Alex+S

**PENGUINS!!** This article discusses how Antarctica's Emperor Penguins can stay submerged underwater long after thier muscles use up all of the oxygen. I know that this doesn't have anything to do with what we are learning in class but I found this online and thought it was interesting. When these penguins crosse the 'aerobic dive limit', they suddenly switch to anaerobic metabolism in some of their tissues. Scientists measured this switch in metabolism using spectrophotometers, to regulate oxygen levels, and time–depth recorders, to measure how far down the penguins dove. If the global warming increases to such an extent where the polar ice caps begin to melt, the Antarctic penguins will be unable to find a place to come up for oxygen thus never crossing the 'aerobic dive limit'.

[|Penguins Article]

**ALZHEIMER'S VACCINE IN A NASAL SPRAY!! ** Dr. Dan Frenkel of Tel Aviv University's Department of Neurobiology and collegues are in the process of development of producing a preemptive prophylactic vaccine to prevent Alzheimer's. This new vaccine will be placed in a nasal spray and sold at your local drug store. The vaccine works by activating the patients own immune system to combat or prevent this dreadful disease. Not only will the vaccine protect against Alzheimer's, the vaccine promises to protect against strokes as well. Read the attached article below to find out more about Dr. Frenkel and his findings.

[|Alzheimer's Vaccine]

**SCIENTISTS FIND B ASIS FOR KEY PARASITE FUNCTION IN MALARIA!! ** Investigators from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have found the genes that malaria parasites use to create the feeding pores used to supply the parasite with additional nutrients. Dr. Sanjay A. Desai, M.D., Ph.D., discovered that these feeding pores are actually ion channels known as the plasmodial surface anion channels. Scientists are still experimenting to try to find out which of the two chemicals secreted by the parasite are responsible for there pore-forming ion channels. Read below to find out more on the subject matter.

Scientists Find Genetic Basis for Key Parasite Function in Malaria

For those of you who do not know the life cycle of the parasite Malaria, watch these videos (sorry about the links, the widget wasn't working) :

Part1- Malaria Life Cycle -- Human Host Part2- Malaria Life Cycle -- Misquito Host

**SEA TURTLE GENDER DETERMINANT AND HOW IT IS EFFECTED BY THE ENVIROMENT!!**

One of the amazing things about sea turtles is that fact that gender is not determined by sex chromosomes. Then how is it determined? Good question! The answer is one that you may not expect. Ther truth is that a sea turtle's gender is soley based on the temperature of thier nest. If the temperature inside the nest remains cooler than 85 o F, the hatchlings will be male. Anything warmer than that will produce females. This temperature-dependent sex determination often leads to very skewed sex ratios—more males than females or vice versa—which can lower the potential for reproduction and therefore decrease the efficiency or even negate the benefits of the conservation programs.

The following article discusses what effects a sea tutle's hatchlings. Effects on Sea Turtle Eggs

It becomes evident that the constantly rising temperatures of the Earth are effecting the ratio of male to female sea turtles. The higher temperatures cause only females to hatch leaving no males to share their sperm and continue the species.

SOON WE WILL LOSE ALL SEA TURTLE SPECIES BECAUSE THE INCREASING TEMPERATURES DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING WILL SLOWLY BEGIN TO WIPE THEM ALL OUT!!!! THIS IS A PROBLEM WORTH FIXING!!!!!

**POTENTIAL CURE TO CANCER, S TROKES AND OTHER DISEASES FOUND IN FROGS!! **

For years on end, scientists have been trying to find a cure for cancer. So far some luck has been found but for others, no luck. This award-winning research, led by Professor Chris Shaw and other scientists at Queen's University (Belfast) has discovered proteins in frog skins which could be used to treat cancer, diabetes, stroke and transplant patients by regulating the growth of blood vessels. Cancer tumors can only grow by themselves for a certain period of time. After that period, the tumor taps into the blood stream and uses blood vessels to continue to grow. If the blood vessels were constricted, the tumor would cease to grow and could eventually die. Other diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, are caused by blood vessels being blocked. Other protiens in frogs can cause the expansion of blood vessels that allow more immune system cells to reach the infected site or site of concern. Check it out!!!

Frogs Cure Cancer?

TWO FROGS UNDER RESEARCH!

Waxy Monkey Frog Giant Fire-Bellied Toad [|custom writing]