BioQuakes

AP Biology class blog for discussing current research in Biology

Author: shivbiosis

Alice Ball’s revolutionary leprosy treatment development

By

On March 10, 2021

In Student Post

Throughout history, people have been taught about a select few scientists that are often white men. However, the science field has a variety of others revolutionary scientists that have made great strides in their field, yet are not well known. It is important to study women’s and people of other races or religion’s accomplishment equally in depth.

Ball’s New Treatment for Hansen’s Disease

Alice Augusta Ball was a chemist who developed a successful treatment for Hansen’s Disease (also known as leprosy). Leprosy is a bacterial infection that effects skin, nose linings, and upper respiratory that causes skin ulcers, nerve damage, numbness, weakness in the muscles, and skin lesions.

At the time, leprosy was being treated with Chaulmoogra oil, but was unable to be injected, and could only apply it on the skin.  At age 23, Ball tried to purify the oil into chemical compounds (called ethyl esters), so it can be injected and be effective by making it water soluble and able to dissolve in the bloodstream. But, to achieve this goal, the oil needed to be converted to fatty acids first. Ball then realized the acid needs to be frozen for a night so it has enough time for esters to separate, and stop it from degrading due to the temperature. Ball’s work impacted many people with leprosy, saved their lives and lifestyles.

Why Didn’t Ball Get Credit? 

Although the Ball Method was the most effective treatments for leprosy at the time, Ball was not given credit. This is because her colleague, Arthur Dean took her findings and put his name on it. Because of this, Ball did not get credit until 1922. The University did not recognize Ball’s work for 90 years, and finally honored her in 2000. Ball was also named one of the most influential women in Hawaiian history in 2016.

Alice Ball’s Background

Ball was born in 1892 in Seattle, Washington, and her family later moved to Hawaii. Ball attended University of Washington where she received a bachelors degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and later went to work and study at University of Hawaii and the college of Hawaii. She was the first woman to graduate from the college, and the first African American researcher in the chemistry department. Unfortunately, Alice Ball passed away in 1916 at the young age of 24 when she fell ill during her research.

What Do I Think?

I believe, like many others do as well, Alice Augusta Ball is an inspiration to many with her various accomplishments in her short life. Along with dying at just 24 years old, Ball had to face many adversities due to societal constructs and discrimination towards African Americans and woman. Still, though, Ball persevered against all odds and helped advance the world of science. Women like Ball should be celebrated, talked about, and taught to people for all of their contributions to society, not only a select few white men.

What face mask should you go buy?

By

On January 18, 2021

In Student Post

When you are leaving your house, how do you decide what mask to wear that day? Have you tried different kinds? Masks have become a new part of our daily life. We all have to wear masks in social situations or anywhere out in public in order to prevent ourselves and others from contracting coronavirus. In the past few months, there have been many different types of masks that are being sold. Some even have super cool designs, and some are more comfortable than others. So, when you are picking a mask, do you stop and think about which one is the most effective at doing its job of protecting you?

Overview on Masks and the protection

The article from Healthline explores the variety of masks, and discusses the usefulness. In general, masks are an essential preventative measure to take as it reduces the risk of transmission of Covid-19, along with the other protective measures, such as distancing and proper hygiene. The purpose of masks are to protect oneself from the respiratory droplets from traveling into the air. It is especially important to protect yourself in public because around 80% of the coronavirus transmission has been rooted from asymptomatic carriers. An asymptomatic carrier is someone who has contracted the Coronavirus, but has no symptoms of the virus. However, asymptomatic people can still spread the virus.  By wearing a mask, one is able to prevent the airborne transmission of the coronavirus pathogens through our bodies primary defenses such as the mouth, nose and the eyes. Since the coronavirus pathogens are able to get past the barrier defenses if you do not wear a mask and take other preventative measures, this triggers innate cellular defenses, which lead to the inflammatory response in our body, such as fevers, colds and more. Inner surface is lined with tiny hairs cilia or mucus membranes which trap pathogens and can be removed by sneezing or coughing or swallowed to be broken down by stomach acids.

Surgical Masks and Valve Masks

Surgical masks are disposable, single use masks that cover your mouth and nose. They are made out of a breathable synthetic fabric. There is not a airtight seal around the area it covers, and there has been a large range on how the surgical masks filter pathogens. Respirators have intense filters that filter the pathogens in the air. These are also airtight, unlike the surgical masks. Some of the respirator masks have valves which lets some exhaled air to escape. The downside to this is that it does not protect others from pathogens exhaled through the valves. This is because the valves in the mask allow respiratory droplets from the person wearing the mask out into the air and get to other people.

Surgical Mask

N95 Respirator Masks

N95 masks can protect one from particles as small as 0.3 microns. N95 masks are extremely effective in preventing airborne particles from entering through the areas of the nose and mouth. The name “N95” comes from the fact that the respirator blocks 95% of small and large particles out. The ‘N’ is the respirator rating class. The ‘N’ stands for “non oil”, so basically no oil based particulates are present. The filtering and protection is much higher than a surgical or a cloth mask.

Homemade and store bought Cloth Masks

Masks that many people make at home are considered to be the least effective as the fabric is less secure and allows for small droplets to enter inside the mask. Also, many of these cloth masks have gaps near the nose, jaw or mouth area that also be areas where the droplets can be inhaled by the person wearing the mask. If you do wear a mask made at home, use 100% cotton fabric, which is the most effective material for cloth masks. Now, most stores are selling all different kinds of cloth masks. In general, all cloth masks vary with effectiveness as they are constructed with different fits, materials, and layers which all effect filtration. But, overall, store bought masks have had better securely fitting masks, which is very important in wearing a face mask for protection to properly cover the nose and mouth. If you are buying a cloth mask from a store, look for cloth masks that come with a nose wire and a filter insert which upgrade the masks. Overall though, whether it is homemade or store bought, surgical and n95 masks are more effective than both in protecting the wearer.

Overall, a key factor in any mask usage is how you wear the mask. Have you caught yourself accidentally letting the mask slip off your nose, and not doing anything about it? The proper usage is extremely important in having the masks be effective and prevent ourselves from getting the virus. We are in a very critical time, and the least we can all do is wear a mask to protect ourselves, others and lower the spread of the virus. We can all help reduce transmission! Be sure to wear a mask and be safe!

Can Deodorant Cause Cancer?

By

On November 2, 2020

In Student Post

Did you ever think you were harming your health while going through your morning routine? Applying deodorant is a daily practice of many people around the world. However, we often don’t realize what exactly we are applying to our bodies and what chemicals the products we are using are made up of. When was the last time you checked the label to see if there were any potentially harmful elements in something as basic as deodorant? Not often, I presume. But I think we all need to start!

The article from Penn Medicine explores the effects the deodorant can have. Deodorant’s contain chemicals which can be absorbed into the body from applying it onto the skin. The theory people have formed about deodorant is that the toxins from the deodorant will collect in the lymph nodes that will turn healthy cells into cancer cells, especially breast cancer as it located closest to the armpit where the deodorant is applied. The difference between a cancer cell and a healthy cell a cancerous cells is a mutation of its DNA (contains the genetic code for organisms). Nucleic acids are DNA. Nucleic acids consist of nucleotides that are made up of a five carbon sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base. The mutation of the DNA causes uncontrolled cellular proliferation which can occur due to mutations in genes that control cell death and regular cell growth. Healthy cells carry out their ‘normal’ specialized functions. However, the American Cancer Society has said that there is not enough scientific evidence to back the theory. Aluminum is a big ingredient in deodorant needed to prevent sweating. Our bodies ability to sweat is controlled by our nervous system. But how does deodorant really accomplish what it is supposed to? Essentially, the salts in the aluminum have to break down in order to prevent sweat on the pores. The National Center for Biotechnology information claimed that breast tissue does, indeed, have an increase of aluminum in them with daily use of deodorant.

 Harmful Effects of Aluminum on Kidney’s 

A extreme excess of aluminum in the body can result in bone diseases or dementia. Also, a excess of aluminum can also cause kidney issues with people with pre-existing kidney conditions since aluminum gets filtered out of the body through the kidney’s. For the most part, though, there is not enough aluminum in the sticks for it to do enough damage for people with healthy kidneys.

Other Harmful Chemicals Used In Deodorant

Parabens is another ingredient used in deodorant to prevent bacteria from growing on the deodorant, basically being used as a preservative. Parabens also get absorbed through the skin and function as estrogen. Why exactly are parabens bad for us? A excess of estrogen throughout a lifetime, however, can result in increase breast cancer or even a tumor. The positive is that it is in too little of an amount to really make a difference in our bodies.

Just to be safe, though, I think it is time to go buy some aluminum free deodorant- a quick, easy and convenient solution! Here are some great aluminum free deodorants and here are some natural deodorants to get started on using!

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