Epigenetics

Though biologically induced, these processes are shaped by psychological, socioeconomic, and cultural forces. These dynamic, interacting processes have been conceptualized by Erikson as occurring in epigenetic stages of development. Each stage requires changes and redefinitions in relationships with significant others, negotiations with the external environment, and struggles with one’s self-definitions and self-identity. In general, personal and environmental…

For many centuries people have been intrigued and captivated by the controversy nature vs. nurture. Humans are constantly questioning the factors that determine people’s personalities, health, intelligence, skills and abilities. So the compelling question is how do people become geniuses like Einstein, extraordinary painters like Picasso, or Olympic Gold medalists? Having genes that support these great attributes such as intelligence and physical ability can help, but are not completely…

Into the Jungle: Great Adventures in the Search for Evolution is a novel by Sean B. Carroll built around nine different stories of scientific discoveries and how they all contributed to our current knowledge of the evolution of species. As one can infer from the title, the main biological concept dealt with is evolution. To explain and provide support for the theory, Carroll discussed two more concepts: natural selection and genetic mutations. Every one of the nine stories included in the book…

It is the genetic instructions for how as aspect of a person develops. A genotype for a specific trait is inherited from the parents. The environment can influence the phenotype through Epigenetics. The environment can physically alter a DNA sequence or it can influence gene expression. A trait that was once supposed to be present is suppressed by an environmental factor. The phenotype is often not influenced in one way or another; there is…

In the shadow of the fallen towers, there was more than just rubble and the terror. There were countless chemicals in the air, some good, some bad, and some deadly. Asbestos was among the deadly chemicals. Throughout history and throughout the world, it has been used to meet the need of materials to act as insulators, and much more. It is resistant to heat and corrosive materials, as well as being a very good nonconductor of electricity. Its hollow fibers are what make it a good insulator…

Cancer is a condition where abnormal cells grow and divide or normal cells divide at an accelerated pace more times than they should. Cancer.gov describes cancer as follows “Cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues.” The human body is a marvelous machine. It is designed from top to bottom to operate at optimum efficiency and this requires the periodic and…

There is ongoing debate between developmental psychologists concerning the social, personal, cognitive, and behavior development of children. The debate revolves around the idea that either temperament or attachment is responsible for the process involving shaping infant personality. A more extreme approach of temperament theory proposes the notion that a neurobiological element ---say the amygdala---lies at the very heart of personality. In other words, a biological trait inherent in the…

This essay will consider the uniqueness in strengths and weaknesses of different individuals, Biological, Psychological, and Social circumstances, impacting upon their mental health. It is known that many contributory factors relate to the onset of mental illness, ranging from biological, psychological, and social causes. The claim that every individual is unique is reflected through formulations of treatment and care approaches for the individual’s unique issue. All of life’s problems, whether…

BRMS1 PROMOTER AND METASTATIC BREAST CANCER BRMS1, a functional gene, is composed of 10 exons and ranged from 7.8kb of genomic DNA. It is a member of mSIN3-HDAC transcription co-repressor complex and resides normally in the nucleus. Product of alternative splicing, two mRNA transcripts, which are in turn translated into two distinct proteins, 246 amino acids and 290 amino acids. When the structure of BRMS1 promoter is studied, two hyper methylated cytosine-phosphoguanine (CpG)…

The Western Honey Bee and its twenty sub species have been extensively spread across the planet due to economic benefits relating with pollination and honey production. Honey bees live in colonies and split the division of labor among individuals. There are three castes of Western Honey Bees: Workers, Drones, and Queens (Krell 1996). Worker bees are non-reproductive females that make up the largest group in the colony. They specialize in the collection of pollen/nectar and feeding the young.…