Sickle Cell Disease

Sicle Cell Anemia

Sickle Cell Anemia is an inherited blood disorder. It results in the abnormal shaping of red blood cells in the body. The red blood cells roll into a conic or 'sickle' shape. This makes it difficult for red blood cells, and therefore, nutrients to travel through smaller blood vessles. When this happens the deprived tissue suffers damage and starts to die. This is the primary compication of sickle cell.

Going in Depth

The main substance of a red blood cell is called Hemoglobin. There is a normal type of Hemoglobin (Hemoglobin A)that makes up the typical red blood cell. Normal cells are round, squishy, and carry oxygen to parts of the body. Sickle cell disease infected cells, however, have Hemoglobin C or S. These are both abnormal types of hemoglobin that are a cause for the abnormal shape and properties of the cell.

Inheriting Sickle Cell

The gene for Sickle Cell is inherited from parents in about the same ways as any other trait. It all depends on whether or not the parents of the child have the trait to begin with. Hemoglobin genes, where the disease originates from, comes in two sets (one from each parent). Statistics on inheriting the disease are as follows:

1. If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia and the other is Normal, all of the children will have sickle cell trait.
2. If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia and the other has Sickle Cell Trait, there is a 50% chance (or 1 out of 2) of having a baby with either sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait with each pregnancy.
3. When both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, they have a 25% chance (1 of 4) of having a baby with sickle cell disease with each pregnancy. (as seen above)

Testing

A simple blood test can confirm whether or not you are a carrier of the trait. A special procedure called Hemoglobin Electrophoresis can determine if you have the distinct hemoglobin gene for Sickle Cell to occur. When you pass electric charges though hemoglobin, certain types will move differently and in different direction/distances. By measuring how far or which way hemoglobin of your blood moves we can see which type of Hemoglobin you have.

Treatment

Because Sickle Cell disease affects the kidneys, liver, and other organs associated with the purifying of the blood, sickle cell patients take many antibiotics, and get vaccinations against bacteria which could spread rapidly. Blood transfusions are also another means of sickle cell patients help fight the disease. They reduce recurrent pain and cut the risk of stroke in sickle cell patients, but ontant blood transfusions, however, can make blood-iron content reach toxic levels.

Organizations

The SCDAA or Sickle Cell Disease Association of America is a prominent organization that specializes in the aid of Sickle Cell research and treatment. You can visit their website at http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/index.phtml.

Quiz
1. What are the chances of someone having sickle cell if one parent has sickle cell anemia and the other has the sickle cell trait?
2. What is the name of the procedure to tell if you have the hemoglobin for Sickle Cell?
3. What happens during this procedure?
4. How are a sickle cell infected cell and a normal cell different?
5.What is the name of the organization that deals with Sickle Cell disease?

Bibliograhy

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America -- SCDAA Home. Web. 23 Mar. 2010. http://www.sicklecelldisease.org/.

How it works!!!

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfrbwrx3_53hpx3qr29

Recycle!!!

1. As a resident of Fayetteville, I can use the big blue bin that the city gov't has given me so that I can recycle. If I were outside of fayetteville, I'd have to go to a recycling center.

2. Cliffdale Container Site is the nearest recylcing plant near my home. I can use this to carefully dispose of garbage and recyle.

3. Recycling is definately good for the environment and helps the health of the planet, we can also conserve energy which will be better on your energy bill.

4. Recyled Plastic can be made into bottles, shower stalls, recycling bins, paint brushes, drain pipes, plastic lumber, and flower pots. It can also be made into scouring pads and industrial strapping.

5. Recycling glass has a benefit of saving fuel. For every ton of glass recycles 9 gallons of fuel are saved.

6. Recycled metal can be made into many things once it is melted down. Automobile parts, siding, and appliances can be made from recycled metals.

Energy Present

3-2-1 on other Earth Day Presentation.

I did my 321 blog on Daniela's Group Project on water conservation.

3 things I found interesting is that glaciers are a form of water, water affects the weather on a global level, and water vapor accounts for 90% of ozone gasses.

2 things I learned from the project was that water can be as destructive as it is helpful. Floods, and we have to have it at exactly the right amount so it can be helful to us and our surroundings.

1 question I have is: What would happen if the ice caps melted completely?

Earth Day Presentation

5 possible choices!

Blackholes!-these are among the most destrucive powers in the known universe. They consist of extrememly compressed matter. Once you come past a point called the 'event horizon' you are gone! You become immeadiately sucked into a space the size of a bottlecap. This is one my most interesting ideas.

The search is on!-Aliens has always been a pretty controversal topic. Most people dought their excistence, but many are also convinced that there is some planet out there that harvest life on their sufaces. Many different tools and technologies are put into this search and this is definately something I'd like to take a good look at.

The Fastest way to Travel!-Wormholes are a new theory of how an interdimensional. Theoretically if you were to travel through one it would take you to an alternate area, within an alternate universe, within an alternate time, and etc. Scientists are still trying to prove their excistence, and in time, how to use them for human.

The Big BANG!- This is the theory of how scientists believe the universe came into excistence. In the beggining, we believed that everything was compressed into nothing bigger than the size of a golf ball...and then...BANG!! Everything scattered in all directions! Eventually, everything came into excistence the way it is now. Whoa!

Pluto-The recently demoted Pluto is now what we all call a 'dwarf planet'. But how is good old Pluto doing lately? Ever since its new placement, not much attention has been payed to it. Xena, Pluto's counterpart in the same vicinity is also under debate recently. I'd like to know a bit more about Pluto's status.

Essential Question

1. For my group topic, I am exlaining how the process works of harnessing the sun's power through solar panels (and how they work).

2. In our Earth Day project I will ephasize the importance, and many benefits that would envolve a power switch to solar energy. There are many different beneficial aspects to consider when it comes to solar energy, and I encourage many others to switch.

3. If no one takes heed to the new advances in solar harnessing tech, then we as a human race will be loosing out on all the benefits that we can partake in if we do.

4. If everyone were to somehow switch to Solar power millions and millions of dallars worth of resources and materials would be saved on a daily basis. The earth in general would be on a much healthier status than what it is today.

Edge of Space

1. I read the article Scientists pinpoint the edge of space.

2. It was published April 10, 2009.

3.I learned that (1) technically, space begins at approximately 118km above ground, (2) scientists used an instrument called the JOULE II to measure it, and (3) they invested over $422,000 into the project.

4. Two things I found interesting was that (1) this is only the second time direct measurements of the particles separating Earth's gravity from space have been made, and (2) that there are so many different measurements to consider when determining when Earth's atmosphere ends and space begins.

5. One question I still have is: What differences might there be in determining the edge of space for Earth in comparison to the edge of space for another planet like Mars or Jupiter.

Air Pressure Mapping!!!

1. Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana have the highest wind speeds at about 30-35 miles per hour.

2. In North Carolina, the highest wind speeds are 35 miles per hour.

3.The highest pressure indications on the country barometer comes from Oregon with a pressure of 1024 milibars.

4. In our state the highest pressure is 1001 milibars.

5. When it comes to low pressures, bad weather is usually associated with it. This could be caused for a number of reasons, but the most logical has to deal with how low pressure systems bring precipitation to lower areas nearer the ground. That means that more condensation takes place and more precipitation is bound to fall.

Air Pressure!!

1. Air Pressure is the pressure exerted by the air above, which is in all directions.

2. The closest high pressure system to Fayetteville, NC covers Kentucky, Tennessee and southern Indiana.

3. There is almost no irregularities in the weather at all. It shows a clear forcast in the high pressure system.

4. The low pressure system nearest to Fayetteville covers Misouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa.

5. The weather in the low pressure system contains rain, light ice, snow and much more severe weather than the high pressure system.

Earth Hour!

1. The purpose of earth day is to contribute to the earth's overall health by turning off all electronics. This action saves on pollution and helps the earth.



2. The point of this day is to, help the earth by saving energy and conserving resources.



3. The first earth hour was in Sydney in the year 2007.



4. Accoding to the website, 'your light switch is your vote'. In order to vote for earth you simply switch off your lights in your house. Voting for Global warming just requires you to keep your lights on.

5. In order to commemorate the events, make sure you aknowledge the health of the planet in all that you do. (1) turn off access light switches. (2) unplug energy sucking devices that aren't in use. (3) Limit computer/TV time (conserve electric energy) (4) don't run the water the whole time while you brush your teeth or wash dishes. (5)Perhaps you can invest in cleaner technologies by buying a solar panel!

Chapter 18 webquest

Here is a fun little test I have prepared for you to use! Enjoy!

Worst Weather Events

1. The most devastating natural weather disaster is perhaps a hurricane. although they may not occur as haphazardly as tornadoes and have slower wind speed, the water damage brought on by a hurricane is terrible in the long run.

2. Again, I believe hurricanes are more wide scale and hence do the most damage around the world.

3. My answers to questions 1 and 2 are the same due to the cons of a hurricane in comparison to a tornado. Hurricanes are bigger, more wide scale, and bring horrible water damage that lingers after the storm.

4. I don't agree because flooding is a byproduct of hurricanes. Hence, hurricanes are a cause of floods.

5. Three examples of hurricanes include: Galvesten Hurricane which killed 8ooo people and caused 30,000 dallars in property damage.

Atlantic Gulf hurricane which killed from 600 to 900 people and caused 22 million dallars in damages

The Great Miame hurricane which caused 90 billion dallars in property damage.

Air Masses

1. the four main types of air masses are classified by characteristics of the mass itself. They mass types are continmental(c), maritime(m), polar(P), and tropical(T).

2. maritime tropical (mT) air masses often are the main cause of bringing about hurricanes.

3. As long as the air mass is dry a drought can occur. So cP and cT air masses can bring droughts.

4. Continental Polar(cP) bring lake affect snow storms.

5. The two other types of air masses are Highland and Arctic. Arctic airmasses consist of generally dry and cold air, while Higland air masses are also dry and cold, but occur in places of higher elevation.

Half Life

1.Relative dating is the process by which rocks are aged in relation to other rocks.

2.Radiometric dating is used for older rocks.

3.Radiocarbon dating is used by geologists to help determine the age of younger rocks and fossils.

4. Tree rings on a tree can determine the overall aspects of previous years by means of measuring their thickness.

5. half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of the parent material to turn to daughter material

6.We used the pennies (which had a 50 percent chance of landing heads) to help understand the attributes of half life.

Volcanoes and Earthquakes

I believe earthquakes are more dangerous than volcanoes for a number of reason. When volcanoes are a real threat they are often spewing lava, but lava flows and the speed of the flows are pretty predictable. People can easily run out of the way of oncoming lava. Earthquakes are unpredictable completely and the damage they cause can be horrendous for both, fatality rates and the economy (in terms of property damage)

One example of volcanic destrution is with Mt. St. Helen in Washington in 1980.

How I feel I've done

The question is asked, "how do I feel I did this Semester?" Well my answer to that question is (for the most part) reflected in my grades. I feel I have done a good job in making sure my work is done and turned in on time and I try my best on quizzes and tests. I've done well on the mass majority of them and I am expecting a good grade on my report card because of it.

Mass Movements

1.Mass movement is defined as the transfer of rock and soild downslope

2.The different types of mass movments are; rockfalls, slides,rockslides, slumps, flows, mudflows, earthflows, and creep.

3.Mudlflows probably have the greatest potential to cause damage due to a few predetermining factors. First, it happens very quickly and suddenly catching people off guard. Second it is an almost unstoppable force that keeps going until gravity tell it to stop.

5 year old saves friend in rockslide!!

(1,2,and3)This article written by Drew Mikkelsen and published by King 5 news, is a recap of certain events regarding a 5 year old who saves the life of one of his 9 year old friends during a rockslide!

(4 and 5)As the situation plays out, the boy (whose name is Mike Martin), was playing on some large rocks on a beach. A spontaneous rock slide then occured. one of his friends was directly in the path of an oncomming bolder. Mike sacraficed his own safety to save his friends by shoving him out of the way. In doing so, he himself was covered with heavy rocks. The boy got out safely in the end after only suffering a broken ankle.

(7) I learned about a level of bravery that i didn't think excisted in a 5 year old. I truly don't think I'd be able to respond like that under pressure. I learned of how devestating the and powerful the rockslide actually was. The picture of the large rocks in the photo were huge! They could have easily crushed somebody. Lastly, I learned of the importance of good friends in high places. When it came down to it the neighborhood pitched in together to help out and everything turned out fine in the end.

(8)It was definately interesting how the boy was able to push a 9 year old out of the way. I guess its try what they say about adrenaline rushes! I also thought it was interesting how they were allowed to play their in the first place. It seemed pretty dangerous to me when I saw the area.

(9)What are the odds of him not getting hurt during all of this!