This blog is intended to extend your knowledge on the effects of DDT exposure on the human cell. The following link leads to a site that I found very helpful in my studies: http://www.chem.duke.edu/~jds/cruise_chem/pest/ddtup.html.
1. How does DDT get into the cells and why does this pose a threat?

2. What is the importance of Potassium and Sodium inside nerve cells?

3. Why is the leaking of Sodium and Potassium dangerous?

CELL COMMUNICATION

Cell communication is essential for all multicellular organisms. All of the billions of cells of a human must communicate in order to achieve everyday things like eating walking or talking. communication among cells is also key in unicellular organisms that need to communicate with other organisms to get food and mate.by studing cell communication we are helping to answer some of the most important questions in biology and medicine. it is allowing us to learn how cells communicate in areas like embryological development to hormone action to the development of cancer and other fatal diseases.

the signals recieved by cells can come from other cells or from some change in the organisms environment and can take various forms. cells can sense and respond to electromagnetic signals, such as light, and to mechanical senses, such as touch. however cells most used form of communication is through chemical signals. so it is essensial for ells to commuicate with each other in order to function properly

http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca/cm1504/cellcommunication.htm

1) what are some ways cells communicate and why is it important for them to communicate?

2) how could cell communication help in the study of fatal diseases like cancer?

3) what would be some effects of cells not being able to communicate with each other?

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, incurable and ultimately fatal form of dementia. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease occur because of the loss of neurons. One of the key features of Alzheimer's is the presence of aggregated proteins, also called amyloid fibrils. These fibrils are made up of the A-beta protein, which can form the starting core for these clumps on the cell membrance which may lead to Alzheimer's.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/23368-alzheimers-cell-disease/

1.) One theory about how Alzheimer's develops is the ability of these amyloid fibrils to disrupt the internal workings of neurons. How do these fibrils destroy neurons, and why do the cells not rid themselves of these damaged proteins?
2.) Explain the process of Apoptosis and does this process help or eventually hurt neurons?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100625124544.htm

1.) High levels of aneuploidy may result in developmental abnormalities and disease. Explain why this occurs, and what the outcome for the patient may be.

classification of living things - brian 2

All terrestrial life forms are divided into kingdoms and are farther broken down into phylum, classes, order, family, genus, and species. Before kingdoms though, there are domains. There are three domains: Archaea, Eubacteria, and Eukaryota. There are four kingdoms: Protista, fungi, plantae, and animalia. These are just the first couple steps in classifying living things. This system has been around for a while and has been altered and revised many times due to new discoveries and advancements. Within each kingdom, species are farther classified into groups based on similarities. For example, the full classification of a human is:
Domain- Eukarya
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum-chordata
(subphylum- vertabrata)
class- mammalia
order- primates
family- hominidae
genus- homo
species- sapiens.

Classification of living things - Brian

All terrestrial life forms are divided into kingdoms and are farther broken down into phyla, classes, order, family, genus, and species. There are four kingdoms: Protista, fungi, Plantae, and animalia. This is just the first step to fully breaking down the classification of living things.

Classifications of Life

Today we will be explaining the seven classifications of life which help scientists put animals, plants, and other organisms into categories. Putting animals, plants, and organisms into categories is important because it helps scientists avoid confusion. This system was created by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeaus in 1757, which we today refer to as binomial nomenclature. The seven classifications of life in descending order are: Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. In 1990, three domains were created seperating single-celled organisms(archaea), unicellular microorganisms(bacteria), and complex celled organisms(eukarya), which includes protista, animalia, plantae, and fungi.

Questions for the Responder:
1.) What is the kingdom, phylum, class, and order of the reticulated python?
2.) Why is the classificaton of eukaryotes a controversial issue?
3.) Explain cladistics and why they are important to the subjects we are studying?

Taxonomy- The Science of Classifying Organisms

There are many different organisms, and scientists needed a way to classify them. Carlos Linnaeus, an 18th century scientist, came up with a system called binomial nomenclature, which means a "two name system." The two names were Genus and Species. Other scientists would later update the system to include more categories such as Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order and
Family.
Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms. The largest category is called the Kingdom, and this is broken down into a smaller group called a Phylum. Class is smaller than a Phylum, and so on. There are five major kingdoms used to classify living organisms:

1. Animalia: made up of animals, i.e. ants, frogs, horses, humans
   
2. Plantae: made up of plants which are organisms that can use photosynthesis to make their own food, i.e. trees, grass, cacti, algae
   
3. Fungi: feed on dead organisms, help the decaying or decomposing process of these organisms, i.e. mushrooms, mold
   
4. Protista: one-celled organisms that have a nucleus, i.e. Amoeba, Protists, Euglena
   
5. Monera: one-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus, i.e. Eubacteria, Archaebacteria

Before scientists can classify an organism, they have to make sure that it is living. The guidelines for living things are:

• They reproduce
• They use and make energy
• They respond to the environment
• They adapt to their environment
• They grow

The Kingdom Animalia is made up of organisms from ants to bears and even includes humans.

The Kindgom Plantae consists of plants that are multicellular and able to make energy from the sun.

The Kindom Fungi consists of multicelluar organisms that do not make their own food. Most are decomposers that break down dead organisms. The most common fungus is a mushroom.

The Kingdom Protista consists of unicellular or single celled organisms, with a nucleus. Some can make their own food, but others do not. These organisms are so small that we have to use a microscope to see them.

The Kingdom Monera consists of organisms that are unicellular and do not have a nucleus. These organsims are called bacteria.

1. There are some nonliving things that can act like a living organism. These are not classified in the kingdoms of living organisms. An example of one of these organisms is virus. Even though it can reproduce inside a cell, why isn't virus considered a living organism?
2. What are the two major groups of bacteria?
3. How are the Genus and species names written according to binomial nomenclature?