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Apr 2, 2007 23:09:06 GMT 12
Post by Adenine on Apr 2, 2007 23:09:06 GMT 12
...ok.....
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Apr 3, 2007 7:24:05 GMT 12
Post by blackfire on Apr 3, 2007 7:24:05 GMT 12
cool anybody else
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Apr 4, 2007 11:04:05 GMT 12
Post by Australie on Apr 4, 2007 11:04:05 GMT 12
you dont get it?
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Apr 4, 2007 12:12:03 GMT 12
Post by Adenine on Apr 4, 2007 12:12:03 GMT 12
i do. im just being retarded
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Apr 4, 2007 12:23:04 GMT 12
Post by blackfire on Apr 4, 2007 12:23:04 GMT 12
wat else is new
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Apr 12, 2007 14:32:59 GMT 12
Post by Adenine on Apr 12, 2007 14:32:59 GMT 12
YES!!! MY ESSAY IS A FINALIST!!!!!!
for those of you who dont know, we had this essay we had to write in biology on if we were a genetisist what would we research and why. it was a contest held by the american genetic foundation or something like that and its their dna day essay contest. mrs. cowan sent in the 3 best essays and i got an email today saying i was a finalist and that i had to sign a waiver because i had to be interviewed before i could win to show i knew the subject and just didnt copy and paste. ill post the essay here
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Apr 12, 2007 14:33:52 GMT 12
Post by Adenine on Apr 12, 2007 14:33:52 GMT 12
On August 24, 2002, Matthew Campbell was born prematurely. I was 11 at the time. Our family was told he had less then a 1% chance of living. He had tubers growing on his heart and brain due to tuberous sclerosis (TSC). The name didn’t mean much to me then, but now it means the disability that my little cousin faces daily. The effects its had on our family has sparked an interest in TSC for me, as well as a desire to research the search for its cure. TSC is caused by mutations in two genetic loci, TSC1 and TSC2, resulting in defective proteins that produce TSC. TSC1, discovered in 1997,encodes harmartin, a tumor suppressing protein. TSC2, discovered in 1993, encodes another tumor suppressor, tuberin (Franz). Mutations in TSC2 produces “tubers” that may undergo calcification. TSC2 is also associated with more severe cases and a higher rate of mental handicap, as in the case of my cousin (MedicineNet). The two proteins form a complex that regulates metabolic reactions in every stage of the cell cycle and also acts as tumor suppressors (Miloloza). Mutations in one, or both proteins, interfere with cell signals and cause lesions of TSC in growing organs, namely the brain, kidneys, heart, and lungs. Mutations also may cause the harmartin and tuberin not to combine into the tumor-suppressing complex, triggering loss of control over the cell cycle and high rates of mitotic division (Astrinidis). In the brain, TSC causes tubers. The tubers are usually found in the cerebrum, yet can also be found on the cerebellum and the various lobes. This can cause abnormalities in cognition, cranial nerves, focal motor nerves, cerebellar dysfunction, or abnormal gait (Franz). Also stemming from these tubers are three types of brain cancer: cortical tubers, which form on the dura mater, subependymal nodules, which form in the ventricle walls, and giant-cell astrocytomas, which blocks the flow of fluids to the brain (NINDS). Many TSC patients have benign tumors in the kidneys called angiomyolipomas. If allowed to reach 4cm, angiomyolipomas can cause severe hemorra. Tumors in the heart called rhabdnoyomas afflict 90% of infantile cases, including my cousin. Rhabdnoyomas can cause arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats irregularly, and can be quite severe (Franz). In fact, in some cases arrhythmia can cause premature birth, as my family knows all too well, but usually begin to regress after birth. In the lungs, tumors can cause the disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). LAM occurs when a muscle cell invades the lungs and form growths on the airways, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. Eventually, these growths cause the passageway to become obstructed. Periungual fibroma, hypomelanotic macules, and thickened areas of subcutaneous tissue are common dermatological effects of TSC (Franz). If I could have the privilege to work on a cure for TSC, I would focus on the abnormal harmartin and tuberin protiens. Their complex, a major part of guanidine-triphosphate reactions in DNA-mRNA coding (Franz), may hold the secret to a cure. A clinical study should be done to determine if harmartin and tuberin could be introduced into the body to offset the effects of the mutant proteins. Perhaps the best way to do this would be to inject the proteins directly into tissues that sustain the most damage from TSC, including the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs. Alternatively, if the gene mutations that inhibit harmartin and tuberin from complexing can be altered by gene therapy, it may be possible to regulate abnormal mitosis associated with TSC. Also, drugs could be produced that inhibit abnrmal mitosis rates. Eventually, if certain stem cells that produce the cells of the affected organs could be found, then tissue replacement therapies may be utilized. While these procedures are in the future, there are drugs out there to help lessen symptoms of TSC now. Rapamycin is a commonly used immunosupressant. It forms an inhibitory complex that binds to either harmartin or tuberin and allows it to bind with the other to form a weaker version of the natural complex (Franz). While the cure for TSC still evades scientists, the hope looks bright for young Matthew. Progress is being made every day to help those people with TSC. New therapies and treatments are being developed every year. The quality of life for individuals with TSC has increased greatly in the past years. We should continue to fund these studies, in the hope that one day the individuals and families of those with TSC may shed the burden of their disorder. (the stuff in parentheses are references. ignore them)
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Apr 17, 2007 11:53:52 GMT 12
Post by speranza on Apr 17, 2007 11:53:52 GMT 12
i have no idea what ur talking about...but you sound smart and you've got the whole empathy thing on your side...
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Apr 17, 2007 12:19:20 GMT 12
Post by blackfire on Apr 17, 2007 12:19:20 GMT 12
hahaha
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Apr 17, 2007 12:33:47 GMT 12
Post by speranza on Apr 17, 2007 12:33:47 GMT 12
bill shut up....
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Apr 17, 2007 12:57:51 GMT 12
Post by Adenine on Apr 17, 2007 12:57:51 GMT 12
hey, oyu have to play it up to its full potential
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Apr 17, 2007 13:06:32 GMT 12
Post by speranza on Apr 17, 2007 13:06:32 GMT 12
you can if you want to.....
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Apr 17, 2007 13:08:17 GMT 12
Post by Adenine on Apr 17, 2007 13:08:17 GMT 12
im serious. iff oyu looked at the winners from last year, the first place winners first line was "i have dadada and im dying." it was depressing to look at them
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Apr 18, 2007 10:09:02 GMT 12
Post by speranza on Apr 18, 2007 10:09:02 GMT 12
that does sound really sad...but i hope you win, so that you can give the money to a good cause...
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Apr 18, 2007 12:23:54 GMT 12
Post by Adenine on Apr 18, 2007 12:23:54 GMT 12
yea, if i win im giving it to the TSC Foundation to help in the search for a cure
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