Medical Technology and the Human Body

For a long time over the course of history, the only way to find out about what went on inside the human body was through invasive methods; namely, dissection. For obvious reasons, this method had its downsides. Today, however, we have many different technologies available to develop our understanding of human body systems.



One of the first technologies to improve on our understanding of the human body was endoscopy. An endoscope is a tube which may be flexible or rigid, but which contains a lens. This tube may be inserted through a small incision in the skin, or through a bodily orifice, such as the mouth. Looking through the lens enables the inside of the body to be seen. Endoscopy was first performed in 1805. The technology is not new, though it has been improved on. Modern endoscopes are able to take pictures of internal organs, and even take biopsies of tissue. They are hence useful for performing advanced diagnoses.




Over time, other, even less invasive technologies were developed. X-rays, first discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895, enabled doctors to see inside the human body. Bone fractures could now be properly examined. Ultrasonography, originally developed from naval sonar, was first used as a medical treatment. In the late 1940s, doctors began to use it as a diagnostic tool, as well. Ultrasound imagery and x-rays are still used today. Today, ultrasounds are often used to view unborn babies, and x-rays are generally used to diagnose broken bones.




CT, or computed tomography scans (also known as CAT scans) are derived from x-ray technology. A CT scan can scan the entire body using a narrow x-ray beam which moves around the body. The result is a detailed three-dimensional image, which can then be examined later. Such images are useful for diagnosing many diseases, and are often used to determine the size and location of tumours.



Magnetic resonance imagery scans, or MRIs, use a strong magnetic field in order to obtain an image. The magnetic field is strong enough to line up molecules in the human body. Radio waves are then passed through the body, which alters the alignment of the molecules. This, in turn, generates more radio waves, which are analyzed, producing a three-dimensional image. MRI scans do not use x-rays, which reduces the risk of long-term repercussions.

All of these technologies played an important role in discovering more about internal systems in the human body. Endoscopy helped doctors to learn about the digestive system. X-rays enabled doctors to evaluate fractures, and hence learn more about the skeletal system. CT scans and MRI scans allow for a more in-depth look into the human body. MRI scans, especially, enable to analyze brain activity, potentially leading to great advances in neuroscience. All of these inventions replaced more invasive procedures, and have enabled medical advances to bring us to where we are today.

Blogs I commented on:

Connie's blog
Dora's blog

Works Cited:

"The Beginning of Early Modern Endoscopy." Laparoscopy Today. Society of Laproendoscopic Surgeons. Web. 23 May 2011.

"CAT Scan." RadiologyInfo. Radiological Society of North America, 15 Mar. 2010. Web. 23 May 2011.

"Computed Tomography (CT)." US Food and Drug Administration Home Page. US Food and Drug Administration, 9 Nov. 2010. Web. 23 May 2011. .

Coyne, Kristen. "Introduction to Magnetic Resonance Imaging." National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. National Science Foundation. Web. 23 May 2011.

Harris, Tom. "How CAT Scans Work." Discovery Health Health Guides. Discovery Channel. Web. 23 May 2011.

"History of Ultrasonics, a Summary." Obstetric Ultrasound. Web. 23 May 2011.

"Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen." Timeline of Nobel Prize Winners. 2003. Web. 23 May 2011.

"X-ray." MedlinePlus. National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health, 8 May 2010. Web. 23 May 2011.

Agriculture: Industrial, or Sustainable?

According to the United Nations, by 2050, the world population could reach 8.9 billion, or even be as high as 10.6 billion. A growing population demands more food, but it is getting ever more difficult to meet the demand.

Today, industrial agriculture is the primary method used to respond to these needs. Industrial agriculture, or industrial farming, refers to farming done for maximum income and production.

Unsurprisingly, industrial agriculture is widely used in industrialized countries. It appears to be a means for a crop to yield larger amounts of a product for a lower price. Though profit can be made through industrial agriculture, the practice is controversial, and for good reason.

One of the key issues is monoculture. Many problems arise when a single crop is planted over a wide area. Pests have a wider area to spread, and when only one crop is present, only certain pests will be present. The biodiversity of the land in which the monoculture is planted is hence severely impacted. Also, more pesticides are needed; when there is a large population of pests, they rapidly develop resistance to pesticides.

Low genetic diversity of crops is another issue. For example, for seedless grape vines to reproduce, a cutting of the original plant must be taken to grow into a new plant. Hence, seedless grape crops are genetically identical. If seedless grapes were to become vulnerable to a disease or pest, the entire population could be wiped out. A lack of genetic diversity makes plants more vulnerable.

Industrial agriculture is also harmful in other ways; it damages the surrounding environment. Runoff from fields treated with pesticides and fertilizer makes its way into lakes and rivers. Pollution from industrial machines gets into the air. Large areas planted with only one species attract only certain pests and predators, reducing the biodiversity of the surroundings.

There is a type of agriculture that can prevent this damage, however. Sustainable agriculture rejects conventional industrial methods in favour of practices with less of an environmental impact.

Instead of using pesticides, crops can be rotated to prevent populations of pests from becoming established. Different varieties of crops can be grown beside each other to reduce the concentration of pests and preserve biodiversity. Growing healthier plants can also reduce the impact of pests. Instead of using fertilizer, soil can be enriched naturally, by adding composted material, for example.

Another way to eliminate pests is by managing farms in order for them to harbour populations of natural predators. Birds, bats, spiders, and ladybugs are all organisms that hunt pests, and providing an environment beneficial to them is not only good for pest control, but also for the biodiversity of the surrounding ecosystem.

Sustainable agriculture methods are actually effective enough to meet the demand for food, with a minimal environmental impact. If we continue to pollute through industrial agriculture, both the environment and the human population will suffer. Sustainable agriculture is a means to prevent further damage, and it works.

Blogs I commented on:

Connie's blog

Dora's blog

References:

Feenstra, Gail, Chuck Ingels, and David Campbell. "What Is Sustainable Agriculture?" UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. The University of California. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm

"How Can There Be Seedless Grapes?" HowStuffWorks. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/botany/question349.htm

"Industrial Agriculture." Economy Watch. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.economywatch.com/agriculture/types/industrial.html

"Sustainable Agriculture." National Geographic. National Geographic Society. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/sustainable-agriculture/

"Sustainable Agriculture Techniques." Food & Agriculture. The Union of Concerned Scientists, 24 Aug. 2008. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/science/sustainable-agriculture.html

"World Population to 2300." United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2004. Web. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/longrange2/WorldPop2300final.pdf

Designer Babies

"Designer Babies", (or "designer children") are children whose genetic traits are chosen by their parents; whether through screening or active genetic modification.

There are different approaches to the subject. Designer babies may be created to ensure that a child inherits certain traits. Parents may choose to have a child with a certain eye colour, or, a certain stature. Screening can also be done for other traits, such as intelligence.

Some dismiss the practice of choosing a child's physical appearance and intelligence as shallow. Still, they may argue that if one of the parents carries a gene for a certain disorder, the parents should be able to opt to have a healthy baby, without any disorders.

Some wish to create designer babies for medical purposes. If a child is in need of bone marrow, and a donor cannot be found, the parents may opt to design a baby that is genetically compatible with the sick child.

Scanning for genetic disorders seems like a good idea. Designing babies who don't immediately pass away after birth due to morbid genetic conditions would save parents much grief. Parents may become pickier as societal standards change, however. They could start screening for genes linked to less debilitating disorders, such as ADHD. This practice could also be considered discriminatory against people who lead a successful life despite their disability, such as those who are deaf.

Ensuring the birth of healthy children is not so bad compared to what else can be achieved, however. If parents were given the choice of eye colour, athletic ability, and intelligence, would this serve to discriminate against those who are not athletic, intelligent, and beautiful? Nobody is perfect; people are born with a wide variety of genetic traits. With parents being able to choose the characteristics of their children, there may be increasing pressure to have unnaturally 'perfect' children.

I think that we can't really know if creating designer babies is entirely a bad thing yet. So long as the children are being treated well (especially those created to help another child), should we be concerned? More advanced trait selection technology (i.e. for cosmetic purposes) will likely not become available for a while, by which time people may already be modifying their appearance in other ways (e.g.: cosmetic surgery). Also, at the moment, scientists are unable to implant new genes; they can only screen embryos for certain traits. The child's traits still need to be inherited from the parents.

If this technology can save lives by preventing people from having harmful disorders, it is not a completely bad thing. Vaccines were a controversial technology at the time of their introduction, but they have now rendered many diseases obsolete.

Ultimately, so long as no harm is being done, and we're careful about it, creating designer babies shouldn't be too much of a problem. Eventually, measures may need to be taken to regulate designer babies, but for now, I think that the only way to find out is to wait and see.

Blogs I commented on:

http://itsalive-conn.blogspot.com/2010/11/designer-babies.html?showComment=1289833027140#c3298430410593535763

http://adorablogs.blogspot.com/2010/10/ideal-babyit-could-be-yours.html?showComment=1289833950094#c8800805274980121336

Works Cited:

Bonsor, Kevin, and Julia Layton. "How Designer Children Work." HowStuffWorks.com. 10 May 2001. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/genetic/designer-children.htm>.

Keim, Brandon. "Designer Babies: A Right to Choose?" Wired News. 9 Mar. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/designerdebate/>.

Lemonick, Michael D., David Bjerklie, Alice Park, and Dick Thompson. "Designer Babies." Time.com. 11 Jan. 1999. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989987,00.html>.

Pollack, Gladys. "Designer Babies." Reader's Digest Magazine Canada Online. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2001/09/designer_babies.html>.

"The Need to Regulate "Designer Babies"" Scientific American. 4 May 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=regulate-designer-babies>.

"Will screening for birth defects lead to 'designer babies'?" Canada.com. 5 Oct. 2005. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://www.canada.com/topics/lifestyle/parenting/story.html?id=af85fffa-81df-4c47-b389-d7eefc2faccf&k=7781>.

Primate Protection in Bioko

According to the United Nations, 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity.

Biodiversity—a word often thrown around by environmentalists—is the variety of life on Earth. Preserving it is important, but human influence is often associated with having a negative impact on biodiversity.

Still, there are several organizations making an effort to change that. The Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program aims to restore the rich biodiversity of Bioko, an island in Equatorial Guinea, off the west coast of Africa. The program's main focus is on the island's critically endangered primates and nesting sea turtles.

Seven species of primate are being protected: the Bioko drill, the black colobus, the Pennant's red colobus, the red-eared Guenon, the crowned guenon, the Preuss's monkey, and the greater spot-nosed monkey.

The survival of these species was in jeopardy primarily due to hunting. Wild game, known locally as bushmeat, is a delicacy, and can fetch high prices on the market.

The state of the primates is very delicate. Some of the critically endangered species, such as the black colobus and the Pennant's red colobus, do not exist in captivity.

To ensure the protection of the species, the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, or BBPP, contracts teams of locals to serve on forest or beach patrol to deter hunting. The program also conducts annual expeditions to the Gran Caladera de Luba, where a census of primates and sea turtles is conducted. BBPP conducts an ongoing analysis of the bushmeat market to gauge attitudes towards bushmeat, and it sponsors awareness campaigns to stem its demand. Finally, the program has also held environmental awareness meetings, which took place in the villages of Baney, Batoicopa, Riaba, and Luba.

Fortunately, the program has been successful. Thanks to the BBPP, the government of Equatorial Guinea decided to ban the hunting and consumption of primates entirely, an important step forward in preserving the biodiversity of Bioko.

Image: The red-eared Guenon, or red-eared monkey, an endangered species found in Bioko. (Source: National Geographic

Sources:

"2010 International Year of Biodiversity." Convention on Biological Diversity. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/>.

Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://www.bioko.org/index.php>.

"Definition of Biodiversity." Saskatchewan Eco Network. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://www.econet.sk.ca/issues/biodiversity/definition.html>.

Morell, Virginia. "Bioko Primates." National Geographic Magazine. Aug. 2008. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. <http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/08/bioko-primates/morell-text>.

Blogs I commented on:

http://biomeggs.blogspot.com/2010/09/human-intervention-is-bad-and-good.html?showComment=1285881251213#c1112704056860233809

http://jamie-bioblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/arctic-is-on-thin-ice.html#comment-3591924584466364573