Links for the week:
- If you require iv morphine in order to move your hair, I would say yes, that is a Special Brand of Horror.
- Turns out women knew how to cure Down's Syndrome all along.
- There is GMO wheat popping up in Oregon fields, and no one seems to know how it got there.
I will be out of town this weekend (Thurs - Tues) so comments will likely not be posted during that time frame. If your comment does not show up by Tuesday night/Wednesday morning then you should repost it.
60 comments:
I read the article about the genetically modified wheat plants growing in Oregon. I was very surprised to read that this genetically modified crop has mysteriously started growing, even though the Monsanto trials were stopped eight years ago. The question is, once these trials were terminated, were all of the wheat plants' seeds removed from the ground? If not, this could be the reason why the plants started growth again. The seeds could have remained in the ground and could have spread to the farmer's field. If the Oregon farmer uses a tilling agriculture method for his soil, this could have promoted even further spreading of the genetically modified seeds. Although this may provide some answers, it is still a mystery as to why the genetically modified wheat crop did not grow until eight years after the Monsanto trials ended.
I read the article about the doctors using XIST to inactivate the extra twenty first chromosome caused by down syndrome. I thought it was fantastic that scientists may have found a way to cure down syndrome. What I want to know is if it will work in actual humans, or just on the cells taken from one. Also, is it possible to detect and remove down syndrome even before birth? I understand there would be several more complications, but it would be much better for the child as well as less emotionally difficult for the parents if the child never had down syndrome in the first place.
I read the article about XIST being able to silence the extra third chromosome which causes down syndrome. I thought it was great that we have made it to a point of being able to cure, what were previously thought to be, incurable disabilities. It's amazing that we can cure down syndrome and help all the future children and their families, this could be one of the greatest medical advances of our time. However, while reading this articke a few questions did pop into my mind. Is this cure going to be safe, will there be no side-effects, will the children remain unharmed? I also wondered if we had the solution to other disabilities and diseases in our body. Is it possible that in the near future we will be able to cure autism, cancer, or other mental disabilities? I believe that this discovery could lead to many more greater ones in the near future.
In regard to the article about XIST and the possibility that many of the negative effects of Down Syndrome could possibly be reversed and prevented, I am very curious what is going to come from this research. It is no secret that countless families, parents, and children suffer from Down Syndrome and must learn to cater their every day lives in order to cope with the difficulties it presents. Though it is clear that many of the struggles are more than tolerable to the dedicated families that face them, the medical complications that arise with the existence of Down Syndrome in a family are heart breaking. It would be an astounding accomplishment if this research could be continued and hopefully advanced to the point where the leukemia and heart problems linked to Down Syndrome may be prevented. With this, so many lives could be saved and it could even lead to Down Syndrome candidates being able to live the normal life they deserve. However, I definitely believe that it is important that research continues on this matter until a point where they can be sure that little or no harm comes along with the injection of XIST into the 23 chromosome. Until that point, we can only hope to expand the knowledge on the topic and that certainty in its success will come sometime soon.
I read the article about curing down Syndrome. I think it is incredible how they can use XIST to inactivate the extra 21st chromosome that causes down syndrome. If this is successful on humans then who knows what else they can use XIST to cure. This can help them cure cancer, intellectual disabilities, heart problems, leukaemia and Alzheimer's. XIST is an amazing find which will help so many people in the future.
I read both the articles about the wheat and the screwworm.
The wheat article explains how this farmer in Oregon finds genetically engineered wheat around his farm. He tries to get rid of them with roundup spray but they did not die so he sent them to the U.S Department of Agriculture. Said in the article, the only possible explanation of that farmer having that wheat could be from a biotech company called Monsanto. However, the US wheat growers did not like the idea of genetically engineered crops so it was shut down in 2005.
I doubt the wheat could of been there for 8 years.
It isn't that big of a deal. As stated in the article, there is no risk of the wheat to our country. Our countries should be our main priority, not what Asia and Europe care for. It's like were trying to "suck up" to them. If there is no risk in the public's health, then why care or even write an article about it.
There are two possibilities for this genetically engineered wheat. The first possibility is that the air/wind may have carried seeds of the wheat to that farmer's land. What's not stated in the article is which states Monsanto grew their wheat. The other one is that someone planted them their, that is unlikely though.
The only part of the article that I liked was that how our government protects our crops. In this situation though it is not a big deal because it causes no public health risk. I think that the article lacks many details. It should of been published after the farmer checked his entire crop of wheat. If he finds to have a lot of them then he should do something about it. It is not state how much wheat was "tainted" which is why this article was poorly written.
The second article, the screwworm one sick. This girl is partially at fault, because she already had untreated open wounds on her head. You could also blame her parents for not treating her but it's not like they stare at her head all day. She should of known what might of happened to he if this is so common when you travel to South America. I like the fact that the fly is nonexistent in our country. It shows how much cleaner of a place our country is than other places. I would not want them in my head. It is also unfortunate that she got them, because they created scars and she must of gotten made fun of at school for her haircut.
That screwworm is disgusting. It probably has a lot of diseases in it. It was a good thing that they didn't burrow any farther. It must of been hard not to scratch her scalp. The experience should of taught her a lesson to not avoid something that is hurting your body but consult someone. That bacon method is really weird. Her head probably smelt like bacon for a while.
It is surprising that something so little has an 8& mortality rate.
She should of at least use some kind of bug spray to apply before she went outside. If her parents had enough money to purchase those plane tickets, then they should of at least had money for bug spray.
I dislike bugs a lot and that thing is sick looking.
I like this article because it gives notice to those who travel a lot and how you need to be aware of such animals. It is also well written because it leaves no details out.
One thing I've always been paranoid about was catching some parasite while on a relaxing vacation and not knowing about it. I watched a whole lot of horrible stories on animal planet about how ordinary people caught these monsters ingesting or stepping in contaminated water, eating infected meats, or even standing by an animal. This poor girl in the article was falsely informed that the massive bump on her head was sun poisoning. Then she was given antibiotics for cellulitis, which she apparently didn't have after visiting the ER! Talk about a tricky examination. It's strange how these buggers can go unnoticed for so long and do so much damage. In an article on humanillnesses.com, it was said that more then a billion people fall sick with parasites every year, and millions die. I'm sure this is probably because people are too hesitant to make those well deserved trips to the doctors office for a check up. I think it's the intimidating smell... reeks of rubber gloves and sick people.
Just by looking at the title of the morphine article, I could tell that it was an interesting topic. As I read the article, though, I was horrified and mystified at the world we live in where larvae built a home for themselves in a little girl’s scalp. I find it puzzling how they even use bacon and petroleum jelly as two types of treatments for something one may identify as an extreme medical case. Even though, it is disgusting, I find it fascinating how some insects and parasites reproduce so quickly. But, the description underneath the picture of a larva did scare me a bit. It is a little frightening to think such a small creature can use its body to rip the flesh off a warm-blooded animal. It proves that size doesn't matter in a parasite’s case because it will do damage (possibly even as extreme as death) regardless of the size factor. This article ruined my day…just like it said it would.
I read the article about they can shut down the extra chromosome in down's syndrome cells. Some people thought it was a gene therapy they would have to do but that wouldn't work so they realized it's a chromosome therapy. It sounds easy but it's more complicated than it sounds. If anything there could be more complication with the child. Now with the technology that there is the doctors can see if the baby will have a type of disorder before they are born and then maybe the mothers can do the chromosome therapy to remove it, if it is possible? Moreover, I hope in the near future there is a something that can cure people from having down syndrome.
After reading the article about the a cure to Down syndrome, I was fascinated with the fact that women are able to silence one of their X chromosomes with XIST and that this gene could possibly help cure those who suffer from this horrible illness. The question that could follow this is will there be a chance that XIST could potentially cause more harm than good. Women silence one of their X chromosomes naturally, but there is no guarantee that XIST will be able to silence one of the three twenty first chromosome found in people who have Down syndrome. Knowing that there is a possible cure for Down syndrome out in the world is very promising and we can only hope that a definite cure will be discovered soon. Unfortunately, there are so many people who suffer from Down syndrome and the exact cause is unknown. Having a cure for this disease would positively affect all of those who are born with Down syndrome.
After reading the article on the farmer who found gentically modified wheat on his land,i was not shocked by this finding. chemicals and gentically modified plants often spread to unwanted places because we do not dispose of the substance completely. an example everyone can relate to this topic is the use of pesticides. They spread to unwanted places and cause problems in the area it ends up in. Fixing these problems is hard because we do not control where the substances end up, but a way to limit this is to have the chemicals or genetically engineered plant in a projective building so it does not leak out.
I read the article about using the gene XIST to shut down chromosome 21 in order to prevent downs syndrome and I thought it was incredible. The entire process Yong briefly explained about how the XIST gene produces RNA that coats the X chromosome, leaving it inaccessible-blew my mind. I found the process very interesting and the benefits of this discovery were also hard to wrap my mind around. For example, when Yong quotes Lawrence, "...it might be possible to activate XIST in their [kids with high production of blood cells] blood stem cells, to prevent them from developing cancer" this altogether intrigued me. It may be awhile until scientists can actually declare they found a way to prevent someone from developing cancer, or heart problems and/or Alzheimer's, but the thought of it gave me chills. I find it truly remarkable what scientists like Lawrence, are able to discover and the endless possibilities it can bring us. And of course these new discoveries may bring different challenges to the table, but I feel its a risk we should be willing to take.
I read the article about the farmer finding genetically modified wheat growing in his field. I am concerned by the fact that the crop was found in a field eight years after trials were supposedly over. Who was responsible for making sure the Monsanto company removed all of the wheat trials? If this mutation of wheat will affect the export sales of wheat, would they be the person to blame?
After I read, “Shutting Down the Extra Chromosome in Down’s Syndrome Cells,” I became interested in the research that has gone into finding a way to help people who may be at a risk of having Down’s Syndrome. It is obvious that many people suffer from Down’s Syndrome and must learn to reduce the struggles that come with Down’s Syndrome in order to live a somewhat normal life. It would be an astounding accomplishment if research for this cause continues and can hopefully prevent problems that are linked to Down’s Syndrome. With this advancement, so many lives can be saved and could possible help people who suffer from Down’s Syndrome to have the normal life that they deserve. Although there is a long way before we can see this research work on human cells, and not ones in labs; I believe that it is important that research continues on this matter until people are sure that there is little or no harm that comes along with the injection of XIST into the 23rd chromosome. Who knows, this research can possibly help us attack other diseases, like Turner’s Syndrome.
I think the use of XIST in relation to Down's syndrome seems very promising, even if it does not cure the genetic disease completely. If it is just used to prevent leukemia or another symptom in those with the syndrome, it is worth the research. I think that using the gene that silences one X chromosome to target other chromosomes is a very brilliant idea. Although, I do wonder what would be the optimum time to use XIST on the chromosome (if it will be used clinically in the future)-a specific stage of development, perhaps, since Down's syndrome can't be detected until around week 11 of a pregnancy. I would also be very interested if they started using this technique on other chromosomal disorders. As the job of XIST is to inactivate a X chromosome, it could possibly useful for trisomy X, even though the condition is not as serious.
The article about the larvae was very disconcerting. It said that the screwworm is found in Central America, and that made me nervous as I am set to visit Mexico soon. I am also not sure I completely understand the "bacon therapy." I understand that the larvae might leave the area to find more meat or to escape the suffocation, but I would think it would work only to a degree. I never would have thought it would be so effective as to allow people remove 142 larvae from the girl's scalp.
The article about the presence of screwworms in a fly's larvae was a definite eye opener for me. I have watched a few shows about the various forms and effects of parasites, but never remained fully aware of how horrifying they really can be. It is amazing how a seemingly harmless fly, referred to as "Cochliomyia hominivorax", can produce something so harrowing for humans. I also find it interesting how bacon can be used as a means to help remove fly larvae from humans. So my question is, is it possible for a parasite to invade a human without causing any noticeable symptoms? Also, I am curious to know if the screwworm mentioned in the article will continue to cause new symptoms that may develop over time, even though it was extricated the girl's scalp.
I read the article about using XIST to silence the third 21st chromosome in order to cure down syndrome. I was very skeptical of the idea at first, I felt like it was too high of a risk. In the article it talks about some of the things that could go wrong, for example its possible that it might kill the chromosome instead of silencing it. In addition, it might also silence all three copies. However, I then realized that there is always going to be a high risk in curing a disease like this, a disease that was previously thought to be incurable. What they have discovered, maybe it wont work perfectly on the first couple tries but, but it gives families who have children with down syndrome hope. It gives them hope that maybe they're child will be able to lead a happy, normal life one day and wont have to face the hardships that come with Down Syndrome. Of course there is going to be a large risk, but the reward is even larger.
This week I read the article on the New World Screwworm, and completely understand why the article called this occurrence “A special brand of horror.” The 12 year old girl’s untreated Psoriasis caused irritation leading to Lesions from the itching, and a female Screwworm used the wound to birth her offspring. She had obtained Myiasis, a skin disease most commonly found in tropical climates, on a visit to Columbia with an open wound. The open wound made her much more likely to become infected. The Screwworm larva infect human tissue as parasites by growing and feeding off the tissue resulting in harm and pain towards the host. To have live maggots in your tissue moving around and eating your flesh must be a nightmare, and I can imagine the pain being excruciating. Doctors have been able to extract 142 larva manually using bacon therapy to lure the Screwworm larva out. It is known that female screwworms lay 250 to 500 eggs at a time in the tissue of warm-blooded animals, so it is possible that others died due to their short life-cycles of 20 days. Also, when the wound is disturbed the larva “screw” deeper into the hosts tissue, thus the name “Screwworm”, and this makes the doctors job more difficult. It is possible that the host continued to scratch the Psoriasis while infected, causing the larva to bury deeper into the flesh. The thought of having insects burrow throughout my tissue disturbs me, and the disease must be a nightmarish experience.
I also read the article about the genetically modified (GMO) wheat mysteriously appearing in an Oregon farm. The company Monsanto developed this “Roundup ready wheat” to withstand Roundup, a weedkiller Monsanto produces, but many countries American farmers import to frown upon the idea of GMO wheat. Thus, the GMO wheat project was halted in 2005, however this wheat has been found eight years later on an Oregon farm. Exposure to this wheat poses no health risk, but could lead to the loss of billions of dollars if our foreign consumers stop purchasing the wheat. The wheat economy could be severely hurt if the GMO wheat contaminates the normal wheat. After this incident, Japan and Korea boycotted the import of American soft, white wheat. The experimentation of the GMO wheat ended in 2005 and the wheat was only supposed to survive two years in the ground, but it has been confirmed that the wheat was stored in the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado until late 2011. Monsanto is claiming the field to have been sabotaged by someone with access to the GMO wheat’s storehouses, and there is record of all seed being incinerated on January 5th 2012. There is the possibility that animals, such as geese, have been transporting the GMO wheat in their feces, and it is actually Canada looking into an occurrence like this to prevent any boycotting. The United States Department of Agriculture has also been looking into how the GMO wheat was transported when the project was put to an end. This incident disrupted Americas farming economy, and the USDA is currently investigating. To avoid any future accidents of any similar nature, companies like Monsanto should look for demand before they supply.
After reading that bot flies have been found in a girl's scalp in Connecticut, I couldn't help but become paranoid. I'd always imagined that insects that caused myiasis would remain in the sub tropics. Thankfully, the girl got her parasite from Colombia. The bot fly and similar parasitic creatures are the reason I'd never go to the Amazon and other hot and humid regions. Waking up and finding bot flies or chiggers buried in my skin is far too realistic. I'd much rather stay in the relatively harmless tristate area.
Until now, gene therapy was the only option to treating genetic disorders and the only worked on disorders that only affected a certain gene. Mimicking the chromosomal silencing that women naturally do, would essentially erase many chromosomal disorders. However, this explanation sounds much neater in theory. The XIST worked on shutting down the extra chromosome in Down Syndrome and if there are other chromosomal disorders that are either; similar to Down Syndrome or connected to Down Syndrome in any way, then more cures can be found. Hopefully, this new successful discovery will be the bridge to many more and soon we will have the cure to other, formerly un-curable, genetic disorders, such as autism. Even after such groundbreaking news, my only question is; what are the side effects to “silencing a chromosome” and what effects would this have on the future generations of the patient?
I Read the article about the screwworm found in the girl's head. When i read the article i felt disgusted about what the "man-eaters" did to her scalp. Although i did find it interesting that the C. hominivorax was caught by using bacon, this is known as the "bacon therapy". Another thing that caught my eye was that when the female adult fly laied eggs, the eggs hatched within 8-15 hrs. The screwworms have a screw in their body which allows them to dig into the scalp and eat the flesh.The main problem was that the larvae carried bacteria and the bacteria spread throughout. The bacteria caused for infection and pus to form. The 10 year old girl like the article said got a very bad haircut. At the end of her hospital visit she had 142 larvae removed from her head. Next time the girl goes on vacation, she should take some precautionary measures to make sure that her hair and the rest of her body is safe.
The world of science and biology has taken another step into possibly coming up with a cure for a disease that has plagued many and caused many difficulties in people's lives. In the article, a possible remedy for Downs syndrome was discussed through the use of Xist a gene that deactivates one copy of X from each cell. Like all other possible cures for dangerous diseases this too comes with many complications like the gene being too big to implant, the possible extermination of whole cells, and also the fact that downs syndrome causes many more disfunction's in the body for which the source hasn't been completely pinpointed. This would mean that there is a possiblity of this method not working. Thoughts that popped into my head is that I know that when women are carrying and have a history with chromosomal disorders they will have a karyotype done to see if the child will be born with any defects. If the karyotype shows possible harm it is an option to abort the baby. This made me think of the link between science and society. For example, If this method is perfected who will this be available to globally, and if this will have an impact on the controversy of pro-life or pro-choice. Even though the scientist are far from actually finding a cure and thinking about all of this, they were things i connected this article to. In conclusion, although there are many obstacles and doubts on the future it is still important to look for a cure and try as many options as possible in order to allow science to progress.
I read the article about the screwworm larva imbedded in the 12 year old girl's scalp. I was properly horrified. If there is one thing that creeps me out, it is when I here of instances when bugs or parasitic creatures find their way into human victims. However, it was very pleasant hearing that this species of parasitic fly have been eliminated from the US entirely.
Though some may think to blame the girl, or the flies, for this poor child's pain and misery, the real culprit here are the doctors and the parents. You have taken your young child to a region of the world known for it's parasitic creatures and grotesque diseases, yet open wounds, pus and pain on her scalp only seem like sun poisoning to you? You don't have to be a doctor to deduce that something isn't quiet right.
The way they got the larva out was also interesting. Its fun to think that we don't need special machines and medicine to get rid of parasites, just some good 'ole cured, processed pork. Though I personally would not enjoy a bad haircut, a painful visit to the emergency room, and raw bacon applied to my scalp, it is a very interesting story. Imagine, when her teacher asks what the class did over the summer, she can explain her ugly haircut away with this terrify tale that is sure to permanently scar some kids into submission!
I just read the article about XIST and how it can be used to shut down the extra chromosomes in the Down Syndrome cells. This shows that nothing is impossible if someone puts their hard work into anything, and that is what Jun Jiang has done. Being able to figure out a way to shut down a chromosome is a great thing. If they use it for Down Syndrome especially it can help many kids in the United States. There are over 400,000 people in the United States with Down Syndrome. If the XIST is able to work on human cells other than just the Down Syndrome cells it would help for further research. if the XIST is able to just shutdown the 21st chromosome then it will be a huge help for all the people undergoing Down Syndrome. Many families in the United States are able to manage with their disabilities and the difficulties they go through everyday. If the XIST is ready for clinical use, then these people can live the life they dreamt of all their lives. Is the XIST is able to work for Down Syndrome, then the research can continue so that they can use it to find cures for different kinds of cancers. There might be problems with the XIST. There might be some side effects by shutting down a specific chromosome. Until all of these questions can be answered and can be guaranteed to work on humans, we will have to wait for a good outcome and success with the XIST in our future.
After reading the article on how scientists have now learned how to use XIST to cure down syndrome, I paused for a moment in awe. It is simply intriguing how far in medical advances our society has come along. What I find particularly intriguing, however, is the fact that a possible cure to down syndrome was not concocted in lab, but rather, was found in women. Yet, no matter how promising the use of XIST to shut down the third twenty-first chromosome seems, I can't help but ponder what negative consequences can occur from the use of XIST. What if XIST does not suppress the proper chromosome? I'd imagine the recipient or the recipient's family would not be too fond of the outcome. In addition, doctors very frequently can infer whether or not a baby will be born with defects. However, there are occasions in which these diagnostics are incorrect. If a perfectly fine, still-developing baby receives treatment with XIST, a child that would have developed perfectly fine is now condemned with a disability it was never meant to have. The way I see it, science still has ways to go before applying XIST in clinical practice. For one, scientists must be able to safely insert XIST. Not to mention, i think it would be good measures if it was learned how the effects of XIST could be resersed, or how XIST could be extrapolated from the cell's DNA all together. Regardless of these obstacles, the future of curing down syndrome and other disabilities does look bright, and I am sure it is only a matter of time before science yet again contributes its findings to the benefit of our society.
I read the article about requiring morphine to move a girl’s hair. The morphine was required because the girl from Connecticut had 142 Cochliomyia hominivorax or “eater of man” larvae in her scalp. After thoroughly disgusting myself, I continued reading about the treatments used. The Connecticut ER doctors used BACON THERAPY to extract the larvae from the girl’s head. As a lover of bacon, this is just another great purpose of the delicious food (sorry vegans). This article reminded me of a story I saw on “Untold Mysteries of the ER,” which showcased a woman who had an inch long maggot-type-thing in her scalp. The vermin had buried itself in the woman’s scalp, and the hole it dug began bubbling. The doctor extracted the bug by squeezing the entrance like a gross scalp-pimple. Eww…
I read the article about the genetically modified wheat found in Oregon. This article opened my eyes to the importance of wheat in our world today. Wheat is in our daily meals whether we realize it or not; cereal, pasta and bread are only a few examples. Furthermore, wheat has been in greater demand worldwide due to its nutritious value and health benefits. Unfortunately, new discovery in Oregon may risk this growth, hurting the American economy and lessening the rate of exports (primarily to Europe and Asia). The fact that scientists are being fairly noble about this matter by making the public aware of such issues is commendable. They are putting the customers before their profit and providing them with information about the problem. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture should find out who was behind it and come up with a solution before people begin to panic. The Monsanto biotech company seems plenty guilty in this mishap. The fact that they had created Roundup Ready products and proceeded to test their resistance in 16 states without government approval is very questionable. The farmer’s plants’ sustenance when with the weed killer, Roundup, was sprayed on them, might as well be proof that Oregon was one of those states. While the blame seems to fall on the Monsanto biotech company, the government could equally be responsible. Therefore this delicate matter should be handled with extreme caution.
The article on the screwworms found inside a little girls head sounds like something straight out of a horror movie. The thought of suddenly being told that the doctors found worms crawling in your head must have terrofiying. The cause of all this commotion came from a tiny little fly. I still wonder what made the little girl seem like a good target for the fly. The description of the species said they go for wounds and mucous membranes of cattle, sheep and horses. This incident in my opinion was probably a rare phenomenon. It does make you wonder about how susceptible you are a Ly could just land on your head one day and then you wake up with worms in your head. It so amazing to see what kind of horror nature has created with evolution. Who knows the next horror story might just be crawling inside you.
I find it interesting how women can silence X chromosomes due to a gene called XIST. By utilizing XIST, there may be a possible cure for Down's Syndrome. However, it isn't confirmed that this gene can be put to proper use to silence the one of the extra chromosomes in a person without affecting other chromosomes. The idea of chromosome therapy seems very risky, but it can lead to amazing advancements in science. A future with a cure for Down's Syndrome can now be imagined and possibly achieved.
The article about GMO wheat growing in Oregon was interesting. In my opinion, this shouldn't be a big issue as they're making it seem. the USDA already stated there's no danger to public health if this wheat was consumed. Furthermore, GMOs are in nearly everything we eat in the modern day, so this wheat shouldn't be what surprises people. The only worry that people should have is if the GMO wheat somehow causes harm to other wheat in the fields, and how it got there in the first place. Clearly, Monsanto was not thorough enough in its disposal of its GMO wheat, resulting in it growing by itself in wheat fields in Oregon. Companies should be held to a high standard when it comes to genetically modifying crops, so Monsanto should be fined or investigated for this. If they can't even dispose of this experimental wheat properly, they probably do a lot of other questionable practices.
I read the article about using XIST on people who have down's syndrome. My uncle was diagnosed with down's syndrome so naturally, I was curious to read this article. When he was younger he did not show a lot of signs of down's syndrome. He was able to talk, hear, and understand concepts, but now, almost 50, he does not put words together, he is deaf, and he is very dependent. Reading about XIST made me think, what if this research had been done a long time ago and he would have been cured of down's syndrome? It would have made life easier for him and also those who care about him. Reading that Jun Jiang actually used XIST on a boy with down's syndrome and the genes on the 21st chromosome were almost completely inactivated made me really excited. The people in this article are coming very close to curing something that I thought was incurable. They have to make sure they have a certain spot specifically on the 21 chromosome to place a gene that is so much larger than any other genes in that area. This article has made me hopeful for those who are diagnosed with down's syndrome in the future.
The article about GMO Wheat found in Oregon was quite interesting to read about. The first thing that baffles me is that how come no one realized there was unwanted GMO wheat growing on the farm for eight years? What is also surprising is how the USDA claims that there is no danger to public health, yet in the first paragraph it states that “this type of wheat has never been approved for commercial planting.” This story just does not add up. I feel that there is a whole lot more to the story than what is being told. Regardless, I hope that wheat sales do not dwindle too fast, as that would hurt an already hurting economy.
I read the article about an Oregon farmer finding Genetically Modified Wheat in his crops. The United States Department of Agriculture is working to find out how the GMO got into the field. GMO has been concluded as a “safe” substance since no human illnesses were recorded after a person consumed GMO. In the past a very famous agricultural company, Monsanto, has been accused of using genetically modified crops. But this production has been banned in 2005. Therefore, the seeds for this genetically modified food could have come from someone else’s farm through the wind or been planted there purposely. The possibility of the seeds being carried through the wind and placed in the farm is minimal because Monsanto’s last wheat trials were in Oregon was in 2001. Since then, there should be no more GMOs. So, where the seeds came from is still a mystery. Including America, other countries in Asia and Europe are very reluctant to import genetically engineered wheat. I hope that the United States Department of Agriculture solves this conflict soon because I don’t feel too good knowing I might be eating genetically modified wheat in my bread. Even after this problem is solved, it is difficult to find out if EVERY farm in America isn’t using GMOs, so before every time I take a bite into my whole wheat bread, I will think twice.
I always thought if you have a genetic disorder, it can be impossible to stop its effects on a person since its in a person forever. After reading this article, I was amazed at how you can apply the concept behind carrying a gene to mask the third chromosome found in those affected with Down syndrome. Unlike gene therapy, it isn't about injecting a foreign substance but using the body's natural resources heal itself. I think if the scientists/researchers can perfect this skill and use it in those suffering it, it can change the persons life and their family's' forever. It can even alter the way we focus on correcting genetic disorders by using what the body has but by applying it differently.
This past year, I have become a member of the group Falcon Pals within our high school. I, along with a few other select students, partake in activities with mentally and physically disabled children. Although most of them are autistic, there are a few children who suffer from paralysis, ADHD, and Down’s Syndrome. I have become significantly close with one girl with Down’s Syndrome, Megan. Her attitude, behavior, appearance, and intelligence are different than normal sixteen year olds (she is treated as if she were seven years old). Even though there is nothing wrong with who she is, many opportunities in life may not be offered to her because of Down’s Syndrome. Megan is the reason as to why the article entitled “Shutting Down the Extra Chromosome in Down’s Syndrome Cells” particularly appealed to me. The thought of a world where children such as Megan would have equal abilities as everyone else is astonishing. I hope researchers invest as much time as possible into this; it could improve the lives of many. Maybe one day, the effects of Down’s Syndrome (as well as the effects of other disabilities caused by genetic/chromosome mutation) could be eliminated from the world completely. Nonetheless, there are some issues to be considered, the main one being if this “cure” will actually work or not. Many studies seem to be successful when researchers extract cells and chromosomes and work on them in vitro. This research will truly be ground breaking when they conduct an in vivo study. Another issue is practicality. Obviously, if it were possible to “shut down” Down’s Syndrome people would be willing to pay anything to have it done. However, what if someone’s “anything” isn’t good enough? The time and technology necessary for such a procedure (injecting XIST into the 23 chromosome) may cost more money than some people have; thus causing the research to be useless. Additionally, another obvious issue to consider would be the side-effects of the procedure… is this injection worth it? But overall, this is the most encouraging information for Down’s Syndrome yet. Hopefully it leads to great things.
The article I read was about “The Special Brand of Horror that is the New World Screwworm”. My reaction to this article was disgusted and shocked, especially when I read that a total of 142 larvae were extricated from the girls scalp. At the same time, I also felt bad for the girl because of all the pain she went through at just 12 years old, and when they speculated that the pain was caused by sun poisoning which was wrong. Something interesting I found in this article was the “Bacon therapy” they used to get rid of the screwworms. This very clever method was done by jamming pieces of raw meat or pork into the worm’s breathing hole causing them to vacate the premise due to suffocation.
When I started reading the Down's Syndrome article, I thought to myself "not again". It seems like everywhere I look, I find scientific articles that state that scientists have found the solution for some type of illness. However, it does not state that these solutions are being used to help all the people in the world who are affected by the disease. Rather, all I read about is the possibilities of such solutions and how it is still being tested. For example in the Down's Syndrome article it said, "So far, the team have only done this in Down’s syndrome cells, grown in a laboratory, so the technique is a very long way from any clinical use." Although, this discovery about how one could XIST can be used to shut down chromosome 21 is interesting I would rather read about how someone was cured from Down's Syndrome because XIST was used to shut down chromosome 21.
I read the article that regards XIST and Down Syndrome. The first thought that popped into my mind was that this therapy may not be able to completely eradicate Down Syndrome. While it can affect the syndrome after a child is born, there is currently no way to prevent Down Syndrome before the DNA code is written. However, this new method will certainly lessen the effects that it has. It will lighten the strain that the syndrome has on a child's learning ability, as well as other functions. After a long term usage, the therapy may be able to completely lower the level at which Down Syndrome can affect lives. Another area to research is which part of the chromosome XIST acts on that is common in all chromosomes. By finding this, the therapy might be able to lessen the effects of countless other gene mutations and disorders. Conversely, the gene removement might cause further problems. The therapy might have side effects or might worsen the effects already caused by Down Syndrome. In addition, the therapy, if successful, might have to be applied to each and every child with Down Syndrome in order to lessen its effects. Just as every female has to remove an X chromosome, the removal of the extra chromosome that causes Down Syndrome may have to be done manually. In other words, this process will not follow through and be adopted with natural selection. Although this is a big advancement, there are still steps to be taken.
The article about the GMO wheat truly makes me think about the possibilities of the unknown. First of all, no one knows exactly where the random wheat in Oregon came from. The prime hunch, according to this article, is that the genetically modified wheat has somewhat of a relation to Monsanto's wheat trials from over eight years ago. Although Monsanto may be one of the only companies that produces GMO wheat, i don't see how wheat seeds that may have been part of field trials of 2001 in Oregon sprouted over eight years later. Are they genetically modified to grow after such a long time? It's a mystery to everyone, as well as how it came to grow in an unexpected field. It's possible that someone may have found a sample and planted it unknowingly, or the seeds could be planted so deep that the crop eventually made it's way to the surface after such a long time. The possibilities are endless, but at least it's a crop that isn't hazardous to us.
I decided to read the article about the man eating parasites. Having an infestation of parasites in your body is truly a scary experience. When I was reading this article, it felt as if this came out of a horror movie. I'm usually scared of a getting bitten by a single insect, but being slowly eaten alive by hundreds of larvae is horrible. That poor girl must have gone through a terrible amount of pain if she had to resort to using morphine. We are lucky to have a few good methods of getting rid of Cochliomyia hominivorax, like using radiation and bacon. I was interested by the fact that even thought these larvae can be harmful to many animals, they can also be used for beneficial purposes. It was said in the article that they can clean pus and dead cells from wounds since they can consume it. If controlled, these parasites can be extremely helpful to doctors, but if not, they can kill many people and animals very painfully.
I read the article The Special Brand of Horror and was pleased to hear the familiar story. Like Becky, I've also heard multiple travel horror tales about parasites living off their human hosts. This article reminded me of another freeloader, the bot fly, which likes to burrow into flesh and cause havoc for their host as well. Similarly, they can be killed by suffocation via sealing the hole with nail varnish or vaseline. Additionally I was surprised that the article mentioned "Secondary myiasis," or using maggots for therapeutic means. While it does seem beneficial I can't help but think of the old belief in bloodletting and leeches, both seem like a risky business no matter how you slice it. Closing thought: It's hard enough knowing insects live alongside us without the worry of one living inside of us...
This week I decided to read the article on the genetically modified wheat. I chose this article as it immediately reminded me of my biotech class last year. In that class we learned a lot about GMOs and their effects on the world. While reading this article, I came across a very interesting point. It stated that the wheat exporters are worried about their customers in Asia and Europe. I remember researching about other GMOs last year and how both these countries were highly against the use of them. Personally, I think for the sake of no health risks being involved, I would open handedly take in these GMOs. However, since the wheat exportation market is much bigger than that of other GMOs that are being exported, it is a risky situation. I believe that the exporters are doing the right thing as of now. It is important that they please their customers, being Asia and Europe in this case, during their exports. There is no need to introduce genetically modified wheat to the market if it is both unnecessary and unwanted at the time.
I read the article on the farmer in Oregon who found some genetically engineered wheat growing on his land. Even though the USDA has said that there is no risk to public health, I understand why there is so much commotion. Even if it has been confirmed safe, people still don't want to eat something that's changed naturally from what they usually eat, especially if it was from another continent in Asia and Europe's case. I agree with Jair's statement on how the wheat could have become genetically altered from chemicals not disposed of properly (I was actually thinking of that during reading, but it seems someone beat me to it). His last field trials were in 2001, anything could have happened in 12 years. Pesticides could have altered them or the chemical could have come from somewhere else where it wasn't cleaned up properly. This situation could be very bad for the wheat harvest, but it could turn out as nothing of importance as well.
I read the article about XIST and how it helps silence the extra X chromosome to cure Down Syndrome. Several people suffer from Down Syndrome throughout the world and this is a huge medical advancement. Everywhere we turn there seems to be something new that helps save the lives of people around the world. I have met a couple of people with Down Syndrome and it certainly is a struggle for them to live with it. The XIST injection should help them incredibly by giving them the lives that normal people have. Hopefully there are no harmful effects of this XIST injection. They should not implement this injection until it is as safe as possible for use. With the way things are advancing, I have no doubts that the XIST injection will be a success story that will bring happiness to many people around the world.
The article on curing Down’s syndrome is the most common abnormality in humans. Also referred to as trisomy 21, it is caused by a third copy of chromosome 21. Children born with this disorder have physical growth delays, a particular set of facial characteristics and severe intellectual disabilities. There is no guarantee that XIST will function. If XIST does work who is to say the patient would walk away unharmed and without another disorder? This process is very complicated, but I was intrigued with how rapidly technology is advancing today. It really is unbelievable about how researchers like Jun Jiang are on their first steps of eliminating the most common disorder among humans.
I read the article about the parasitic fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax. I was both disgusted and interested in finding out more about this insect and how it was found inside a girl’s scalp. I can’t even imagine the pain she felt, so extreme that it required morphine to simply move her hair. It must have been pretty horrifying psychologically as well, knowing that she had eggs hatching and larvae living all inside her head. The article talked about how powerful the bug is, having the ability to drill through bone and nerves using its “cutting jaws.” It’s amazing how something so small can cause so much damage, and with an 8% mortality rate, this girl was lucky to have survived. While I don’t think this circumstance could have really been avoided, I think this story is another reminder for people to be extra careful when they are traveling in foreign areas.
When I first started reading Shutting Down the Extra Chromosome in Down’s Syndrome Cells I was surprised and excited because I thought a cure for Down’s syndrome had been discovered. However, as I continued to read I realized that scientists had simply discovered a way to shut down the extra chromosome in cells and that the process was not ready to be used medically. Even though I would want the team to continue this experiment and find a cure, I was disappointed to read that the next step involved animals bred with Down’s syndrome. Being an animal rights enthusiast I disagree with the idea of breeding animals to have any illness for our own research and would prefer the treatment to be tried directly on a patient with Down’s syndrome. Although I disagreed with some points regarding the next step I was overall very interested by the article and am hopeful that one day soon a cure will be developed.
I read the article about the farmer finding wheat in his field where he did not plant it. Turns out that that wheat was genetically modified. I'm not shocked to hear Monsanto was involved with the genetically modified wheat because I've heard about other problems they were involved in. I am shocked to hear that the trials for this genetically modified wheat ended eight years ago and then eight years later they found traces of it on a farmers land. The seeds for the wheat could have spread by wind or through animals, but finding it eight years later is a little suspicious. If this wheat was used and sold to the public, it is good to know that it isn't a harm. Possibly proper removal of the wheat did not occur so there were traces left behind. Those traces could have spread.
The article on curing Down's syndrome was amazing. Since Down's syndrome is caused by the extra chromosome and not just a single gene, tying to use gene therapy to solve it would be very difficult. However, this scientist was able to come up with an ingenious plan to solve the problem. It is interesting to see that XIST, which is supposed to shut down the second X chromosome in women, could also shut down the extra chromosome that causes Down's syndrome. Despite being used on a chromosome that it doesn't naturally shut down, XIST still managed to work. This means that there is something that is similar between the two chromosomes. If scientists can figure this out, their methods on treating certain genetic diseases could change. If all chromosome seem to share this mysterious feature, then different diseases caused by entire chromosomes could be treated in similar ways. While this method has yet to be treated on an animal or a person, is still opens up new doors through the information it has brought into light. It may be possible to create our own form of XIST that is more efficient and can shut down other chromosomes. If it is possible to be so precise in placing something as large as XIST into a cell's chromosomes, then maybe other ways to change chromosomes will become possible, too.
I also read the article on the farmer who found genetically modified wheat in Oregon. Finding those crops must have made the farmer and officials very confused. Genetically modified crops rise serious issues, especially in the economy. If there turns out to be more of the genetically modified crops found throughout the wheat harvest, then USA's wheat exports will face serious problems. Other countries reject genetically modified plants and animals because of suspicions on genetically modified products. USA was one of the few countries to immediately accept genetically modified products and even had them bypass some testing. Genetically modified plants that breed with weeds can create weeds resistant to weed-killing products like Round-up. That is why it is important to understand how these plants got here. They probably weren't just plants that had been left on this farm by Monsanto 8 years ago or else the farmer would have found them earlier. It is possible that the seed were carried by the wind or spread out by another source. However, if there were other seeds being spread out by the source, then there could be other genetically modified plants growing too. As long as this case remains to be isolated and only contain a few genetically modified plants, then there probably won't be a major impact on wheat exports.
I read the article about how researchers were able to shut down the X chromosome with XIST. I found it very interesting that women were able to shut down the second X chromosome. I think that this will open so many options for people will chromosomal disorders to shut down certain chromosomes, depending on the disorder. Even though there are many doubts and skeptics about this new breakthrough in the scientific world, I think that anyone hopeful about cures for chromosomal diseases would be gladly surprised. One question that I would have is if scientists would be able to add a chromosome for people who are missing anything?
I read the article on Down Syndrome and XIST. It truly is amazing how just by turning off one chromosome, it’s possible to cure many different life-threatening diseases. The article pointed out that it has a very high risk, but nothing is impossible. If there is a way to cure all of these terrible diseases then we should attempt to try it, no matter what. With all of the scientific discoveries and technology advancements, we will have a cure in no time. I had no idea that women inactivate a copy of X in each cell and found that extremely fascinating! In the study that Jun Jiang led, she said that by manipulating one gene, you can correct hundreds. Since most genetic diseases are cause by one particular gene, that would be a study that should extend their research. Although attempting to shut down a chromosome is a huge risk, it’s worth it if the scientists can save millions of people with certain diseases.
I read the article on the genetically engineered wheat growing in the farmer's land. I found this fascinating because after eight years and after the company claimed to have removed the crop, it started growing again. Monsanto is responsible for this and should solve this problem before it affects the wheat industry negatively. Since some of America's rice exports to some countries shut down and they lost millions of dollars, it could cause an economic downfall.The USDA should solve this problem.
I read the article that was "The Special brand of Horror that is a new world screw worm". I thought that this article was very interesting how an organism, or in this case 142 organisms can live in a human body without the human dying. I also think that the girl was also very lucky that the parasite didn't surpass her skull and affect her brain in any way. I also think that it is very hard to imagine how much pain that the girl had to go through and how they had to give her a drug as powerful as morphine to take away some of the pain. I also found that the second stage of myiasis can be beneficial to be very interesting. I was amazed that the larvae know when to stop eating the skin. I also liked how the scientists used something besides drugs to cure this girl. Also that something that is a household product can be used to cure a disease that is so serious.
I read the article about the XIST, and I was intrigued at the thought that scientists are now advancing research towards a whole chromosome rather than a single gene located within a chromosome. Through this article it showed me that diseases such as Down’s syndrome can be in fact corrected. Down’s syndrome was first clinically described by Jean Etienne Dominique Esquirol in 1838, but hundreds of people suffered from this disease centuries before it was described. According to researchers, a gene referred to as XIST, by producing a large piece of RNA, silences one of the 2 X chromosomes. This crumbling of the extra chromosome is a great idea and can be beneficial in preventing birth defects such as Down’s syndrome that are caused by an extra chromosome. Not only can this method be used for Down's syndrome but it can be used to cure Leukemia and other diseases that individuals with Down’s are more prone to get, due to a high blood cell count. Though XIST is not guaranteed to be successful by any means, and it is far from clinical use, this is one step closer to a possible prevention of diseases such as Downs’s syndrome. I believe that, scientists should further continue this research even if this involves testing this new method on animals. With the advancement and upon further research we may be able to save millions of lives that are affected by these diseases in the years to come.
When I read about the Screwworm, I became more and more revolted. It kind of reminds me of the Cimex lectularius, because it disgusts people when you learn more about it. The same thing happened with the Screwworm. The fact that it is parasitic and that it feeds on a host to survive disgusts us merely because we know that we may become a host if we’re not careful. For example, the twelve year-old girl who visited Columbia with her family ended up coming back with the Screwworm living in her scalp. As a consequence, she had to face consequences of a ‘bland’ haircut, a tremendous amount of pain, and various treatments that seemed more than unusual. If her family had known that there was a chance of her facing one of the fourth most common traveling diseases, then they either would have taken more safety precautions or not gone at all.
Reading about how we can use Biology to cure diseases like Down’s syndrome expands my imagination to how knowledge of biology can help solve many of the scientific problems that the world faces. Antonarakis had said that scientists could apply XIST for many other disorders as well as Down’s syndrome. Reading about this gives me wonders about solving a lot of problems. I like to think outside of the box, and I realized that I could use that perspective to think of solutions that can bring a surplus of benefits to society and to science. Unfortunately, today’s limited supplies and necessary fortunes make scientific advances more and more difficult, but there really is no single source to blame. Reading this article reminded me of how there will always be problems and there will always be solutions to those problems. The job of efficiency is to minimize the number of problems that result in the solutions. It is now my understanding that the best scientists master efficiency.
Reading about how GMO what was found in Oregon field, it baffled me that no one knew the answer and that the person who could have possibly known didn’t admit to it. The fact that they are genetically engineered shows that whoever did this had a reason for it. The reason for it is what I fail to understand. Why would someone genetically engineer plants when they’re not going to be commercialized, not bringing any profit except for that of knowledge? Maybe the person(s) who were behind this simply wanted to know what would happen and nothing more. Things like this could have happened without our knowledge. The government may be hiding it from us for our own good or maybe for their own good. The truth is, we’ll never know until someone spills the beans.
Reading these three articles allowed me to expand my knowledge, encourage my unique perspective, and inquire about what could have possibly happened.
I read about the article describing about the Genetically Modified Organism, or abbreviated as GMO wheat that has been found on a farmer's land in Oregon. In summary, the article describes that the event of the GMO wheat randomly growing on someone's land is unusual, as this type of genetic engineered wheat has never been approved for commercial planting. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's investigating, trying to figure out how the wheat got there, but as of now, nobody knows how it got there. A company such as Monsanto had produced similar wheat that could tolerate the weed killer, glyphosate, or Roundup, but the company's last field trials in oregon were in 2001, and their wheat project was already dropped in 2005. The USDA claim that there's no risk to the public in terms of health, but the main reason wheat exporters are worried is because of how their customers in foreign countries, such as Asia and Europe, might react.
I find this article very interesting because even though the Monsanto had shut down their wheat project in 2005, somehow a similar wheat crop randomly grew in a area of a farmer's land, leaving no trace of where it came from, or how it grew, leaving a mystery for all of us. Based on the facts from the article, I can think of two logical reasons as to how the crop had grew in this land. The first reason, is that the crop seed was from Monsanto itself, and whether it was accidental or intended, it was transferred from the company to this farmer's land somehow. This may seem vague, considering that Monsanto finished their field trials in 2001, and had shut down their wheat products in 2005, meaning that all GMO wheat crops they produced should have been completely removed. However, I would like to think that even though they had shut down their wheat project, they should still have had some seeds and wanted to preform more tests. The second reason I can come up with is that the wheat had not come from Monsanto or another company, but from another farm itself. It could be possible that a farm produces genetically engineered crops, and the seeds from that farm could end up in another farm elsewhere. Weather and climate has been known to affect many geological structures, habitats, and commercial structures as well. Considering the shape, structure, size, and weight of the seed, I would think that it would be easy for wind to carry a seed into another farm where the GMO crop seed could go.
Aside from the questions of why, where, and how this genetically engineered wheat grew in another farmer's land, one wonders about the effects of this GMO wheat crop. Perhaps this new wheat crop could bring advantages, such as immunity to weed killers, pesticides, and pests itself. It could also be an improvement and tolerate environmental hazards such as drought, as wells as have good nutritional values. For most people however, they think its the opposite. Instead of tolerating environmental hazards, it could cause environmental hazards itself. The wheat may harm other organisms unintentionally. If consumed, it could cause a new allergen. There may be unknown effects on human health. More importantly however, what would happen in a long amount of time? Will the wheat spread to other farms? Will the wheat have the same effect as the shut-down of the rice exports in 2006? If we start to lose more and more crops because of this GMO wheat, will world hunger begin to increase? No one knows for sure, at least for now.
After reading the article about XIST and Down's syndrome, and learning that women naturally inactivate the second copy of their X chromosome, I was extremely fascinated. The possibility of curing Down's syndrome by using XIST to shut down the third copy in chromosome 21 opens up various doors for people with this illness. If using XIST proves successful with Down's syndrome, it might be possible to use it to cure other diseases as well. However, this study also comes with many risks. Of course there is no guarantee that it will work in patients, in fact it might even do more harm, so the research and experiments should continue for quite some time to ensure its success. But the idea that XIST can help prevent leukemia in children with Down's syndrome seems more probable, and if XIST cannot be used to completely silence one of the copies of chromosome 21, preventing leukemia is the next best thing. With so many risk factors, scientists should take their time ensuring the success of using XIST before jumping ahead. Although it may not happen soon, if XIST works properly to cure Down's syndrome or even to prevent leukemia in children with the disease, it will be a huge step in science and more importantly, it will change lives immensely.
I read the article about XIST being used to silence the third twenty-one chromosome. I was very shocked at how far advancements in the medical field have come this century. Curing Down Syndrome is an incredible accomplishment, and the discovery of this gene in women can help save thousands of lives from adults and children who suffer from Downs Syndrome. If we are able to come to the point to finding a possible cure for Down Syndrome, then I fully believe that we can cure the diseases that we have come to accept to never finding a cure, such as cancer and diabetes. The fact that we can use XIST to prevent people with Downs Syndrome from developing cancer is truly amazing, but there are some negative points to this discovery. How would we insert XIST, a giant gene, into the right place? Would XIST cause damage in men? Would this gene therapy even work in humans?
After reading Priyanka’s response, I agree with her that there is a possibility that the recipient of this treatment might potentially damage their offspring. Complications could arise with that patient’s child, and they might have the possibility of also acquiring Downs Syndrome or another deadly disease. However, this is a groundbreaking discovery, and I truly hope that it is successful in silencing the third twenty-one chromosome and curing patients with Downs Syndrome.
I read the article, "The Special Brand of Horror that is the New World Screwworm". When I first read this I was completely disgusted. I thought lice was really the only thing girls with long hair have to worry about, but this is also a potential show-stopper; additionally, this is way worse than lice. The symptoms if these critters infest your hair seems very repulsive. They include, fluid filled bumps that ooze a foul-smelling exudate, as well as, swelling! Something lice may not pose. However, this species are not the only one that could pose danger to us! C. hominivorax, for example, has cutting jaws that could drill down to bone and nerves, and enter the bloodstream! How horrible! Reading this article really helped me learn to be more careful, especially with my hair. Being an avid traveler, myself, I am glad I read this article, so I can protect myself when I visit exotic places and I know the 12 year old girl mentioned in the article, wished she knew that, too. However, after reading how to cure this, I was very surprised! Bacon could be used to help this nightmare! It turns out that jamming raw pork in the worm's breathing hole, could help. Who knew? Bacon is not only for eating. The larvae escape the place they are living in, either because they are attracted to the meat, or because they do not want to get suffocated! Now I know what to do if god forbid this ever happens to someone I know! I am so happy I read this article, even though I have threw up in my mouth a little.
I read the article about the GMO wheat, it is very interesting how a plants that where never supposed to be grown in fields and where destroyed some how managed to grow in Oregon. When you think how a plant destroyed eight years ago it is pretty scary. It made me wonder what other crops had a similar accident and what if we have been eating GMO products without knowing. Although the UDA is tiring to solve the problem Mansanto should be held responsible. If this plant has spread into fields it could be devastating to the wheat crop.If the global markets do not accept the wheat it can be devastating to the Oregon economy which will later effect the us economy.
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