Do Now Insects!

Hello again! Today I will be doing a quick blog post about KQED’s Do Now Insects, found here.

 

This do now discusses the possibility of incorporating insects into our food and diet. As our water sources deplete, we need to look at alternative sources of protein, which includes insects. Farming meat and cows is what people traditionally want and consume, however, there is a great amount of water used. Because society has a stigma against eating insects and not “normal” foods, it is hard for people to accept eating insects.

 

I personally believe that it is a good idea and it will be able to be done on a small scale, however society as a whole will not switch. I would be ok with eating insects in a snack bar or an energy bar, but not as a meal. I feel like that wouldn’t be filling enough and I definitely do enjoy eating meats and fish.

 

Overall, eating insects is a good, innovative idea, however it is going to take a while to get everybody on board. The nutrients and benefits of eating insects are plentiful, but the social attitude will cause issues.

 

Thanks for reading and make sure to check out my other blog posts!

CSI NDB: Reflection

Hello again! Today I will be talking about a biology project that I completed along with my classmates.

 

As the title suggests, we had to create a mystery for the rest of the class to solve, like in CSI. We had to use various tools and forms of technology to create a story line, have clues, evidence, analysis and all the necessary tools to solve the murder mystery. We then presented this in class, showing the videos, giving storylines, letting the “investigators” (fellow classmates) perform tests and figure out how Wilbur the pig died. To add a level of difficulty, we had to have a cause of death related to a certain system, we had the endocrine system, and at the end of the presentation the rest of the class should be able to guess what system was compromised.

 

The basis for our CSI mystery is Wilbur the pig is found dead in his home and there are various suspects, including his wife and boss, because of the suspicious circumstances. We showed the class video interviews between the police and each of the suspects, as well as the doctor looking at Wilbur’s body. Through this information and various pieces of evidence presented in class, like a urine analysis test and items found in a trash can, the class had to determine who killed Wilbur, how he was killed and what system was effected. The class was able to successfully determine who did it, the wife, and at the end we had a quick review of the endocrine system and its various parts.

 

Overall, I thought it was a very creative and different project where we were able to learn about body systems while also group work, technology and fun! I would definitely support doing this project for a future AP Biology class, as it is enjoyable, informative and also forces you to learn about how the body systems work together. It was great seeing what other people did for their project as well and trying to solve the mystery definitely adds a level of interest and interaction. CSI NDB was a success and if you’re in a different AP Biology class, I would definitely recommend doing something similar that integrates the content into a real life situation!

 

Thank you for reading this post and make sure to check out my other blog posts!

 

 

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

Hello again! Today I will be doing a short blog post on my experience on the field trip my bio class and I went on to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve!

Picture courtesy of Mrs. Girard

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach, California is a protected area that researchers, and the general public, are allowed to visit and walk around in to view the wildlife. As this was a service learning trip, my class collected data of certain areas of the reserve on what species of organisms are present in the tide pools and how many of each species (approximately) there are. This was done by taking grids to different points on the meter line (the white string) and counting the different organisms within that gridded area. This set up can be seen below.

Picture from Mrs. Girard

By participating in this field trip, I learned various things about the organisms and wild life in the reserve. First, that there are different tidal zones (low, medium and high) and, from high to low, there is increasing diversity in the organisms present. High zones have less organisms, while low zones have a wider variety of organisms, like starfish and other crustaceans. We also observed that many jellyfish like creatures were washed up on the beach. These creatures, Velella vellela wash up on beaches in large amounts during this time of year, due to currents. Finally, I learned that sea urchins stop functioning properly if taken out of the water for a long period of time, due to their hydrostatic skeleton.

Photo by Mrs. Girard

This information that we learned has also related to what we have learned this year in biology. In class, we have learned about all of the different classifications of the various organisms we saw and it was interesting to see how each organism differs in real life as opposed to a picture. We learned about similarities and differences that make each organism unique to their classification. We also learn that the environment plays a role in species survival and adaptations, and this can be seen in certain organisms that live in the high tidal zone. They have adapted to accommodate living without water for various hours each day, thus, adapting and changing to their conditions rather than dying off. As you can read, this field trip has many positive aspects, including learning more about new topics and expanding on old ones.

Photo by Mrs. Girard

Reflecting, it was a really enjoyable field that I will personally remember seeing a crab, almost falling into the water and hitting my head against Nicole’s head accidentally. I will also remember the service learning part of the field trip. It is nice knowing the things I did are going to help scientists learn more about that particular environment and it impacted me positively, but I wouldn’t say it completely changed my experience. The only thing I would change is more free time for exploring. I found that I enjoyed myself the most walking around and pointing out interesting organisms with my classmates. If you have not visited a marine reserve, such as Fitzgerald, I would highly recommend going as it is fun and you learn a lot.

 

I thought this field trip to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve was very fun, engaging, but also informative. I was able to see live marine organism up close, while also helping collect data, which is what science is all about. I definitely think this field trip should be done for future classes.

 

Thanks for reading my reflection on our field trip to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and make sure to check out my other blog posts!

 

Do Now Babies – My Opinion

Today I will be writing a short blog post on my opinion about KQED’s #DoNowBabies. The original post made by KQED can be found here.

Found here

This do now discusses the new law passed in England that allows for “three-person babies,” which means that there can be an egg donor, a sperm donor and a donor for mitochondrial DNA, if the mother’s mitochondrial is defective and will result in an impaired or unhealthy baby. The do now addresses the morality of “three-peson babies” and DNA modification in general, whether it be to prevent health issues or for more cosmetic and less necessary reasons. The little blurb on the page discusses both opinions on the issue, those for DNA modification and those against it, providing insight for both sides.

Found here

I personally believe that mitochondrial DNA modification is morally acceptable and should be used if it prevents a disease in the child and if it extends their life. As long as the DNA modification is being done for health benefits, NOT cosmetic benefits, then I believe it should be allowed. The whole point of medicine is to extend their lifespan, and by modifying the embryos DNA, their life would, hopefully, be extended.

Found here

DNA modification is part of the future, and whether it includes three parent babies or altering the nuclear DNA to prevent a disease, it is going to be part of society. We as people of the community, and as people of science, need to make sure modifications are moral, for the benefit of others and accessible to everybody. There need to be rules and regulations to prevent the abuse of DNA modification and potential use for cosmetic gain, as opposed to health benefits. “Designer babies” and picking and choosing traits should be prevented, as, in my opinion, they are greatly immoral. However, these drawbacks to DNA modification do not outweigh the benefits, which could result in many more lives being saved. Genetic alteration and DNA manipulation are part of our society now, we just need to learn how to handle the power and responsibility.

 

Thank you for reading my opinion on Do Now Babies and make sure to check out my other posts!

 

 

 

Caroline Hansen Presentation: Reflection

Today I will be reflecting on the presentation that I listened to by Caroline Hansen. She is recovering from a traumatic brain injury that resulted in severe loss of motor and neural function. Caroline talked about the accident, the brain injury and the multiple years of recovery and therapy she has gone through to get to the point of walking, talking, rowing and more. She described what it was like to go through such a traumatic experience, what she has learned and how she is still growing and learning.

 

I personally thought this talk was very impactful and engaging. You always hear about stories of severe brain injuries, but actually seeing someone recovering from such a thing really opened my eyes to the reality that some people face. I feel more informed on the symptoms and results of a traumatic brain injury, as she explained what happened to her. I also thought that listening to the various types of therapy she does and all of the repercussions of such a quick incident.

Examples of physical therapy Source: US Navy Mass Communication Specialist 

Overall, yes it was a sad presentation and it was hard hearing somebody had to go through such a traumatic experience, however it was also very informational and I learned a lot about brain injuries and the recovery associated with severe brain injuries.

 

Thank you for reading this short reflection and make sure to check out my other posts!

Concussion in Youth Sports: Design Thinking Project

Hello again! Today I will be discussing the Design Thinking Project I created, the process I went through and what I’ve found after creating it!   First, let me explain Design thinking. Design thinking is a way of coming up with a solution to a problem. The process, which can be viewed in the picture below, consists of five steps (empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test). I used these steps to address the issue of concussions in youth sports. Untreated concussions are a prevalent problem in youth sports, so, using this process, I decided to make a solution that coaches can easily pull out and use to identify concussions quickly. Here’s the process I went through, which uses the example of heart disease rather than concussions. I first researched to find out more informations about the issue and concussions in general. I found statistics, numbers and basic information on what actually happens when a concussion occurs.  There are not many protocols surrounding concussions in youth sports, even in sports that are at higher risk for getting concussions, like hockey or football. Most people know that concussions are a problem and sometimes the symptoms are easy to spot, however, not all athletes get treatment or rest because they do not tell their coaches. Because concussions are brain injuries that can result in brain damage, it is very important coaches are aware of the major damage concussions can cause. This brings me to the next step, define.

Below there’s a quick video by a doctor from OSU explaining concussion basics.

Most coaches and athletes have a difficult time quickly identifying whether they have a concussion or not on the field or shortly after the athlete was it. This lack of identification results in athletes continuing to play, when they shouldn’t, and having an increased chance of brain damage. If identification of concussions was quick and accurate, the amount of un-reported concussions and permanent brain injuries from concussions would decrease. So, I started thinking of solutions to increase the likelihood that coaches will identify a concussion quickly, accurately and get the proper help.

Source: Stuart Seeger

I came up with a couple potential projects, such as a pocket checklist, an app that you can put your symptoms in and it will indicate whether a concussion is likely or even some sort of programmable bracelet that takes heart rate, vital signs and monitors brain activity for any irregularities, such as a concussion. All of these I thought would benefit people greatly, however, realistically, the pocket checklist is the easiest and most efficient way to achieve the goal of quick identification by coaches. So then I started to create.

Source: Patrick J. Lynch

I created a simple pocket checklist, using Piktochart, where I put a little statistic in the corner, some instructions and the symptoms of a concussion. A coach would take it out, check off which symptoms the athlete has then refer to the bottom for an estimation of severity and advice on where to go from there. It is simple, graphic and there are very few words. I found lists of symptoms through various credible sources, like here and here. I then took this list and applied it to the prototype. This prototype can be found here, and I have a couple picture of it below.   As for testing this info graphic, I have a couple of coaches and trainers that I talk to on a daily basis. Because I know coaches of non-contact sports, I wasn’t able to collect data of them actually using the chart in a real situation. However, generally the consensus was that it is a good idea that could use some improvement for the bottom row with identifying concussion type. I am no doctor, so this makes as my interpretation of concussions (mild vs severe) is based solely on research, thus, for this chart to be more accurate and useful, more research and knowledge should be gained.

If youth concussions are to be addressed, treated and prevented, we must actively try to change protocols, identification and treatment to keep the athlete’s health as the main priority. I hope that with further tweaking and research, my prototype could potentially be useful to help correct this problem!

Make sure to look further into youth concussions, as it could always use more awareness and solutions. Also, check out my other blog posts for more Sports Medicine and Biology related topics! Thanks for reading!

Do Now Vaccinate – My Opinion

Lately, the debate of whether children should get vaccinations or not has been popular in the press. This Do Now specifically talks about the measles outbreak and how it has occurred due to the fact that some parents have not gotten their children vaccinated. Some are against vaccinations due to religious reasons or because the parents believe the vaccination will harm the child rather than help protect it. In this brief blog post, I will be discussing my opinion on this issue

Source: CDN

Above is a picture of the 2015 measles outbreak in the US that originated in Disneyland in California. The main reason this outbreak has even occurred is due to the lack of vaccinations, because some schools are lacking in vaccination requirements and parents do not feel comfortable with their kids getting a vaccination. However, my opinion on the situation is that outbreaks are totally preventable with proper care and vaccination. Vaccinations basically insert a deactivated or very small amount of the virus into the person’s body. The body then develops antibodies to these harmless amounts of virus, so then if the live virus ever comes in contact with the body, the body can fight it and survive. As you can see from the picture below, most places do actually have measles vaccinations.

Source: Wikimedia

I personally think a disease like measles is completely preventable if vaccines were required. I know some parents feel uncomfortable with the idea of vaccines, however, I believe that it has the whole population and its health in mind. By allowing some parents to not vaccinate their children, that puts not only the un-vaccinated children at risk, but others at risk as well for contracting the disease, due to the fact vaccination is not a cure, only a preventative measure. By requiring vaccinations, not only would all children be relatively safe from the viruses vaccinated, but also we would have less to worry about when it comes to potential outbreaks of diseases. I always believe that the benefit of the larger population outweighs the opinion of the single families that don’t want their kids to get a vaccine, however that is just me.

Source: Consolidate Times

Vaccination is a very controversial issue, however, I believe that with more information and knowledge, people will come to realize that the positive benefits of vaccination outweigh the few negatives of vaccinating your child. If you’re unsure about measles vaccination or vaccination in general, visit these websites for more information. Vaccine Information (on measles) CDC info page on vaccines There are many other resources available on the internet to inform you more on vaccines, outbreaks and any other questions you may have.   I hope you enjoyed reading my opinion on vaccinations and please make sure to check out my other posts!

All About the Immune and Digestive Systems!

Today I will be discussing the relationship between the immune system, which fights infections, and the digestive system, which breaks down food, and the impact this relationship has on athletes.

 

The digestive system is how we get all of our nutrients, however, it is often exposed to many outside substances because we are constantly eating. Often, healthy bacteria and nutrients are absorbed, however, bad bacteria and pathogens are often present. Because of this constant exposure, bacteria and viruses are constantly being absorbed into the digestive system. The immune system consists of cells, organs, proteins and chemicals that kill off bacteria and viruses to prevent infection. The main role of the immune system is to decide whether what is digested is beneficial or hurtful, and if the bacteria is hurtful, the immune system responds. The most common immune response to bacteria that show up in the digestive system is innate, or non-specific responses that simply kill off the bacteria and pathogens, preventing the rest of the body from being exposed to this bacteria. Bacteria is also prevented from spreading throughout the body because of the intestinal lining and other layers of cells. There is also acquired immunity, which is when a pathogen is exposed to the body enough, the immune system builds up an immunity to it and kills off those pathogens. All of these responses and features of the immune system help kill off harmful bacteria and pathogens within the digestive system to prevent harm to the body. (Sources: NutriHealth, IBS Treatment Center, LiveStrong). Now that you know more about the relationship between digestion and immune response, I’m going to talk about how this effects athletes.

Source: Blausen.com staff

As you can see, the relationship between what you eat and getting sick is strong. The saying, “You are what you eat,” really is true and if you eat junk food and food with little to no nutritious value, it will have physical effects, like getting sick more often. Athletes need to become aware of what they are putting in their bodies can affect their performance and how they physically feel. If an athlete consistently eats harmful foods or chemicals, their athletic performance will diminish due to the fact their body is focusing all of its energy on fighting infections away rather than performing to its highest level. All the parts of the body connect in some way or another and athletes who learn more about how systems relate to one another will be aware of how they can improve their performance on the field through health and nutrition.

Bacteria (yellow) being ingested by a cell from the immune system
Source: NIAID

Health and nutrition are very important factors if an athlete wants to perform to their highest level, not only to provide healthy energy, but also to prevent the athlete from getting sick and constantly being exposed to pathogens. Eating healthy, drinking lots of water and being mindful of what athlete’s put in their bodies are all ways in which athletes can stay healthy and support their immune system. Various rest days and breaks should be incorporated into athletes’ schedules so their bodies have time to heal. If an athlete is to become sick, they should also make sure to allot time to recover, so they do not push their bodies too hard and prolong their sickness. All of these solutions revolve around the core value of keeping the needs of your body in mind and feeding it with energy and health, not bringing it down with chemicals and fake food.

Source: Agricultural Research Service

Everybody should be aware of what they’re eating, the impact it has on their body and how eating right can help protect against illness. As always, this is my opinion and I am not a doctor so those with medical issues should seek the help of a professional. I hope you enjoyed this post and make sure to check out some of my other posts!

 

 

 

Never Give Up! – Reflection

Hello again! Today I will be reflecting on this TED talk by Diana Nyad about her journey and feat of swimming 100 miles from Cuba to Florida.

Source: BBC

As a swimmer and surfer, I understood the difficulty of swimming in the ocean and that in it of itself is something I could only dream of accomplishing. Her story of constant failure, but eventual success, is one that I found inspiring and shows how hard work really does pay off. She managed to achieve the seemingly impossible and that gives me hope that I will eventually be able to fulfill me dreams and desires.

Picture from my swim coach

For the past couple of years, I have had the hope of eventually making a very fast cut in swimming and making it to regional championships. It has always been in the back of my mind, and now that I’m so close I feel like it is actually achievable. I still have to improve greatly before the end of high school, but this talk inspired me to believe in myself that I can improve and that I can achieve my goal. I have had constant setbacks with various injuries, trips and other issues that have come up, which have prevented me from feeling 100% and trying my hardest. These issues may come up again, but over the past three years I have steadily improved, so I have faith that I can push through.

 

The talk itself was very good, with bits of humor, strength and overall life lessons within the talk. I don’t usually listen to inspirational speeches, as I often don’t connect to the person talking or I find it doesn’t help or inspire me, however her talk I was able to relate to, due to the fact that I swim. I think she conveyed a positive message of always trying and striving for what I want. I would recommend anyone to watch this talk, linked at the beginning of the post or you can watch the video embedded below.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed my opinion on Diana’s talk and make sure to check out some of my other posts!

 

Nutrition: My Opinion

Nutrition is defined as “the process of obtaining the food necessary for health and growth” (Google). This is a very general definition, however, for me nutrition is not only what we eat, but also how we live and our attitude towards food.

Source: Aria Ziai

Nutrition and diet are a part of my daily life, as I am an athlete, student and person who is very active. I don’t always eat very healthy snacks or meals, but at least one meal a day has vegetables, meat and other foods with nutritious value. My family makes meals daily, however, like every family, we have moderation. I have grown up to believe that diet and nutrition are important, but having an unhealthy snack or meal is not a bad thing and teaches moderation. As a kid, nutrition was an important part of my life as I was growing and I believe this emphasis has helped me try to be healthier in my decisions as a teenager with more choices and freedom with what I eat.

Source: Wikimedia

During high school and college, nutrition and the attention towards diet diminish. Nutrition should not only be something we are conscious of as kids or parents, but as teens and young adults as well. If we eat a generally balanced diet with homemade meals and healthy foods, then we will be more physically fit and it will help us in the long run. Nutrition at a young age is more important than most people think it is and I believe more awareness and efforts need to be made for a healthier lifestyle for all.

Source: User beeki on pixabay

Nutrition, experiences and the decisions to put something in our body are purely personal and unique to every individual. My experiences make me appreciate nutrition and being healthy, so I hope I can continue to make nutrition an important part of my daily life. I’m not qualified to tell somebody what to do, however I believe that eating right can improve not only your physical appearance, but how you feel and your attitude towards situations.

Source: Wikimedia

Here are some links to outside sources that have more information on nutrition in general:

Nutrition.gov

What is nutrition?

 

I hope you enjoyed reading my opinion on nutrition and health, make sure to comment and check out some of my other posts!