1. Check out the links I include in the post.
2. Make an intelligent comment on them.
3. Or respond in an intelligent way to someone else's comment.
4. Earn points!
Just a note, you don't need to read all of the links I post when there are multiple stories linked. You can always pick the ones that seem most interesting to you.
On to the links:
What You Thought About T. rex Was Wrong, But May Be Right Again
Most people probably envision Tyrannosaurus rex behaving something like this. Basically being a top predator and chasing down its prey. However, a few years ago some researchers postulated that T. rex may have acted more as a scavenger. This was based on the postulated population size of T. rex, and the fact that ecosystems cannot support large populations of top predators. Since behaviors don't fossilize, paleontologists have to look for other clues about how dinosaurs lived their lives. The article describes a T. rex tooth found embedded in a bone from another species. The bone shows signs of healing around the tooth, indicating that the dinosaur survived the T. rex bite. It seems to me to be a bit of a stretch to extrapolate an entire species behavior from one example. Imagine if some future or alien society got one piece of data from one current human, and decided "All humans did this." Scarey idea, depending on who the data came from.Using Manure on Crops is a Really, Really Old Idea
Interesting point in there about how agriculture may have lead to social stratification and social classes. I always suspected that was all based on poop, now I guess there is evidence.
MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle
If there was any doubt that we are officially in the future, this pretty much erases it.
60 comments:
I began reading the article about creating an artificial heart muscle but got lost somewhere in between so I moved on to the article basically talking about poop. I instantly linked it to my life. My father keeps a garden on the side of our house, where he lets my dogs go to defecate... I noticed that before the dogs did their business there, the plants grew slower and potentially not as healthy as they could be. After my dad came up with the brilliant idea to let my dogs out on the side, our roses and peonies suddenly became livelier and larger. It's odd how manure can do that isn't it? The sun isn't the only energy source anymore.
I read the article about the MIT researchers printing a new heart muscle and I wasn't sure if I should be applauding them or frightened. Don't get me wrong the possibility of growing heart tissue and transplanting them is incredible and insane, but would it have to be taken to a certain extent? In my view, this type of discovery would bring a lot more challenges to the table besides arranging the cells in correct alignment.
I read the article about MIT scientists forming a usable heart with a circuit printer. Being able to print a heart muscle is truly a feat for humans. Though the process might be complex, this new discovery opens up many new doors of opportunity in the field of medicine. Imagine, a sick person requires a heart immediately. But, a lack of donors have the patient waiting while dying. However, this new technology can help doctors make their own heart for the patient soon in the future. Though the MIT scientists only focused on heart muscles, it is possible to use a similar process to make other organs. This will also guarantee that patients are receiving the necessities they need instead of waiting for a donation. This was definitely one big step forward in cardiology.
I think that it is amazing how far technology has brought us. 3D printing was simply a fantasy to people many years ago, but now we can print 3D objects as well as print tissues and organs! This great scientific achievement has great potential in our future, and it can save many lives as well. People who have defective hearts may be able to receive new ones in the future.Fantastic jobs to those creative minds that helped to develop this technology.
I was also interested by new findings on the behavior of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. I also used to believe that the T Rex was a scavenger and that it did not attack living dinosaurs to eat them. It was cool that scientists actually discovered the opposite when they found the T Rex tooth lodged in another dinosaurs bone that eventually healed and grew around it. This makes me wonder about all the other thing we have yet to learn about dinosaurs and many other creatures of the past.
Being able to grow heart muscle tissue in a lab is incredible, especially given the precision with which the machine can stack it. However, before they start using heart muscle tissue on people, or even lab rats, wouldn't it be easier to try out a less vital organ tissue first? I don't know how comfortable I would be if I was the first recipient of lab-grown heart tissue, because if it doesn't work, then I would die. It might be better if they started off with muscle tissue in the legs or arms, someplace less vital to your survival.
I find it very interesting that the large and terrifying t-rex we have imagined all these years may not be that at all. Acorrding to the article there has never been any clear-cut, concrete proof of t-rexes being carnivores unti now. There have been teeth of the dinosaur found in other animals and such but no proof of the t-rex hunting its prey. This recently discovered and unprecedented example can not prove anything it could have just been the one animal in the species that hunted prey. We can not tell about a whole species from one example, the discovery of similar cases may give us what we are looking for.
The first article about the Tyrannosaurus rex was very controversial. It reminds me of those persuasive essays I would write in the eighth grade. During prompts during the NJASK or class time, many of the prompts can be justified on both sides. The side that would seem ‘right’ to a non-partial reader would be the one with the argument that seemed most justifiable in that person’s eyes. In science, many topics such as these are like persuasive essays in the sense that the justifiable facts come from implications of valid theories, facts, and experiments that are correct in the eyes of the current scientific community. The debate on whether or not the famed dinosaur was a predator or scavenger is just one of the many debates out there. Evidence including but not limiting footprints, anatomy, imprints, and fossils can support either side in some cases. Personally, I think that it would be rather unfair to decide the anatomy of an extinct species based on a few of the millions of animals of that species actually existed because, like humans, dinosaurs could also be very diverse within its own species. Like Mr. Hutchinson said, there are so many other Paleontology topics to be talking about, so if society deems something that science can prove wrong, why spend so much effort finding evidence that can support both sides? That is just my opinion, because the people who have been gifted with brilliance and intelligence should use it to make today’s society more productive in as many ways as possible. Figuring out whether or not an extinct animal was a predator or carnivore wouldn’t make that much of a difference in our lives because the average person more people will remember Jurassic Park than those who remember a documentary on dinosaurs.
The second article about Manure was very interesting to me. I was impressed with the determination of Amy Bogaard and her team when they tested the plants in the farming regions. I feel that this topic can be very useful in today’s world because it can enforce the idea that, although manure is repulsive in many ways, is very useful in growing crops and providing for our populations. The way Bogaard used today’s clinical research and the discoveries she made by it is one of the many ways that shows that publishing revolutionary ideas is crucial for new ideas and productivity. This, in many ways, shows how intellect is not based on how much you know or the resources that are at your grasp but rather are based on how you use the knowledge and resources you have. The discovery itself shows me that people can be wrong, so curiosity and doubt is always useful, no matter how annoying it may seem. Ms. Bogaard was curious and doubtful, and she ended up making a new discovery that could change a lot more than we think. This new discovery could even change textbooks on history, agriculture, and maybe even various sciences. It motivates me to stay curious, like my younger sister, and never be afraid to ask questions.
When I read the third article about making a functional heart muscle blew me away. I was never really one for technology, even though nearly all of my family is, so this topic baffled me. I would always wonder if making a human out of technology was possible, but that idea was suppressed by the common belief that it was impossible. Reading this article gives me hope that my idea could be possible, one step at a time. I don’t know how long it will take or if I will have the memory to appreciate it when it does, but I know for sure that people like the MIT researchers could be the savior for millions of lives. That is truly wonderful.
Reading these articles make me wonder what truly can be ‘impossible’ and what is truly ‘correct’. I guess that gives me the benefit of doubt.
I find it interesting that researchers are now able to grow heart tissue in a lab and possibly be able to replace damaged tissue in living organisms. This reminds me of a movie I watched in Biotech last year where in the future, wealthy people can purchase insurance policies that include replacement organs if they ever needed them. I have to wonder if it's safe to transplant new organs without some kind of genetic match, similar to blood transfusions, and how they would determine if it's safe in humans. Also I think in 20 years or so, hospitals will have these tissue printers to quickly replace or repair damaged tissue in emergency situations, which is pretty cool.
I read the last article, which was titled "MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle". According to this article, MIT researchers have found success in their attempts to construct functional heart tissue. Using only a modified machine originally used to make integrated circuits, the MIT researchers have turned fiction into a reality with their findings. The article also describes how growing heart tissue is an enormous lab challenge. In the process, they use 3D cell guidance as well as thin, micro-perforated sheets of biorubber. They then would stack the sheets onto the programmable modified integrated circuit machine, positioning the pores to create interwoven muscle bundles, which were seeded with mouse muscle cells and rat neonatal heart cells. Controlling the alignment of the resulting fibers produces tissue that mimics the natural heart.
Studies suggest that in the near future, scientists will be able to grow replacement organs, which will end procedures such as the transplant of donated organs. I would also like to think that it will also help with other burdens aside from diseases that involve important organs, such as the heart and lungs. These include deafness, blindness, loss of limbs or legs, and brain injuries.
My views on this study is that people will be impacted and benefitted by this procedure. One of these people will be my father because of his heart condition, as well the history of heart-related problems that occurred in his family. My father currently has to take annual evaluations to see whether or not he would need to be qualified to receive heart transplant. Fortunately, he doesn't need to be listed at this time. However, because of the massive heart attack he had 4 years ago, the left side of his heart is dead. He participates for any stem cell studies available that restore his heart to its normal function. Hopefully, when this organ growth procedure is open to the world, we can have the opportunity for my dad to have his heart functioning well again, as for many other people with the same or similar condition.
I found the article about MIT researchers printing a new heart muscle the most interesting. It's astonishing how close we may be to the future we imagined. Although humans are constantly unraveling new scientific discoveries, i believe that it can only be proved after experimenting. Being able to print a heart muscle is undoubtedly an incredible feat, but there is a possibility of new problems arising as well. With this new heart made of biorubber, there's a chance that the heart may lose its ability to repair itself, or it might be more difficult for doctors to navigate through this new heart in order to find any cardiac problems. There are many possibilities at this stage, so I can't wait to hear the results once it is tested.
Farmers from hundreds of years ago did not have the ability to go to Home Depot to pick up bags of fertilizer to put down. Therefore, they saw what worked and used what they had. However, people in today's world often underestimate the power of nature. We are so concerned with having "the best lawn" or "the brightest flower beds" that we buy harmful artificial fertilizers to get the job done. However, nature fertilizer (a.k.a. manure) not only produces healthier lawns and more vibrant flowers, but it also does it in a way that is more eco-friendly.
I read the post on the MIT researchers printing a new heart muscle. I think this is a great breakthrough and once they perfect this artificial heart, many more lives will be saved. There are a few solutions for people with heart problems such as a pacemaker, but making a clone of a human heart will raise hopes for millions of people. However, the heart is a very complicated organ and it's going to be a while until they can actually use it on people.
I find it fascinating how science has progressed over the years. Being able to grow functioning heart muscle tissue in a lab could lead to more life changing advancements in the near future. Some may question the morality of creating artificial organs. Sure it can be benefiting in medical cases. However, how long will it be before scientists try to create an artificial human? Creating a heart can lead the human race in many unpredictable directions.
After reading the article about printing heart muscles, I was amazed and slightly wary. This advancement opens up many possibilities. For instance, donors might not be needed in the future. Currently, patients have to wait endlessly for a possibility of a donor; sometimes, it might be too late. In addition, transplants will be more specialized and individualized according to the patient. Because stem cells from the patient himself are being partly used to create the new muscle, the transplant might go along more smoothly and the body will take to the new part. These developments are big leaps towards self-reparation and using regenerative medicine.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, a few problems might accompany this advancement. Essentially, the muscle is created with the use of a machine. As we know, machines are prone to making mistakes. Combined with the complications that often arise with natural cardiac tissues, many events could go wrong. For example, the fibers might not align properly. This will disrupt the function of the muscle.
This new technology, while not perfect, will be monumental in saving lives.
I read the article about MIT researchers printing a new heart muscle. I found it very interesting that it would be possible to replace hearts and save lives. However, it could be problematic. The human heart grows at the same rate as the fist. Obviously, a printed object cannot grow and develop. Therefore, if a young child that is still developing had a printed heart put in, the child would have to have it replaced several times as he/she grew older. After a while, this would damage the child's circulatory system. There's no guarantee that the heart would be compatible with whomever the doctors are putting the heart into. I think it would be best if doctors used regular hearts instead of making their own. There would be far too many problems.
I read the article about the MIT researchers printing new heart muscles and i was truly amazed! While reading the article, I kept thinking about one of my cousins who was born with a hole in her heart and how this discovery will help not only heart attack patients, but people with other heart problems. It's no secret that there are quite a bit of people with heart problems, this one step might end up changing and lengthening many lives. Furthermore, i believe that researchers won't stop at growing heart tissue, but will eventually discover how to grow tissues for every organ, so people who aren't good candidates for donors, might have a chance.
I read the article about scientists being able to create hearts by using a circuit printer. My first impression of this article was that it is a revolutionary advancement for the medical world. If this technology is successful, it could save the lives of millions of heart attack victims. This could be the step to a world of highly advanced technology. However, after reading the article, I considered all of the risks that cardiologists could be taking with this technology. Even if it is tested properly, even the slightest error, human or technological, could result in the death of many patients. The machine must be programmed in a way that every cell count is precise and that the heart will function properly. Overall, the idea of scientists being able to create new hearts for heart attack patients is revolutionary, but the risks may be too grave.
I find it fascinating how technology has become such an integral part of our everyday existence. Each and every year, advances in technology are transforming and saving lives in ways I could have never dreamed of. It is amazing how a single man-made machine that was originally used to build circuits is potentially capable of growing heart tissue. However, I am curious to know how long it would take for synthetic heart tissue to adapt to the rest of a natural heart and whether heart tissue needs to be specifically designed for each patient's heart. Also, I would like to know how a patient's immune system would respond to new tissue that doesn't match the heart perfectly. I hope that MIT will be able to advance in their findings and really help heart attack patients someday!
I read the article entitled, "MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle." This scientific advancement is unprecedented, remarkable and extremely intriguing, especially to me, a prospective Biomedical Engineer. Currently, I am attending TARGET, a Rutgers Engineering Program. Here, I have been working on a lab involving musculoskeletal tissue regeneration through the use of scaffolds and various therapies. I have created the scaffolds through the method of electrospinning (with polymer and a hydrophilic substance which allows for a hollow center while creating the tube-like tissue). Once cells attach to and infiltrate the scaffold (in a few weeks time), it could be surgically placed into the body of a human or animal and speed up patient recovery, enhance the natural healing process and stimulate the body to regenerate new tissue by itself. The article greatly reminded me of this project that I am currently working on, which is why it initially caught my interest. Growing heart tissue in the lab is an amazing advancement that although is challenging and risky, will be very useful. I can think of several loved ones who have died from heart related problems; it is wonderful to know that future generations may not have to deal with this detrimental issue.
What 3-D printing has allowed us to accomplish is simply astounding. I recently wrote an article on it, and printing stem cells, tissues and organs such as the heart are becoming a reality. I really hope that this endeavor is successful, as it would help so many people. It really is genius how they used circuit printers to accomplish this, as well the the process and the detail required. Hopefully, this technology will advance and become a very positive part of the medical world. I hope that the tests with the rats have positive results so that we are closer to such a future.
I also find it interesting that the T-rex always had this image of a great predator, but only recently has evidence been found that gives an indication that the species hunted. A scavenger, as the T-rex was speculated to be, is not as fearsome as the T-rex of popular media. For whatever reason, I never doubted that portrayal, but the article definitely caused me to view the species in a new light.
Also, I would like to say that I was given permission to join AP Biology by my guidance counselor after the school year ended, and therefore I did not hand in the form for this summer assignment, believing I would not be in the course. Therefore, I emailed you a copy of the form the day I was given permission, in case you have not yet seen it. I hope you will still accept it.
It's hard to imagine the terrifying t-rex as nothing but a mere scavenger. However, after reading the article on the t-rex, it is very unsettling to discard all the evidence, or rather the lack of, due to one compelling finding. Before having read this article, the notion that the tyrannosaurus rex was a voracious predator had been instilled in my head. However, after reading the article, it seems like it was unlikely.
Within a population, there seems to often be outliers. There are organisms that are diseased, discolored, larger and more massive, weaker and frailer, or behaviorally odd--much like a white colored crocodilion or a learning disabled child. Who is to say that the evidence the team of paleontologists discovered was a result of one of these outliers, or perhaps an act of sheer desperation? Maybe the t-rex that had taken a bite into the hadrosaur had a strange aptitude for hunting. Also, isn't it instilled in living organisms to survive? If a t-rex were to have depleting caloric reserves and lacked a sustainable caloric source, would it not take a bite at any thing it could? One finding, I do not believe, is enough to win such debate as to whether or not the tyrannosaurus-rex hunted or scavenged.
After reading the article on using 3D printers to make heart tissue for those who had heart attacks, I was both excited and worried for this type of experiment. If this experiment was a success, we would be able to save many people's lives from heart attack. But I have two concerns of this experiment. One, if this were to happen, it would encourage bad health habit because people would feel that they can do what ever they please in terms of their health, knowing that they have an easy way out. And two, couldn't someone tamper with the process to give someone non-working heart tissue that could cause more health problems? to prevent this, the 3D printers must be guarded or kept away from the general public so that tempering does not happen. But with those two issues aside, this experiment looks extremely viable in helping those who has health problems and for those who suffered from heart attack.
After reading the article regarding the T-Rex, I am astounded at the feats scientists today are able to discover continuously. As science reaches further into the future, it also reveals more about the past. There seems to be an endless amount of things to discover before humans were even around! However, I'm not surprised that the T-Rex was revealed again to be a scavenger. I never imagined scavengers to be behemoths capable of taking down large animals. Other scavengers such as vultures, flies, and raccoons have little in common with the T-rex, including their small size and lack of predatory features. For the tyrannosaurus rex to have so many capabilities and not use them would be a waste.
I read the article about MIT researchers being able to build heart tissue. I think this is very impressive and can change the medical field drastically. The fact that, as humans, we are able to create heart tissue in a lab is fascinating. This gives hope for the future and hints at the possibility of no longer needing organ donations. If scientists are successful with hearts, other organs commonly in need, like kidneys and livers, can also be solved for. Still, there is much research to conduct and no one knows if this practice will ever be 100% safe and reliable. The artificial heart tissue may cause problems that scientists have yet to discover.
I read the article that talked about growing heart muscle tissue in the lab. Technology truly continues to amaze me everyday. If this is becomes a successful invention it can save the lives of many people. When I read the article I thought of my neighbor who is only four years old. He has a hole in his heart and just recently got open heart surgery. I feel bad for him and I hate to see him go through such kind of misery. If his heart could be replaced by a lab grown one that worked just as efficiently, him and his family would truly be happy and it would very much benefit him. Although there are risks with everything, the net result of this advancement will be positive. In addition, this may be a good sign for the future as researchers may find ways to replace other organs in the body. Technology in the end will be able to save many more lives than it ever has.
Before reading the article about T-rex, I didn't have the faintest idea that there was a theory that these famously known carnivores were actually scavengers. However, as the article continued to talk about how one T-rex tooth found in the bone of a dinosaur could actually prove that T-rex was carnivorous, I felt that this discovery was unimportant. It would not resolve either argument.
Just because an animal is a scavenger does not mean it is restricted to eating dead prey. It would not be unheard of for a scavenger to kill its own meal. Therefore, I agree with neither the carnivore nor the scavenger side. Rather, I agree with what evolutionary physiologist, John Hutchinson, had to say. I would much rather learn about the many other species of dinosaurs that have roamed the earth rather than read about the debate of whether the T-rex ate their prey dead or alive.
When reading the article about the research being conducted at MIT and the uncovered possibility that functioning heart tissue could eventually be used to replace damaged heart tissues I was instantly amazed. It is incredible how far technology and the work of the many brilliant researchers has come in these recent years. This topic particularly grabbed my interest- I am current involved in an in depth internship at the University Medical Center of Princeton, where I have had the opportunity to observe surgeries and be exposed to everyday life in the operating room. As my main focus in my internship is the use of Anesthesia in the OR setting, I immediately began to speculate how such breakthrough advancements would be approached by the anesthesia providers who chose to tackle it. Would new techniques of administering anesthesia arise from the potential transplanting of these lab-created tissues or would the old techniques be used? In addition, what new surgical techniques might be used in the case of using these muscle tissues? The possibilities that branch from this one pivotal success are endless.
I read the article about researchers discovering the first use of fertilizer, I found it interesting how even 8000 years ago we helped spread a new way of living. Back then, they didn't have all the technology that we have today to help them with farming/agriculture. They could only use the resources that they had on hand to help them, which was manure. They were able to provide the plants with the nutrients it needed to grow strong and healthy. Their knowledge of fertilizer 8000 years ago has helped us enhance the way we fertilize our plants today.
Growing up, with the help of media and movies such as Jurassic Park, society has created the image of a T-Rex to be a scary, mean, and monstrous but after reading this article I was surprised to hear about its scavenging ways. The article did argue both ways on how the teeth might have ended up in the other dinosaur due to the T-Rex chasing it but it really can't be proven. Maybe it hunted and scavenged for it's food? For example, mountain lions are known to be fierce predators but they can also at times scavenge for their food insinuating that the T-Rex may have done both. Also due to the massive size of the T-Rex and it needing large quantities of food maybe scavenging is a much more easy and energy efficient way for it to satisfy its dietary needs. Regardless, it would be difficult to fully prove either theory and it would be more interesting to learn about other species than what one dinosaur did and how it hunted.
I read the article about MIT researchers growing heart muscle in the lab. It is truly fascinating that humans are able to create heart tissue, and that it will soon be able to be used to in humans and help those who have suffered from heart attacks and other heart related problems. This really proves that technology has come so far in the recent years and that it will continue to improve. This opens up the possibility of scientists being able to create tissue to other vital organs needed to survive. I found this topic very interesting because I have had a few relatives and family friends suffer from heart related problems, most being heart attacks. Being able to fix their hearts by replacing tissue with tissue that is lab-grown would be amazing, considering the fact that the lab-grown tissue would work just as well as the old tissue. Because the heart is such a complicated organ, it will most likely take a very long time before creating tissue for a human heart, but knowing that the possibility of it being created is truly amazing and is a very large step ahead for science. Eventually, we can all hope that many lives will be saved because of this scientific advancement.
It is interesting to know that 8000 years ago agriculturalists would use manure to fertilize their crops. I never really thought of how they would fertilize their crops because today we are fortunate enough to go to the store to get fertilizer. Back then they weren't as fortunate as us to go to the store to buy a bag of fertilizer so they used what they had. What they had was manure and that did actually help them. Many people today would think using manure on crops is gross and can be harmful. I think it is gross also, but it does provide good nutrients to the crops. I'm sure there are still some people in the world today that use manure on their crops. I know some of my family members use other things than bagged fertilizer to fertilize their crops. I believe they use coffee grinds to fertilize their things. It is fascinating to know that some people and some parts of the world still don't buy the fertilizer from the stores. They use more natural resources and if it isn't a harm to their bodies then hey why not.
To start, I would like to say that the fact that we did not know whether T-Rex was a scavenger or not is very ignorant. T-Rex were really huge dinosaurs. There was no other bigger predator above it. Generally, when you think of scavengers, you think of vultures or hyenas. Scavengers are generally small animals. Obviously T-Rex aren't small.
I like the fact that people are trying to find out how to make organs from scratch or tissues. I really hope that someone like the President or a wealthy organization tries to fund these kind of advances. We really need to advance in medicine because our population is growing. The only challenge in creating new heart muscle as said in the article is that it is very difficult to create. Therefore it is very difficult to create on the large scale, such as an assembly line. I also think if they do make them, they will be expensive. I also found the article interesting because it creates new opportunities. People who smoke, drink, or eat fatty foods damage their hearts. The article gives notice to these problems. If we didn't have these problems then why would we need new heart tissue if everyone is healthy in the world?
I was amazed when I saw that creating the new heart tissue requires the use of a modified machine that was originally used for integrated circuits. I have no idea what integrated circuits are but my guess would be they have something to do with electricity or computers. It's nice to know people are trying to improve human life internally. It would be crazy if this comes true.
I read the article about the MIT researchers successfully building functional heart tissue. Think about it, the first working 3-D printer was created in 1984 by Chuck Hull of 3-D Systems Corporation. Us, as a human civilization, have advanced so much that now we are able to print working tissue for our own organs! One thing I found funny/ironic from the article was that they modified a machine originally meant to build integrated circuits which are used in almost all electronics to date, to do something never done before! This breakthrough might catch the attention of other researchers, and they will start to work on it. Soon they could work together and it might become possible to mass produce the tissue. Then, using a similar process, we might be able to print the tissue of other organs as well! Lungs, stomach, etc. and many health problems will become a thing of the past! This is one small step for man, and if all turns well for this astounding feat it will become one giant leap for mankind.
Though paleontologists have found corroboration supporting the scavenger in the T-rex, the entire species should not be identified differently based on one piece of information. While the growth of the hadrosaur's bone post-bite is concrete evidence, there is no proof that the T-rex is either only a hunter or a scavenger. I believe that for the time being, the T-rex should be classified as on opportunist, just as Jack Horner had stated. The T-rex is capable of both scavenging and hunting, given the opportunity. This seems to be a more logical stance, at least until further evidence is present to ultimately support one side or another
I read the article about the T-Rex. After reading the article, i learnt that T-Rex was not only a predator but also a scavenger. The article showed two sides of the dispute between paleontologists who believed that the T-Rex was a predator and the other side which believed that the T-Rex was a scavenger. The T-Rex tooth that was found in the vertebrae in the tail of a duck-billed hadrosaurs shows that the T-Rex was not only a scavenger but also a predator. The tooth of the T-Rex was found embedded in the bone of the vertbrae, it shows that the T-Rex was trying to kill the hadrosaurs but the dinosaur somehow managed to escape. It gives evidence that T-Rex hunted for live prey. Although this supports the idea that the T-Rex was a predator,the idea can't be fully proven solely on this one evidence. In my opinion, i believe that the T-Rex was both a scavenger and a predator.The dinosaur had the choice to hunt live prey or to eat deceased dinosaurs that were already hunted.
I found the MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle to be intriguing among the three articles. Although this article makes it seem like a promising future for cardiac patients, I think it is just the beginning, because they have not yet tested the tissue in rats that have suffered heart attacks. If the tissue functions properly, I think it would be an innovative approach to cardiac medicine in the future. Considering that the heart is one of the most complex organs in the human body, I think it will be a while before “3-D heart tissues” becomes a norm. Although mass production will be a problem, I’m sure humans will find a way around it. We usually have. I look forward to seeing how this whole thing plays out and whether or not we are, in fact able to save lives.
As a cardiac patient myself, I was immediately drawn to the article titled 'MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle'. We have come a long way when it comes to technology used in medical situations. If the heart muscles created using this machine are successful, it would open up a whole new doorway, not only for cardiac patients but also for patients with problems involving other organs. However, considering the heart is such a complex and vital organ, I believe there could be numerous issues that may arise with this new discovery. There is the concern that once the tissue is transplanted into the body, it might deteriorate or break down prematurely. Also, the body might reject the new tissue and begin to attack it instead. Although this new discovery is one that should be welcomed and further researched, with these and multiple other concerns, it is best to take the time and precautions necessary to ensure complete success. There are so many extraordinary possibilities ahead of us if these attempts prove successful.
The article that interested me the most and the article that I read was the last one titled " MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle". The article discussed growing heart tissue in labs and a possible future of world where no one would have to die due to problems with the heart. Overall, I believe that this is a truly amazing discovery even though it is only a first step. At first glance the whole thing seemed simple, these researches were using circuits and programming devices to line up heart cells and create tissue. But, the complexity behind the heart would certainly impose a great challenge, and since it is such a vital organ minor details would not be able to be overlooked. In the end no matter what controversy there is about safety or society science is truly amazing and worth appreciating. This opens up to a world where loved ones won't be as easily lost. While reading this article I couldn't help but connecting it to movies I have seen where a loved one passes away creating a dramatic twist in the plot or a character who has strayed is redeemed by donating blood, or some other overly dramatized scenario. It makes me wonder what they would have to do in a world where science can cure almost anything, which is what this new discovery will probably slowly lead to.
I read the article about using manure on crops because I've always wondered why someone suddenly decided to use poop to help grow plants, especially because we eat some of those plants. It was always a hard concept for me to grasp because I've wondered how it would even work. Now that I've read the article, I am impressed by the old English farmers. They payed such close attention to their crops that they noticed the specific areas animals would hang out were the very areas that grew the best crops. It makes sense to me now that since there is Nitrogen-15, a strong isotope, in the manure, the areas that have been treated with it are stronger and healthier. I do have some questions, however. Does the type of animal that the manure comes from matter? Does what the animal eats affect the benefits of using its manure? Is there any other way plants can get Nitrogen-15 besides animal manure?
I think that the new evidence on trex is really ground breaking. This is a huge find for palentogolists who have studied trex. No one has really ever been able to say how the king of dinosaurs fed. With this new evidence palentogolists might finally be able to out an end to the trex hunter vs scavenger debate. Then again everyone is saying that this evidence might just be one in million and inconclusive but it defiantly will help palentogolists get to the truth.
I found reading the article on T. rex's hunting behavior to be very interesting. Dinosaurs have always been a passion of mine. The debate on whether T. rex hunted or scavenged is something that has been going on for so long. However, this evidence only implies that this individual T. rex had attempted to hunt prey. It is not easy to try and discern the behavior of an animal through fossils. Behavior isn't a physical characteristic, like size or teeth, that can be fossilized. Since we ourselves have never seen dinosaurs it is difficult to say for sure how they behaved. Fossils only provide evidence for possibilities of certain behaviors. In addition, behavior isn't like a genetic trait shared amongst an entire species. While animals might have an instinct to behave a certain way, individuals can have varying behavior depending on the environment or other factors. When we look at humanity, there are so many different cultures and lifestyles. For something as simple as what we eat, people can have so many different variations due to health concerns, allergies, religions, etc. If some future society found evidence of only a certain form of government and believed that to be the only one, then they would be incorrect due to the many different forms of government that exist now or even in the past. Our technological advancement could also be interpreted incorrectly if a future society never found anything more advanced than some simple tools. Understanding the behavior of a past species isn't an easy task and there is almost never a sound way of establishing definite behavior for an entire species. Not to mention, there are much more important ideas and issues that exist within paleontology that people should focus on rather than just celebrity species, like what Mr. Hutchinson said.
I was amazed by the article on the MIT researchers who were able to create heart muscle tissue in a lab. Heart tissue is so complicated and has to be formed in a certain way in order to be able to pump blood and function. This makes the accomplishment of creating heart muscle tissue all the more incredible. While the researchers' work isn't finished just yet, their innovation is amazing. Not only did they manage to create the heart muscle tissue, but they were using a machine designed to build circuits. Once they manage to build a machine fully designed to create the heart tissue, they might be able to produce the tissue even more efficiently. Though they have managed to create the tissue, I wonder if there will be problems with implanting the heart tissue. For example, I wonder if the human body might treat the heart tissue as a foreign substance and reject it or weaken a person's immunity. If the researchers are successful, then many lives could be saved in the future. My aunt had a heart problem recently. If the technology to create new heart muscles became accessible, than she could have had a new heart and nothing to worry about. Not only can this technology save lives, but could it improve them too? What if in the future, scientists were able to improve the heart tissue they created to make it more efficient? They wouldn't just be giving new hearts, but they would also be giving better hearts to people.
I read the article about the MIT advancements in cardiac technology. Initially, I was astonished at the current advancements being made in the field and the hope/promise it brings. This “3D printed” heart muscle opens the door for new advancements in the entire field of Petri-dish organs. The opportunities sprouting from this advancement are rampant, yet the entire operation leaves questions unanswered. For instance, will the biorubber function as efficiently inside the organism as it did in the lab? How long will the biorubber last, and is there a way to repair it? Will the electric impulses (pacemaker) that stimulate a human heart translate into the biorubber one? Most importantly, will the biorubber heart actually function properly? I am eager to hear of the developments in this field, and I hope that the crucial, unanswered questions are resolved.
I read the article about MIT researches printing new heart muscles. I find it quite fascinating how they are trying to develop heart tissue in order to help people who have suffered with heart related problems. It is amusing how in a few years people that will suffer with heart problems they no longer have to. They will get a transplant right away and not wait for a donor, which in some cases a donor never comes. Just like in a movie I saw called John Q which based on a true story where the boy in the movie needed a heart tranplant which costs a lot of money, about 250,000 dollars. When doctors can print new heart tissues the patient won´t have to wait for a time until a donor comes along. Anyone can affor it because it will vost less. It is a surprise that technology is actually being used for improvement on peoples´life and not being used to harm others. Hopefully, this progress in the science world can cure and safe many people that have or will have heart conditions.
I read the article on how MIT grew muscle tissue in a lab. The most amazing part about this was that they used such a common household object in such a medically advanced way. Because a printer aligns and makes the cells grow in a certain way, the tissue comes out aligned and mimics heart tissue. Now many people who have had any type of heart damage can be healed with this tissue. Previously because heart tissue wasn't able to be grown, this will be a huge advancement in the medical field. Because technology has helped advance medical inventions to this level, many more inventions similar to this should be expected in the future. Also, because previously heart tissue wasn't able to be reproduced, now many people can wait for the growing in heart tissue (as Rebecca said).
I have recently read the article about MIT Researchers printing a new heart muscle for heart attack patients, and I found this very fascinating and amazing. This advancement in the medical field will be another big step for our technology as a whole. There are many possibilities for the printed heart muscle to fail in the human body even if it worked on the rats that had a heart attack. There is no proven fact that it can work like another heart muscle in a human body. If this experiment is done properly by the MIT researchers and the non profit organization, Draper Lab, then they can improve on this and will be able to print other organs that can also have a problem like kidney failures. For example, my close friend's dad has a kidney failure in both his kidneys. If they find how to print other organs they will be able to save his live. The waiting time for kidney failure is approximately 3-5 years in New Jersey, but if they had these printed muscles available for the people it would be easier and less of a waiting time. This can also curb the illegal organ trafficking all over the world. All in all there is a lot more research that the researchers will have to do while facing many obstacles until they make it to work.
I read the article about the Heart Muscle. I'm not actually sure about what I should feel about this topic. There are up’s and down’s. Being able to save heart attack patients by using a printer is the new future! We will be able to save thousands, if not millions, with the new heart muscles! This is what the world has been dreaming of, and we only thought it was in books and movies. Now it’s coming into the real world! My only concern is with the “what if’s.” “What if it doesn’t work?” “What if we spent millions of dollars for something that ends up useless?” “What if it works on the rats, but doesn’t end up working on humans?” “What if…” It’s an enormous challenge, just like the article said. But we can’t live life without “What if’s.”
I read the article about the MIT's new heart muscle because it gives information on a revolutionary breakthrough that might benefit many people for the future. Thousands of people suffer from heart attacks on a regular basis and this could probably prevent that from happening. The idea of the muscle alone is spectacular because to even start the research for this is very difficult. Our researchers are truly taking on an enormous challenge that has lots of trial and error waiting for them ahead. But, then again, our world is advancing day by day showing that maybe there could be an early possibility to creating this new muscle. This article made me think of the research with stem cells to regenerate new body parts for humans. It shows how our field of science is expanding for the care of our human race providing more future resources to prevent injuries and to care for the injured.
I read the article about printing heart tissue and this technological advancement succeeds in amazing me. The heart is a complex and important organ in a human body, and the ability to print new working tissue should save the lives of many people who suffer from heart disease. About 600,000 American citizens die of heart disease each year according to the CDC. Heart disease is also the cause for 25% of deaths in America, so implementing the artificial tissue will affect many people in their fight against heart disease. The ability to implant new tissue to replace what you were born with is truly amazing, and I hope that the research team at MIT finds success in its animal testing. The manufacturing of heart muscle does not come without difficulty or problems, for a human or mechanical error can be fatal. Also, artificial muscle lacks the ability to grow, so a child born with a heart condition may have to replace their outgrown heart. Surgically opening the body to reach the heart requires the sternum to be cut, and metal plates, screws and wire are used to close the cut sternum. Although researchers are unsure of the definitive cause, there has been some connection between these metal implants and bone cancer. I look forward to seeing the printed heart muscles in human experimentation, and look forward to all the new advances in science with this new breakthrough. Although death is inevitable, human medicine and technology is doing a great job in prolonging life.
I also read the article about the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the evidence reported goes against what I had grown to accept about this ferocious carnivore. Paleontologists commonly accepted the Tyrannosaurus Rex as a scavenger, but this recent evidence may prove otherwise. Paleontologists have found a Tyrannosaurus Rex tooth lodged in the vertebrae of a duck-billed Hadrosaur, and the vertebrae grew around the tooth, meaning the Hadrosaur survived the attack. The Tyrannosaurus Rex had attacked a live dinosaur with the intentions to kill. At first I took into consideration the possibility of a fight or self-defense, but Hadrosaurs were calm herbivores. It may be possible for the Tyrannosaurus Rex to have attacked out of desperation due to the lack of food to scavenge. I also believe that we shouldn’t assume that all Tyrannosaurus Rexs behave as a hunter just because a single Tyrannosaurus Rex attacked a Hadrosaur. More evidence is needed to be sure on a Tyrannosaurus Rex’s behavioral patterns.
After reading the article about MIT researchers printing new heart muscle, I was instantly amazed by the possibility of such a great advancement in the world of science. Advancements regarding the heart, a vital organ to our existence, are truly a major accomplishment. By building functional heart tissue, the researchers at MIT have made it possible for humans who have suffered with heart problems to live a better life. Preventing future heart problems, this tissue is truly revolutionary. It can save the youth at an early age and allow the elderly to continue to live. However, there is one downside about this new finding; it has yet to be proven successful functioning inside a human. This is the main purpose of the tissue and it draws many questions to those who may need this in their life. Will it work and for how long? Will there be any side effects? What if it fails? These are all questions that I know immediately went through my mind while reading this article and I can imagine they did for most people. Although it is too early to question the possibility of success, it is remarkable that this discussion is even taking place. The thought of being able to replace heart tissue is incredible and opens up many paths for scientists to continue to improve on being able to replace other vital parts of the human body. I believe that the future looks very promising in regenerating human body parts and this is one of the many steps in making that possible.
I found the article on 3D printing organs and tissues very interesting. From the invention of the first Band- Aid to now in 2013, printing 3D body organs. I think its great how technology is moving so fast, and being used to benefit everyone. I hope that one day researchers will find a way to eliminate cancer, AIDS and other terminal diseases. 3D printing only started in the 1990s and now we have already found a way to replace one of the most important body parts, the heart. In the future this process can save thousands of lives around the world, not just in America. This breakthrough will most likely lead to other great inventions, aiding us in the future. The heart is a very intricate organ, and hopefully, in the next couple years, researchers can find even better ways to improve the medical field. Thumbs up to the MIT researchers for this great success!
For the article titled "MIT Researchers printing new heart muscle", I thought that the article was interesting and a little frightening at the same time. For just about every scientific advancement in this world , there are pros and there are cons. The pros for this discovery are obvious. We can use this "printing of tissue" to help heart attack patients. This will save thousands of lives . This tissue that can be used in the heart will probably spark new ideas and thoughts such as how to create tissue to fix something as intricate and complicated as a rupture in the brain. With this same technique , we have been helping burn victims have healthy new skin. As I was reading this article, I started to think "How far is too far". If science keeps progressing at the unbelievably fast pace that it is right now, we can start to "create" bone, organs, organ systems and soon enough a human body. Someday parents can pick and choose characteristics for their child to be "made" in a laboratory. I think this experiment is a wonderful advancement and an extraordinary discovery, and can save millions of lives around the world, but it just needs to be kept under a strict supervision by qualified medical authorities. There should also be laws and regulations in place to prevent illegal selling of this tissue and should only be used on medical patients in need.
After reading the article entitled, "MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle," I was initially impressed with the possibility of replacing a damaged heart tissue. This scientific advancement shows how far technology and the minds of researchers have come in the last decade. This topic was particularly grabbed a hold of my interest because I have just finished a summer program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. In the program I learned about the anatomy and physiology of the human body. A part of my program was to dissect cadavers and one thing that I remembered seeing was the heart. I saw how the heart was different in every body, somewhere small and others where remarkably large. I began to ask the medical students at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School what happens if a certain part of the heart stops functioning or does not work how it is supposed to. They all told me that usually the person would most likely undergo a heart transplant to receive a heart that works to its potential. This article made me think what would happen if we could grow heart tissue from someone’s own heart to fix their heart problem. Wouldn’t this new technology be able to save the lives of people with people heart problems that are waiting for a heart transplant? Currently this is an idea but, it could soon change the way people think about fixing damaged heart tissue or even the tissue of any organ.
For this week I read the article about the usage of manure in ancient civilizations. I can't say that I'm very interested in this topic but I do have to wonder why they began using animal dung in the first place to enhance the growth of their crops. I highly doubt that archaic people were aware of the nitrogen content of the feces. The discovery of it's benefits most likely arose from an animal's unbiased habit of defecating in the same area and the realization that this area's crops flourished. Perhaps previous to the findings from 7900 and 4400 years ago farmers used waste products from their plants as self fertilizers, i.e. fallen leaves, decayed fruit, instead of animal waste....I only responded to this because everyone already said everything there was to say about everything else.
Due to books and movies such as Jurrasic Park I have always envisioned the T.rex as a hunter. After reading the first paragraph of “Tyrannosaurus rex hunted for live prey” I was surprised that some paleontologists considered that the dinosaur could have been a scavenger. However, after reading the entire article I could see why paleontologists thought this; there was no evidence suggesting otherwise. The research discussed in this article used a T.rex tooth embedded in the vertebrae of a duck-billed Hadrosaur as evidence that the T.rex was a hunter. I feel as though this is circumstantial evidence because the embedded tooth is just one case suggesting that this particular animal went after something. There would need to be more findings like this one to suggest the T.rex was a hunter. For now I agree with Jack Horner, a paleontologist quoted in the article; the T.rex could be both a hunter and a scavenger.
The article I read that brought my attention the most was "MIT Researchers Printing New Heart Muscle". Finding out that if the attempts to build a functional heart tissue succeed, then no one will have to die from a broken heart is a very ground breaking phenomenon. Printing a new muscle may sound easy, but in reality it is a very difficult process. Although this is a great challenge for MIT, there are a lot of benefits if achieved. Being able to replace damage heart muscle with new muscle can help many people who have suffered through problems dealing with their heart. With these findings many lives could be saved and the futures for many people could be changed. Overall, I hope that this technology follow through and help the people who need it the most.
After much deliberation, I finally picked the article about MIT printing out an artificial heart from a circuit printer. This not only is a leap for the field of medicine but science in general. Stem cell research has quickly become the fastest and most promising field of medicine, and rightly so. Research from all around the world has shown the stem cells can and will be the future of the “global hospital”. With new hearts, patients will no longer have to suffer through the lengthy process of waiting for a donor and hoping for a match. While the process is still in the developmental phase and will be very expensive, it will open up more doors to artificial organs and more cost effective ways of implementing the new research. However, this new finding may also lead to encouraging poor lifestyle choices such as; unhealthy eating habits, little to no exercise, etc. In the long run, this astounding study will benefit a countless number of people and change the field of medicine forever.
On a side note, I joined the AP Bio class after school had ended and found out about the summer assignment from a friend, which is why I didn’t submit a signed consent form. I will have it on the first day of school. Please accept my posts in the meantime.
After reading the article about MIT researchers printing out new heart muscle and tissue, I was instantly astonished at the advancements humans have made in the field of medicine. Technology has played a major role in this. 10 years ago, printing out an artificial heart would have seemed crazy and unattainable to us, but now it seems that advancements in technology and medicine are interconnected. This article gave me hope that patients who suffer from heart attacks wouldn't be on the verge of losing their life anymore and that there is a solution to help better their healing process.
I agree with Rankita when she said that hopefully this invention will lead to other breakthroughs in the field of medicine. If we can find a cure to heart attacks, then I think eventually we will find a cure to cancer and to neurological diseases. At the pace we are going, I think that finding a cure to these diseases is on its way. However, after reading Anant's comment, I agree that this is yet to be proven successful. Say the artificial heart does work, but what if the side effects are worse than not getting the heart at all? Or what if the heart only works with certain blood types? We don't know for sure if this heart will work on everyone until it is proven successful, but if it is, it will save thousands of lives.
I read the article about the researchers creating heart muscle. The article discusses an advancement for both technology and medicine. The fact that we even have the possibility of forming an organ as complicated as the heart artificially shows that humans have reached a level of technology that seems unreal. This technique could change everything about the world of medicine. It's very possible that in the future patients will be able to be given a brand new heart when theirs fails. Hospitals won't have to struggle with a lack of viable hearts for transplant patients and the manufactured hearts could possibly be made in a way that prevents the patients body from rejecting them, making each transplant more successful. It would be perfect if this procedure worked the way we want it to, but it is realistic to consider the potential flaws. The human body may not work well with an artificial heart or it may be too expensive and tedious to create one. There is too much that we don't know and although this could save many lives, it could also backfire.
I agree with the comment above. To think that we have the potential to create something that is as complex as the heart, just goes to show how advanced we are in this point of time. Because of the intelligent doctors and scientists we have, when a patient as heart failure, we could use this organ to help them. It could ease the job of doctors, and also help save lives. In a world where heart attacks are the in the top 3 ways someone dies in America, this organ could be very helpful. However, again, I agree with the comment above. If this artificial heart doesn't work the way we wanted it to, it could pose a lot of problems! If this artificial heart is not as strong in comparison to the real organ, many deaths could be on the way. As a result, doctors and scientists should check this artificial heart, a couple of times to see if it is prone to misfiring.
It is amazing how there could be such great controversy about how the T-rex acquired it's food. The views range from the T-rex being the lion of the prehistoric age to it being the vulture looking for scraps. Although it is almost impossible to believe that the most fearsome predator could have just bin a scavenger. Another theory is that it was opportunistic like a hyena which would make sense due to the sheer size of the population. It makes us think about what future generations, or possibly a new alpha species. Will they think that we where barbaric or wonder how we survived.
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