory of autism includes a broad array of causative factors, including genetic anomalies, viral infections, metabolic conditions, congenital abnormalities, and biochemical imbalances. The paper concludes that the rapid advancement in molecular genetics is shedding new light in the study of autism; there is no question that this will further the understanding the neuropsychology of autism.
Table of Contents
Thesis
Introduction
Biological Theory of Autism
Genetic Causes of Autism
Genetic Conditions that Cause Autism
The Central Coherence Theory
Conclusion
From the Paper "A growing amount of literature has furthered our understanding of the mental states particular to autism and other related disorders. It is known that 75% of people with autism have intellectual disability, and 30% of people having intellectual disability have autistic disorders. When compared with other subjects individuals with autism perform well in tasks that require analytical processing rather than global processing. A recent study by N.van Lang et al analyzed the connection between autistic disorder or autism on central coherence. For the study 43 subjects were chosen from special education schools. The whole pool of subjects having intellectual disability were neatly identified into two groups, one which fell under the autistic spectrum and other which have learning disabilities that fell outside the autistic spectrum. The study result supported the "central coherence theory" by confirming that the subjects with autism or comorbid disorders related to the autistic spectrum, performed well in highly analytical and detail focused tasks."
