Prader-Willi Syndrome and its Linkage to Genetics Essay

Prader-Willi Syndrome and its Linkage to Genetics - Essay Example Diagnosis and Treatment of Prader-Willis Syndrome†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.9 7. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 8. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 Prader-Willi Syndrome and its Linkage to Genetics Prader-Willi Syndrome, moreover referred to as PWS, is a genetically linked disorder that afflicts various parts of the human anatomy. The disorder presents as hypotonia during infancy, coupled to delayed physical development, stunted growth, and difficulties in feeding. The carrier begins to develop an unusually high appetite beginning in childhood, which results in hyperphagia or continuous over-eating, as well as overweight and obesity (Cassidy & Driscoll 2009). For individuals carrying the defective genes that cause PWS, especially those afflicted by obesity, a high prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus II exists. The genetic disorder was first characterized by Heinrich Willi and Andrea Prader before research by Guido Fanconi, Andrew Ziegler, and Alexis Labhart provided more information on the disorder. Prader-Willi Syndrome, as a genetic disorder, involves alterations on chromosome 15(q11-13), whereby seven genes on this chromosome are deleted (Goldstone 2009). Alternatively, the 15q chromosome is not expressed because of a partial deletion on the paternally derived chromosomes. This disorder is prevalent in between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 25,000 of the population. The origin of the defective genes from paternal chromosomes is especially important since the region of the chromosome involved is affected by imprinting from parent origin. This means that only a single gene copy undergoes expression with the other corresponding gene being silenced via imprinting. For those genes that are affected in PWS, the gene that normally undergoes silencing or imprinting is the maternal copy with the expression of the paternal gene copy going ahead (Goldstone 2009). The result of this is that, the carrier only has one working copy of this gene and these PWS carriers possess one silenced copy and one copy that does not work. Prader-Willi Syndrome has a sister syndrome that is known as Angelman Syndrome, which involves maternally-derived genetic material at the same exact genetic location as PWS. While Prader-Willi Syndrome is considered as a rare genetic disorder, it occurs commonly in a majority of genetic clinics, being obesity’s most common genetic cause as identified to date. Prader-Willi Syndrome is prevalent in people of all races, ethnic backgrounds, and gender (Cassidy & Driscoll 2009). Phenotypic Features Associated With the Disease The basis for most of the symptoms presenting in PWS may be due to the brain’s hypothalamic region’s dysfunction (Gelehrter 2008) . The hypothalamic region of the fetus is vital during child labor and its deregulation may help to explain the high number of post-mature or pre-mature births for children later diagnosed with PWS. Abnormal release of Luteinizing Hormone is thought to cause the decreased amount of sex hormones that result in testes not descending, small sized gonads, insufficient growth over puberty, and amenorrhea. Hypothalamic deregulation causes deficiency of growth hormone that contributes to reduced energy expenditure due to a deficit in lean body mass and excessive body fat. Disturbance of hypothalamus action also leads to daytime hyper-somnolence and aberrant body temperature control. Hyperphagia and insatiable hunger

Why the Drinking Age Should be Lowered Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why the Drinking Age Should be Lowered - Essay Example The need is to comprehend how the drinking age has to be adjusted in the first place. There are different societies in the world which offer a host of explanations in the wake of the drinking age. However, what remains to be seen is how well this age represents the true mindsets of the people who are actually bringing about a positive change to begin with. The drinking age can only be seen as a number and nothing else. Drinking age should also be lowered because there is no need to set an age at all. When the teenagers have intellect to pick and choose pastimes of their own, then there is no use to ask them to change their habits or to follow a certain age category before drinking. Hence there comes the equation of the drinking age getting lowered and that too for all the right reasons. As the drinking age has been established in the Western countries, it would only be a given to comprehend how it will be seen within the Eastern nations as well. But then again, the bottom line remain s embedded in the fact that drinking age has to be brought down because the kids of today are no more the kids that used to be in the yesteryears. Drinking age must also be lowered because it is just a figure that needs to be followed. The young ones do not care what age they should be before they can start drinking. It is important for them to drink and feel good about their own selves.

Introduction to macroeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Introduction to macroeconomics - Essay Example However, during recessions, when unemployment rate rises, the demand will still be met by the supply, although the demand level will be lower. This is why in the goods market prices and quantity will settle at the equilibrium but high unemployment can still be present in the economy. This has been termed as the â€Å"Keynesian unemployment†. As what has been described earlier, in determining output to meet the demands, there are two views—the Keynesian and the classical view. The classical view argues that prices and wages are flexible, in such a way that excesses in either demand or supply will quickly be absorbed by the economy and resume full employment of resources after economic shocks—or abrupt changes in the aggregate demand and supply curves. The Keynesian view on the other hand argues, as apparent in its sticky theory of prices and wages which says that these two factors are sticky in the short run because of contractual rigidities such as agreements made with different interest groups such as the labor unions. In the latter situation, the one proposed by Keynes, higher levels of aggregate demands are needed for output to respond positively because aggregate supply curve is relatively flat especially when output levels are low. In this situation, the economy can have long periods of unemployment b ecause prices and wages are slow to adjust to shocks, and reaching full employment of resources is slow to reach. When classical economists argue that unemployment results from the interaction of the labor demand and supply curves, and lowering the wages will spread the labor supply which can curb unemployment in the process, Keynes argue that such is not applicable when unemployment is due to business cycle downturns, when because of lower demands of products in the economy, demand for labor is also low. The lower demand for goods results into lower demands for

COMMENTING ON AN EVENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

COMMENTING ON AN EVENT - Essay Example For example, when the San Francisco Healthy Food Incentive Ordinance banned free toys to the customers on the purchase of Happy Meals, McDonald’s started to offer the toys with Happy Meals for an extra 10 cents only so that it adheres to the new law without having its sales impacted much by it. Summaries of Articles In the article â€Å"The Ban Too Far† published in The New York Times on 31 May 2012, the author has generally appreciated Bloomberg’s role in improving the health of the residents of the New York City, but does not approve of his recent attempt to ban the drinks sized over 16 ounces. The author has cited examples of several ways in which Bloomberg has helped the community e.g. the ban on smoking and trans fat in a lot of institutions, but as the name of the article suggests, the author considers the ban an unnecessarily strong action. The author believes that instead of placing such bans on the sizes of drinks or eatables, the administration should d irect its attention towards educating the community and providing them with healthier alternatives without restricting their access to the high-calorie food. According to the author, making tough campaigns and launching exercise programs are also recommendable, but banning something irritates the people.  In the article â€Å"Evolution’s Sweet Tooth† published in The New York Times on 5 June 2012, the author Daniel E. Lieberman says that the libertarian objections to Bloomberg’s ban on the sale of drinks sized above 16 ounces the most noticeable amongst others, that speculates that this ban will be succeeded by bans on the quantities of other kinds of junk foods. Declaring obesity as a biological problem, Lieberman thinks that Bloomberg’s decision is reasonable since such a coercive action is the need of the hour. Lieberman has drawn evidence in his support for Bloomberg from the way human eating habits have been modified by various external factors like advancement of technology. Scarcity of food sustained over millions of years in the past maintained a balance between the cravings for sugar and the human digestive systems. It is beyond the control of many to limit the intake of sugar since the craving for this once-limited-resource is simple tremendous in the present age when it is in abundance. Lieberman puts forth three basic options to deal with this issue. The first option is the discovery of cures for the diseases caused by obesity for which people might have to wait too long while being affected by the diseases. The second and the more popular option is the enhancement of public education about food and healthy eating habits, but this has not proven very effective so far. The third option requires restoration of diets to the natural state with the help of regulations as the times have changed and so has the human lifestyle. Imposing ban on large portions of drinks is just as sensible as banning cigarettes in schools or limi ting the access of children to alcohol. Bans are the ultimate solution as schools have proven ineffective in delivering physical education in the past. Along with imposing such bans, the food industry should honestly