Why did the Mushroom go to the party? Because he is a Fun gi!!!! Fungi are among the most widely distributed organisms on Earth which can be found in soil, water, plants, animals and humans. . The most common type that we know are yeasts, molds and Mushrooms . They are member of the group of called Eukaryotes. They do not perform photosynthesis. Like animals they are heterotrophs and acquire their food by absorbing molecules. They have a special material called chitin in their cell walls which are the same material in the exoskeleton of certain insects. Thus they seem more closer to animal kingdom than plants. They do not have the ability to move about except for spores travelling through air.
When we hear the word Fungus, we think of Athlete’s foot, thrush, ringworm, etc. However, the first antibiotics Penicillin was derived from a mold. Fungi help making of cheese, bread, etc and they themselves are edible in the form of mushroom. They are used in the pharmaceutical industry for drug manufacturing and for production of industrial enzymes.
Fungi also destroys crops and plants. It also effects animals. Many times they have a symbiotic relation with these organisms too- like a specialized fungi known as mycorrhizae which helps the plant roots in the uptake of water and nutrients and in return, gets organic molecules produced by photosynthesis. They are food source for other organisms and provide enzymes the animals need to break down plant cellulose in their diets, and above all they are the main decomposers in ecological systems.
Photo Credit – sciencelearn.org.nz
Fungi has specialized feathery filaments called Hyphae. They grow from a point and extend out in search of food. Hyphae can also branch out and create a large network called a mycelium. The fruiting body is made to generate and disperse spore into the surroundings to grow more fungi.
We can limit the presence of spores in our kitchen by keeping the food in cool, dry and clean storage . Make sure to discard rotten products quickly. If there is a rotten houseplant, it is good practice to change the soil in the pot before re-potting to avoid old spores or fungi present.
Kidney filters the blood in our body every half an hour. Apart from this they also help control blood pressure, stimulate production of red blood cells, and regulate blood chemicals that are essential to life. In short, to maintain good health well-functioning Kidneys are essential. However more that one in seven American are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD).
CKD is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. This causes waste and excess fluid to remain in the body. Kidney diseases are mainly caused due to diabetes or high blood pressure. It is associated usually with getting older and more prevalent in people who are of South Asian Origin or black.
The damage to the kidney cannot be reversed. But early diagnosis will help to slow the progression of the disease by taking certain medicines, diet change and lifestyle changes. Test can be done by blood or urine test.
Some other health consequences of CKD include:
Anemia or low number of red blood cells
Increased occurrence of infections
Low calcium levels, high potassium levels, and high phosphorus levels in the blood
Garlic (Allium Sativum) is a bulbous flowering plant. It is related to Chives, Leek and Onions. It produces a chemical called Allicin. Allicin is a compound that may help ease inflammation and block free radicals that harm cells and tissues in your body. The compound is one of the main active components of garlic and what gives it its distinct taste and scent.
Allin is a chemical found in fresh garlic. An enzyme called alliinase is activated when the clove is chopped or crushed. This enzyme converts alliin into allicin.Garlic is mainly used for conditions of heart and digestion . It is believed to boost immunity, anti-inflammatory, positive impact on arteries and blood vessels.
Ancient Egyptian , Chinese, Indian and Sumerian civilization has reference to garlic as medicinal herb used for treating toothache, arthritis, cough, constipation, infectious diseases, etc.
On rare occasions, garlic supplements can cause headaches, fatigue, appetite loss, muscle aches, dizziness and allergic reactions like asthma attacks or skin rashes.
If you take blood thinners, a garlic supplement can increase the medication’s effect, making it even harder for your blood to clot.
Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out and shortness of breath. Asthma cannot be cured but it can be managed. There are different trigger agents – Chemicals from fumes, dust, gases, pollen, pet dander, mold, and exercise induced – and these change over time. It usually starts in childhood and hence can affect people of all ages.
Asthma signs and symptoms include:
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness or pain
Wheezing when exhaling, which is a common sign of asthma in children
Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu
There are two main types of inhalers:
Bronchodilators (such as albuterol), that open the air passages and relieve symptoms; and
Steroids (such as beclometasone), that reduce inflammation in the air passages. This improves asthma symptoms and reduces the risk of severe asthma attacks and death.
The best way to control Asthma is to take preventive measures like getting vaccinated against flu, preventing triggers, mindful of your breathing, recognize and treat early with medication. There is a study by UNC School of medicine on why people with allergic asthma are less susceptible to Severe Covid.
World Asthma day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of May every year and this year it falls on 3 May 2022. This day is celebrated by the asthma patients and educators around the world to raise awareness about the condition and seek better healthcare facilities for asthma care.
Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a psychiatric mood disorder characterized by cycles of unusually elevated moods and severe depression. Mania, or manic episodes, cause a sense of hyper energy, insomnia, racing thoughts, and decreased focus. Individuals with the disorder make impulsive and irrational decisions without considering the consequences of their actions. On the other hand, the depressive phase of the disorder involves hopelessness, major depression, and a higher risk of self-harm and suicide. The cause of the disease is unknown, however, there are environmental and genetic factors that are thought to be involved [1]. This article will investigate the signs and symptoms, causes, and current therapies to treat bipolar illness.
There are three types of bipolar illness: Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder.
Bipolar I is characterized by severe and long episodes of mania and depression. This unstable form is defined by extreme mania and oftentimes, immediate hospitalization is necessary for the safety of the patient and others around them.
Bipolar II is classified by hypomania, a milder form of mania that usually does not require immediate hospitalization. Hypomania does not present any psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or volatile behavior. As a result, this form is much more difficult to diagnose as it does not present severe and accentuated mania that Type I depicts. [2][4].
Cyclothymic Disorder is the third type and is distinguished by its milder and more chronic symptoms. In cyclothymia, there are repetitive cycles of emotional highs and lows that persist for at least two years. Essentially, during the elevated state, one’s senses are elevated but not to a level where it can be diagnosed as a hypomanic episode. Despite its far milder symptoms as compared to Type I, cyclothymia still interferes with day-to-day activities as well as significantly increasing the chances to develop Bipolar Disorder Type [3].
Manic Symptoms
During the energetic manic or hypomanic phase, patients go into a hyper-energetic state lasting longer than one week. Generally, this phase is primarily characterized by unusually high levels of activity, inflated self-esteem (grandiosity), intense pleasure (euphoria), an inability to fall asleep (insomnia), and risky behavior. Mania can be measured through the Young Mania Rating Scale, a system of questions that gauges the severity of symptoms that a patient experiences [6]. Manic episodes can also trigger psychosis, a disconnection from reality, and require immediate psychiatric care [2][4]. Mania can also be deadly not only due to its mental toll on the afflicted, but also on their physical self. For instance, higher risk-taking can potentially involve substance abuse, unprotected sex, and more unsafe activities [1][5]. It is quite evident that mania is deadly in multiple aspects and can destroy a person physically, emotionally, and socially.
Depressive Symptoms
The other half of bipolar involves major depression, a disease that tens of millions have experienced in the past year. Key features of depression include a feeling of emptiness, hopelessness, lack of interest (apathy), insomnia, and feeling overtired (fatigue) [4]. More critically, a substantial aspect of the disorder is the vastly increased risk of suicide. According to a meta-analysis and review of bipolar-related suicide attempts, “between 25% and 60% of individuals with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide at least once in their lives and between 4% and 19% will complete suicide,”[7]. As a result, it is clear that bipolar has devastating effects on a person’s mental health. Another complication of bipolar is misdiagnosis. Since a diagnosis requires both mania and depression symptoms, a person in the depressive stage can be misdiagnosed with major depression instead of bipolar [2]. This can cause even more damage if they are incorrectly prescribed with incorrect antidepressants. Unlike the plethora of symptoms, bipolar has few plausible causes.
Genetic Causes
Although there are possible genetic or hereditary causes, researchers and scientists are yet to truly find a proper cause for bipolar disease [4]. People with depression could be at a higher risk if they have relatives with bipolar or other psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia [1]. In many singular studies, variants within genes have been identified as being associated with bipolar, “including BDNF, DAOA, DISC1, GRIK4, SLC6A4, and TPH2,” [8]. Despite there being numerous hereditary and genetic discoveries about those with bipolar, there is no singular gene or factor that is a direct cause of the illness.
My references:
[1] Wnuk, Alexis, et al. (2018). BrainFacts a Primer On the Brain and Nervous System. Psychiatric Disorders. Page 79-80. Retrieved: 24/06/2020.
[7] Novick, Danielle. (24/01/2010). Suicide attempts in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder: a review and meta‐analysis of the evidence. Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00786.x. Retrieved: 26/06/2020
Mankind has created many objects of convenience which has high utility value but the impact on the environment and life is proving disastrous. These are so integrated into our daily life that we must be savvy about their use and disposal. Today I start this series with Battery.
There are three primary battery types available for consumer use. They are alkaline, nickel metal hydride (NIMH), and lithium ion. For the good of the environment, utilizing metal-free batteries is essential for its recyclable and sustainable qualities. Polypeptide organic radical construction is a step towards the implementation of effective battery usage. Currently Lithium-ion batteries are used which require cobalt and large amounts of labor effort. These batteries are hard to recycle and preserving energy is difficult after usage. Composed of the negatively charged anode and positively charged cathode, so that crucial ions are able to flow.
Eye is the most important of our five sensory organs. It is described as our window to the world. Almost half of our brain is dedicated to Vision in a direct or indirect form. There are around 6 major diseases that affect our eyes and Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world.
Photo Credit – Inmed Pharma
Glaucoma disease is a group of eye conditions where the optic nerve is damaged, significantly hindering vision. Pressure inside of the eye through intraocular processes is a way in which the optic nerve gets damaged. Aqueous humor blockage when the channel is disrupted causes this disease. Other reasons include chemical injury to the eye, eye infection, and blocked blood vessels, but these causes are less often. Loss of sight and blindness can result as this disease develops in an individual.
The two main types of Glaucoma are open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure. With open-angle glaucoma the drain structure in eyes does not have proper flow of fluid. With angle-closure glaucoma the drain space between iris and cornea becomes narrow.Treatment options include prescription medicine, Surgery, and\or Laser treatment.
Prevention methods include getting regular dilated eye examinations, taking prescribed eye drops, and wearing eye protection, consuming leafy green vegetables as part of your lifestyle. Some people of certain ethnicity Hispanic/Latino over age of 60, African-Americans over age of 40, family history, etc are at higher risk.
Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest voluntary eye health organization, is joining with other leading vision and eye health groups in declaring January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month.
Epigenetics is the study of how behavior and environment create change in gene function. Cells control gene activity without changing DNA sequence. Changes in epigenetics structure regulate whether genes are on or off. Types of epigenetic changes include DNA methylation, Histone modification, and Non-coding RNA.
Courtesy of whatisgenetics.com
DNA methylation is when a chemical group is added to DNA blocking proteins that reads the gene. When a chemical group is removed in demethylation the gene is off and in methylation the gene is considered on. With histone modification, DNA wraps around histones making sure proteins that read these genes cannot access the DNA. The addition of chemical groups determine if a gene can be changed to wrapped or unwrapped. Non-coding RNA is when instructions from DNA are needed to form coding RNA and non-coding. This is needed for the creation of proteins and helps control gene expression.
Courtesy of pnas.org
Errors in the epigenetic process such as error in modification and failure to add a chemical group to a histone, can result in abnormal gene activity. Cancer, degenerative disorders, and metabolic disorders, are effects of epidemic errors.
We all wonder if it is possible to have life beyond Earth. In the late 20th century, scientists claim to have found the possible remains of bacterial life in a Martian meteorite, brought the question of the existence of life beyond the Earth to the forefront of science exploration. Although there is no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial life , the possibility of life being a common feature of the universe has been strengthened by the discovery of planets going around other stars, and the moons of other planets showing signs of probable existence of water.
Credits:Indian Astrobiology Research Centre Mumbai
Did you know that there is a specialized group of scientists called Astrobiologists who pursue the study of how life originates and how life can survive in many different types of environments. This often involves the study of extreme life right here on Earth. To gain this understanding, astrobiologists combines the knowledge and techniques from many fields, including astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, atmospheric science, oceanography and aeronautical engineering.
Advance in technology and telescope making has led to the search of inhabitable planets, extraterrestrial intelligence within and outside of our solar system. As per NASA , Astrobiology research sponsored by them focuses on three basic questions:
How does life begin and evolve?
Does life exist elsewhere in the Universe?
How do we search for life in the Universe?
For life like that on earth -which are Carbon based – to exists, water is essential. Traditionally, the astrobiologists have defined an inhabitable zone – a safe distance from sun where liquid water can exist on surface. Now they have to explore new possibilities.
Few planets from Star Wars Credits: NASA/ESA
We have seen many Hollywood movies and series showing life outside of earth. As a result of all the scientific missions, we expect to find microbial life forms , as single-celled life is adaptable to a wide range of environments and requires less energy. Governments are spending money on space research to satisfy human curiosity about our planet’s origin and to find an inhabitable planet. The by products of space research are many including our improved cellular networks, and in areas of Agriculture, Public Safety, Transportation, etc. One day purpose of Space travel will be beyond just Space tourism.
NASA sponsored event
AbSciCon 2022 will be held in 2nd week of May in Atlanta, Georgia. It brings in the astrobiology community together every two years to share research, collaborate, and plan for the future.
Turmeric , Curcuma longa, of the ginger family, is a root used in cooking in South East Asian Region.
The usage of turmeric, the golden spice, dates back thousands of years and is also utilized as a herb for traditional medical care. The yellow compounds by the name of Curcumin makeup the main bioactive component of the spice. It is a strong antioxidant and its anti-inflammatory effects fights foreign particles and helps to repair the body when damaged. Lowering inflammation leaves the body at less risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Improving the antioxidant levels of body with turmeric helps with protection of the body from free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive and contribute towards developing chronic diseases. Brain derived neurotrophic factor is improved through Curcumin and neurons form new connections to access various parts of the brain. Thus improvement in memory and attention, closely correlates with prolonged usage of turmeric. Curcumin showed gastrointestinal related side effect on people in clinical studies.
Turmeric Plant
Curcumin is not readily absorbed into our bloodstream. Its bioavailability needs to be improved to make it more User- effective. It can be consumed with Pepper. Curcumin is fat soluble and hence can be taken with oil or as part of prepared dishes.
I believe that extensive research needs to be performed to avail the full potential of this golden spice as part of integrated medicine.
Journey into the World of Life Science 