Dr. Sharon Moalem and Jonathan Prince both collaborated on the New York Times bestseller, Survival of the Sickest, which discusses how organisms surpassed their challenges through methods of evolution or medicine. The human race evolved and used medicine to combat the environment and the invaders trying to enter their body. One form of invader was Malaria, a disease spread from host to host by female mosquitos. Some invaders are already embedded in our DNA like the disease hemochromatosis. This disease is inherited from ancestors and isn’t contagious unlike other invaders. Another disease, Diabetes, is where the body produces no insulin. This disease can be triggered because it is either inherited, caused by the environment, diet, or infections.
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Some researchers believe that Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks the precise cells in the pancreas that are responsible for the production of insulin. But, diabetes doesn’t attack or target any specific organ. Diabetes is just the relationship between the body and glucose. Glucose is the body’s fuel essential for the body’s survival. Insulin stores glucose into the liver, fat cells, and muscles so it can be used when necessary. Diabetes is a disease where the body produces little to no insulin causing dangerously high sugar levels. These high sugar levels can cause dehydration, coma, and death. Diabetes was originally discovered thousands of years ago. It’s very widespread around the world and has a very particular geographical region of origin for type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes tends to occur more in Northern Europe. Type 2 diabetes tends to occur more in obese people; people who don’t eat right. Diabetes can be treated with insulin shots, disciplined diets and exercise, and extreme attention to blood sugar levels. This disease impacted humanity because it opened the eyes of many people about how their diet affected their health. It revealed that obese kids had a greater chance of getting Type 2 diabetes which shows the connection between diabetes and diet. This disease conferred an evolutionary advantage during the ice age when …show more content…
Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that is bred into our genetic code. Hemochromatosis is a disease that targets the iron defense mechanism in the human body. This defense system limits the amount of iron in places susceptible to allowing infectious agents into our body. These agents need iron to thrive and by limiting their iron source, they are fighting the infection. Humans with Hemochromatosis have this defense system on at all times suppling the body’s blood with excess iron. In addition, humans with Hemochromatosis continue absorbing iron and their bodies don’t get rid of the excess iron. Symptoms of Hemochromatosis are tiredness and aching pains in the body. This disease will lead to liver failure, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, infertility, psychiatric disorders, cancer, and ultimately death. Hemochromatosis is thought to be originated in Northern Europe during the time of the Vikings. The Vikings were thought to have a belligerent and bloodthirsty culture so they lost blood frequently. As a result, their body evolved to produce more iron to account for that major blood loss occurring in their battles. Hemochromatosis is treated through the process of bloodletting or drawing blood from the patient. Bloodletting
Some researchers believe that Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that attacks the precise cells in the pancreas that are responsible for the production of insulin. But, diabetes doesn’t attack or target any specific organ. Diabetes is just the relationship between the body and glucose. Glucose is the body’s fuel essential for the body’s survival. Insulin stores glucose into the liver, fat cells, and muscles so it can be used when necessary. Diabetes is a disease where the body produces little to no insulin causing dangerously high sugar levels. These high sugar levels can cause dehydration, coma, and death. Diabetes was originally discovered thousands of years ago. It’s very widespread around the world and has a very particular geographical region of origin for type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes tends to occur more in Northern Europe. Type 2 diabetes tends to occur more in obese people; people who don’t eat right. Diabetes can be treated with insulin shots, disciplined diets and exercise, and extreme attention to blood sugar levels. This disease impacted humanity because it opened the eyes of many people about how their diet affected their health. It revealed that obese kids had a greater chance of getting Type 2 diabetes which shows the connection between diabetes and diet. This disease conferred an evolutionary advantage during the ice age when …show more content…
Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that is bred into our genetic code. Hemochromatosis is a disease that targets the iron defense mechanism in the human body. This defense system limits the amount of iron in places susceptible to allowing infectious agents into our body. These agents need iron to thrive and by limiting their iron source, they are fighting the infection. Humans with Hemochromatosis have this defense system on at all times suppling the body’s blood with excess iron. In addition, humans with Hemochromatosis continue absorbing iron and their bodies don’t get rid of the excess iron. Symptoms of Hemochromatosis are tiredness and aching pains in the body. This disease will lead to liver failure, heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, infertility, psychiatric disorders, cancer, and ultimately death. Hemochromatosis is thought to be originated in Northern Europe during the time of the Vikings. The Vikings were thought to have a belligerent and bloodthirsty culture so they lost blood frequently. As a result, their body evolved to produce more iron to account for that major blood loss occurring in their battles. Hemochromatosis is treated through the process of bloodletting or drawing blood from the patient. Bloodletting