Ethical Debate about Stem Cell Research

The Ethical Debate about Stem Cell Research

This debate is mostly focused around one argument on the subject of

stem cell research. That topic is whether or not the embryo that is

being destroyed has the rights and privileges that a born human has. The stage that the embryo is destroyed is very early when it is considered a blastula which is after an egg is fertilized but before it connects to the uterus wall. Now there is no disputing that a blastula has the potential to become a human life, which is why many consider it to be a human with rights and privileges. Many who believe this are part of the pro-life community. However, some believe that a blastula is not a child yet as if it does not connect to the uterus wall it will never have the chance to become a child. There is a middle ground in which blastula made in surplus by fertility clinics can be used to improve and save peoples lives instead of going to waste. Another issue is informed consent of both the donation of the blastula and the reception of the cell through a transplant. Religious values also play a large part in the decision of supporting or being against stem cell research.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726839/

By Bernard Lo and Lindsay Parham

https://stemcellres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/scrt474

By Nancy MP King and Jacob Perrin

Infectious disease and hematology simulations

What do these simulations show? https://www.infectiousdisease.cam.ac.uk/schoolzone/games

 The great flu and killer flu game replicates a virus outbreak around the world. You can make certain equipment available like vaccines, face mask, and isolating symptomatic individuals to different parts of the world. In the simulation there's a chart you can see about how many are infected and how many deaths. Your goal is to save the human population with a 2 billion dollar budget to spend on preventable strategies. In the killer flu game you have to infect people with the virus and make some mutations in the virus for people with immunity and watch it spread. In med mystery game, you choose what game you want to play and then you're given missions and instructions on what to do. Different missions to prevent the disease from spreading would be finding different treatments and vaccines. The hemotology lab simulation includes three different blood smears from different paitents with blood disorders. your job is to examine the function of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. In this simulation you learn to analyze complete blood counts, prepare peripheral blood smears and help dianose various blood disorders. All these simulations relate to us and socity today. We are constantly dealing with viruses and how to contain them. You can see how fast viruses spread and how fatel they can be.

Pandemic of the Corona virus

Selina Nguyen RQ and summative

 Are public health organizations prepared for the possible pandemic of the Coronavirus? Over the past 70 years, scientists have found that the Coronavirus can affect mice, rats, dogs, cats, turkeys, horses, pigs and cows. Most recently, authorities have identified a Coronavirus outbreak in China. The virus has now affected tens of thousands of people in China and is now reaching other countries around the world like the United States, The United Kingdom and some parts of Canada. Human Coronavirus was first identified in the 1960’s in the noses of patients with the common cold. The Coronavirus can cause both SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERSC (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). Today there are seven identified human coronaviruses, the most recent outbreak virus is called COVID-19. It’s believed that the virus is transmitted using severted fluid from the respiratory system. The Coronavirus is airborone, meaning that the pathogen can be transmitted through the air. By coughing and sneezing without covering your mouth the virus can pass from one person to another. Touching and shaking hands with a person that has the virus can transmit the virus around. Even making contact with a surface that has the virus is on can infect you. Reports indicate the virus can be active up to 5 days on a surface. If you’ve recently traveled to the United Kingdom from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau or Vietnam and are experiencing symptoms there are things you should do. To prevent transmission, be sure to stay home if you are experiencing symptoms and avoid close contact with others. Make sure to cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing and wash your hands. Contact health authorities to let them know about your symptoms as you may need testing. If the symptoms seem to be getting worse, admit yourself to a hospital to seek medical help. While some viruses are highly contagious, health organizations aren't sure how rapidly the Coronavirys will spread. Corona virus can lead to severe illness or even death. Therefore it is important to keep an eye out for symptoms. Some of the symptoms include fever, dry cough, pneumonia, and shortness of breath. It may take 2-14 days for a person to develop symptoms after being infected. That's why this virus is so dangerous because you can be transmitting it and not even know. In addition we currently do not have a vaccine. As this is viral pneumonia, antibiotics are no use. The best bet is to contact your physician, which may then require you go to the hospital to seek medical help. If you get admitted to the hospital, you may get support for your lungs, organs and fluids. Recovery will also depend on the strength of the patient's immune system. Many individuals that have not survived this virus are due to the fact that they were aged or were in poor health. Health organizations are dealing with the virus even though it keeps on spreading. They will continue to try and contain it as much as possible. There's not much that we can do as a society but stay cautious and follow safe hand washing procedures, staying at home if ill, coughing/sneezing into a tissue and disposing of it properly, staying at home if ill, contacting the authorities if you suspect you or a family member have the virus. Additionally keeping yourself updated with the coronavirus through the legitimate news and internet sources as to the latest safety measures and updates.

 Citations:
 Andone, D., & Gumbrecht, J. (2020, February 13). The 15th US case of coronavirus is an evacuee at an Air Force base in Texas. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/13/us/us-coronavirus-case-texas-base/index.html

 Denison, M. R. (1970, January 1). CORONAVIRUS RESEARCH: KEYS TO DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PREVENTION OF SARS. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92477/

 Liu, M. (2020, February 14). Perspective | The coronavirus and the long history of blaming the ' other' in public health crises. Retrieved February 14, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/02/14/coronavirus-long-history-blaming-the-other-public-health-crises/

The Effect of Nutrition

The Effect of Nutrition

 Good nutrition is necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity it will keep your body healthy and working well, decreasing chronic diseases and future health problems. Eating behaviours are affected by many factors such as biological, economic, physical and social, psychological determinants. These cover appetite, income, cost, availability, education, time, culture, peers, mood, beliefs and knowledge. These factors can all lead to bad or good eating behaviours.

 Nowadays technology is taking over the world allowing people to do things in the palm of their hands anywhere. Mostly everything is done electronically causing people to be inactive. With online shopping and food delivery apps you never have to leave your house to buy and make your own food. Many social platforms have a lot of fast food ads causing the cravings of unhealthy meals in your diet. It's also easier to eat cheap unhealthy foods than healthy foods. Both these factors are a catalyst to obesity in today’s society.

Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. In 2016 about 13% of the worlds adult population were obese. Not only is obesity affecting adults but 40 million children under the age 5 were overweight or obese in 2018. Obesity is a serious problem affecting health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

 Food additives are a substance added to food for preservation, colour and taste improvement, and texture. Some food additives are harmful and should be avoided but most are safe in small quantities. If you can cut out all food additives in your diet it would be the healthier dession. The use of additives is becoming more frequent due to high demand for food and economic reasons to sell food fast.

 Social media embodies specific body types that affect both women and men's self image on how they are “supposed” to look. This can lead to unhealthy ways to lose weight, unhealthy eating habits and poor mental health.

 Fad diets are popular due to results sometimes achieved in a short amount of time. With a fad diet, you pay more attention to what you eat. This usually causes you to lose water weight and muscle rather than body fat because you're eating less calories than you should. This diet usually fails because restricting calories often leaves dieters hungry causing binge eating. This diet may lead to harmful self image and ongoing eating disorder.

 Changing your lifestyle by working out, getting active, making your own meals instead of eating out and eating fruit and vegetables to get the nutrients you need will benefit your future, mental/physical health.

 Citations 

Cleere, Michelle. (n.d.). Why are people becoming physically inactive these days?: Fitness. Retrieved March 2, 2020, from https://www.sharecare.com/health/fitness-exercise/why-are-people-becoming-physically-inactive

Downs, M. (2005, January 3). Why Do We Keep Falling for Fad Diets? Retrieved March 2, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/why-do-we-keep-falling-for-fad-diets#1

 Food additives. (2018, January 31). Retrieved March 2, 2020, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-additives

 Healthy Eating: Changing Your Eating Habits. (2018, November 7). Retrieved March 2, 2020, from https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/ad1169

Lee, H. A., Lee, W. K., Kong, K.-A., Chang, N., Ha, E.-H., Hong, Y. S., & Park, H. (2011, September 28). The effect of eating behavior on being overweight or obese during preadolescence. Retrieved March 2, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249260/

Career Exploration and Contribution of Scientist

Part A: Career Exploration and Contribution of Scientist 

 The career I choose to explore is a dietitian. Dietitians have many career options including clinical, communital, public health, consulting, research and sport dietitians. These dietitians can find employment in hospitals, nursing homes, universities/school cafeteria and health care facilities. To get started you would need to obtain a four year bachelor's degree in food and nutrition. You would also need to register to practice with a provincial regulatory body to protect the public's safety. After passing the temporary licencing exam you would need to write the Canadian Dietetics Registration Exam. After these steps are completed successfully, you are eligible to work as a Registered Dietitian in the province in which you are registered!

 Frederick Banting was a medical scientist, physician and painter. He became Canada’s first professor of medical research at the University of Toronto. Overtime he wanted to find a cure for diabetes and found a temporary cure which was insulin. Because of this achievement he was given the Nobel peace prize for physiology and medicine in 1923. Banting was awarded a lifetime annuity by the Government of Canada, was appointed Canada's first professor of medical research at the University of Toronto. He was also made a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Grab deez plastic bags

You better grab them! Give them to Janet even! Will you grab them?!