April 29, 2009
Total Credit So Far....
Our group has worked through 11,305 units so far, in our first model we are 68% through and in our second model we are 82% through.
April 23, 2009
Asthma and Human Induced Climate Change
What is a disease or disorder that is thought to be caused in part by human-induced climate change?
Asthma is a disorder thought to be caused in children, in part by human-induced climate change. “Asthma is a chronic, long-term illness in which the airway becomes blocked or narrowed. This is usually temporary, but it causes shortness of breath, trouble breathing, and other symptoms. If asthma becomes severe, the person may need emergency treatment to restore normal breathing"(1).
Here is a picture of normal and asthmatic bronchiole in the lungs (3):
Even though children’ lungs are smaller than adults they are exposed to the same density of pollutants; however, they receive a higher concentration of it. This puts children at a higher risk of developing asthma in life.
The major environmental pollutants that have been linked to asthma are ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. It can also be triggered by increased level of pollen in the air which is caused by earlier start of the growing season, longer growing season, faster plant growth, increased air pollution.
Discuss what portion of it’s variation in phenotype (or the appearance of the disorder) is due to variations in the environment:
To some extent allergies run in families. Children who have brothers, sister or parents that have asthma are more likely to develop the illness themselves. If both parents have asthma the risk is greater than if only one parent has it. It appears even higher if the mother has asthma than if the father does. (1)
As the earth's climate is changing, we are seeing an increase in global temperatures. This increase means earlier spring wich increase pollen production by plants and pollinating species. Without the colder winters to kill of pollen producing plants, they are staying around longer and causing more allergies and possible asthma attacks(4).
Research finding show that rather than inheriting asthma itself, we inherit the tendency to develop asthma. This inherited tendency will only come to fruition if we are exposed to the environmental stimuli that cause asthma. (5)
(1) www.aafa.org
(2) asthma.about.com
(3) www.bio.davidson.edu
(4) www.timesonline.co.uk
(5) Ahmed, I. et al. Asthma and Genetics. Brooklyn College of the City of New York.
(6) The chart is from: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/510992_5
Asthma is a disorder thought to be caused in children, in part by human-induced climate change. “Asthma is a chronic, long-term illness in which the airway becomes blocked or narrowed. This is usually temporary, but it causes shortness of breath, trouble breathing, and other symptoms. If asthma becomes severe, the person may need emergency treatment to restore normal breathing"(1).
Here is a picture of normal and asthmatic bronchiole in the lungs (3):
Even though children’ lungs are smaller than adults they are exposed to the same density of pollutants; however, they receive a higher concentration of it. This puts children at a higher risk of developing asthma in life.
The major environmental pollutants that have been linked to asthma are ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. It can also be triggered by increased level of pollen in the air which is caused by earlier start of the growing season, longer growing season, faster plant growth, increased air pollution.
Discuss what portion of it’s variation in phenotype (or the appearance of the disorder) is due to variations in the environment:
To some extent allergies run in families. Children who have brothers, sister or parents that have asthma are more likely to develop the illness themselves. If both parents have asthma the risk is greater than if only one parent has it. It appears even higher if the mother has asthma than if the father does. (1)
As the earth's climate is changing, we are seeing an increase in global temperatures. This increase means earlier spring wich increase pollen production by plants and pollinating species. Without the colder winters to kill of pollen producing plants, they are staying around longer and causing more allergies and possible asthma attacks(4).
Research finding show that rather than inheriting asthma itself, we inherit the tendency to develop asthma. This inherited tendency will only come to fruition if we are exposed to the environmental stimuli that cause asthma. (5)
(1) www.aafa.org
(2) asthma.about.com
(3) www.bio.davidson.edu
(4) www.timesonline.co.uk
(5) Ahmed, I. et al. Asthma and Genetics. Brooklyn College of the City of New York.
(6) The chart is from: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/510992_5
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