After learning about a little bit about proteins and DNA in class last week, I found an article about how researchers are finding new ways to improve vaccinations. Instead of inserting a weaker live or dead virus into a person … Continue reading
In the prion diseases video, Susan Lindquist explained the importance of protein in our bodies. So I looked up proteopathies, diseases that are caused from the malformation of proteins in the bodies. Prion diseases are a type of proteopathy. One … Continue reading
Prion protein diseases as neurodegenerative diseases along with the video on the impact of prion proteins on brain cells, got me thinking about how these mutated protein structures have the ability to affect certain functions controlled by our brain and … Continue reading
This week in class we learned about alpha helices and beta sheets in protein structures. It’s thought that prion proteins become infectious when some of their alpha helices are converted into beta forms. I did a little research to find … Continue reading
I found the models that we were able to construct in class on Thursday to be very interesting! It was fascinating to see how the hydrogen bonds and different geometric bonds of the elements could affect the shapes of the … Continue reading
Prion diseases are rare progressive neurodegenerative disorders. Prion diseases tend to progress rapidly and to be fatal; characteristics include brain damage, long incubation periods, and lack of inflammatory response. Prion diseases are distinct because they aren’t triggered by bacteria or … Continue reading
Having missed the end of our experiment this past week, I was intrigued by the scientific study process in which they conduct observations and study the results to determine the causes of disease outbreaks. As we understood, there is a … Continue reading
After learning about kuru in class, I wanted to know more about other kinds of prion diseases, including fatal insomnia. People with fatal insomnia die because, as the disease’s name suggests, they are unable to sleep. I wondered why this … Continue reading
Last week’s topic of Prion disease was very interesting to me, especially everything that was yet unknown about it and why it occurs. A seemingly healthy person suddenly begins to exhibit strange symptoms that have no obvious cause. Even though … Continue reading
First of all, cows can have best friends. Research shows cows become stressed when they are separated from their favorite bovine companions. During an experiment lead by Northampton University, cattle were placed in a pen with either a familiar cow … Continue reading