1. Connections between Cell Biology and TCM
After nearly four years of studying “Integrative Medicine”, I still find it really challenging to make connections between Western medicine and TCM; especially with respect to microscopic things like cells. Chinese medicine doesn't really break things down like this. The approach is much more holistic. I’ve finally come to realize that both styles of medicine are very different. It's like comparing tennis and football. They're both competitive sports but beyond that is it even useful to find comparisons?
I have an appreciation and fascination for both types of medicine. They each have their strengths and weaknesses. Because we live in a Western society and the majority of our patients will come to us because they want to supplement the care they are receiving from their Western medical doctors, I want to have a pretty good understanding of diseases from a Western medical point of view, at least the Signs and Symptoms, pathophysiology, labwork, treatment and medications.
2. How Cells Divide: Mitosis v.s. Meiosis
This was an interesting web site. I think the web site is better than the program, Nova. I used to watch Nova all the time, but it now tends toward sensationalism. I have no issue with the subject matter, it's just the presentation is sometimes too sensationalist for my taste. But, the web site is very good. I enjoyed the visuals.
3. Mrskingsbioweb.com/cell.html
There were some very good graphics on this web site. I mentioned on last week's assignment that one of the web sites pointed out that animal cells lack cell walls. I was surprised to hear this. Mrskingsbioweb.com/cell.html helped me to realize that I was equating cell walls with cell membranes. Two different things, of course! Anyway, I enjoyed this web site.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Assignment 11
1. Diversity of Species in my Environment
I have all kinds of creatures living in my immediate environment. Well, for starters there are humans. I have a dog. There are cats, deer and raccoons that visit us from around the neighborhood. I have a variety of houseplants and outdoor plans. We have ants, spiders, earthworms, Sal bugs, fungus (including mushrooms), thrips, scale, and rust (a type of lawn fungus). We have robins and hummingbirds. We have moths, butterflies bees and mosquitoes. In the summertime we also get Blue Jays. We sometimes see Hawks and Herons.
2. Animal Cell Structure Website
I liked the animal cell structure web site because it illuminated some very basic things about cell biology that I did not know. For example, I didn’t realize that animal cells do not have a cell wall as do plants. This lack of cell wall allows for greater diversity of cells and tissues in the animal kingdom. I also didn't know that animal tissue is surrounded by an extracellular matrix composed of collagen, which when it hardens, becomes bones, shells and spicules.
3. Spike’s Gallery
Wow, I really like this website! These are gorgeous photographs. I especially liked fossil diatoms from Oamaru and Volvox globate. I think it's because I'm partial to blue.
I have all kinds of creatures living in my immediate environment. Well, for starters there are humans. I have a dog. There are cats, deer and raccoons that visit us from around the neighborhood. I have a variety of houseplants and outdoor plans. We have ants, spiders, earthworms, Sal bugs, fungus (including mushrooms), thrips, scale, and rust (a type of lawn fungus). We have robins and hummingbirds. We have moths, butterflies bees and mosquitoes. In the summertime we also get Blue Jays. We sometimes see Hawks and Herons.
2. Animal Cell Structure Website
I liked the animal cell structure web site because it illuminated some very basic things about cell biology that I did not know. For example, I didn’t realize that animal cells do not have a cell wall as do plants. This lack of cell wall allows for greater diversity of cells and tissues in the animal kingdom. I also didn't know that animal tissue is surrounded by an extracellular matrix composed of collagen, which when it hardens, becomes bones, shells and spicules.
3. Spike’s Gallery
Wow, I really like this website! These are gorgeous photographs. I especially liked fossil diatoms from Oamaru and Volvox globate. I think it's because I'm partial to blue.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Assignment 9
1. My thoughts on the ethics of gene therapy
This topic is fraught with controversy and is very complicated. I guess I make the distinction between somatic cell gene therapy and germline therapy. As I understand it, somatic cell gene therapy involves inserting healthy cells into a person who has a disease. Germline therapy involves using an altered gene that is inserted into sperm or egg cells (germ cells) leading to a change in not only the individual receiving the treatment but future offspring. The intent of somatic cell gene therapy is to cure disease and reduce suffering. The idea behind germline therapy is to enhance a person's natural attributes (e.g., making a mediocre baseball player into a hotshot, or turning an average person into a genius). I have no problem with somatic cell gene therapy provided its use is limited to curing disease and reducing suffering. Germline therapy on the other hand reminds me of Hitler’s obsession with creating a perfect society (as he defined it). Thinking that everyone should be super intelligent, or physically stellar leads to intolerance of those who are not. This kind of thinking is dangerous. creeps me out.
2. Definitions of the Chemistry of Life
To me, this web site is not very intriguing. I was not interested in the laundry list of definitions.
3. Animations
I liked this web site much more than "Chemistry of Life." I think it's because I relate more to graphics than to words when it comes to chemistry.
This topic is fraught with controversy and is very complicated. I guess I make the distinction between somatic cell gene therapy and germline therapy. As I understand it, somatic cell gene therapy involves inserting healthy cells into a person who has a disease. Germline therapy involves using an altered gene that is inserted into sperm or egg cells (germ cells) leading to a change in not only the individual receiving the treatment but future offspring. The intent of somatic cell gene therapy is to cure disease and reduce suffering. The idea behind germline therapy is to enhance a person's natural attributes (e.g., making a mediocre baseball player into a hotshot, or turning an average person into a genius). I have no problem with somatic cell gene therapy provided its use is limited to curing disease and reducing suffering. Germline therapy on the other hand reminds me of Hitler’s obsession with creating a perfect society (as he defined it). Thinking that everyone should be super intelligent, or physically stellar leads to intolerance of those who are not. This kind of thinking is dangerous. creeps me out.
2. Definitions of the Chemistry of Life
To me, this web site is not very intriguing. I was not interested in the laundry list of definitions.
3. Animations
I liked this web site much more than "Chemistry of Life." I think it's because I relate more to graphics than to words when it comes to chemistry.
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