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Impact of environment on health
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The human immune system is all about synchrony and war. My interest in immunotherapy gained a solid foundation during my undergraduate internship at Morphogenesis Inc. As an eager intern, I studied underneath the principal scientist who was working on his own patent in cancer vaccinations. During my work there I was able to follow different animal patients from start to finish. Each patient had a different form of cancer, which meant the vaccination was personal to each one. In spite of all the differences the underlying problem was patients had a mutagenic disorder in their DNA.
I want to know why long exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer and why defects in DNA repair can cause an overgrowth of cells leading to cancer. Is there a way
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Genetics and nature particularly stood out. How do the same genes in most people change differently when exposed to the environment? What effect does that change have on our DNA and virtually, gene expression and regulation? Further, can the environment influence predisposed, hereditable diseases?
While working at Morphogenesis and doing research in immunotherapy, some of my questions have been answered. There are still an abundance of questions and discoveries I have yet to unfold. The variety of classes offered at Rutgers will help me smash down the pile of knowledge I have yet to tackle. My goal is to complete my Biotechnology BS degree and continue my education through to graduate school to gain a deeper understanding of mutations and immunotherapy. I am looking forward to working along side great scientists at the National Science Foundation: Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley, from Molecules to Ecosystems. Nature, nurture, aging, chemicals, and mutations are just a few things that shape and transform our DNA. Ever since my eighth grade science class where we looked at slides of cells under a telescope, I have been interested in the building blocks of life. I hope that I will uncover more answers while in the National Science Foundation
...tance. Things that may protect you from cancer are; a proper balanced diet and a strong immune system. Your body has a sort of, command center that controls the growth of skin. Sometimes the cell reproduction process goes wrong and the newly created cell is a mutation of the original cell. Most cell mutations do not survive long enough to become harmful but sometimes the genetics of the cell allows it to survive and the cell could become cancerous. Some things that make a cell cancerous are; it not being attached to the command center, when the cell doesn’t give notice to the signal sent to tell it to stop growing, and when the cell gains its own blood vessel network system. Cancerous cells can move around and take over other sections of the body which destroys the person. Cancer and heart disease and many other severe conditions are there for many years before you e
Skin cancer is a significant public health issue in Australia. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun in the UVA and UVB wavelengths is the primary cause. Australia has been a world leader in efforts to protect the ozone layer, the main line of defense against ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. Ultraviolet radiation induces the formation of thymine dimers that cause mutation of skin cells if not repaired before DNA replication. Mutations of tumor suppressor genes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth. Ultraviolet radiation also causes immunosuppresion that allows skin cancers to become established. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are types of skin cancer caused by sun exposure, though each form is associated with a different pattern of exposure. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, due to a combination of tropical latitude, fair-skinned population, outdoor lifestyle, and high amount of ambient ultraviolet radiation. Widespread opinions about tanning and health benefits of sunlight lead many Australians to intentionally overexpose themselves to the sun. State cancer councils have developed sun safety and awareness campaigns, such as “Slip! Slop! Slap!” and “SunSmart,” to educate the population about sun exposure and encourage early detection of skin cancers. Gradual changes in knowledge and behavior indicate that the fight against skin cancer can be won.
Melanoma starts in the melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells that make the pigment melanin according to (www.skincancer.org). Cancerous growths can develop from UV lights and the sun. A source of UV lights would be tanning bed. These sources caused cells to trigger mutation. The trigger mutations cause genetic defects. Genetic defects leads to skin cell multiply and form malignant tumors.
Skin Cancer is caused by hereditary factors, overexposure to the sun, and weak immune systems. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) One reason people tend to get skin cancer is when someone in your family has passed their genes down to you, known as hereditary. Normally hereditary is one of the causes in the development of melanoma. For all types of skin cancers, overexposure of the skin to UV radiation in sunlight is the most frequently blamed source of skin cancer. “Research suggests that sunburns received early in one’s childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life” (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com). For example, when someone gets sunburned, you usually don’t know till ten to twenty years after and that’s why people don’t get skin cancer till they reach their twenties.
As I mentioned before our environment has a great effect on our nature. For example a theory claimed that, the first humans were originated in Africa in the time frame of 115,00...
Today I will discuss the immune system and what makes it so important and vital for our everyday well-being and defending our body against sickness and disease.. First off, what is the immune system? Vaccines.gov informs readers that, “The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by “foreign” invaders. These are primarily microbes—tiny organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and fungi that can cause infections.” Why are these important to us as humans? Very simple, without our immune system ,things such as viruses, the common cold and flu, would likely cause severe trauma or death to our body very easily. However, antibodies
Neuroscience at Tulane is home to not only interesting and unique classes, but the program has an incredible research department. I am so excited to join in on research at the University and study under one of Tulane’s many bright professors. The modern, high-tech labs and facilities at Tulane will allow me to expand my laboratory skills from the Health and Medicine Magnet. The specific Neuroscience research at Tulane is intriguing because it allows me to directly apply knowledge from class to hands-on work in the lab. I am excited to take part in Tulane’s current research around Oncology and T-Cells because hopefully, I can do my part in helping Tulane make scientific breakthroughs that will save lives.
One of the most common mysteries in the world is the development of autoimmune diseases. An autoimmune disease is when the immune system, which usually keeps your body healthy thinks that your healthy cells are antigens and attacks them. This is irony right? It is against properties of evolution for an immune system to attack itself causing sickness and possibly death if untreated. There are about 80 different types of autoimmune diseases, which usually have periods of little to no symptoms and worsening symptoms. What particularly creates confusion in the world is the autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel disease, which affects almost about five million people worldwide.
Over the past few decades, cancer has become a very prominent disease. There are many different types of cancer and many different causes of the the disease. Most cancers are caused by a genetic mutation. The most common type occurs when a cell is divided. Proto-oncogenes, which are alleles in normal cells, mutate to form oncogenes.
It’s a face-paced world and it’s not slowing down. Have you ever thought of all the harmful stuff that is in the air? Think of a big city where there are tons of cars and factories that pollute the air. After thinking about that and reading about epigenetics, environmental interactions do have an impact on people’s genes and health. Different environmental factors can damage some linkage DNA, and possibly alter genetic traits for generations to come. Environmental factors cause genes to be turned on and off. When the genes get turned on and off it can be for the good or bad depending on lifestyle factors. From the article “How do your genes and the environment interact?” There were many different ways listed that genes and the environment can interact. Those ways are mutagens and gene-gene interactions. “Mutagens are pollutants in the environment that enter the body and directly change your DNA sequence.” “Gene-gene interactions occur when pollutants in the environment do not change your DNA sequence, but rather cause a chain reaction that affects the functioning of one gene that then affects the functioning of another.” Most of diseases are a combination of genetic risk and the environment someone lives
The Phase I trial will be discussed here as it pertains to the topic at hand. The typical treatment for cervical cancer if surgery is not a viable option – like if the cancer has spread, then called locally advanced cervical cancer – is chemotherapy and radiation treatment at the same time. This phase I clinical trial is simply looking to add ipilimumab to this regimen, but once the chemo/radiation has been completed (LACC article). Chemo and radiation destroy tumor cells, which causes tumor-associated antigens to be released. Once released, these antigens are exogenous (outside the cell) and will be presented to helper T cells to initiate an immune response.
Throughout our lives we have all been influenced by our environment and other outside forces. Our environment may change the way we think, act and behave in life. Since we are all products of our environment, it comes to no surprise that we, as humans, tend to behave in a society the same way others around us behave but at the same time we strive to find who we really are (Schaefer 73). Since birth, humans have always analyzed the world around them. With each day that passes, humans take in more and more information from the outside world. The information which humans obtain through their environment subconsciously influences the decisions people make throughout their daily life (Neubauer 16). On the other hand, our genetics also play a vital role in determining what type of person we are and what will we become.
I was first drawn to cell and molecular biology when I was a child, when my uncle gave me a microscope for Christmas. I was enthralled by the intricacy of biological structures, and curious as to how the hidden architecture of living things contributes to their function. When I entered high school, I was surprised at how much information in biology was still unknown or unclear. To pursue these answers, I studied beyond what was required of my classes, even to the point of individually learning AP biology. Despite my high achievements in these pursuits, my questions remained unanswered. With this, I decided the only way to have my curiosity satisfied would be to go to college to study cell and molecular biology.
“Heredity Versus Environment – The Nature – nature controversy, exploring heredity and environment: Research Methods, beyond heritability”
The field experience was very effective in progressing myself professionally. My next steps will be to further my research training. I plan to enter a Ph.D. program in a biomedical science as my next academic step. I will likely begin study at John A. Burns School of Medicine in cell and molecular biology in August 2016.