TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BODY

Preface : Evaluate the importance of various technologies, including Canadian contributions, to our understanding of internal body systems (digestive, circulatory or respiratory).

INTRODUCTION.

As years pass by our society develops in many ways. One of the most amazing advancements recorded in time is the change in technology. It is obvious that technology advances at a fast rate, and examples of these are the constant new phones, iPods and such that are being released. When I was younger, cell phones were made in only one format. There were no flip phones, or slide and text phones, those c
ame later on in time. There are always new technological products being released, so you are never up to date with your supplies. These advancements in technology are made to make our lives easier in every way possible. Imagine a future where you don’t have to walk, or flying cars! Anything is possible, and you can never know what will be discovered next.

IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY.

If you didn’t know how important technology is to a person, then you are most definitely deprived. Technology is used in everything we do in our daily lives, such as the computer that I am using right now, or machines in a hospital. As we advance through life, we will begin to realize just exactly how important technology is to an individual. For instance, the human body is one of the most complex systems, but with modern technology we are able to understand our internal structures. Now-a-days technology is used for scientific purposes in order to gain knowledge on the many health problems that people face. With humans constantly becoming sick, and being diagnosed with new diseases or unknown problems, it is up to the scientists to use technology to discover the cure. We have come far from just using needles and knives. Scientific technology consists of x-rays, ultra sounds, MIR and so on. Each system has specific purposes, for certain parts of the body.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

The digestive system is a group of organs in the body that breaks down food into chemical components for the body to use. Through the complex process of the digestive system, many problems or sicknesses may occur. During digestion, it is normal for humans to come across trouble during their bowl movement. A new invention known as the SmartPill is an electronic pill that is meant to be ingested by the patient. The pill then gathers information about the digestive system as it travels through it, transmitting the information to a receiver worn by the patient. This technology is quite extraordinary, to create an electronic wireless sensor to monitor the interior of your body without any negative side effects is a big step in the medicine world. The SmartPill also helps to detect gastroparesis, which is a disorder that causes the stomach to empty very slowly. David Barthel is the president and CEO of the SmartPill.

One of the most profound medical discoveries in Canada during the twentieth century is the discovery of ‘insulin.’ Frederick Banting and Charles Best are the two Canadians who discovered insulin in 1921-1922. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy. Millions of lives were saved thanks to this discovery, and although insulin is not a cure for diabetics, it is the remains to be the only effective treatment for diabetes. Diabetes, known as diabetes mellitus, is a condition in which a person has high blood sugar either because the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or because cells don't respond to the insulin that is produced. There are three main types of diabetes:

- Type 1 Diabetes: the body of a person fails to produce insulin, therefore requires insulin to be injected manually.

- Type 2 Diabetes: this is the most common form of diabetes, in which the body cells fail to use insulin properly.

- Gestational Diabetes: this occurs when pregnant women, who did not have diabetes before, suddenly have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy.

All forms of diabetes cannot be fully cured, but can be treated with the help of insulin. There are of course many other technological solutions to problems that occur in the digestive system of the body, but these two discoveries seem to interest me the most.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.

The respiratory system is one of the most important body functions aside from the circulatory system. In the respiratory system there are groups of organs that are responsible for carrying oxygen from the air in to the bloodstream, and for expelling carbon dioxide. Humans need a properly functioning respiratory system in order to breathe. Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in which inflammation of the bronchial tubes causes them to swell which narrows the airway. This results in coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. Most people who are diagnosed with asthma are given an inhaler or puffer. This medical device is used for delivering medication into the lungs through the mouth. There are many different kinds of inhalers, but the most common type of inhaler is the pressurized metered-dose inhaler which consists of a small canister that holds the medicine. The creation of inhalers are very useful and convenient, some are made specifically for children. This video is an example of how to use inhalers.

A lung disease, known as Emphysema, is a long term progressive disease in which the lungs deteriorate and an abnormal accumulation of air occurs in tissues. Emphysema is irreversible and diminishes the ability to exhale. The main cause of this disease is due to cigarette smoking, and lung cancer. Emphysema is included in a group of diseases called COPD or ‘chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases’, which refer to the lungs. The technology that is used to diagnose this disease is confirmed by pulmonary function testing, for example spirometry. In a spirometry test you breathe into a mouthpiece that is connected to a spirometer. Another method of testing would be using the x-ray. Radiography is the use of x-rays to cross materials to view inside objects. With an x-ray you are able to view the appearance of absence of a disease in your body.

CONCLUSION.

All the information that I have given you is just the beginning of a much wider world of technology. Technology has certainly proved to be very useful in ways that we cannot describe. Without technology, we would not be able to make discoveries, or solutions. Our human bodies need technology to diagnose sicknesses, to create medicines, and to stay alive. One of the most shocking discoveries about medicines is by Toronto surgeon Wilfred Bigelow. Wilfred discovered in the field of heart surgery: the use of hypothermia and the development of the pacemaker. Technology will continue to grow, and continue to help people in our society. I am glad that I was born in this era, because going to the doctor makes me feel comfortable. Just knowing that the technology is so advanced that the chances of death’s or mistakes is not as common reassures me. Thanks to technology and scientific research, we are able to understand our internal structures more than we could possibly imagine.

Sources:

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/17470/

http://www.mta.ca/about_canada/study_guide/doctors/insulin.html

http://www.asthma.ca/adults/about/whatIsAsthma.php

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-inhaler.htm

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/emphysema/emp_whatis.html

Waste is Useful?

Preface: In other parts of the world, biosolids (human waste) from sewage treatment plants are treated and used as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. Research the pros and cons of this method and take a stand as to whether this can be a realistic alternative to our current agricultural practices. Who are the potential stake holders in this issue? Are we influenced by the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance?

Background. Like every other human being in this world, at least once in my entire life I have inquired where all the waste that we produce goes. Have you ever wondered what happens to the ‘junk’ after you use the washroom? When I was younger I always thought that the government would have a specific area to put the waste in, like a huge bath tub, but as I grew up I realized how foolish I was. With all the human bodies on our mother Earth there must be millions to millions of toilet’s being flushed each second. Imagine the waste! That sounds pretty disgusting doesn’t it? Now, as I ponder about the situation, there must be some way to use the leftovers without resorting to pollution. This is where our main discussion, ‘biosolids’ enter the scene.

What Are Biosolids? I personally have never heard of the word ‘biosolids’ until this bio blog, and let me tell you, it is one interesting method of using our waste. Biosolids are the nutrient-rich solid organic matter recovered from the treatment of domestic wastewater in a facility specialized for this activity. It is at times referred to as ‘treated sludge’, that is stabilized and suitable for beneficial use. This process seems similar to recycling and reusing. For example, after we use the washroom, our waste then goes through the wastewater treatment facility to be stabilized, which is recycling, and then it is used for our beneficial purposes, which would be reusing. How funny is that, recycling your waste? When the waste is treated and processed it is then used as a fertilizer to improve and maintain productive agricultural soils and enhance plant growth. Biosolids are used as a fertilizer because they are a beneficial resource, containing essential plant nutrients and organic matter.

How Does It Work? We already know that biosolids are created through the treatment of domestic wastewater generated from sewage treatment facilities. The government has created underground pipes that are specifically used as a filtration process for the wastewater. During this process, bacteria and other microorganisms break down components in the wastewater into simpler and stable forms of organic matter while the non organic matter is transformed into sludge. Wastewater is treated not only to breakdown components, but to control pathogens and other organisms that are capable of spreading diseases. In Ontario we have four wastewater facilities due to the large landmass and population. The four wastewater plant treatments are Humber Wastewater Treatment Plant, Highland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant , Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, and as well as North Toronto Wastewater Treatment Plant.


What’s Good? It is statistically proven that biosolids are very useful to our society. The EPA, also known as the US Environmental Protection Agency, approves and supports the use of biosolids recycling and encourages the land application of biosolids. We benefit from biosolids through our crop production. This means that biosolids are very valuable fertilizers that are used to help farmers grow their crops. By using biosolids as fertilizers, we are able to conserve land rather than dumping it in areas such as landfills which is bad for the earth and occupies space. Not only is it useful for conserving land, biosolids reduces the use of chemical sprays and other chemical products that are used to grow and preserve crops. The chemical substances that farmers normally use to fertilize their crops pollute the environment. This is why biosolids are now used for agricultural use of crops.

According to the EPA biosolids contain organic matter that assists with binding soil particles. Both biosolids land application and composting can reduce soil erosion and improve water quality. The result of this connection is improved soil properties, for example the texture and water-holding capacity of the soil. This enhances root growth and the vegetation will have an increased resistance of drought. The application of biosolids to the soil supplies organic nutrients that are slowly released to plants. These organic forms of nutrients are water soluble and less likely to leach into groundwater.

It seems that the recycling of biosolids through land application and other methods is an economical benefit. Biosolids are the alternate to disposal and can conserve landfill space, because in most communities disposals are quite pricey because of diminishing landfill capacity. Biosolids recycling can lower a community’s waste disposal costs.

What’s Bad? Biosolids are very beneficial to our society but it smells very disgusting. The odors that biosolids emit are caused by the compounds of plant nutrients sulfur and ammonia. The smell is not pleasing and may disturb individuals, especially those with sensitive noses. The odor that biosolids cause is not the only negative problem to this process. It has been said that biosolids are the cause of many health problems that occur to citizens who live remotely near to any wastewater treatment plant. For example the woman in this video voices her health situation in which the doctors blame the chemical processes of biosolids.



Biosolids contain metals, and other substances which are needed for the growth of plants. The situation is that large quantities of metals, organic pollutants, and pathogens are harmful to us and the environment. Metals that are present such as cadmium, zinc, and copper may damage agricultural soils if they are at high levels. These dangerous health issues caused the government to create a 503 regulation, which limits the amount of metals that a person can use for land application.

Other than the potential health hazards and the odor that biosolids may cause, one of the biggest problems is the irreversible effects and contamination resulting from the accumulation of industrial waste.

The Conclusion Is…It never occurred to me how useful biosolids are till now. The components and processes obviously disgust me, but knowing that biosolids have the ability help our environment gives me a positive view. Although the uses of biosolids are risky, I think they are proven to be very good for our soils. Do you honestly know any industrial process that contains no risks or hazards? I believe that people have negative feedback on biosolids because the solution is foreign to them. There is an always negative problem regarding human activity that concerns our environment and health. I really like this use of waste because biosolids can be used as fertilizers rather than occupying space in landfill areas. This is probably the most positive quality of biosolids.

The stakeholders in this issue include farmers, gardeners, and us people. Those who are exposed to this wastewater treatment are a concern. Farmers have the decision to use biosolids for the production and growth of their crop, it is not compulsory. Gardeners are just like the farmers; their use of biosolids is for leisure, so it is their opinion as to whether biosolids are safe. In my opinion, the western view of human waste as an unsanitary and disgusting nuisance does not affect me, or anyone else. It is your own opinion, your own view, and your own choice.

Sources:
http://www.biosolids.com/basics.html
http://www.cwwa.ca/faqbiosolids_e.asp
http://www.hamilton.ca/CityDepartments/PublicWorks/WaterAndWasteWaterDev/Reports+and+Studies/FAQBiosolids.htm
http://www.sencer.net/Outreach/pdfs/DCSymposium08/Posters/LUbiosolids.pdf

Artificial Selection

Artificial selection has resulted in plants that are more disease-resistant, cows that produce more milk and racehorses that run faster. One must wonder what will come next. In the blog entry answer the following question – under what circumstances should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals, if any?

I want that dog!

The big dog with curly hair

Is that even possible?

Oh, so all I have to do is choose 2 dogs,

That has curly hair and is tall?

And then I can make one?

How cool is that!

What is this called?

Artificial selection…

Introduction:

The world that we once knew is now officially coming to an end. With various genetic modifications that are affecting the lives of all living creatures on the planet, it is impossible to imagine what the outcome would be. In my previous blog regarding designer babies there were circumstances that are morally unjust. Just when I thought that human involvement in the science of genetics could not possibly be any worse, I was proven wrong. What moral human being would find pleasure and satisfaction in modifying domestic animals for our personal views, or modifying plants to give them advanced characteristics for our own benefits? I strongly love and care for the safety and respect for all living things, and it baffles me as to how and why this process came to being.

Animals and plants are said to have changed over the past decades. Through evolution animals and plants have gained, or lost certain characteristics by adapting to their environment in order to remain alive. The theory of evolution is one of the greatest intellectual revolutions in human history, which drastically changes our perception of the world and our place in it. The popular scientist who first started the theory of evolution is Charles Darwin who is also the creator of the concept known as Natural Selection. Natural selection is the mechanism of evolution, the process in nature by which only the organisms that are best adapted to their environment tend to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics to the next generation. With this theory in mind, many scientists began to gain interest in the topic of evolution and how animals are able to gain and lose certain characteristics. Darwin believed that evolutionary change was slow and gradual but with the advances in genetic modification, we are now able to speed the process.

"…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, though slow steps." – Charles Darwin

It seems that humans no longer find natural selection of use. It is not relevant to the genetic world today because of the advances that we have made since the theory of natural selection. Many people of the world now depend on ‘Artificial Selection’ for various purposes. The term artificial selection was utilized by Charles Darwin in contrast to natural selection. Artificial Selection is the modification of a species by human intervention so that certain desirable traits are represented in successive generations. The different breeds of domestic dogs and the large ears of maize corn are products of artificial selection. With humans becoming more and more dependent on artificially selected things such as food, the argument of the use of artificial selection becomes very controversial. Many of the foods that companies make are now created through the process of artificial selection. With this ability, food industries are able to create products faster, and improve crops and soil. Artificial selection may also be used to create entirely new organisms, for example the process of cross breeding in dogs. With these capabilities in mind, the question is under what circumstances should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals, if any?

Positive outcomes:

These new ways of creating different animals, plants and humans are very interesting. This is an example of the evolution of technology. The fact that humans are able to create what God himself has created, makes people doubt his existence. Artificial selection is a wonder to us all, and the things that are accomplished are extraordinary. It is through artificial selection that many animals these days are able to keep from extinction. Artificial selection gives these animals a few qualities that allow them to adapt to their environment in order to remain alive. Many species such as the prairie dog and the grizzly bear are endangered species that can possibly be saved through artificial selection.

Selective breeding allows people to obtain the desired characteristics in a plant or animal for industrial use. Agriculture will benefit from this process because through the genetic modification of many foods such as plants. These genetically modified substances may grow at a much faster rate, and have larger quantities. Examples of these agricultural benefits are the mutation of a cow to give it abnormal strength known as the ‘Belgian Blue Cattle’, improved nutritional quality, improved disease resistance, improved environmental tolerance and self pollinating crops. In all, it seems that artificial selection is probably the most unique, and helpful discovery of all.

The Belgian Blue Cattle

Negative outcomes:

I understand that this advancement in technology benefits us in many ways, but I highly doubt that artificial selection is a process that we can depend on forever. Many humans seem to be very taken with these new discoveries that no one questioned the possible negative outcomes. Artificial selection may be seen as inhumane and morally wrong by the processes that the plant or animal experiences through selective breeding. It has been said that artificial selection can possibly cause mutations or produce new problems. An example of this inhumane process is the new method of breeding chickens. Scientists are now producing chickens without feathers, the purpose of this does not concern me, but the problem is how the chicken will adapt to this environment without feathers. I have researched that the featherless chickens will suffer more as compared to normal birds. Without feathers, chickens may be unable to flap their wings, resulting in the inability to reproduce with females, and their ‘nakedness’ will make them exposed susceptible to parasites, mosquito attacks and sunburn.

Most people are unaware that artificial selection and selective breeding have the potential to change our ecosystem. With different and foreign creatures being made, the environment and other animals may be affected. We are unaware of the outcomes of artificial selection, but we can only assume. Scientists do not know if the artificially selected plant or animal will be parasitic to others. They do not think of the dangers that the unknown species could possibly possess. In my opinion artificial selection is related to genetic engineering. They are both processes through which you can choose the most desirable characteristics that you want your ‘product’ to have, and they are both wrong by means of religion and the moral value of life.

Conclusion:

I have come to the conclusion that artificial selection cannot be stopped, nor should it be continued. I believe that under the circumstance of the situation, selective breeding maybe be allowed, as long as there is no negative effects, or unjust processes. I think that the artificial selection of a plant or an animal should be viewed as positive only if it benefits the society in a good way. Judging by the rate at which our population is increasing, we need as much food as we can possibly harvest so we can feed the millions of hungry citizens in the world. Natural selection will be a benefit to us as long as it is used correctly. I have no objections to the use of this genetic modification, unless it corrupts the lives of other beings.

This video is quite interesting, it is the preview of the movie that has yet to be released known as Creation dedicated to the life of Charles Darwin. After viewing the preview, I would actually like to watch the movie, hopefully this gives you a suggestion for the course material for next year.

Sources:

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_25

http://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/

http://geneticsevolution.suite101.com/article.cfm/natural_and_artificial_selection

http://www.helium.com/items/1735710-selective-breeding-gmo?page=2

http://www.hemmy.net/2007/07/16/belgian-blue-cattle-super-cow-aka-incredible-hulk-cow/