Blog

Your patient has hyperparathyroidism and has just experience…

Your patient has hyperparathyroidism and has just experienced a spontaneous fracture? If we tested the patient’s blood, what hormone do we expect to be high? How does an excess of this hormone lead to spontaneous fracture? What other level might be too high in the patient’s blood as a result of the work of this hormone? (3 pts)

In certain portions of the Jewish population, there is a gen…

In certain portions of the Jewish population, there is a genetic disease called Tay Sachs disease, which is fatal to infants within the first five years of life. This disease is caused by a recessive allele of a single gene. Why does this disease persist, even though it is invariably fatal long before the afflicted individual reaches reproductive age? (In other words, why doesn’t the allele for Tay Sachs disease simply disappear?) (2 pts)

Imagine that your body is a busy city. Like all cities, this…

Imagine that your body is a busy city. Like all cities, this city has buildings that are in need of repair and maintenance. (2 pts each; 4 pts total) Sometimes buildings that have reached the end of their life are dismantled in a methodical, controlled manner. The surrounding area is left undisturbed, and where the building once was, is now ready for something new to be built. Is this more similar to apoptosis or necrosis? Explain why IN YOUR OWN WORDS Sometimes a fire starts in one building and may quickly spread to the surrounding buildings, before it is brought under control. The fire is not selective, it harms and/or destroys everything in its path. Is this more similar to apoptosis or necrosis? Explain why in your own words.