This week’s topic on muscles and movements provided a fresh insight into a branch of biology that deals with more ‘normal’ functions of our body parts. Although Professor Ellerby did not talk in depth about prion disease and its effect on the cross-bridge cycle and various muscle groups, it would be interesting to learn more about how prion affects specific bodily functions (apart from those related to the brain which we are more familiar with). It was useful to learn about how our muscles change and adjust according to our mode of activity and exercise. Through sports I have often been made aware of taking precautions e.g. warming up properly and stretching out after work out, but have never put this information into the biological context of how, on a molecular level, what the cross-bridge cycle is and how muscles contract and trigger force through the tendril structures of actin and myosin.
The NIA session was a very nice extension of the lecture session about muscle and movements, because during the dance class the instructor made us aware of the control we have of our bodies and muscles in contracting and relaxing, accelerating and decelerating, as well as balancing, stabilizing and strengthening. In my opinion, this is something that most people should be aware of. It was fun to feel this empowerment of the body through movement, at the same time being aware of what is going on molecularly when muscle power is generated.
In my dance choreography, I am interested in exploring how the cross-bridge cycle is a systematic and cyclical process, in contrast to the process of prion misfolding, which is uncontrolled and occurs in a different molecular process that works against all the positive aspects that our muscle system provides us.
In addition, inspired by the evolutionary history of our bodies during Professor Ellerby’s lecture, I wanted incorporate this into the choreography as well. It was interesting to learn about the inverse relationship between force and acceleration related to muscle optimization, although it is hard to be convinced when you see a ice figure skater who appears to gracefully combine strength, speed, and a tremendous amount of balance. This short routine I had in mind this, brought together s a bit of human evolution history and NIA philosophy and technique while keeping in mind the science of prions as it transforms from alpha helices to beta sheets.