Shanni-kie Watson

February 10th, 2017

The Human Body

Current Event: Human stem cell with half a genome could help infertile couples

Link: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2081250-human-stem-cell-with-half-a-genome-could-help-infertile-couples/

Summary:

Scientists have created a new kind of human stem cell that has just half a genome. To create the novel stem cells, Benvenisty’s colleague, Dieter Egli from Columbia University Medical Center and the New York Stem Cell Foundation, used electricity and chemicals to force an unfertilised human egg cell to divide.

Having a set of human cells with only one set of chromosomes will help our understanding of how gene mutations affect the behaviour of cells, says Jose Silva, a researcher at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute in the UK.Embryonic stem cells are diploid cells from which all tissues in the body are built. They are called diploid cells.

Now that we can make haploid versions of any cell in the human body with one set of chromosomes, researchers can easily mutate single genes and immediately see what happens to the behaviour of the cell.

“Since we’ve shown they can, it poses the interesting question of why we reproduce sexually rather than from a single parent.” The new embryonic stem cells could potentially be used to create eggs and sperm for infertile couples.

Now, Nissim Benvenisty, director of the Azrieli Center for Stem Cells and Genetic Research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and his colleagues have generated haploid embryonic stem cells with a single set of chromosomes.

“Most researchers believed human haploid cells could not divide and differentiate into different cell types,” says Benvenisty. The cells can be turned into any tissue in the human body, despite only containing one set of chromosomes. Egg and sperm cells are the exception – they are haploid cells with one set of chromosomes. They then showed that it was possible for these haploid cells to divide and turn into other tissues such as heart, brain and gut cells.

Reaction/Opinion: My reaction the article was that the article is really interesting and it reminded me of what I had learnt in my biochem class in 1th grade. It is always a good thing to hear or learn about what goes on inside the human body. Is it always good to see scientists constantly finding new researches in the world of science.  

Questions:

1. How did they come to discover this?

2. Is it a 100% that this can create sterms and eggs for infertile couples?

MLA Citation

"Human stem cell with half a genome could help infertile couples." New Scientist. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2017.

Reflection

1. Provide a summary of the contents of your video and a rationale for why YOU chose this topic, in paragraph form.

1. The content of my video was showing how people constantly dump in the streets as if it is nothing, our video explains how this can harm not only the environment but every living organisms within the environment. Our topic was Illegal Waste Dumping and this topic was chosen because this is a growing problem in the Pennsylvania but also The United States and this is what we call home so we are suppose to keep it safe. This problem is killing our environment and it affects us as humans in our everyday life and if we as young adults do not fix the problem now the younger generation will not have the earth to enjoy because it will be destroyed.

2. Provide a reflection on how you contributed to the project and the role you played in the group.

1. I contributed in the group by helping out with the script, recording and engaging in group conversation on how we can make the video much better or how to go to the extra mile in this assignment.

3. What did you do well and what could you have done differently?

1. I worked well with my group members and we communicated well with each other. I think what I could have done differently was my time management. Sometimes when we were suppose to be on track we were not because all members of the group were not there.

4. What was the most meaningful part of the experience of creating the PSA?

1. The most meaningful part of the creating this PSA was that I learnt so much while doing it and that I can make a change by speaking on the problems I see and inform others. It will not just happen overnight but I know that I can make a change because this is a problem and by doing this PSA it had taught me so much about how we as humans destroy the place we call home and it made me think on some things differently.

Link to video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnPWFQtlBFU

This was my free election day in America and I was not excited at all. There was a fear instill in me. Since I have been living in Jamaica election days were filled with crimes and violence against supporters of the opposite side. On April 26, 2016 I stepped outside my door with the fear that something may go wrong but I had the brightest smile on my face. I prayed that everything went well. I went to meet my friend Valerie and we went to the first polling station. It was so quiet and calm. Everyone was minding their business and going about their day. I asked my questions and take pictures of course because I was having a good time and I was learning so much about the election process.

The second polling station I went was very interesting. The people outside were so kind and they took the time to answer all the questions I had to ask. They even went as far to explain why they choose the answers they did. The gentleman had allowed me inside and while I was inside he explained the voting process and he showed me a visual presentation and basically taught me how to vote. So thanks to that gentleman when it’s time for me to vote I will be ready because I now have a better understanding of the voting process and how to carry out the procedures. As I walked outside I ran into two men that were also representing the Committee of Seventy and we had the best conversation ever. It was pretty interesting. Experience like this helps young people to go out and meet new people and see new faces and have conservation with people who share different ideas.

I walked another four blocks to get to the other polling station and I met some interesting men who were most willing to take the survey and even took pictures with us. That was pretty cool. This was my first election and it was very good and interesting. Hope can be like this when I have the opportunity to vote.