Monozygotic

The controversial debate over the aetiology of sexual orientation often takes a dichotomous stance with one side supporting an innate, biological view, and the other as being acquired environmentally. Recently the focus has shifted towards an exploration into innate, biological origins such as genetics and endocrinology, as potential influences on homosexual development. Society tends to fall into the fallacy of thinking that behaviour is an either-or phenomenon, and that these factors are…

There is an unpleasant experience out in the world that plagues the unfortunate in the midst of the night. Not nightmares, something quite different in fact- sleep terrors. Also known as night terrors, these are recurrent episodes of abrupt terror arousals from sleep, usually beginning with a panicked scream and may include sleepwalking (American Psychiatric Association). Like sleepwalking, sleep terrors are considered a parasomnia—an undesired occurrence during sleep (American Psychiatric…

Personality is one of the first human characteristics that we notice as soon as we engage in conversation. Some people tend to be outspoken, while others feel more comfortable not socializing. The unique way someone acts makes it easy to distinguish the way one thinks and to differentiate one from the rest. Individuals must wonder how everyone is different, and, also, if anything influences this difference. Personality characteristics have been theorized to be controlled by either the influence…

A rapidly burgeoning population in China has caused political, social, and economic ramifications, which have both positively and negatively affected the country and the world. Chinese government officials are thus researching the underlying causes for this population growth, and are attempting to resolve overpopulation issues. In much the same way, American lawmakers are resorting to scientific studies to explain why the United States’ prisons are so crowded. Researchers have developed and…

Recent studies show that scientists are finding connections between DNA methylation and its impacts on cognitive aging, as well as neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. These same studies are giving reason to believe that environmental factors may be responsible for the epigenetic changes often involved in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Some of these factors include diets, nutrients, injuries, physical and cognitive exercise and exposure to chemical agents or heavy…

Sleepwalking Individuals all over the world suffer from multiple disorders and diseases. A specific disorder that occurs in many young children’s lives is Somnambulism or sleepwalking. Somnambulism, or sleepwalking, is a disorder that involves wandering and performing other activities while asleep (Krause & Corts, 2012). Nearly 17% of children will experience sleepwalking during a period of their childhood. The peak of sleepwalking is between the ages of 10 to 12 years of age. Although…

Microbiota are microscopic organisms such as viruses, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes that influence human health through a commensal interaction. Location of microbiota can be internal or external such as the gut, mouth, placenta, skin, and vagina. These microbes are classified into four major phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. Microorganisms in the Firmicute phylum are typically Gram positive bacteria, either rod-shaped or spherical and function as obligate…

Vera is an eight-year-old African American female who lives with her mother and has visitation with her father every other weekend. She was brought to the clinic by her mother in response to concerns reported by her teacher at school, as well as difficulties at home, concerning odd and disruptive behaviors, obsession concerning her mother’s safety, anxiety, and declining academic performance. Diagnosis Based on her presenting symptoms, Vera meets the full criteria for Obsessive Compulsive…

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…

In Inheritance: How Our Genes Change Our Lives and Our Lives Change Our Genes, author Sharon Moalem uses a concoction of historical happenings, real-life experiences, and patient case history to portray two main biological concepts: deviations from Mendelian genetics and epigenetics (Moalem, 2014). In regards to the AP Biology curriculum, these two concepts relate, respectively, to the third and fourth big ideas that make-up the course’s framework. The third big idea in the AP Biology…