The links:
- Why do some genes have interesting names like "Sonic Hedgehog" and "Ken and Barbie"?
- Amyloid-beta protein buildup has been linked to Alzheimer's disease. New research shows that the normal function of this protein may be in defense against viral infections.
- More parasites this week. This time, focusing on the efforts to raise awareness that some parasite species are in danger of going extinct, and what we may learn from them.
47 comments:
Out of the three articles provided this week I found the one titled “Save the Zombie-Makers” the most interesting. I found it very intriguing that despite the common belief that parasites are terrible and only hurt every living thing in their paths, parasites are actually needed and without them there could be the consequences could be significant. Like any other animal, parasites are needed for various relationships between species, and without them many animals would suffer. For example, most humans do not like roaches. As mentioned in the article, there is a wasp called the Ampulex dementor that stuns a roach so it cannot move and traps into a small burrow. From there, the wasp lays an egg on the roach’s underside and then once hatched the larva sucks the nutrients from the roach and makes its way inside the roach’s body. In order to avoid infection the wasp leaves an antibiotic on the roach’s abdomen. Once full sized, the wasp pokes its head out of the roach and lets itself free. The Ampulex dementor can decrease the number of roaches in the environment, helping humans despite being a parasite. The way that these wasps interact is very important because it can give us insight into the future of medicine.
The article that I read this week is titled “Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names”. While scientists now have to follow several guidelines and jump through a series of hoops in order to officially name genes, this wasn't always the case, resulting in extremely unscientific titles. Among these obnoxious names, the most outrageous consist of Ken, Barbie, Pray for Elves, Beethoven and Sonic Hedgehog. The scientist behind the names Barbie and Ken, Wasserman, was studying the different kinds of genes that alter the fertility in male flies. When they discovered flies, both male and female, that did not have external genitalia, it made him think of other objects that didn't contain these body parts. When they finally came to a conclusion, these genes were officially known as Barbie and Ken. An obscene amount of other genes have been named over emotions, humor and modern day media. For example, a gene that could cause animals, specifically mice, to go deaf was named after Beethoven, the hard of hearing music composer. In my opinion, it would be much easier if the scientific community went back to these basic and impulsive names. An assortment of random letters and numbers is much more difficult to remember then the names of your favorite dolls, story, or video game. As a result, communication between the scientific community and general public could be improved.
Of the three articles which I read this week, I found the articles titled "Why do some genes have interesting names like 'Sonic Hedgehog' and "Ken and Barbie"? and "Focusing on the Efforts to Raise Awareness that some Parasite Species are in Danger of going extinct, and what we may learn from them" the most alluring articles of the three which were given.
In the article titled "Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven:an oral history of how some genes got their names", I found that names of such genes reflect how they affect an organism and how science can give way to some room for humor. The names such as Pray for Elves and Beethoven are hilarious as they are informative. Beethoven is a mutation in which the organism has hearing loss, which directly relates to the musical composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven, who was deaf as well. Since the name was not officially used by any scientists beforehand, the group kept the name.
The article titled "Save The Zombie-Makers!" was incredibly fascinating because the idea of trying to preserve an organism which has, so far, only proven to be harmful towards its hosts is mind baffling. This article has shown me that to every cloud, there is a silver lining. Meaning that maybe a parasite could be beneficial to humanity. The parasite in question, is the parasitic wasp A. dementor. By studying this wasp's behavior and its life. scientists have found that the wasp larvae can create a layer of antibiotics that fight disease and keep the host healthy. The idea of keeping and developing this adaptation to help humans is amazing. This has really got me thinking about all the other organisms humans have yet to discover and how they can help our society.
The article I read this week was "Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names". Scientist, when they got the chance, got creative with naming certain genes they discovered. Some of these creative names are Ken and Barbie, Pray for Elves, Sonic Hedgehog and Beethoven. Although these names are creative and look like they have nothing to do with science, they all have certain meanings that correspond to what they do. For instance, the names Ken and Barbie were came to be when a scientist was studying flies and found that some of them didn't have external genitalia. this caused him to think of objects or creative characters that didn't have any either. Thus, he came up with Ken and Barbie Also many genes are named over emotions and humor. For example, Beethoven was the name given to mutant mouse who had an allele for hearing loss, just like the famous music composer who was deaf. Also, Pray for Elves was named because the geneticist had a lot of work to due and the dead line was near. her colleague would wish for a fantasy during their late nights and he'd say where are the elves to come and do the work. Therefore, she named it pray for elves because she spent a lot of time and effort doing this and wishing there were elves to help her. All these genes were named in the 20th century, that is because now there are a lot of guidelines about naming genes. I think that scientist should go back and be able to name the genes what they want instead of the scientific names they are using now.
The article I read was, "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes." People with Alzheimer's disease have lumps in their brains caused by proteins called amyloid beta. Many say this protein is bad, and does not provide any benefits for the body. However, neurologist Robert Moir says it is actually a "hero" for our immune system, and protects us from microbes, such as herpes. A strand of herpes was injected into two kinds of mice, normal ones, and ones that were genetically engineered to have more amyloid beta in their brains. The second type of mice were more capable to resist the virus. The protein protects against the virus by latching itself, and forming "cages." However, if this process is too long, then lumps start to form in the brain. I found it interesting how one protein canchelp the body fight against something such as herpes, but also can cause a dangerous disease such as Alzheimer's. I believe this discovery can help scientists figure out a way to cure this disease, and find out the real reason it is caused.
After reading the three articles, I was specifically intrigued by the article titled, "Save The Zombie-Makers!" I was surprised by how these parasitic wasps, named Ampulex dementor, go against the common belief of the people. Many believe that these wasps are useless, or disgusting, but they actually have so many benefits and are needed in our society. Additionally, it is amazing how such small creatures can "zombify" or take over other creatures's brains and also how they play such a huge role in the food web. This rare species can affect the hosts they feed on as well as those species that are affected by the hosts and make their population go through wild swings. The way they can manipulate other animals for their own benefit is very interesting, and is a topic I would like to learn more about. Not only this, but as the author, Carl Zimmer stated, these insects can provide "some inspirations for ways to manipulate our own brains-not to turn ourselves into zombies, but to treat psychological disorders." This could provide medical breakthroughs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer's or Dementia, which affect millions of people worldwide. Not only this, but the Ampulex dementor also releases an antibiotic after it takes control and lays its eggs in the victim. These antibiotics are new to science, and are ones scientists have never seen before. Relating back to the antibiotic resistance article I read last week, this new antibiotic released from these wasps may have the ability to cure many diseases and cure them without the bacteria becoming resistant to it. In my opinion, measures definitely need to be taken to prevent the Ampulex dementor from going extinct, because after all, the future of medicine lies in their "wings."
I chose to read the article titled "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes." Despite doing research on Alzheimer’s Disease for other classes, I never found information linking the disease to herpes. Instead, the amyloid beta plaques were always the sole blame. I found it very interesting that the plaques that supposedly caused Alzheimer’s were actually the result of the body trying to protect itself from infection, yet become harmful and form plaques after an extended period of time. While the plaques are still said to cause Alzheimer’s disease, realizing the cause of the plaques themselves is a crucial step towards better understanding the condition. Many studies have confirmed the correlation of herpes and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, antiherpes drugs have been shown to decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 80 percent. This could be a game changer in treating Alzheimer’s disease, as previous drugs focusing on eliminating amyloid beta were unsuccessful.
I read the article titled “Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes”. Before reading the article, I was unaware of specific protein functions in terms of Alzheimer’s, but I knew that proteins not functioning properly or building up can lead to other deteriorative neurological diseases such as Huntington’s.
A protein called amyloid beta that clusters and becomes toxic to neurons is a “hallmark” of Alzheimer’s, although its typical function in the brain is debated. Contrary to past views, Moir (a neurologist) believes amyloid beta functions as a protector of the immune system, specifically against forms of the herpes virus. When the defense continues for too long, the protein builds up and becomes harmful appearing as it is seen in Alzheimer’s patients. This gives way to the idea that Alzheimer’s is a result of amyloid beta reacting to something like a virus, which I found interesting, but also had questions about. Forms of herpes are not uncommon, so what other factors cause only some people to develop Alzheimer’s and what leads to amyloid beta overacting? I agree this is an important finding because it shows that viruses play a role in Alzheimer’s, either after one’s brain has been affected by the disease already or in the formation of the disease. This may lead to determining one’s susceptibility as aging occurs (according to Moir, a result of a weakening immune system) and tracking disease progression. I have always viewed Alzheimer’s as unpreventable, but studies have shown that those who were treated for a herpes associated virus were less likely to be affected by Alzheimer’s. This being said, after years of research and treatment attempts, none have been successful in lowering amounts of amyloid beta in one’s brain.
The article I read for this week was titled, "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer's and Herpes," and I learned some new information about the causes of Alzheimer's from it. Amyloid beta is a protein found in the brain that protects neurons from viruses(such as the herpes virus) by latching on to the viruses and surrounding them. This is a normal process and protects the brain from infection, but if this process goes on for too long, the amyloid beta will build up in plaques across the surface of the brain and consequently cause Alzheimer's Disease. The defense mechanism of amyloid beta is beneficial up to a certain point, but after that it becomes harmful. With this in mind, a comparison between this process and cell division can be made. Cell division is another natural process in the human body, and it allows for growth, the repairment of wounds, and the replacement of old and dead cells. Without cell division, the body would essentially never grow and eventually cease to be functional as the cells would simply die off with no more new cells being generated. Cell division is a good thing, but if it is uncontrolled, the cells will reproduce in dangerous amounts, create tumors and ultimately cause cancer, which, like the amyloid beta plaques, is detrimental to the body. This made me think about how in many cases, too much of one thing, even if that thing is good, can end up being bad, and this is true even in many non-biology aspects of life.
The article I found the most intriguing was "Save the Zombie Makers". Looking more into the subject, I considered what the true purpose of trying to save a dying species. On a larger scale, it's usually a humanitarian effort to save animals such as pandas. On the bright side, children at such a young age get to experience a small amount of pandas in a zoo exhibit. On the other hand, millions of dollars are spent on preserving just another exhibit at this same zoo. Is it worth? Many can dispute why it simply is or isn't worth it. On the smaller scale with parasites and of the such, the bright side is that a few (such as a Dementor ) provide natural antibiotics that can be used to help the raging studies in areas such as antibodies and bug resistance. The same effort is being made to not only preserve a parasitic species, but to preserve an entire environment as to prevent cockroaches from dying out and wasps from losing their prey. Who would've ever wanted to save cockroaches? When did cockroaches even come into the preservation view? Weighing out the options, it is overall a balanced relationship: save the wasps and study the natural antibiotics, or let them perish and not have raised so much as an awareness on these dying species.
The article “Save The Zombie-Makers” peaked my interest for a few reasons. Typically the word “parasite” has a negative connotation, however this article provides evidence that this is not always the case. It outlines the different ways in which parasites are beneficial to not only the eco system, but parasites also serve as a stepping stone for scientific advancements. Whilst reading this article I was particularly fascinated by the authors ability to connect the cockroach wasp’s ability to manipulate a cockroach brains to treating psychological disorders in humans by understanding the nervous system. If researchers are able to figure out how the wasp does this, it could alter the lives of many. Psychological disorders affect millions of people, and although many are being treated we still have a far way to come. As for the parasites role in the eco system, keeping them around is a vital part in maintaining the food web. Every species plays a specific role on this earth. As most commonly preached the death of a species is simply apart of “the circle of life”. This is why although a parasite could be a “zombie maker” as the parasitic wasp is to a cockroach, the wasp serves a purpose. The articles efforts to “save the zombie-makers” is an effort to maintain what has always been accepted as the “circle of life”. Understanding this along with how a parasites abilities are beneficial to scientific research is what the author intended to do in this article.
The article “Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names” was interesting to me. I had previously heard of some genes with interesting names, like Sonic Hedgehog and Ken and Barbie, so getting to know how their names came about sounded like it would be fun to learn about. After reading the article, I gained a new appreciation for these names. Some of these names directly correlated to the phenotype it affected, such as Ken and Barbie, which could cause individuals to lack external genitalia, like the famous dolls, and Beethoven, which could cause deafness. However, there were other names that were in jokes and references to the researchers interests. Sonic Hedgehog was named after a band a researcher liked and the famous video game character. Pray for Elves was a reference to the folktale of elves helping a cobbler finish his work, which paralleled the researchers own struggle to meet their deadlines. At the end of the day, this article really helped humanize researchers in my mind. They aren’t some kind of mythical creature, and they aren’t robots. They are humans who have great senses of humor and are witty. Hearing their stories in the workplace and how they came up with interesting names for genes opened my eyes, and the disconnect between me and researchers dissolved. These men and women who were working on genomes became far more relatable to me.
“Save The Zombie-Makers!” also held my attention quite well. I had previously heard of the curious relationship between some wasps and cockroaches, in which the wasp stings the cockroaches brain in a certain way that causes it to become completely complacent, allowing it to be lead wherever the wasp desires. The wasp then lays its eggs in the cockroach, and its larva will consume the cockroach as its first meal. This behavior has fascinated me since the day I had first heard of it, and it has never failed to amaze me. It raises many questions, such as how it originated. These two creatures seem to have undergone a form of coevolution, in which the wasp becomes dependent on the cockroach to reproduce. How did it reproduce prior to developing this behavior, and why was it beneficial enough to become prevalent in the population? I am curious as to what reproductive behaviors this parasitic action made obsolete. Another major question is how the wasps were able to know where to sting the cockroach to make it follow the wasp. Doing this to a cockroach requires extraordinary precision, and it is very bizzare that these wasps can perform it throughout generations. It must mean that it is hereditary knowledge. This behavior is very mysterious.
Out of the three articles, I found "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes" interesting. Research shows large clusters of the protein amyloid beta are the "hallmarks" of the Alzheimer's disease. Researchers say it is still unclear the full function of the protein amyloid beta in the brain. Robert Moir, a neurologist, believes that many think of amyloid beta as a bad protein but he says amyloid beta has a good side as well. Moir thinks the protein amyloid beta protects the immune system by protecting neurons from microbes that are infection carrying. He conducted an experiment and proved his thoughts by injecting HSV into two mice and the one with greater quantities amyloid beta protein was able to put up a resistance to HSV. Amyloid beta is able to put up a resistance by latching onto the virus and placing the virus into a "cage". Moir also stated that if amyloid beta continues with this process overtime the protein will form the large clusters that can cause Alzheimer's. It is intriguing how the same protein that can help the brain fight against viruses can also cause Alzheimer's.
After reading all the articles, I was most interested by the article, "Save the Zombie-Makers!" by Carl Zimmer as it left me in awe. Before reading the article I always thought of parasites as a nuisance but little did I know that these organisms along with their hosts are vital to our ecosystem. The recently found parasitic wasp, the Ampulex dementor, that makes cockroaches its zombified victims amazed me and left me thinking. The parasite is found in the Greater Mekong Region in Thailand; this region is quickly being threatened by logging, hunting, etc. One should be concerned about the parasites in that region because they are key species in food webs. Not only does this threat parasites, but it also affects their hosts as well. Parasites can teach the world many new things and can lay the foundation for new innovations. For example, wasps like A. dementor. belong to a group known the cockroach wasps, which contain 200 named species which were recently discovered and there are more to come. The female cockroach wasp searches for roaches, and after it finds a roach it swoops down and stings it its abdomen; the roach can not move, temporarily. Then, the wasp stings the cockroach again in its brain. This causes the cockroach to lose its motivation to move. However, the wasp grab onto an antenna and leads it into a burrow. The wasp lays an egg on the roach’s underside and then leaves.The egg hatches and sucks on the roach’s nutrients before going inside the host’s body to complete its growth. To keep its host from dying of infections, it smears an antibiotic “layer” on the roach’s inner body wall. Later, the fully-grown wasp pokes its head out of the roach, wriggles entirely free, and leaves the burrow and the cockroach has died. This parasite can be very beneficial as it can teach us a lot. For example, most of the parasite’s antibiotics are new to science and so they may lead to future medicines and cures.The wasps have a incredible skill at manipulating the cockroach brain which can teach us more about the nervous system of insects and can possibly lay the foundation of curing psychological disorders in humans, which would be a massive breakthrough in medicine. We can learn all of this from a single species. Overall, we can learn so much about parasites, which could lead to cures and new medicines. However, we need to save the parasites in order to learn about them as they are so important to the future.
The first article I read was “Sonic Hedgehog and Beethoven: An Oral History of How Some Genes Got their Names” by Justin Chen. This article fascinated me because I had always thought gene names were a few letters and numbers since scientists have to follow certain guidelines when they name a gene. However, there are a few genes that have unique names due to free association and emotion. Some of these gene names include, “Ken and Barbie,” “Pray for Elves,” “Sonic Hedgehog,” and “Beethoven.” These names have a pattern of corresponding with how the genes affect that organism. For example, the “Ken and Barbie” gene was named after adults who did not have external genitals because the studied flies did not have external genitals themselves. The “Beethoven” gene was named after the deaf artist because the gene caused hearing loss.These names are significant because they show that the scientific community has room for humor and can possibly improve communication and interaction within the group, for gene names that are funny or related to a well-known person or thing are easier to remember than various numbers and letters. A further interest in genetics in students could also further develop, for they could associate genes with funny names and further look into as to why a gene has a particular name, instead of just seeing random numbers and letters.
Additionally, I read the article “Save The Zombie-Makers!” by Carl Zimmer. I found this article interesting because it discussed the benefits of having parasites in ecosystems. Normally, the negatives are shown when students learn about parasitism because the hosts are suffering. However, this article attempts to show the benefits of parasitism- they teach us and without them their hosts and other species affected by those hosts will encounter wild swings. Since humans are a possible host for some parasites, people, including myself, tend to associate parasites with negative thoughts. However, this article was surprising because it showed that there are positives to their presence, and it is important that students are cognizant of both beneficial and harmful effects that involve parasites. In addition to providing us a teaching opportunity and preventing wild swings, their investigation might benefit the development of medicine because of how they have evolved their skill of manipulation of a cockroach’s brain. This article makes it evident that there is still so much to learn about the species A. dementor and related parasites. Therefore, it is important to make sure this species and like-parasites do not disappear.
Of the three articles presented, I chose to read "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes" and . I initially read the article "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes" and was greatly enthralled by the revelation that Alzheimer's and Herpes may be correlated. Never would I have fathomed Alzheimer's, a disease present in older individuals that brings about memory loss and confusion, to be associated with herpes, a virus that can be spread through mere skin-to-skin contact and brings about sores and complications in the genital regions. The way in which the author structured the article and presented the findings that demonstrate the two may be linked with one another enabled me to better comprehend and piece together the main ideas of the article. I believe that the most crucial aspect of understanding the article is connecting the various pieces of evidences presented in it together and tracing them back to the conjecture they serve to prove: that Alzheimer's and Herpes may be linked. In doing so, I was able to reach the following understanding: a protein known as amyloid beta accumulates in the brain when herpes viruses are detected and imprison the viruses in self-made cages to inhibit them. According to a proposition by neurologist Robert Moir, as individuals age, herpes viruses take advantage of their enfeebling immune systems and infiltrate the brain from other parts of the body; amyloid beta is consequently brought into action and begins accumulating in the brain in large numbers to encage the viruses. The overwhelming number of amyloid betas leads to unconventional lumps or "plaques" in the brain that in turn lead to the presence of Alzheimer's. However, more factors are likely involved in the sequential process as Moir also suggests; the transition isn't as simple as one virus leading into a disease.
Secondly, I read the article "Save The Zombie-Makers!" regarding the impending extinction of the parasite A. dementor. I was compelled enough by the information presented in the article to watch the TED-Ed talks attached at the bottom given by the authors of the article. Upon reading the article, I was able to extract the knowledge that A. Dementor is a parasitic species that resides in the Greater Mekong Region in which the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam are located. The species that reside in the Greater Mekong Region are highly endangered due to activities such as hunting and logging and infrastructure such as dams and roads, including A. dementor. The extinction of parasites would take a highly negative toll on the biosphere. As I recall from honors biology, parasites exert density dependent control on their hosts by feeding off of them without killing them- thus preventing them from overpopulating. Additionally, according to the article, female emerald cockroach wasp temporarily paralyze roaches and inject their stingers into the roaches' brains to drain their motivation. The fact that an organism can manipulate another psychologically never fails to amaze me. The wasp then lays its egg on the underside of the roach, and once the egg hatches, the larva invites itself inside the roach's body and streaks an antibiotic cocktail on its inner body wall to protect it from deadly infections. Such behaviors can benefit scientists in the fields of medicine and psychology, thus demonstrating another reason as to why the extinction of parasites would be detrimental to Earth's overall biosphere.
Out of the three articles, the one that interested me the most was "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes." The reason I chose this article was because I didn't expect there to be any link between the virus herpes and the neurological disease named after German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer. Alzheimer's disease causes memory problems, hallucinations, delusions, and other neurological/cognitive problems to the 30 million people worldwide that are affected by it. This disease is a result of excessive amounts of the protein amyloid beta in the brain. These proteins can accumulate and form large clusters in this important organ, which can be harmful to the neurons located around them. According to the article, many researchers identified amyloid beta as a harmful protein with no purpose whatsoever to the body. Recently, however, it has been proven that it does help the body fight infectious microbes and major viruses, such as herpes. Amyloid beta has a more heroic than villainous role in our immune system when it comes to fighting viruses. Amyloid beta fights viruses by latching onto them in large numbers and enclosing them with cage-like structures which prevents them from doing damage. Also, according to the article, this protein emerged around the same time that the herpes virus did. I believe that the amyloid beta gene emerged just to fight such viruses as its primary purpose. The relationship between Alzheimer's disease, herpes, and amyloid beta is that if a person is infected by a herpes virus, excessive amounts of amyloid beta are produced by the APP gene to defend against the virus. If a large number of this protein forms around the brain due to the fact that the herpes virus is targeting the brain, the individual has a higher risk of forming Alzheimer's disease, as many neurons can be damaged by the clusters of the protein that are formed. However, it can't be said that everyone that is diagnosed with one of the herpes viruses will develop Alzheimer's. This is because the herpes viruses, such as HSV-1 or HHV-6, are not likely to target the brain, unless it was already deteriorating, which makes it an easy target. This does prove though that people with an unhealthy brain who are infected by herpes can end up drawing the virus to their brain. This would cause a large amount of amyloid beta to be produced, which can eventually develop into Alzheimer's. To add on, I always believed that Alzheimer's disease was incurable. However, after reading this article, I concluded that there is a possibility that the risk of Alzheimer's disease can be lowered. I came to this conclusion because if a drug or medicine that prevents viruses which cause the large production of amyloid beta is discovered, the chance of amyloid clusters forming in the brain and harming neurons is slim. In conclusion, this article made me understand that certain things can be helpful or harmful depending on your perspective, and that too much of a helpful thing can result in a problem, as seen with amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease and herpes.
"Even More Evidence for the Link between Alzheimer's and Herpes", by Ed Young shed the light on another new way of thinking, as it shows how herpes and Alzheimer's may have been linked since "before there were insects", as "one's tuned to capture (Alzheimer's) and the other to escape (Herpes)". This article interested me as it shows how the herpes virus can affect the amyloid beta protein, changing its purpose from good to bad. Young states that scientists are beginning to believe that amyloid beta protects neurons from infectious microbes, by "latching onto them in large numbers, imprisoning them in self-assembling cages". What interested me, however, is when the herpes virus is introduced, the amyloid beta begins to multiply in great magnitude, causing the problematic plaques, which is theorized to be the cause of Alzheimer's. Young shows this by citing William Eimers experiment, where he injected the common herpes virus (HSV-1) into normal mice, or the control group, and mice that were genetically engineered to produce high amounts of the Alzheimer's causing protein, amyloid beta. The latter could resist the virus better. This shows that the amount of the beta could affect the likelihood of resisting herpes, but also increases the chances of getting Alzheimer's. While scientists cannot make loose connections, they hypothesize that the herpes virus favors weakening immune and brain systems, as they will have to put up less of a 'fight to survive'. However, even in these older systems, the amyloid beta does not fail to rise to the battle, and begins to multiply, and the amyloid- entrapped viruses start to accumulate, which will cause Alzheimer's later on. This sparked my interest as it shines a light on the possible connection between Alzheimer's and herpes, and how the presence of one, even though very common, may cause the other to become dangerous, and at times even deadly. It also makes me wonder what other diseases may be similar to this situation, as this information could become a major stepping stone to finding a cure to many diseases that have been thought to be incurable.
The article that got me thinking the most was titled "Save the Zombie-Makers", which spoke about the parasitic wasp known as the A. Dementor. I was excited to read more after the article stated that it was named after the dementors in Harry Potter. I have to admit that I was surprised when the text first started saying that we should focus on saving parasites, but as I read on I was able to understand how even parasites can act as a keystone species. A keystone species plays a role in determining community structure, and this role is out of proportion to its abundance. This means that if the A. Dementor were to become extinct, other species would be harmed leading to the downfall of a community. For example, parasites play an important role in food webs. If they were removed from an ecosystem, their hosts could take wild population swings. The article states, "If you don’t like cockroaches, the last thing you want is for the parasites that devour them from the inside out to vanish." We also have a lot left to learn from parasites. The A. Dementors belongs to a lineage called Ampulicidae, also known as the cockroach wasps. The Ampulicidae contain 200 named species, with more waiting to be discovered. The cockroach wasp also has many skills. It scans roaches from the air and then swoops down and stings the abdomen, temporarily paralyzing it. It then snakes its stinger into the recesses of the cockroach brain, which removes any motivation the cockroach has left. The wasp holds onto an antenna and leads the roach into a burrow where it can lay eggs. The larva from the eggs suck on the roach before completing their growth cycle. To prevent the host from dying due to infections, it smears an antibiotic cocktail on the roach’s inner body wall. In conclusion, this article showed me why and how parasites can be so important, and how they successfully parasitize roaches.
This week, I read the article “Save the Zombie Makers!” by Carl Zimmer. Before reading this article, I had no idea that there were benefits to saving certain parasites from extinction. I always associated these creatures with evil without thinking of the possible advantages of having them around were. I found it interesting that it is almost crucial for parasites such as the Ampulex dementor to be protected from extinction. According to Carl Zimmer, these parasites have just been discovered which means that there are still many unanswered questions about them. The Ampulex compressa or the emerald cockroach wasp is another parasite that should be saved from extinction because it could make a major contribution to modern medicine. When this wasp attacks/stings its host, it smears an “antibiotic cocktail” inside the cockroach to prevent it from catching infections. These antibiotics are fairly new and can help with the development of new medicines. In addition, the emerald cockroach wasp is able to manipulate a cockroaches brain which can help us learn how the nervous system of insects work. It can also help scientists find ways to cure psychological disorders. Both types of wasps and many other parasites are very important because their extinction could completely alter food webs. If they disappear, their hosts and other species can “undergo wild swings.”
After reading the three articles, I found "Save the Zombie-Makers" an intriguing read full of excellent information. To start off, "Save the Zombie-Makers" caught my eye because of the article from the previous week about a particular species of tapeworm manipulating Stickleback fish to have a specific behavior that benefited the tapeworm. This caused me to be more curious about the special abilities different parasites have over their hosts. In this article, it talks about two types of parasitic wasp. One being the Ampulex dementor, that makes cockroaches its zombified victims and the other being the emerald cockroach wasp. Although the A. dementor has little-known information about it, it is still vital for the Greater Mekong Region to do its best protecting this species. This is because losing even one species of a parasite could lead to a chain of adverse reactions within an ecosystem eventually damaging it to the point of where it is eradicated. Another reason I learned for why it is so essential to prevent these parasites from extinction is that they are able to teach us so much and provide new information that can be used for various medical treatments and could prove to be valuable for our society. Another species of cockroach wasps found within the lineage known as Ampulicidae is called the Ampulex compressa, also referred to as the emerald cockroach wasp. This cockroach wasp is well known, and it has a fascinating ability which allows it to paralyze and change the behavior of the victim cockroach. The emerald cockroach first finds a roach and stings its abdomen to keep it in a temporarily paralyzed state. Then, It follows that up by striking a second shot to the roach's head, sinking its stinger into its brain. This extraordinary ability causes the cockroach to have an idle behavior and to have no reactions of any sort. The emerald cockroach wasp then lays an egg on the roach's underside inside a burrow. Once the eggs have hatched, the larva suck on the host then digs inside of its body where it then completes its growth stage. Another fascinating aspect about these wasps is that it smears an antibiotic cocktail on the roach's inner body wall which prevents it from dying from an infection. Finally, after the wasp larva forms a cocoon inside the cockroach, it eventually grows to a mature wasp and leaves the host's body. I noticed how the wasp's ability to change the behavior of its host is related to last weeks article about how the Schistocephalus solidus tapeworm altered the behavior of the stickleback fish. In both cases, the parasite manipulated the host to have a completely different action that was beneficial to the parasite and for it to continue its species life cycle. However, what is different about the two parasites is that the emerald cockroach wasp directly infects the host while the tapeworm does not. It surprised me how these two parasites are entirely different, yet have very similar abilities to continue their population growth. The knowledge acquired from this wasp is remarkable and has led to a new gateway of different medicines that can be created with the antibiotics used by the cockroach wasp. Not only this, but its ability to manipulate the nervous system of a cockroach's brain can potentially be used in a similar fashion for humans in order to treat physiological disorders. All in all, my perspective on parasites have changed yet again, and their diverse abilities continue to blow my mind and teach me how significant they are to our society as a whole.
Out of the three articles presented, the articles, "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes" and "Save The Zombie-Makers!" intrigued me the most. Both articles deal with the idea of perspective and show the reader that there are always two sides to a story. For example, the article, "Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes", talks about how the protein Amyloid Beta was always looked at badly due to the conclusion that an abundant source of Amyloid Beta leads to Alzheimer's. However, the author doesn't fail to play devil's advocate as he introduces the idea of Amyloid Beta being produced in order to protect the body from harmful viruses. It has now been discovered that this protein's function is to latch onto any harmful viruses in the body and imprison them in cages. This fact surprised me because I had always thought that Amyloid Beta played a villainous role in the creation of Alzheimer's. By knowing this, I feel that a cure for Alzheimer's disease is possible if we are able to find out how to limit the accumulation of Amyloid Beta in the brain. Another way to prevent Alzheimer's would be to lessen the chance of acquiring viruses in the first place.
Another example of perspective can be found in the second article, "Save The Zombie-Makers!" because this article introduces a new idea in which parasites are helpful rather than harmful. The author claims that parasites have the capacity to mind control and are of importance in an ecosystem, characteristics that humans should further investigate and learn about. We are still discussing the possibility of mind control on humans and the author states that parasites are a big lead on this topic. By investigating parasites, we might be able to find new information regarding mind control and ecosystems in general. However, this task would be impossible if parasites die out. Therefore the author claims that we should do everything we can to protect these parasites. This idea intrigued me when I first read it because parasites have always been viewed as harmful creatures who benefit off of other's misery. It was astonishing to me when someone was promoting the protection of these creatures because many people are not aware of the role they play in the ecosystem. Additionally, the parasites have many characteristics that are unique and beneficial. For example, female emerald cockroach wasps have the capacity to paralyze cockroaches and sting their brain in order to exhaust them. Then the wasp lays its eggs inside the roach and once the larva forms, it spreads an antibiotic cocktail on the insides of the roach in order to prevent infections. Wasps are able to psychologically manipulate their hosts and being able to research this characteristic can be extremely beneficial.
Of those three articles, the one I found the most intriguing “Save the Zombie-Makers!” This article stood out to me because it completely changed my opinion on parasites after reading it. At first when I was looking over the summary, I thought it would beneficial if parasites went extinct. However, this article proved me wrong. The parasite A. dementor, got its name from Harry Potter. These parasitic wasps use cockroaches as a host and eventually kill them. A decline in these parasites would result in an unfortunate increase in the number of cockroaches. The type of cockroach that the A. dementor preys on is still unknown. If it preys on a specific type of cockroach, which then becomes extinct, there would a drastic decrease in the A. dementor population. Parasites also contribute to an ecosystem’s food web. They help stabilize populations by creating a balance in populations. The best known cockroach wasp is the Ampulex compressa, also called the emerald cockroach wasp. Research has shown that female wasps sting a cockroach in two places: one near the abdomen, and one on its head. These two stinga prevent the cockroach from fighting back and makes it lose control of itself. The wasp lays its eggs on the roach. When the larvae hatch, they live inside the cockroach( still alive ). Eventually, when the larvae mature and metamorphosizes into a fully grown wasp, it leaves the cockroach and the cockroach finally dies. Research on Ampulex compressa can help us discover and learn many things. For example, we can further develop our knowledge about an insect’s nervous system. Additionally, we may even find ways to treat some physiological disorders. It is important to make sure that these parasites don’t die out because they may help us greatly in the future.
Out of the three given, I chose to read “Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes”. The article on Alzheimer’s was interesting because it presented the view that certain things that are shown as hazardous can actually do something more helpful. Amyloid Beta, when discovered that it helped in causing Alzheimer’s, it was seen as something the body makes that is completely harmful. Treatments used would specifically target and eliminate amyloid beta. However, recent discovery shows amyloid beta is actually helpful in preventing against various viruses. According to the article, amyloid beta encases viruses, rendering them useless. This can be good for the body because by doing so, many viruses won’t be able to harm us. However, this article also shows that even good things can become harmful when in excess. This new information presented can be proof that not everything is simple, there are many layers to it all. This information can hopefully present new ways to prevent Alzheimer’s by finding ways to help prevent various diseases. This way, amyloid beta won’t have to be produced much and it can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s overall. This also opens up the possibility that because eliminating amyloid beta doesn’t help reduce or stop Alzheimer’s, it may not be the amyloid beta causing it, it may be the virus’s entrapped inside that somehow infect the brain when clumps of amyloid beta create plaques in the brain. It also shows that this may be the case for other diseases too. Things that can cause different diseases may not be all bad, they may actually be helpful in other cases, like amyloid beta is. This new information on amyloid beta shows that there is new information to constantly uncover about the body that can help in preventing and reducing the risk of diseases.
“Save the Zombie-Makers” was also interesting because it presented a different view on parasites, one that I had never even thought of. Originally, I had thought of parasites to be unnecessary to the environment. All that they seem to do was just benefit off of the pain of other organisms. However, I never realized that they helped keep populations in check, help keep balance in ecosystems, and I never realized the amount of information we can learn from them. According to the article, parasites such as the A. dementor can help keep populations of cockroaches in check, which I never knew. It made me realize that not all parasites are harmful and unnecessary; many of them are needed for a balance in the ecosystems. The fact that parasites being able to control its hosts via their mind also helps us realize that many new things can be learnt from them. The amount of possibilities that can be opened up due to research on them can cause many breakthroughs. For example, learning how to mind control can help psychologists and therapists control patients and alter their minds to help them get better. It can also be used in medical situations. By being able to control the harmful bacteria and viruses, they can be made to self-destruct, eliminating them and leading to a cure for various diseases. Cancer can also be cured because the tumor cells can be made to die, ridding the person of the tumor without any therapies or surgery. Overall, both articles show that there are two sides to all things; something isn’t only bad nor is it only good. Amyloid beta and parasites were seen as harmful and unneeded, but due to research, it has been shown that they are very much needed.
I enjoyed learned about some of the potential causes of Alzheimer's - a disease that affects millions of Americans every year. Although scientists are far from solving and fully understanding this tragic disease, there is substantial research that has been found surrounding it. What struck me as surprising was how amyloid beta, an alleged cause of Alzheimer’s, actually prevents viruses and infections like herpes. Amyloid beta attacks and kills viruses, but excessive use may lead to plaques of Alzheimer’s. These circumstances reminded me of an article I read last week about how excessive use of antibiotics may lead to opposite effects. While the two situations are quite different (the former causes an irreversible disease; the latter builds immunity to the antibiotic) they both show that an overuse of anything, even good things, may lead to negative effects. It is important, however, to note that there is not a causational relationship between herpes and Alzheimer’s. As the author points out, herpes or any other disease does not cause Alzheimer’s, but increases the risk of it. There are many other influencing factors, some known and some unknown. Judging by the article, there are many questions that still remain regarding amyloid beta, so it is important to first fully understand the function of it before attempting to find a solution to Alzheimer’s. Acting without fully understanding may lead to unforeseen consequences.
Around the world, parasites have a stigma surrounding them and are considered disgusting and destructive. Reading “Save The Zombie-Makers” has proved to me that this opinion is not always true. The Ampulex dementor, an endangered parasitic wasp, attacks, lays eggs in, and mind-controls its host, the cockroach. Although this is a rather gruesome practice, it would be worthwhile to save the species. The article seems to give the impression that scientists are considering just letting it die out, but this would be a detrimental mistake; for several reasons, it would be beneficial to save the Ampulex dementor, instead of abandoning it. According to the author, without this parasite, the food web would be greatly affected. Cockroaches would experience massive population growth, which would cause a ripple effect within the rest of the ecosystem. Also, researching the Ampulex dementor and its parasitic practices could open new doors to medical and psychological research. These significant benefits to the ecosystem and the medical field show that, although parasites such as the Ampulex dementor are considered gross pests, all species - disgusting or not - are worth saving from extinction.
One of the articles I found interesting was “Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes” that told of how there was a potential connection between the Herpes virus and Alzheimer’s. Alzeihmer’s was discovered in 1907 by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer who noticed unusual lumps, or “plaques,” which were caused by the deposition of an unusual substance” in the brain of a 50 year old woman facing mental problems. Years later the substance was finally identified as a protein called Amyloid Beta. Amyloid Beta can accumulate in large clusters that are toxic to neurons. In the immune system, however, it protects neurons from infectious microbes—and from herpes viruses, in particular. Amyloid beta protects against herpes viruses by latching onto them in large numbers and imprisoning them in self-assembling cages. That’s typically a good thing, but if the process goes on for too long, it builds up to the problematic plaques of Alzheimer’s. Though it seems that Amyloid Beta is the culprit, this is not true. Alzeihmer’s is caused by amyloid beta’s reaction to something else, and likely some kind of infection like herpes. More than 100 papers have described correlations between the presence of HSV–1 and the risk of Alzheimer’s. Most recently, a man named Ben Readhead and his colleagues at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai showed that two herpes viruses, HHV–6A and HHV–7, were more common in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients than in those of healthy people. Readhead also showed that the herpes viruses can influence the activity of many human genes, including a large number that affect the risk of Alzheimer’s and the progression of the disease. The most infamous Alzheimer’s-related gene is ApoE which comes in three forms (with E4 version being the problem). Readhead and his colleagues demonstrated that the more E4 copies someone has, the more HHV–6A and HHV–6B viruses they are likely to have in their brains. As we get older, herpes viruses take advantage of our weakening immune systems to spread from other parts of the body into the brain. Amyloid beta fights back but deposits of amyloid-entrapped viruses start to accumulate in the brain. This goes on for years, and slowly leads to Alzheimer’s. Though this is just a conjecture for now, research has shown that a link between herpes and Alzeihmer’s is plausible. Alzheimer's affects almost 30 million people worldwide so any lead on discovering the function of Amyloid Beta and its interaction with viruses seems promising. This article intrigued me and I hope to learn more about neurodegenerative diseases like Alzeihmer’s in class. - Karan Nayak
The first article that I read was "Save the Zombie-Makers" which I found the most interesting. The article was very interesting because it helped understand that even though parasites were believed to be such scary or horrific creatures, they still are extremely significant to the ecosystem and should not be overlooked. Reading this article intrigued me due to the fact that learning about parasites in seventh grade was horrifying and knowing that they torture and derive nutrient to other organisms made me apprehend if anything was gonna happen to me. The article gave a different perspective of parasites and how the environment would be affected if the organism became extinct. The A. Dementor for example is endangered and if they become extinct, the food chain will be disturbed. This article helped me learn new information about an organism which changed my opinion. Also, the A.Dementor helps us determine its lineage and provides us information that we do not know yet which is another fact that I did not know about about a parasite. Its astonishing how the common belief of a parasite being a vicious creature had changed when reading through this article.
The second article that I read was “Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes." In the first paragraph of the article I learned about the history of Alzheimer's and how it was discovered which was very fascinating. Alois Alzheimer noticed a protein called the amyloid beta which were lumps in a person's brain that causes memory loss, hallucinations and delusions. The thing that is most thought provoking about this is does the amyloid beta protein have a function or not? Robert Moir believed that the protein had an important role by protecting the neurons in the brain from viruses but debated that if the process was continuous, it creates the unusual lumps. According to the article, Moir observed that viruses and herpes are connected to Alzheimer's in some way.
The article that I read was called “Save the Zombie-Makers!”. The purpose of the article was to show how parasites, contrary to popular belief, are actually helpful to the environment. It also enforced the fact that we as humans should be concerned that many of them are going extinct (due to climate change, changes in infrastructure, and hunting). The article focused on a newly discovered species of parasites (Ampulex dementor) and its host, a cockroach. This parasite is helpful to the environment because it keeps the population of cockroaches in check. In addition, studying this parasite and how its host (the cockroach) responds to its sting may help scientists learn more about the anatomy of a cockroach. In addition, the article mentions how the antibiotics that the wasp uses to paralyze their prey can be used to study the nervous system of various insects in the future. In turn, this may help scientists improve the current way of treating physiological disorders.
For this week's assignment I read the article entitled “Save The Zombie-Makers!” I thought it would be interesting to keep the theme of parasites going for another week. I found it surprising that the topic of this article, however, was wasps. Wasps are not creatures that one thinks of at the mention of “parasites.” This reminded me that a parasite is more than just a tapeworm living inside another organism. This fact juxtaposed with the common perception of parasites provides a sharp contrast that should perhaps be given more thought. Ampulex dementor is one such species of parasitic wasp found in the Greater Mekong Region. Due to the fact the species was only discovered in 2007, very little is known about it besides the fact that it turns cockroaches into zombies in a similar fashion to emerald cockroach wasps. Further studying these wasps can lead to many new discoveries across multiple fields. The potential of these wasps is incredibly high. Researching how they control cockroaches can lead to insights about insect nervous systems and inspire methods to manipulate the human brain for the treatment of psychological disorders. Additionally, the wasps coat the interior of the cockroach with an antibiotic that preserves it while the eggs laid inside mature and develop. These antibiotics are mostly unknown and have yet to be studied in applications to human medicine. However, these wells of knowledge are at risk. Increased development in the area and climate change are affecting the populations, but it is unclear how. In order to prevent the worst case scenario of extinction careful conservation efforts are required. Conservation repeatedly comes up when discussing species populations. This further stresses the importance of conservation in today’s increasingly industrialized world. Conservation is an important issue to me personally because I wish to study marine biology and many marine habitats and species are threatened therefore I found this article doubly appealing.
One article which caught my attention was titled, "Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names" by Justin Chen. This article discusses some of the peculiar names given to genes. When you think about the basic names for genes you usually associate scientific names like p53 of the names of scientists. However, you are usually caught by surprise when you hear something like the Ken and Barbie gene. Modern technology allows us to use computer programs to name the genes, however, this wasn't always the case. According to the article, scientists during the Wild West era didn't use that technology and instead used other factors such as emotions and association. For example, when trying to determine the name of a gene causing a lack of external genitals in adults the name Ken and Barbie was chosen. Free association was also seen when creating the name for the Beethoven gene. This name was used for the mutant allele causing hearing loss. The famous composer whom this was named after also suffered from this disability hence the name. This was based on free association. Emotions came into play when determining the name for the Pray for Elves gene. The name was created by Lewis after she was working hard and was "praying for the elves" to come and help her. Both emotions and association were seen when naming the Sonic Hedgehog gene. The group of scientists decided to name the "hedgehog" gene after actual hedgehogs but chose this because it reminded Riddle, one of the scientists, of a band called Sonic Youth. I liked this article because it showed that there are lighthearted aspects to even some of the most serious jobs.
The article, “Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names,” by Justin Chen explains how naming genes in our past was not always technical, but also creative. Most genes or some genes that were taught in biology, were very technical to what its purpose was. But, to realize that some genes have weird, but unique names made it an interesting topic to read. What I mainly learned was how the genes were named based on the way it affects someone’s phenotype. The Ken and Barbie gene was named after the show, as the gene disallows for adults to have external genitals.
Another way that researchers found the names of genes was directly linked to the research group’s interests. A specific example given from the article, was Pray for Elves. The researcher, Lewis, named the gene, Pray for Elves, as they were struggling to finish their work by the deadline. Another example is how researcher Riddle had wanted to name the gene Sonic the Hedgehog as he had interests in both the video game character and the band. Although the researchers may seem that they are fooling around, they understand how that there is so much research and effort going into figuring out how biological systems work. Incorporating fun names, just allows them to have some fun. Lastly, the gene for hearing loss was named Beethoven which shows creativity from the researchers side. All in all, from this article, I have realized how scientists named things such as genes to show ownership and creativity. All these creative gene names make it more relatable to me and others who have heard of these genes.
-Akshith Macherla
After reading all of the articles, the one that definitely had me astonished was “Save the Zombie-Makers!” by Carl Zimmers. Once again, learning about a parasite, and in this case, the parasitic wasp- Ampulex dementor- really captured my interest and left me thinking about how much of the world we’re truly unaware about. Most people, including myself, believe that parasites are a nuisance, and that they’re harmful. While this may be true to some degree, after reading this article, I’ve realized that if it weren’t for these annoying, gross insects & parasites, the world would be a completely different place! For example, without A. dementor, certain areas could be overcome with cockroaches which is something no one wants! A. dementor, which have been discovered very recently, were found in a great abundance in the Greater Mekong Region in 2014. However, lately, due to logging, hunting, construction, etc… many species, including A. dementor are being threatened (as mentioned in the article). On top of that, there isn’t much known about this parasitic wasp, so there isn’t much scientists or other people can do to help this species of parasites. This could lead to a problem as losing this parasite species could cause major problems in the ecosystem. Parasites play a major role in food webs and without them the whole balance of the ecosystem could become disrupted. Furthermore, Zimmers mentioned another point as to why these wasps should indeed be protected & saved- their abilities can teach us a great deal & can even help us learn how to “manipulate our own brains,” as Zimmers says. This is because of the abilities that the A. dementor have. As the title of the article mentions, these wasps basically turn cockroaches into zombies! The whole process in which the wasps take over & controls the roaches is gruesome but fascinating. First, the wasp swoops down onto the roach & stings it in its abdomen, paralyzing it temporarily, but enough so that it’s in shock. Then, the wasp stings the roach again, but this time in the head, basically crushing the brain of the cockroach. At this point, the roach loses all motivation to move or even save itself. Next, the wasp moves the body of the roach into a burrow, where it lays an egg in the underside of the roach, and then seals the burrow & leaves. Once the egg is hatched, the larva sucks on the roach (just as a tick would) before it goes inside the body of the roach to finish off its growth (and so the host doesn’t die of infection, an antibiotic paste is smeared on the internal walls of the cockroach). After the larva forms a cocoon inside the roach, the roach finally dies. Once the larva is fully grown and becomes a wasp, it comes out of the dead cockroach! This is the process of the parasitic wasp that brutally kills the roaches. This process can therefore teach us a great bit about the nervous system of insects and can even help us learn and ‘play around,’ with our own brains, which is why it’s extremely important for us to protect this parasite and others as well. This article completely changed my view about parasites and it’s definitely caused me to become even more fascinated & intrigued about parasites and their abilities!
"Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes" is yet more corroboration on how science is evolving every day and many things are not as simple as they seem. Amyloid beta is clear proof of this statement. For decades this molecule has been viewed as the blame for Alzheimer's. New discoveries and research have in fact disproved what is seen by many as a fact, that amyloid beta is solely responsible for Alzheimer's. This molecule and its relationship to this disease is far from being understood properly and the surface has barely been scratched in what is currently known and understood. However, what is currently known is that amyloid beta is not the only acting factor in causing Alzheimer's, and it might not even be a negative element. Evidence is supporting the positive aspects of amyloid beta, such as how beneficial it is in our immune system and in fighting against viruses, such as herpes. While amyloid beta might not be a cause for concern on its own, the way it reacts to other elements, such as herpes viruses, are maybe what make it dangerous. The problem with amyloid beta is all that is unknown about it. They key to solving diseases like Alzheimer's lie in first figuring out molecules such as amyloid beta. In these aspects, the science that is known today is lacking because there is so much of the unknown that must first be figured out before even attempting to find cures and medications. A solution can't be found to a problem that isn't even truly understood.
Out of all the articles, I was most intrigued by, “Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names”. It was extremely interesting understanding the system of naming discoveries in the past and in the the present. Now, before a name is appointed for a discovery many checks have to be made where in the past it was almost completely random leaving most discoveries with obnoxious names few people u deteriorating. Examples shown in the article of these outrageous names consisted of the names,Pray for the elves, Beethoven, Sonic the hedgehog,Ken, and Barbie. The name Beethoven rose about when a gene causing mice to go deaf was discovered, which in turn led to them being named after one of the greatest, hard of hearing music composers. Scientist Wasserman came up with the names Barbie and Ken for a set of genes he had found in groups of male and female flies which had altered their fertility and resulted in them not having external sexual organs. Which then allowed him to make the comparison to Ken and Barbie which are dolls that similarly don’t contain those body parts. In my opinion, as fun as it is to learn about a gene named Beethoven it could raise confusions and concerns amongst the science community whilst conducting research and searching for the information they need. With today’s system, although complex you are guaranteed to always find exactly what you are looking for when relating research to a specific name set for a discovery. - Sulekha Mukunda
Upon reading the article “Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes”, I gained deeper insight on the role herpes plays on Alzheimer’s. According to the article, German psychiatrist, Alois Alzheimer, noticed unusual lumps caused by the deposition of a substance later identified as amyloid beta. While amyloid beta may seem like a dangerous substance, shockingly it is a vital aspect of our immune system. For instance it protects neurons from infectious microbes, most importantly herpes. Furthermore, the process involves latching onto them in large numbers and caging them in. However, a continuation of this process for a long duration will catalyze plagues of Alzheimer’s. This relates to the idea from a previous article discussing the effects of antibiotics over a full course that limited amounts of a substance are more effective in helping a problem. According to Maria Carrillo, there is a lack of findings to prove that viruses lead to alzheimer progression, however, there needs to be a greater understanding of what herpes does to the brain. In addition, I was surprised that parasites, which most would consider harmful and problematic, are actually important to the ecosystem. Moreover, based on the article “Save the Zombie-Makers,” parasites are vital to control and promote the food chain. Also parasites carry further knowledge such as the parasite wasp known as the Ampulex Dementor which was recently discovered in 2007. Through this parasite species, more species identifiable in the same lineage were able to be discovered, broadening the knowledge available to researchers. For example, these wasps that can manipulate cockroaches brains can give researchers further insight into how the nervous systems of insects function. In addition, by utilizing this given information, researchers can learn more about humans as well by studying psychological effects. In order to do this though, we must ensure life for these parasites and save them rather than try to kill them.
I read the article 'Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer's and Herpes" which helped me better understand Alzheimers better. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist, saw unusual bumps on a 50 year old women brain who had memory problems and other signs of Alzheimers disease. These bump were later recognized as a protein known as amyloid beta. Amyloid beta plays a big role in our immune system, because it protects neurons from infectious microbes, herpes in particular. These amyloid betas find and catch infections, however when doing so for a long period of time will result in catalyzing plagues of Alzheimers. Robert Moir says that the amyloid betas are at the root of the problem with alzheimers, however, it is not the bad part of the problem. He stated that the amyloid beta react with something (most likely a disease like herpes" and creates the disease. With all this knowledge about Alzheimers, there is not enough still and until scientist learn more, there will never be a cure for this disease. I also read “Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names”, I found this article to be extremely interesting in the aspect of the system in which the scientist would name these genes that are known today. The names given to the genes are usually linked in a way to the genes process or make up. Some interesting names in the article are Pray for the elves, Sonic the hedgehog, Beethoven, and, Ken and Barbie. Ken and Barbie were named after flies that at first seemed infertile because the heads of the sperm were not latching onto the eggs. Research later showed that the sperm were in fact fertile, it was the lack of external genitals they had, both males and females. Just like a Ken and Barbie doll, female and male, they both lack external genitals. Beethoven was named after a well known musician because this gene made mice go deaf. Pray for Elves was named that because the scientist who were working on the case were up late at night and had a deadline coming up. Mark Yandell liked to say "When are the elves going to appear?" and that night when they were doing work, he wanted magical elves to come and help finish the work. All these genes and genes to come ave been and will be named related to the process or make up of the gene, and I think that is really interesting.
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Out of the three articles, the one I found the most engaging was “Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes”. Alzheimer’s is one of the most common diseases among seniors. It’s probably also one of the biggest medical mysteries as scientists rush to find a cure to the disease. Understanding the disease is the key to finding a cure. A link between herpes and Alzheimer’s may bring scientists a step closer to finding a cure. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys memory and mental functionality. Scientists found that those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s have lumps or “plaques” in their brains. It was later discovered that those plaques were caused by the protein, amyloid beta. Amyloid beta was previously considered as a harmful substance because of its role in Alzheimer’s, but new research shows that it’s very beneficial. Herpes is an infection against which amyloid beta protects neurons from. Amyloid beta protects against the Herpes virus by securing onto large amounts and caging it in. William Eimer, a neurologist, proved this by infecting two clusters of rats with Herpes virus HSV-1. One of the clusters had normal levels of amyloid beta while the other had an enhanced amount. The rats with normal amyloid beta levels yielded to the infection while the ones with higher levels had more resistance. The issue occurs when an excessive amount of amyloid beta is present. The old proverb “too much of a good thing” applies here. Over time, the increased amount of amyloid beta leads to the plaques correlated with Alzheimer’s. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is just a conjecture. Alzheimer’s isn’t just a simple disease that stems from an infection. There’s still much to learn about the disease and the path to a cure.
Out of the three articles, I was most interested by “Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names”. During the recent decade of biology, naming genes were usually systematic and meticulous through computer programs. Each of the names given to specific genes were meant with a specific purpose which, in most part, made to be easier for scientist to categorize. But prior to this, scientist had selected names for genes based on emotion and free association. For example, when scientist found out that flies came out to be sterile even thought they made perfectly good sperm, gave scientist the idea to name the genes of these flies as "Ken and Barbie". The reason for the name was because flies did not have external genitals and this referenced both male and female flies. Ken and Barbie are also known to not have genitals as well which gave scientist the idea to give the genes for these flies the fitting name of "Ken and Barbie". It is evident that scientist had a sense of humor when deciding to give this specific name. Another name that was brought up in the article was "Pray for Elves" which was out of the idea that elves would help scientist when they were working late at night. Again, humor was incorporated in naming this gene and it was interesting to read how a name such as "Pray for Elves" originated. Sonic Hedgehog was named differently than the names already listed in that it was named out of personal interest. The idea for the name came out of a band that the scientist enjoyed and it was really interesting to read how he was insistent with keeping the name although his colleagues would have liked a more professional term. Lastly, the last name that was described in the article was Beethoven which was named after a mouse was described to be deaf. They named the mouse after a famous person with a similar symptom which was also interesting to read. Although these names are interesting to read, it is hard to imagine if scientist 100 years later would be able to reference these genes. Maybe it would have been better to name these genes with a more systematic approach than with free association or maybe it wouldn't have made a difference. Personally, I believe that it would not make a difference because these names actually have a relation to the reason behind these genes.
The article this week that I found most interesting is the one entitled "Save the Zombie-Makers!" Usually, parasites are only thought of as bad and you don't wan them anywhere near you, but sometimes they can be good and help us out. For example, A. dementor (wasps infected with a particular parasite) have the ability to paralyze and control cockroaches with their stings. They are able to get inside of the brains of the cockroaches and manipulate them to do what they want. The A. dementor will lay its eggs underneath the cockroaches and hatch the larva. They will then take over the hosts body to keep growing, using a special antibiotic to keep the host from dying. Once they fully hatch, they leave the roach. The behavior of these infected wasps have contributed to scientific advancements, like the beginning of learning how the nervous system of insects work, as well as looking for ways to manipulate our own brains to treat psychological disorders. Without parasites like this, the ecosystem would be altered and the food web would be disturbed. Activities such as building roads, dams, lodging, and hunting are all putting a greater risk of extinction on these parasites, as well as the inevitable climate changes. I wasn't sure of all the ways (or any ways for that matter) about how parasites can be helpful to our environment and their contribution to science. This article informed me on how parasites aren't always harmful, and it helped me to see another side to an issue that not many people are informed about.
Out of the three articles I read this week, I found, "Save the Zombie-Makers!" the most intriguing. The article discussed the benefits of parasites by using the Ampulex dementor, or cockroach wasp as an example. Despite my initial, negative opinion surrounding parasites, the article managed to change my view for the better. It is apparent that a parasite's sole purpose is to utilize its host for its own benefit. Although, the removal of parasites from the environment would essentially disrupt the whole ecosystem. Parasites regulate other species' population because they directly affect the food chain. Without them, other species would be affected negatively. For example, cockroach wasps inhabit cockroaches and by doing so they are keeping the cockroach population at check. If these wasps were to go extinct, there would be an abundance of cockroaches as a result. A specific type of parasitic wasp is the Ampulex compressa or the emerald cockroach wasp, a distant relative of the Ampulex Dementor. The A. Compressa swoops down when it catches a glimpse of a cockroach and stings the cockroach's abdomen, leaving it temporarily paralyzed. It then delivers another sting to the cockroach's brain implementing a way of mind control. The cockroach has lost all control now and the wasp proceeds to lay an egg on the underneath the roach. The egg slowly becomes a larva and squirms itself into the roach's body to finish growing. While this is happening, the larva wasp smears the inside of the roach with an "antibiotic cocktail" which prevents the host from developing any infections before the new wasp hatches. Eventually the new cockroach wasp hatches, killing its host in the process. Parasites like these have unique ways of manipulating their hosts and using them towards their own benefit. Even though, parasites are primarily harmful to their host, they provide a way to keep their hosts' species regulated. My view on parasites and their impact has definitely changed for the better, thanks to the article, "Save the Zombie-Makers!"
The article, "Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names," is very interesting. The first set of genes that scientists created names for is Ken and Barbie. It is actually quite funny when making the connection. The fly genes did not have actually reproductive parts, similarly to the barbie dolls they named them after. The next example was for a fruit fly gene. The scientists reached a point of desperation and tiredness of thinking of a name that they used a term from an expression the scientist always said, "When will the elves appear?" The following instance is also relating to the fruit flies, in this case a "hedgehog" gene. The labeling was up to three scientists, and they were going to use real names from real hedgehog species to do so. But, one of the Scientists saw an ad for the video game "Sonic the hedgehog" and decided to incorporate that name. The final example can be summarized as a mice mutant gene being named Beethoven, because both the mice and the composer himself were deaf! This entire article is fascinating, and sheds some comedy onto the Science world.
One of the more eye grabbing reads of this week, in my opinion, had to be, "Save the Zombie Makers." Now, prior to reading this article I was baffled as to why someone would say save the zombie makers. After all it does not sound good. This article correlates to the idea of one of last weeks readings with the bird and the fish, Most of us are appalled with cockroaches when we even hear about them or see them in our houses. The zombie makers, are a species known, as Ampulex dementor. Their relationship with roaches are that the roach is a host for the larvae that is produced from the wasps. The female wasp scouts for any roach and stings them the the brain, leg, etc., which results in the decrease of the cockroach's motivation. The wasp lures it into a controlled location and places the larvae on the underbelly of the roach, as well as an antibody to prevent any infections from killing the host. Then, a womb is created inside the roach and later the wasp hatches and breaks through the roach. It is very interesting to me because this is a odd way of removing things we don't like. All in all, parasites are not always a ad thing in other's minds.
Out of the three articles, I found “Even More Evidence for the Link Between Alzheimer’s and Herpes” to be the most compelling. As one who has been intrigued by Alzheimer’s for years, this article greatly augmented my interest in the disease. While I did know that amyloid beta plaques play a huge role in the development of Alzheimer’s, I did not know that amyloid beta proteins were beneficial when it came to fighting infections such as herpes, nor did I know that herpes is correlated to Alzheimer’s. As the article stated that many researchers have casted amyloid beta proteins as “villains,” I also had the same thought since large amounts of them contribute to the degradation of neurons in the brain. However, this article made me realize that amyloid beta proteins are not so villainous at all, since research has found that amyloid beta play a valuable role in the immune system, as they protect neurons from infectious microbes, like herpes, by entrapping the viruses in “self-assembling cages,” which surprised me. Research found that the prolonged duration of this process thus leads to large amounts of amyloid beta, which develop into the plaques that degrade the brain. This information thus exemplifies that herpes can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. For instance, studies have shown that HHV–6A and HHV–7, two herpes viruses, were more common in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients than in those of healthy people. In addition, while I did know that the ApoE4 gene also plays a role in Alzheimer’s, I did not know that it is correlated with herpes. Researchers discovered that the more ApoE4 gene copies a person has, the more likely they are to have HHV–6A and HHV–6B viruses, which are herpes viruses, in their brains. This correlation is significant as researchers now wonder how herpes affects the brain and if its effects on the brain leads to the memory loss, delusions, and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Ultimately, I found this article very valuable because although there is no causal relationship between herpes and Alzheimer’s, the article shows that there is a correlation between the two. Thus, I think it is very important for people to be more aware of herpes and to prevent it as best as they can. Having more preventive measures with herpes, can thus be have an impact when it comes to preventing Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, I believe this research can benefit in the discovery for a cure for Alzheimer’s, as it provides a better understanding for possible causes of the tragic disease.
After reading "Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names" I learned that the process of naming genes is more simplified than I thought. I always believed that the process of naming genes with such quirky names had plenty of thought and serious decision making behind it when in reality, scientists just base it off their personal wittiness. When reading "Save the Zombie-Makers" I developed a sense of sympathy towards parasites. Allowing pesky parasites to die has more cons that outweigh the pros and can be very damaging. Parasites play important roles in food webs. If they were to disappear from an ecosystem, their hosts–and the species that are affected by those hosts–may undergo wild swings. Specifically, the article focused on the zombie making parasitic wasps who use cockroaches as a zombie like host. Without the parasitic wasps were to die out cockroaches would become an event bigger fiasco.
The article I chose was, "Sonic hedgehog and Beethoven: an oral history of how some genes got their names". I didn't know that there used to be a time when scientists didn't have a standard naming technique for genes. Turns out there was a time where scientists could name a gene anything they wished for. A couple of these genes are beethoven, pray for elves, and Ken and Barbie. The gene beethoven was a gene for deaf mice, and since Beethoven was a deaf musician it was named after him. On the other hand the gene, Pray for Elves was named that because of an old story where elves would appear and help someone finish their work, this was a story the person who named the gene wished was true due to nights of hard work. This article showed me that science in the older days is a lot different than it is now.
I read the article titled "Save the Zombie-Makers". This article is about a parasitic wasp named "Ampulex Dementor". A very similar wasp, named Ampulex compressa, or the emerald cockroach wasp, operates in similar ways. This parasite basically stings the abdomen of the cockroach, then goes and slides its stinger into the brain of the cockroach. Then it guides the cockroach to a burrow and then lays an egg under the paralyzed cockroach. When the egg hatches, it sucks on the cockroach until it is big enough to go inside the cockroach. After it is inside it creates a cocoon and some time later emerges from the dead cockroach. The reason the host(cockroach) stays alive is because the wasp injects antibiotics into the cockroach to keep it from dying. The antibiotics the wasps have may lead to new medicines so they need to be researched. The wasps have also are good at controlling the cockroaches brains, so that needs to be researched because it could lead to discoveries about insect's nervous systems and could help with human psychological disorders.
The parasite article I read was my favorite due to its persuasiveness. It’s very challenging to tell someone organisms like tapeworms are going extinct and convince them it’s a bad thing in a couple pages. This author used the bee nicknamed a dementor to show how even though they may not appeal to us, all organisms play a role in their respective community, food chain, and web. It’s hard to picture how a parasite can affect everything in its ecosystem, but this author did a good job of portraying the importance of he survival of all organisms, parasites specifically.
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