Read & Learn

Alkali metals in water – Jen

Jen’s blog on the reactions of alkali metals in water is interesting. I always wondered how something could burn IN water. Now I know that the alkali metals burn because when they react, they emit a lot of heat as well as hydrogen gas. The heat released in the reaction combusts with the gas and that is how the metal burns in water. I also think that it is very interesting….and it makes sense…..that as you move down the table of alkali metals, the metals become more reactive. An exploding metal sounds dangerous, but very cool

Car engines – Rick

I think it is very interesting how scientists are trying to incorporate ethanol into gasoline. But, I thought I heard somewhere that gasoline infused with ethanol is more inefficient than normal gasoline, and it costs more to produce….Anyway, Rick’s blog on the internal combustion engine was also interesting. I didn’t know that the combustion process was called the “Otto cycle”. I wonder how it got that name. The internal combustion engines uses for steps to run: air and gasoline enter the engine, they are compressed, a spark ignites the gasoline, and this energy drives a piston which drives the engine.

Lactic Acid – Amanda

I never realized the process to form lactic acid…and lactate was so complex. It starts with glycolosis where pyruvic acid is formed form the breakdown of carbohydrates in our liver. I thought lactic acid was the thing that caused soreness in our muscles, but actually the hydrogen atoms are the culprit. The lactic acid and lactate actually get reabsorbed into our bodies and we use them for energy. The hydrogen atoms are what cause the acidity in our muscles to rise, and also what causes us pain.

MLA Citations...again

My MLA citations, for some reason, didn't post correctly the first time

“Stem Cell information.” National Institute of Heath. 29 January 2008. http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/basics6.asp.

Stem cells’ repair skills might be link to cancer.” 29 January 2008. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2004/11_22_04.html.

What can stem cells be used for, and what obstacles must scientists overcome to get to the uses of stem cells.

If you’re like me, you hear about stem cells and you ask yourself, can something like that really cure diseases? Well, after some research, I’ve found an answer.

First let’s start at the beginning. Stem cells are so important because they are the ‘universal cell’ that can be altered to perform a variety of different functions. There are two main types of cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. The embryonic stem cells are the cells that most people have heard of. They are the ones that have the potential to become a variety of different cells. Adult or somatic stem cells can be reproduced specifically form the tissue that it came from. Their role in the human body is to repair damaged tissue in the area of the body that they are located.

Scientists are studying stem cells so closely because of the potential that they offer. With organ donors in high demand, the waiting lists for a donor are years long. By mastering stem cells, scientists hope to be able to ‘grow’ for example kidney cells and give them to patients that have a failing or damaged kidney. This process is referred to as ‘cell-based therapy’ and there is a great graphic of this in the following link: . Scientists even hypothesize that the cure for parkinsons disease, diabetes, and heart disease can be found in stem cell research.

Right now, the primary goal of scientists working on stem cells is to find out how undifferentiated stem cells become differentiated. When cells are undifferentiated, they are not yet given a specific function by the body. Cancer is due in part to abnormal cell division and differentiation, so mastering how to control cell differentiation will greatly help scientists. Also, much of stem cells function has to do with the activation and deactivation of certain genes in the body’s cells. To fully understand stem cells, scientists also need to realize how the genes control each cell. To be able to grow certain organ cells scientists must be able to control the manipulation of stem cells…..an arduous task that is far from getting perfected.

To be useful, stem-cells must:

• Proliferate extensively and generate sufficient quantities of tissue.
• Differentiate into the desired cell type(s).
• Survive in the recipient after transplant.
• Integrate into the surrounding tissue after transplant.
• Function appropriately for the duration of the recipient's life.
• Avoid harming the recipient in any way.

MLA:

“Stem Cell information.” National Institute of Heath. 29 January 2008. .

Stem cells’ repair skills might be link to cancer.” 29 January 2008. .