Cellular Differentiation

Cellular differentiation is the process when a less specialized cell become a more specialized cell type. Cell differentiation happens many times when a multicellular organism is developing, it changes from a single zygote to a complex system of tissues and cell types. Cellular differentiation is also common in adult stem cells divide and create fully differentiated  daughter cells while the tissue repairs and while a normal cell turnover. Cell differentiation changes a cells size, shape, membrane potential, metabolic activity, and responsiveness to signals.

Steps:

1) Zygote 

2)Blastocyst

3)Gastrula

Germ Layers:

1) Mesoderm - Cardiac Muscle, Skeletal Muscle cells, Tubule cell so the kidney, Red blood cells, Smooth muscle

2)Endoderm - Lung cell, thyriod cell, pancreatic cell

Discuss in detail your feelings, concerns, and/or fears brought about by the information on the life card you chose.

When I found out I was going to have a boy, all that went thru my head was great.. I WANTED A GIRL :( but know i have a boy. After thinking it over, I thought of all the positive things about the baby, for example the fact that I can have a baby, and yes he may not be a girl like how I would have liked but he will still be a part of me. 


Discuss options for parents who have miscarried their baby... or thought they were pregnant and are not.
                                      - an idea here might be adoption...artificial insemination... there are a variety of options.


Parents who have had a miscarriage could try to have another baby with the hopes that there is no miscarriage this time. Adoption is another possibility as well which may take a longer period of time and may be expensive they need patience.

Mommy Blog: Day 2

Describe in detail the development of your baby from 4 - 8 weeks gestation

At the 5th week, the basis of the babys brain, bone marrow, and nervous system have just come together. The brain cells begin to develop at the rate of 250000 cells per minute. The eyes, ears, and mouth begin to form. Tissue forms that will be developed as the backbone and the abdominal muscles. The baby's heart begins to beat regularly. The baby is about 5-7 mm. During the 6th week, he head begins to take shape. The digestive tract is in formation but the mouth can not open just yet. the tissue that connects the embryo to the uterus turns into an umbilical cord. The cluster of cells that will be the testis or ovaries begin to show. The baby is now 9-14 mm and weighs 1.5 grams. In the 7th week, the muscles and nerves start to function, the baby now has reflexes and can start moving whenever it likes. The abdomen and thorax are completely formed, but the lungs begin to form very slowly.  The eyes can be seen behind a layer which will become the eyelids, and the mouth can now be opened. The fingers now begin to appear. The baby weighs 2 grams, and is 17-22 mm long. During the 8th week, the first bone cells begin to replace cartilage. the bones for the arms and legs start to harden and joints begin to form. The face and jaw are formed, but the facial muscles and teeth are just starting to form. All the vital organs are now in place, which include the heart,lungs, brain, and intestines. 

Describe in detail how Mom's body is changing.

The mothers stomach may look like she is bloated. Her uterus expands to about the size of a large orange. Her breasts will continue to keep growing because they are preparing for breast feeding. She begins to have more headaches, she may also have morning sickness.

What are the odds of having TWINS or TRIPLETS

The odds of having twins is 3 out of 100, which is 3%. If  your family history has commonly has twins there is a good chance that you could also. If you are 45 or older, there is a better chance of you having twins. If you have already given to birth to twins, you also have a chance of having twins yet again. The chance of having triplets is 1 in 8,100 births. 

It also depends on the sperm count and how many eggs you let out. It's unusual to have identical triplets, so you have to let out at least 2 eggs and they both have to be fertilized and split and grow.

How do you choose a doctor/midwife...or can your baby be born at home?

If you have a healthy low-risk pregnancy a midwife can be a good choice. Overall the person you choose you must trust and be completely confrontable with.

Safety tips for a healthy pregnancy:

1.  Try not to have a lot of stress.
2.  Do not smoke while pregnant.
3.  Do not consume any alcoholic beverages.
4.  Do not smoke.
5.  Do not do drugs.
6.  Eat 5 to 6 well balanced meals a day.
7.  Avoid drinking beverages with caffeine.
8.  Get plenty of sleep
9.  Take prenatal vitamins.
10.  Be sure to exercise.

Mommy Blog: Day 1

Describe in detail the development of the embryo from conception to 4 weeks gestation:

After fertilization, the cell begins to divide. The "baby" becomes known as a blastocyst. The external part of the blastocyst will become the placenta, the internal part will become the embryo. During the 2nd week, the embryo is composed of about 150 cells. They are divided into 3 layers: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm. The endoderm will become the respiratory and digestive system. As well as the pancreas,liver, thyroid, and thymus. The mesoderm will become the bones and cartilage, the circulatory system, the inner skin layer, muscles, excretory system, and the outer layer of the internal organs. The ectoderm provides the brain, nervous system, skin, hair and nails. At this point the baby is about 0.1- 0.2 mm. At the third week,  the baby is no longer a fertilized egg, it becomes an embryo. The heart is still being formed, but it already beats. The size of the embryo is 0.3- 0.5 mm. The 4th week, little buds are beginning to form which become the arms. Other little buds begin to form too, which become known as the legs. The embryo's size is approximately 5 mm.

Describe in detail all of the changes going on within Mom's body and any changes going on with Dad
Changes within the Mom's body, are her breast begin to become larger. She becomes more tired, have nausea, and cramping. The Dad, may not show expressions or feelings, but he is caring about how the pregnancy is going, and  for the mother.

Task #2

1.) Whether genetically engineered foods need to be labled and if so what should be listed on that label?


       Consumers have the right to know what are in the products they are consuming. They have the right to know because they are purchasing these products,and are consuming them. The consumers need to know what chemicals and toxins that are in the product.
       Genetically engineered foods should be labeled for numberless reasons. One important reason that they should be labeled is because of the food be altered it may contain allergens which the if there were no label, the consumer may possibly have a servere or minor allergic reaction. Another reason that genetically engineered foods should be labeled is because there may be religious concerns with the consumers. The consumers may have a religion that do not allow the consumer to eat certain items. Genetically engineered foods may contain some of the items they may be not allowed to eat. Other times the consumers may not want to consume genetically engineered foods because they are against it, therefore genetically engineered foods need to be labeled for those reasons stated above.

Scientist Statement

We believe that the risks outweigh the the benefits in many ways the risks are more harmful than the benefitsbeing more beneficial.Overall, the risks have more a logn term effect than the benefits leading to more long life problems that can occur. These risks are that the new genetic structure of foods might result in new allergens, the toxicity levels of naturally occurring food toxins might result in new allergens. There are also certain risks that must be taken to consideration such as modified plants or animals that may have genetic changes that are unexpected and harmful, modified organisms that may interbreed with natural organisms and out-compete them, leading to extinction of the original organism or to other unpredictable environmental effects.

Scientist - Are genetically engineered foods the cure for world food issue?

1)Benefits of genetic engineering are:

• Reducing use of pesticides.
• Reducing use of herbicides.
• Reducing use of fertilizers.
• Enhancing nutrition.
• Drought resistance.
• Better appearance.
• Longer shelf-life.
• Better flavor.
• Temperature resistance.
• Disease resistance.
• Increase in food supply.
• Decrease in world hunger.

2)Risks of genetically engineered food are:

• Lack of long term studies on food safety.
• Lack of long term studies on environmental impact.
• Diminished opportunity for organic/sustainable agriculture.
• Rendering Bacillius thuringiensis (Bt) , a natural biological pesticide, useless due to widespread engineered crops.
• Life threatening danger for individuals with food allergies or sensitivities who might unknowingly ingest altered foods to which they are allergic, sensitive, or intolerant.
• New genetic structure of foods might result in new allergens.
• Toxicity levels of naturally occurring food toxins might result in new allergens.
• Toxicity levels of naturallt occurring food toxins might inadvertently be altered.
• Cruelty to animals.
• Environmental damage due to cross pollination and disturbed ecosystems.
• Pesticide tolerance.
• Herbicide tolerance.
• Ethical and spiritual.

3)

Examples of the potential ecological benefits and risks of selected GM crops. GM modification Benefits Risks Herbicide resistance in maize, cotton, other crops. Reduce herbicide use.Increase opportunities for reduced tillage systems. Increase herbicide use.Reduce in-field biodiversity that may reduce the ecological services provided by agricultural ecosystems. Maize with Bt toxin. Reduce pesticide use.Kill fewer nontarget organisms than alternatives such as broad-spectrum pesticides. Promote development of Bt resistance, which will eliminate Bt as a relatively safe pesticide.Kill nontarget caterpillars and butterflies, such as monarchs (Pimentel 2000). Virus resistance in small grains due to coat proteins. Reduce insecticide use to control insect dispersers of pathogens (Hails 2000). Facilitate the creation of new viruses (Hails 2000).Move genes into nonagricultural ecosystems where the subsequent increase in fitness of weedy species could eliminate endangered species. Terminator or other sterilizing traits in crops and ornamentals. Prevent the movement of traits to nontarget species.Prevent the movement of introduced species to other ecosystems (Walker and Lonsdale 2000). Prevent farmers from developing their own seed supplies adapted to local conditions (Conway 2000). Synthesis of vitamin A or other nutrients. Improve nutrition of people who depend heavily on rice (Conway 2000). Disrupt local ecosystems if an ecologically limiting nutrient or protein is produced. Nitrogen fixation by nonlegumes. Reduce energy used in fertilizer production and application (Pimentel 2000). Add to excess N leaching from agriculture, degrading human health and reducing biodiversity.