Human Genome

Hey guys!
A few months back, I did a group project about the human genome.
"What is that?" you ask. It is the DNA sequence of an individual.
I wanted to show a couple of videos for those who are interested.
Also here is a source called BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Source Tool) . It is a site where you can find the genetic coding of most organisms.
P.S I love the Ted-Talks!
Blast source: click me!

Why Does Everything Look Green?

It was the first day of school for Ben.
During math studies, his teacher asked the class which circle was bigger: the green or red circle?
He raised his hand, confused. "Excuse me, but both circles are green." The entire class giggled.
Ben wasn't joking around, so why was everyone laughing?
Ben could not see the red circle because he was color blind.

Color blindness is a common disorder among many people. When you hear that a person is color blind, you might think that they can only see black and white. That is not entirely true for everyone.

Unlike other animals, human colorblindness is a little bit different.In most animals, they have two sets of cones instead of three, like humans. Cones are located in the retina of the eye and they help with color discrimination and seeing in the daytime. Their neighboring organelle, the rods, helps seeing in the dark. In humans, Cones cells have three different wavelengths (red, blue, green) that differentiate colors.

What is the cause of color blindness?  In all animals (including humans), color blindness can be inherited from the carrier on the X chromosome. If someone has the carrier on the X chromosome, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are color blind. For example, if a female has chromosome X (with carrier) and X (without carrier), they are not color blind. However if a male has chromosome X (with carrier) and Y, then they do. The reason why this is true is because since the female has an extra X chromosome, it denies the existence of the carrier gene.

Sometimes, however, color blindness is not caused by genetics. Diseases like diabetes or any eye disease can cause color blindness, if not full blindness. If you have multiple sclerosis or certain liver diseases, that can cause the disorder too.

 Since humans primarily have three types of color blindness (red-green, blue- yellow, and monochromacy), they are more complex. Here are the most common types:

Protanomaly:  When red seems to have a greener shade.

Protanopia: When red appears black.

Deuteranomaly: When green seems to have a redder shade.
  
Deuteranopia: When green appears beige.

Tritanomaly: When blue seems greener. Also the colors red and yellow are hard to distinguish from pink.
  
Tritanopia: When blue appears green and yellow appears violet or grey.

Cone Monochromacy: This is when you only see black and white. It is caused by the disability of 2 of the 3 cones of the retina.

Rod Monochromacy: Same as Cone Monochromacy except, it is present at birth.

Although there is not a known cure for colorblindness, there are different products like glasses and medication that can help see colors better. They do not always work, but they certainly make life a lot more... explored!

In conclusion, color blindness is a genetic disorder that many people have. If you would like to know more information about color blindness, visit the website :colourblindawareness.org. If you would like to take a test to see if you are color blind, please click this link: color blind test. This test is a self-diagnosis, so if you are concerned, please visit your doctor.

 Wonderful sources:
Colourblindawareness.org
Nei.nih.gov
Colour-blindness.com
Wikipedia.org
ColorVisionTesting.com

A Small Thank You...

Writing this blog, has been very interesting.
I learned things that I didn't know through research.
I improved my writing skills.
The best thing about this blog is that I got to help others gain knowledge.
I want to thank everyone that reads my posts, even if you are just a spam (just joking!).
I wouldn't even if post anything, if it wasn't for those 8 or 9 people who read my posts everyday.
If anyone wants to help by posting some of their own writings or wants to suggest a topic, contact me at JordynMCarney@gmail.com.
Thanks guys again and have a great summer (or whatever season you are in!)

Peace and Love,
Jordyn

P.S I will have a new post coming soon!

Does Height Affect Your Position in Society?

 We wear shoes that makes us taller, stand on platforms form to look powerful, and we even lie about our height!

What does this say about ourselves? Do we all want the perceptive of being taller? Do we feel inferior to those who seem taller?

From a personal stand point, I do feel a little intimidated by those of a taller stature. Although, I am 4' 11'...

From a scientific perspective, taller people do have it "better".  According to Dr. Daniel Freeman and his brother Jason, taller people do seem more successful in life. On an educational view, it is known that taller people strive more to have a better education. That they have  more successful jobs. Let's look a professional athletes. You rarely ever see their paychecks in the lower hundred thousands. You also rarely see many athletes under 5'. Maybe gymnast and dancers are, but not that many others sports do.

Taller people are also known to have more confidence and effort in life. Well, at least that is what is   portrayed ... According to different researches, they find more and more people who use height as a advantage are also confident. Researches find that people of shorter statures, are more prone to suicide, low-self esteem, and being a victim of bullying. I find that a little biased.

Even though scientist have done plenty of experiments to conclude that the taller stature is more appealing or makes us feel more confident, it is not necessarily true.

A man named Alfred Alder, had a theory that since shorter people cannot make themselves physically taller, they boast themselves in confidence. This is other known as the Napoleon complex. Although Napoleon was actually the average height for a Frenchman at the time of his life, he surrounded himself with men of taller heights to show that a shorter man can dominate those of advantage. That is how those of this complex respond to life. Some might say that those who have the Napoleon complex (also known as the short man complex) can seem aggressive and excessively belligerent, but they can also be very successful in life. Unlike the researcher's conclusions about short people, this group strives to not let their height bring them down. They wear shoes with slightly thicker heels, they come up with ambitious goals, and they are overall very outgoing. They want to prove that they can be just as attractive, intelligent, and confident as taller folks.

To sum it all up, height does affect society, but it is you that decides how much it will affect.


Wonderful sources:
Psychologytoday.com
Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Wikipedia.org
Encyclopedia.com
Thesocietypage.org
Huffingtonpost.com
***I also did a survey***


Do you think your height affects your position? Comment below!

Chemistry Part 2: Polyatomic ions

This is part 2 of the Chemistry help. Part one gave a list of Element Symbols you should check out!
I know some of you ask, "What are polyatomic ions?" Polyatomic ions are chemically charged molecules consisting of two or more atoms connected usually by a covalent bond. Here are the Polyatomic ions you should know. They are organized by charges:
1+:
Ammonium- NH4+
Hydronium- H3O+
1-:
Acetate-  C2HO2-
Chlorate-  CIO3-
Chlorite- CIO2-
Cyanide- CN-
Dihydrogen Phosphate- H2PO4-
Hydrogen Carbonate or bicarbonate- HCO3-
Hydrogen Sulfite or Bisulfite- HSO3-
Hydroxide- OH-
Hydrochlorite- CIO-
Nitrite- NO2-
Nitrate- NO3-
Perchlorate- CIO4-
Permanganate- MnO4-
Thiocyanate- SCN-
Hypobromite- Bro-
Bromite- BrO2-
Bromate- BrO3-
Perbromate- BrO4-
Hypoiodite- IO-
Iodite- IO2-
Iodate- IO3-
Periodate- IO4-
2-:
Carbonate- CO32-
Chromate- CrO42-
Dichromate- Cr2O72-
Hydrogen Phosphate- HPO42-
Oxalate- C2O42-
Peroxide- O22-
Sulfate- SO42-
Sulfite-  SO32-
Silicate- SiO32-
3-:
Arsenate- AsO43-
Phosphate- PO43-
Phosphite- PO33-
Borate- BO33-

If you remember these easy ions and symbols, Chemistry will be a lot more relaxing and fun (especially if you are taking AP Chemistry)!!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, comment below!

Chemistry Help

Hey guys, is anyone else taking Chemistry this upcoming fall? Well before the school year starts, you might want to remember two things: Element symbols and Polyatomics. Where can you find them? Here, of course! Below are the most common elememts and polyatomics you should remember for this upcoming year! Let's start with elements.
Elements:

• Hydrogen- H
• Helium- He
• Lithium- Li
• Berullium- Be
• Boron- B
• Carbon- C
• Nitrogen- N
• Oxygen- O
• Fluorine- F
• Neon- Ne
• Sodium- Na
• Magnesium- Mg
• Aluminum- Al
• Silicon- Si
• Phosophorus- P
• Sulfur- S
• Chlorine- Cl
• Argon- Ar
• Potassium- K
• Calcium- Ca
• Scandium- Sc
• Titanium- Ti
• Vandium- V
• Chromium- Cr
• Manganese- Mn
• Iron- Fe
• Cobalt- Co
• Nickel- Ni
• Copper- Cu
• Zinc- Zn
• Gallium- Ga
• Germanium- Ge
• Arsenic- As
• Selenium- Se
• Bromine- Br
• Krypton- Kr
• Ribidium- Rb
• Strontium- Sr
• Yttrium- Y
• Zirconium- Zr
• Palladium- Pd
• Silver- Ag
• Cadmium- Cd
• Tin- Sn
• Antimony- Sb
• Tellurium- Te
• Iodine- I
• Xenon- Xe
• Cesium- Cs
• Barium- Ba
• Tungsten- W
• Platinum- Pt
• Mercury- Hg
• Gold- Au
• Thallium- Tl
• Lead- Pb
• Bismuth- Bi
• Radon- Kn
• Radium- Ra
• Uranium- U

Polyatomics are on Chemistry Help Part 2!

The "Unwalkable" Disease

It is 11:00 o'clock at night.

Suddenly, Larry, a 72-year-old male with arthritis, wakes up to a ridiculous pain in his big toe. Limping out of bed to turn on the lights, he couldn't believe what he saw. His toe was twice the size! Later that night he called his doctor and the doctor explained that Larry was suffering from an acute gout attack.

What are Gouts?
A gout is a severely painful disorder caused by  excess uric acid building into the joints, causing swelling, redness of the affected area, and tenderness. It is most common in men over 60, but once menopause starts, it can affect women as well. It is believed that since women have a high source of estrogen, it protects them from abnormal uric acid production rates. You will most likely see this lumpy disorder on arthritis patients, but anyone can have it.

Why do Gouts occur?
It all starts with the uric acid. Uric acid is formed when purines (a source from foods like meat, beans, and fish) are broken down during the metabolic process. In a normal situation, after the metabolic process is completed the excess uric acid is removed from the body, but a gout victim's body, the rate of uric acid increases. The excess uric acid will go into the bloodstream. When the uric acid finds the joints, it will start to crystalize. It starts to put extreme pressure on the joints making it almost unbearable. To actually know if you have a gout or not, doctors will usually perform a blood test. They would also extract fluid from the affected joint. Sometimes the pressure of the joint can be caused by a pseudogout that has excess calcium phosphate, rather than uric acid.

How bad can it become?
There are four main stages of Gouts:
The first stage is called the Asymptomatic stage. You won't usually find any obvious physical characteristics, but it will feel like your joints are under pressure. There is only slight damage when it comes to this stage and you won't need any major medications or treatments.
The second stage is called Acute gout. This is where the swelling starts. It is a sudden attack and there is intense pain. On the bright side of things, it normally will go down within 3-10 days. Anti-inflammatory medications like NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) or Zyloprim can help.
The third stage is called the Interval stage. This is the period where the gout doesn't necessarily show up or cause any harm for months or years. However, it is still there. If you don't talk to your doctor or have it treated, it can go into stage four.
Stage 4, is called the Chronic Tophaceous Gout. This is where the crystallized uric acid, turns into a sugary-like substance called tophi. This is also the stage when the kidney can start to develop kidney stones. Surgery will be needed if extreme. However, it takes years for this to happen. If you get it treated in time, you will be fine.

How do I lower the risk of not having Gouts?
If you maintain your weight and diet, that can help tremendously. Make sure to not eat too many purine-induced products (chicken, asparagus, shrimp, etc) and eat your carbs. Those who go on high protein diets or low carb diets are more at risk for gouts. Try not to consume so much fructose (that is in sodas and other sugary drinks) Regulate your alcohol consumption. Too much alcohol in the bloodstream can inhibit the uric acid from escaping the body. Try to avoid having high cholesterol, blood pressure, or stress. All of those can increase your risks. Family history and diabetes are also not a good sign, but if you maintain a healthy life you shouldn't have anything worse than stage 2.

In all, gouts are a pain in the... joints! No likes them and people with arthritis especially despise them. Remember to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and try not to consume too much alcohol or soda. I promise it will help those gouts stay out!

Sources:
Mayoclinic.org
Medicalnewstoday.com
Arthritis.org
Wedmd.com
Rheumatology.org

What did you think? Comment below!

   
 

Science Help

Hey guys!
For some of us, school is just around the corner!
In my first year of high school, my AP Biology teacher found an excellent website to help us with those difficult chapters.
The website is called bozemanscience.com/.
Whether you are in a regular science class or an AP class, the website has videos that really breaks down the difficulty of science!
It helps with any type of science from biology to earth science!
If you have any questions about the website, contact me or check it out for yourself!
I'll have a new article soon, bye!