Essential Facts: Stem Cells, Diabetes, Malaria, and More
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body.
The Pancreas and Insulin
What is the Pancreas?
The pancreas is an organ that produces digestive pancreatic juice and insulin.
What is Insulin?
Insulin is a hormone that regulates sugar levels in the blood. It helps to regulate glucose.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes primarily affects adults. In this condition, cells become resistant to insulin.
Recombinant Insulin
Recombinant insulin is insulin produced by genetically modified bacteria.
Malaria
What is Malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by a microorganism, a protozoan called Plasmodium, that affects the liver and blood.
How is Malaria Transmitted?
It is transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito.
How is Malaria Treated?
Malaria can be cured with antimalarial drugs.
Diarrheal Diseases
Different diarrheal diseases include cholera, dysentery, and salmonellosis.
Tuberculosis (TB)
TB is a contagious and chronic disease that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other organs. It is caused by bacteria.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
AIDS is a syndrome caused by the HIV virus, which reduces the body’s defenses against infection. It is spread through blood contact, sexual intercourse, and from mother to child during birth.
Human Chromosomes
How Many Chromosomes Do Humans Have?
Humans have 46 chromosomes.
What Determines Sex Chromosomes?
The sex chromosomes determine the sex of a person.
Hemophilia
What is Hemophilia?
Hemophilia is a disorder that prevents or delays blood clotting.
Characteristics of Hemophilia
It manifests as external or internal bleeding, either spontaneous or provoked, due to decreased blood clotting factors.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization is an assisted reproductive technique that involves combining eggs with sperm in a laboratory.
Radiotherapy vs. Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy involves fighting cancer using high-energy ionizing radiation. Chemotherapy involves taking drugs that prevent the reproduction of cancer cells.
Hematology and Leukemia
What Medical Specialty Treats Blood Disorders?
Hematology is the medical specialty that treats disorders of the blood.
What is Leukemia?
Leukemia is the proliferation of immature leukocytes.
Cancer and Metastasis
What is Cancer?
Cancer is the uncontrolled development of abnormal cells in the body.
What is Metastasis?
Metastasis occurs when cancer cells spread from a tumor through the lymphatic system, invading other organs.
Nanotechnology
What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is a materials science that studies and manipulates matter at the nanoscale.
Potential Uses of Nanotechnology
It is a relatively new field with few current uses, but it could be useful for medicine.
Incineration Plants
What are Incineration Plants?
Incineration plants are used to produce energy from the incineration of non-recyclable materials.
The Four Rs
The four Rs are:
- Reduction: Waste prevention and development of clean technologies.
- Reuse: Establishing policies that encourage reuse.
- Recycling: Establishing policies that encourage recycling.
- Energy Recovery: Use of waste as an energy source.
Telephone Patent
Who Patented the Telephone?
The telephone was patented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876.
Analog to Digital Conversion
What Happens During Analog to Digital Conversion?
When information is converted from analog to digital, there is a consequent loss of information.
Computer Identification
How are Computers Identified?
Computers are identified by a numerical code called an IP address.
What is an IP Address?
An IP address allows you to uniquely identify any computer.