Week 2 Discussion Forum 2: Restoration Ecology There is a field of biological study called Restoration Ecology that attempts to restore damaged ecosystems. One of the primary organizations that promotes ecological restoration is SER, the Society for Ecological Restoration. One of their projects is the Global Restoration Network, where you can find information on research and projects going on all over the world, including those on invasive species, which well talk about next week.Assignment: Research and report on one restoration ecology effort. 1. Identify the name of the restoration project in the subject line of your response. Do not repeat/duplicate projects already posted by another student.2. Where is the project being conducted, and by whom? 3. What are the participants trying to accomplish? 4. Has the project been successful, or unsuccessful? Why or why not? Here are some other organizations that carry out restoration projects:USDA Forest ServiceRestoration Project Recovering Forests, Jobs in Western PennsylvaniaThe Academy of Natural SciencesCompilation and Evaluation of Stream Restoration Projects: Learning from Past Projects to Improve Future Success3735016Week 3 Discussion Forum 3: Invasive Species Please post your response by Thursday (11:59 pm) and comments to two other students by Sunday (9:00 pm). One of the biggest impacts that humans have had on the environment is to introduce non-native species to new environments. Such species can seem innocuous, but can decimate native habitats, populations and communities.For this Discussion Board post, do an Internet search to identify and choose one such invasive species. Create a thread on the Discussion Board and address the following questions about your chosen invasive species:How did the animal or plant get there in the first place? Why is it so successful? What impact is it having on the native environment? How can the damage be reduced? Is there a point where an invasive species should be be considered part of the native flora and fauna, or should we always try to eliminate an invasive species?You should also ask two other classmates a question about his/her invasive species research.Post the URLs of 2-4 relevant websites (http://) as APA references for your classmates to directly access.Library Information packet on APA format:https://northampton.blackboard.com/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&mode=designer&content_id=_14516327_1&course_id=_146033_1Example of an APA reference citation:Leicht-Young, S., ODonell, H., Latimer, A., & Silander JR., J. (2009). Effects of an Invasive Plant Species, Celastrus orbiculatus, on Soil Composition and Processes. American Midland Naturalist, 161(2), 219. Retrieved from MasterFILE Premier database.Example of an APA reference citation for a web site (not an online article):Oriental Bittersweet. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/bittersweet.shtml231808Week 5 Discussion Forum 5: Organelles and the Structure and Function of Cells Please post your response by Thursday (11:59 pm) and comments to two other students by 9:00 pm on Sunday.Your goal is to learn how to remember the different organelles found inside living cells. How? You will describe the structure and function of their organelles with analogies.You can describe cells and the structure and function of their organelles with analogies. For example, the plasma membrane is a semi-permeable membrane that allows some materials to pass through but prevents other substances from entering (or leaving). This characteristic of the cell membrane is analogous to a Customs Agent at a border crossing, who lets some travelers pass through the border who possess the correct passport and identification, but prevents persons with incorrect identification to pass.Your assignment this week is to create an analogy of a cell to a real-world system using the structure and functions of as many organelles as possible. For example, a cell could be analogous to a cookie factory. The nucleus (the control center of the cell) is the central office where the secret cookie recipe, the DNA, is stored. A company messenger, the RNA, copies the recipe in the nucleus and brings it to the baker, the ribosome. The vacuoles are analogous to the tubs that store the ingredients used to make the cookies. The ribosome uses the recipe copied by the DNA to make the cookies, or proteins. The mitochondria is the oven that bakes the cookies. The cookies are sent on conveyor belts (the endoplasmic reticulum) to the packing department, the Golgi apparatus, where they are packaged and labeled for shipping; the packaged cookies are then sent out of the cell through the cell membrane via vesicles (delivery trucks). The lysosome is the janitor that sweeps up any stray crumbs.I would like you to write your own analogy of a cell which incorporates as many of the functions of the organelles we have studied in Chapter 4 as possible. I have seen some good analogies using Jell-O salad in a balloon, a post office, the government, and rooms in a house.Be creative!When you type in your response, please label your subject heading with the title of your analogy. For example, I would title my analogy as Cookie Factory.List of cellular structures to include in your analogy:Plasma membraneCytoskeleton (animals) / Cell walls (plants)CytoplasmNucleusDNAMitochondriaChloroplastsRibosomesEndoplasmic reticulum (smooth vs rough -include one or both, if applicable) Golgi complexLysosomesCilia & flagella (if applicable)141305Week 6 Discussion Forum 6: Cancer: Mutagens and Cancer-Causing Viruses Cancer, uncontrolled mitotic cell division, is caused by many biological, chemical and physical agents.One cause of cancer is genetic mutations, that is, alterations of parts of genetic material. These mutations can be caused by the tars in cigarette smoke, or by environmental factors such as UV rays. Some cancers can be caused by viruses. For example, Kaposis sarcoma, a relatively rare cancer found in AIDS patients, is cause by herpes virus 8. This virus (like most herpes viruses) is spread by close contact (direct skin to skin contact). Cancer-causing viruses fall into two groups. Some viruses stimulate cancer by activating proto-oncogenes in body cells. Others contain cancer-causing genes, called oncogenes, which they insert into the DNA of the nuclei of the cells they are infecting. After being inserted into a cells DNA, oncogenes turn on the cells genes that control cell division.Assignment: Present information on one cancer-causing mutagen or virus.For a mutagen, please identify the mutagen, its source, how it causes cancer, the type of cancer it causes, and how one can avoid this particular mutagen.If you are researching a cancer-causing virus, please indicate the name of the virus. How is the virus transmitted? How does it cause cancer? What type of cancer does it cause? How can one avoid being infected by the virus? Please put the name of the mutagen or virus in the subject line; please do not duplicate entries and remember to cite your sources in APA style! Post your response by Thursday, (11:59 pm) and responses to two students by Sunday, 9:00 pm.0000Week 7 Discussion Forum 7: Genetic Testing and Genetic Disorders INSTRUCTIONS:Please post your response by Thursday (11:59 pm) and comments to two other students by 9:00 pm on Sunday.Genetic Disorders Many human hereditary disorders reflect the presence of mutations in DNA. Mutations alter the sequence of nucleotides in a gene, which in turn may alter the protein the gene represents. Most mutations in cellular DNA are corrected by cellular repair mechanisms, but mistakes and mutations can occur. For example, in the genetic disorder Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the most common mutation in the CFTR gene is missing only three nucleotides â only three! yet this is enough to cause the CFTR protein manufactured by this gene to be degraded before it even leaves the endoplasmic reticulum, and is thus rendered useless. This tiny omission in the genetic code can have lethal results; the predicted median age of survival of CF patients is the mid-30s.There are four general categories of genetic disorders: chromosomal abnormalities, single gene defects, multifactorial disorders, and teratogenic problems. 1. Chromosomal abnormalities may be inherited from the parent, or may occur with no family history. The most common are:Errors in meiosis: aneuploidy more or fewer chromosomes than the normal number, caused by nondisjunctions during meiosis. Examples are Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome.deletion part of a chromosome or DNA code is missinginversion when a chromosome breaks and the piece of the chromosome turns upside down and reattaches itself.translocation a rearrangement of a chromosome segment from one location to another, either within the same chromosome or to another.mosaicism results in body cells with different chromosome numbers (e.g., some cells have 46 chromosomes, others have 47). 2. Single gene disorders (Mendelian inheritance disorders) occur when a single gene is responsible for a defect or an abnormality. Single gene disorders usually have greater risks of inheritance. Single gene disorders can be:Dominant an abnormality occurs when only one of the genes from one parent is abnormal. If the parent has the disorder, the baby has a 50 percent chance of inheriting it. For example, achondroplasia and Marfan syndrome.Recessive an abnormality only occurs when both parents have abnormal genes. If both parents are carriers, a baby has a 25 percent chance of having the disorder. For example,
cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Tay Sachs disease.X-linked (sex-linked) the disorder is determined by genes on the X chromosome. Males are mainly affected and have the disorder. Daughters of men with the disorder are carriers of the trait and have a one in two chance of passing it to their children. Sons of women who are carriers each have a one in two chance of having the disorder. For example, Duchennes muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, color blindness. Mitochondrial This type of genetic disorder is caused by mutations in the nonchromosomal DNA of mitochondria (see page 78 in your text) and is most often inherited via an autosomal recessive or sex-linked mechanism. Because egg cells, but not sperm cells, keep their mitochondria during fertilization, mitochondrial DNA is always inherited from the female parent. Examples of mitochondrial disease include: Lebers hereditary optic atrophy; myoclonus epilepsy with Ragged Red Fibers; and MELAS (Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes).3. Multifactorial (complex, polygenic) disorders do not follow a single gene or chromosomal abnormality pattern. These disorders may be due to several problems, or a combined effect of mutations in multiple genes and the environment. It is difficult to predict inheritance of abnormalities caused by multiple factors. Examples include heart defects, cleft lip or cleft palate, and neural tube defects (defects in the spine or brain). For example, different genes that influence breast cancer susceptibility have been found on chromosomes 6, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 22. 4. Teratogenic disorders Teratogens are factors (e.g., vitamin deficiency, cigarette smoke, UV radiation, alcohol, certain medications, lead, cocaine) or congenital viruses (e.g., rubella) that can cause fetal abnormalities, particularly when exposure occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy when organs are forming. Examples are neural tube defects, congenital hydrocephalus, and cerebral dysgenesis. Assignment: For this weeks discussion topic I would like you to research one genetic disorder and identify:1. The name of the disorder and in what category it falls; 2. Where and when the mistake is made in the genetic code, and how it is inherited,2. The symptoms resulting from the disorder, and3. Diagnostic and/or genetic tests and treatment options, including the potential for gene therapy to correct the disorder. Please share your sources of information with us formatted in APA style!NOTE: Do NOT use or cite Wikipedia as a reference.Please write the name of the disorder in the subject area of your response. A particular disorder should be used only once in the course of the discussion.Please read all discussion posts so you do NOT repeat facts/websites that another student has already posted, or no discussion points will be earned. Thank you! (To see what genetic disorders have already been posted, open the discussion forum link and click on the Expand All button in the upper right-hand-corner of the page.)0000Weeks 8, 9, 10: OPTIONAL Questions About Genetics Hello everyone,Please let me know if you have questions about any of the genetics concepts for the lab exercise, homework questions, or exams!This discussion board has a few tutorials for you to learn more about Punnett Squares, Genetics, and Sex-Linked traits.1101Week 11 Discussion Forum 8: Nervous, Heart and Lung Health INSTRUCTIONS: Please post your response by Thursday (11:59 pm) and comments to two other students by 9:00 pm on Sunday.Choose one (1) of the following discussion topics. Include the corresponding website(s) you used in APA style with the electronic address URL for your classmates to access. (Do not cite Wikipedia as a source)! Please read all the discussion threads so you do NOT repeat facts/websites that another student has already posted, or no discussion points will be earned. Thank you!Identify your chosen topic in the subject line of your discussion thread, e.g., HemophiliaA neurological disorder, current treatment options for brain damage, or why medically induced comas are used.a new diagnostic test or instrument (including artificial hearts and valves), or modification to a previous instrument (within the past 5 years) that is used to measure the health of a heart.a type of fetal heart defect or an adult heart disorder and outline advances in treatment.a type of lung or respiratory disorder, or a blood disorder. blood donation process and share your experiences in donating blood to help educate your classmates. Late responses to the Discussion Board will receive a zero (no participation credit).0000Week 12 Discussion Forum 9: Disorders of the Immune and Digestive Systems Please post your response by Thursday (11:59 pm) and comments to two other students by 9:00 pm on Sunday.INSTRUCTIONS: Answer ONE (1) of the following questions by posting an initial 75-100 (minimum) word comment about a specific body system disorder. Cite the information reference(s) you used in APA style for your classmates. Please read all the discussion threads and do NOT repeat facts/websites that another student has already posted, or no discussion points will be earned. Thank you!Identify your chosen topic in the subject line of your discussion thread, e.g., Crohns Disease (please do not use Wikipedia as a reference!). 1. Choose and describe a type of motility disorder associated with the digestive tract. How common is this disorder? Discuss any possible secondary complications and suggested treatments. What are the success rates of these treatments?2. Metabolism is the collection of chemical reactions your digestive system uses to convert the protein, carbohydrates and fats in your food into sugars, which your cells use as fuel. Choose and research a metabolic disorder. Discuss the symptoms and effect of this disorder on the digestive system and homeostasis. What are the available treatments?3. Report on an autoimmune disease (other than AIDS): the signs and symptoms, the causes of those signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests available, and current treatment.4. Describe an allergic reaction of the immune system. What is the source of the allergen? What specific tissues or body systems are affected? Is there a treatment available?5. Describe an opportunistic disease that often accompanies AIDS: its signs and symptoms, the causes of those signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests available, and current treatment.0000Week 13 Special Topic: Bioethical Panel Presentations: Character Role Play and Discussions SPECIAL TOPIC:Part 1 Character Role Presentations (25 points):Please post your characters self-introduction, 2 open-ended discussion questions (e.g., What should be done .? Why do you think ?), and a visual aid (e.g., articles and website references formatted in APA style no later than Thurssday (9:00 PM) to allow your classmates to read and process the opening comments as the different character roles.Open your panel thread first and then click the Reply button to post your characters self-introduction with your character name in the subject line, e.g., Animal activist **Your self-introduction should include some research facts that educate and persuade your readers. Examples of open-ended discussion questions are as follows: What if then what ? Who should decide about making the decision to and why? How should .? What do you think about..? Double check that your initial post includes active hyperlinks of your website URL addresses (which become underlined after you press the enter key after the last letter of the URL). An example of an APA cited website reference is:Barker, V. (2010). Cloned Beef On Store Shelves Causes Stir in Britain. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129034395Part 2 Discussion Responses (25 points): Within your panel, post your replies to each characters opening questions; panel presenters should stay in character when posting feedback responses to the other students in his/her own discussion thread. Complete the discussion threads before/by Sunday, (9:00 PM) the earlier the better to allow for an interactive, exchange of ideas.0000Week 14 Discussion Forum 10: Natural Selection in Action Please post your response by Thursday (11:59 pm) and comments ARE OPTIONAL FOR THIS LAST DISCUSSION.In biology, the words evolution and evolve are used in a precise way. These words apply to changes that occur in the gene pool of a population the frequency of the genotypes and alleles of a population change. I want to reiterate that we are discussing the scientific theory of evolution by natural selection its important to understand both the scientific definition of a theory as opposed to the colloquial definition; and that the theory of evolution by natural selection is an explanation of genetic change in a population of organisms over time in a given environment.Youâll remember that there are four defining theories of biology: Cell Theory (all living things contain at least one cell); the Gene Theory (all livng things contain DNA in genes); the Theory of Heredity (traits are heritable from one generation to the next); and the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection (the proportion of traits in a population can change over time in response to selection pressures in the environment an explanation of species diversity).All four of these theories are supported by measurable observations, testable hypotheses and data, and as a result of continual testing of each of these theories, we know that living organisms are made of cells, they contain DNA, they pass along their genes, and that popula