TECHNOLOGY- A HELPING HAND TO OUR HEALTH

EVALUATE THE IMPORTANCE OF VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUDING CANADIAN CONTRIBUTIONS, TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTERNAL BODY SYSTEMS (DIGESTIVE, CIRCULATORY OR RESPIRATORY)

 The average number of people who reside in the world can be counted up to seven billion. Statistics show that 250 babies are born  every minute, when one hundred and 50 thousand die daily. With this information we can conclude that world that the world population is increasing by 150 humans per minute. All human beings have thoughts, worries and dreams about the most marvelous and complex miracle- the Human Body. A comportment and lasting feature of the this body is self curiosity. We continually look for answers in enormous and ever-increasing detail, to understand the action wthin. Medical technologies help us visualise and grasp this remarkable and extraordinady machine.

Imaging is vital to diagnose illness, unravel disease process, and evaluate treatment. Modern techniques have largely replaced surgery in estblishing the presence and extent of the disease. Microscopy has also helped advance biological reachearch. For example, computerized tomography (CT or CAT scan) of the lungs show the capirallies, aveolies, brochie and the bronchioles in detail. The spongy tissues and airways of a health lungs are shows in orange and yellow colors and are very distinct from their denser surroundings. Moreover, the heart and the major blood vessels between the lungs are blue and the vertebrae, ribs and sternum are in dark blue. Other equipments such as the bronchoscope produce an image of the trachea and shows the cartilage rings that keep it from collapsing.

The first physiciancs to record  their patients healing process to enhance patient care were Hoppocrate (460-377BC) and Glen (131-201AD).  Medical practises were based on patients description of the symtopms to identify diseases, until the 19th centuary. During the end of the 18th centuary physicians started studying on the dead bodies and using manual techniques to diagonise illness. One of the first medical technologies invented was a device for measuring the capacity of the lungs by Hutchison. Later came the Sphygnomanometer which measures blood pressure, was invented by Herrisson. By the half of the 20th centuary, medicine was revolutonnized with the extensive care of medical technologies like the thermometer, stethoscope, microscope, ophthalmoscope, laryngoscope and the x-rays. The development of these technologies enabled the doctors to see and hear parts within the body such as the lungs and the heart.These inventions helped us understand more about ourselves and what your body does within you to maintain you health and living. Technology also makes it easier to know when your body is weak and needs assistence.

Canada is a great contributor to the medical world. Some of the world's most proficient inventions and discoveries were made by Canadians. Medical doctors came to Canada along with other French settlers. David parker, who worked in Halifax during the 18th centuary, was the first to operate with anestheia. Making way to Christopher Widmer, who was known as the "Father of surgery" in lower Canada. During the same time W.R Beaumont became a profilic inventor of surgical instruments. Both Christopher Widmer and W.R Beaumont lives during the 19th century. The 20th centuary gifted Canada with some of world best scientists. Two of Canada's major contribution to the medical world was arose during this centuary. The two contributions are:

1. 
   
   
    The improvement of anesthesia by W.E brown in 1923 and Dr. Harold Griffith in 1942. W.E brown established the value of ethylene as an anesthetic. Dr. Harold Griffith advanced the science of anesthesia by using the curare plant.
2. 
   
   
   The next is the discovery of the fact that recovery rates of patients wound could be drastically improved if the wounds were disinfected.

One of the world's major discoveries was the discovery of insulin. This was discovered and clinically applied by three Candaians, Frederick Banting and Chales Best and  J.J.R Macleod in 1922. This discovery not only helped us learn about a new hormone that effects the metabolim in the body, but also helped develop vacines and medicine for dibete patient, whose bodies fail to control insulin levels. 

These contribution to the medical world were the stepping stone to many of the advanced technologies that we are able to assess today to further understand our body. Today we are able to learn in detail about our organs such as the digestive, circulatory and repiratory  systems because of these technologies. Doctors today are able to visually see the problem and learn about the conditions of the patient with more details that enable for more successful operations and the inventon and discoveries of new medecines for cure of illness.

All the more, countries around the world are struggling to provide medical effeciency to all of its citizens because they are uable to meet medical costs. The solution to this challenge is held by technology. In a cbc article Dr. Anne Doig, president of the Canadian Medical Association, announced the tranformation to our health care system. In the interview she gave to the new reporters she says, "When you have an EMR in your office you make fewer mistakes. And that you can have better information at your finger tips more quickly... They also need to see how these systems connected to other resources such as labs, pharmacies, hospitals and specialists, so that both you and the patients can better manage the care". New IT machines invented try to connect all the data to make health assistence more efficient. Recently, Manitobia set up a multi-million dollar system that centralizes lab results, medication histories and immunization data. Spain has also shown some significant use of technologies that has improved their results by 10 percent. They set up a common data system across 470 primary care clinics. Moreover, during the intial stages of swine flu, that travelled through air recently, Mexico city developed an analytic system that survey the severity and the spreding of the flu. The same system was also set up in Hamilton, Canada to take precautious steps in order to avoid intensity of the flu.

The following link shows a video of an incredible technology developed a few years ago by NASA called Artemis. This technology that makes a 2 dimension CAT scan and make it 3 dimentional. It helps doctors to performs complicated operations safer than before and also shows the importance of technology in medical world. The video touches on the history of medical technology and shows visuals of old instruments used before the 20th century. I hope this video will be enjoyable ro watch.

SOURCES

Nguyen, Giang. "Evolution of medical technology." Evolution fo medical technology (2009). Web. 24 Feb. 2010. http://http//www.brighthub.com/health/technology/articles/7302.aspx.

ROLAND, CHARLES. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005203.

Steve., Parker,. The Human Body Book. New York: DK ADULT, 2007. Print.

Can Technology Solve The Health Care Crisis? - Smart Shift." CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. http://www.cbc.ca/smartshift/2010/02/can-technology-solve-the-health-care-crisis.html.

"YouTube - Advances in Medical Technology." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXIgvtq-_zc.  
 
Lombardi, Rosie. "Pandemic survelence systems connects five hospitas in haamilton." News and trends. Www.canhealth.com, Nov. & dec. 2009. Web. 25 Feb. 2010 . http://www.cissec.com/images/pdfs/CanadianHealthcareTech.pdf.

"Insulin -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin.

"Obama: Health Care Costs Too Much, but Technology Can Help - Health Blog - WSJ." WSJ Blogs - WSJ. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/01/20/obama-health-care-costs-too-much-but-technology-can-help/tab/article/.

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION

Artificial selection is the processs of changing of animals or plants by artificial means. many of the animal breeders are able to change the charactersticcs of dimestic animals by selecting individuals with the most desirble quantities such as speed or racehorses, milk production in cows and trail scentinn and hunting skills in dogs. Moreover, over the years people have grown plants with desirale characterstics. Reseacher state that plants with out these characterstics are less likely to survive because people don't treat these plants as they the artificially selected plants that serve them their purpose. The naturally selected plants are not provided with much fertilizers and pesticides. Eventually, the species of he plant will evolve and the characterstics of the lant that was not recuired by man will sta to disappear.

 

 

 

The term articifial selection was created by Charles Darwin in distinction to natural selection-which is the differential reproduction of orgaanisms with certain traits is attributtd to improved survival or reproductive ability. On the other hand, articficial selection occurs when humans favor specific traits, in natural selection the environment acts as a sieve through which only certain can pass. in other words, thorugh artificial selection, humans select the trait of the animal or plant. Charles Darwin used the concept of srtificial selection to exemplify the wider process of natural selection. There is no real difference in genetic processes of the fundamental artificial and natural selection. The selection is termed as "artificial" when human infuences and liking have an important effect on the evolution of a particular population or species.

  

 

Charles Darwin stated that ancient civilization artificially selected plants for farming and domestic animals unknowing. That humans have been artificially selecting plants and animals knowing or unknowing from generations before. Farmers artificially select plants that will provide more yeild and reproduce faster. There is a lot of variety between individuals in the population.  environmental pressures such as weather,competition within the population for survival and predaion are some of the causes of selection best suitor in natural selection. on the other hand, artificial selection occurs when humans select varaits they prfer, ad will compensate for environmental pressures by sowing seeds, nuturing and protecting the corps. Both types of selection can yeild new species, but artificial selection, when practised strictly, can do so very quickly. Therefore, people should artificially select plants to provide the world with enough healthy food.

Some examples of artificiall breeding in animals are

• cows are artificially selected to make them stronger, grow faster, reproduce healthy and strong cattle and to produce more milk. These super cows grow stroner muscles and live longer than usual cows.
• Dogs are artificially selected for their cute looks, stronger smell tracking ability, hunting ability and domestic behaviour.           

                    

Artificial breeding is a good method to increase the production of products such as grains, milk. It also enables the specie to reproduce healthy babies and devolep thier skills such as for dogs hunting and  for faster race horses. Artificial selection like natural selection is another cause of biodiversity in this world. Artificial selection can be called as an ancient art of humans, use it well, for the good of Mother Earth.

SOURCES

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118084/Gene/Genetic_variation/artificialselection.htm

http://www.nescent.org/eog/eognews.php?id=19

http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ridley/a-z/Artificial_selection.asp

HAS TECHNOLOGY GONE TOO FAR?

The Fertility institues recently introdused to people the opportunity to screen their embryos not only for diseases and gender, but also for physical characteristics such as eye color, hair color, and complexion. The Fertility Institutes proudly claims this is "just the tip of the iceberg", and that they are planning to offer developed ways that will enable the parents to decide what kind of child they want.Even though there are numerous couples flocking in to costomize their babies, there are contraversies and opposition that is argued on the  grounds of morality and ethinicity.Designer babies is the term used by journalits to describe the fear that we may be able to use genetic technologies to modifiy not only genetic deseases, but also to choose the the cosmetic and genetical charecterstics. Designer babies is the terms only used by jounalist. Scientist call it Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD).

 2004 directed the term "designer babies" from sceince fiction movie and weblogs into the Oxford English dictionary where it is defined as "a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic enginering in combination with vitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics.” This coinage was promoted by recent advances in genetics that may make such babies possible. the question that challenges the world today is moral or ethical limits, if any, should apply to the selection of our children’s genes and charecterstics.

HOW IS A DESIGNER BABY CREATED?

The creation of a designer baby starts when the enbryo is made by combining a sperm cell and an egg cell in vitro fertilization, which is the process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the womb, in vitro. A single cell is removed from the embryo within the first five days of its creation to be tested genetically. Through these testings the parents will come to know the genetical disorders and any other problems their future child might face. During this stage the sceintist can also decide to make any changes that the  parents want to make before the embryo is implanted into the mother's womb.

PROS OF DESIGNER BABIES

Genetic screening can reduce the baby's chances of being born with several serious diseases like Down Syndrom, Famial hypercholesterolemia, rare blood disorders such as Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, etc. This process also prevents women from having to decide whether to abort an abnormal fetus, and eliminates the sadness and economic difficulties that many families are forced to cope with. In the future, the new technologies may offer parents the possibility to “enhance” their children. As more and more genes are discovered to be associated with specific functions, parents could potentially examine the genetic makeup of their fetuses,and modify them by making changes in their embryonic stem cells. This could enhance a child’s mental and physical abilities, from being taller to having the potential to master music and chess. Most parents simply want their children to be the best. With new genetics, their dreams may finally be fulfilled. The new technology may take out the out the boundaries of different classes whether it is social, econonmic or personal.

CONS OF DESIGNER BABIES

This new method of modifiing the genetic charecterticts of a baby is used to screen embryos for any genetic disease and only the disease free embryos are implanted into the mother's womb. However, the technique is not limited to screening for genetic and hereditary disorders, but is also used for cosmetic reasons. Parents can choose the gender, eye, skin and hair color of the baby. Various other physical traits such as intelligence, beauty, height, stopping a chancesof accuiring  obesity, freedom from mental illnesses, athletic ability, etc. can be also determined. The adoption of genetic engineering for cosmetic reasons; for genetic enhancements has spearheaded a lot of controversies. People have started asking, "Is it ethical to create designer babies with enhanced physical ability and appearance?" Stephen Green, the National Director of Christian Voice said, "The objection to the idea of designer babies is that it divorces procreation from the act of sexual congress, and there's a real sense in which it is playing God." Critics point out that the level of biodiversity in the human race will plummet, which can result in long term disaster.Adolf Hitler was on a quest to create a race of Aryan Blond, blue eyed and tall people. Creating designer babies is believed to be on the same affect on the world. The arrival of designer babies will effect biodiversity. Moreover, traits decided by parents, eliminates the say of the child in his or her life. Parents passionate about sports would have the athletic ability engineered into the child, however, the child may not want the same. This reduces the child's freedom to choose and be an individual.

CONCLUSION

The development of genetic engineering is a big step towards the imporvment of the technological world. Using his kind of technology to help children who will not survive due to genetical disorders will put smiles on millions of parent around the world. Many lives can be saved because of this technology.On the other hand, if this technology is misused for cosmetic means, it could challenge the biodiversity. It could also chanllenge the faith of many people in God. I think, the option for have a designer baby should only be open or provided to parents who know that the life of their child will encounter problems that will make life hard for their them. For example, parents who know that their child will have a genetic disorder such as Huntington's chorea, Cystic Fibrosis or Muscular Dystrophy. I hope that the development of this technology will wisely improve life by eliminating deaths of many young children.

SOURCES

http://singularityhub.com/2009/02/25/designer-babies-like-it-or-not-here-they-come/
http://www.bionetonline.org/English/content/db_cont1.htm
http://www.jesussavior.com/End%20of%20the%20World/Genetics20%nightmare/designer_babies.htm
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html

SOURCE

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/277/5325/494

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4228411.stm

http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/qthinice.asp

http://www.nas.nasa.gov/About/Education/Ozone/ozonelayer.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

GLOBAL WARMING AND BIODIVERSITY

Many scientist consider humans as the most invasive species, as human can greatly change an environment and impact living things that reside there. Are we being stewards of the world? Take a look at an issue in which human inervention has positive or negative effect the biodiversity of our ecosystem.


The life on Earth today have been endagered and altered by the actions of humans. Human alteration to the Earth is substantial and growing. About one-third of the land's surface area has been transformed by human activity. The concentration of greenhouse gasses have increased 30% since the beginning of industrial revolution orginating problems such as global warming. Global warming blazes dasators such as the melting of the ice caps in the North and Southern poles, changing the Earth's temperature, destruction of the ozone layer, extinction of species, various deaseases and plagues.All these problems affect the biodiversity of the planet as all species are conneted to each other through food webs.


More than half of all accessible surface fresh water is put to use by humanity. Humans pollute the world by adding the factory wates, fertilizers and organic wates in to river, lake or any other water body. This affects the aquatic life and then through the food web the whole life in the biospere. Many aquatic, land and air species have gone into extinction because we pollute the land, water and air by toxics and other form of pollutants.

Moreover, the melting of the ice caps in the Northern and the Southern poles should not be taken as a light concern by the global population. Over the past five years, studies have found that melting Antarctic ice caps contribute at least 15% to the current global sea level rise of 2mm in a year. It is thought that over 13,000 sq km of sea ice in the Antarctic Peninsula has been lost over the last 50 years. Melting in the Antarctic Peninsula removes sea ice that once held back the movement of glaciers. As a result, glaciers flow into the ocean up to six times faster than before. If this pattern continues, the Earth could be swallowed by the oceans in about 50 years. All the more, it means that the species in living in the North, such as penguins and Polar bear are endangered because they cannot adapt to the changing environment conditions and the also becuase they are loosing their land on which they live, walk and prey to sustain thier life.

Change in temperature is another issuse that should disturb our peace and influence us to take action. Global warming is increasing the Earth's temperature constantly. The Earth's temperature increased from 0.74 degree celsius to 0.18 degree celsius in the last century. This cause enormouse problems such as the extiction of certain spieces who cannot adapt with the rising temperatures. The extictions causes problems such as the increase in population in certain species while the decrease of population of the other; causing disruption in the food web. For example, if a number of Giraffe's die, their predators, the lions, will suffer scarcity for food and die eventually. However, the plants that the Grirafee's eat will rapidly increase in number. This causes distrubace to the balance of the earth and challenge the biodiversity of the Earth.

The Ozone layer is an area in the Stratosphere that abrobs 97-99% of the suns ultraviolet radiation which is potentially damaging to life on earth. Every 1% decrease in the earths ozone shield is projected to increases the amount of UV light exposure to the lower atmosphere by 2%. This information should bring up concerens in every human mind as the Ozone layer is depleating due to the actions of mankind. This deplation affects the health of all in the biosphere the increase of skin cancer in the world today is because our bodies are more exposed to Ultra violet radiation. The health of animals are also challenged. Frogs are amphibians that even lived through the ice age, yet they are endangered today because they are affect by the toxic in water and air as well as UV radiations. This is a very negatively affect on the biodiversity of the Earth, as more and more animals are entered into the endangered list.

We are supposed to be the stewrads of the Earth, yet we have acted to destroy our planet. If we don't act against our own action and correct the mistakes that we have made, we will cause suffering for our future generations and deplete the biodiversity of our beautful planet. The destruction of biodiversity means the detruction of our planet. Our Earth will no longer be a friend. We can rectify our mistake by starting to do simple things like taking the bus to school instead of our cars, walking to close by places, recycleing, reusing and reducing garbage. We can still help our Earth recuperate if we work together and live with consideration towards the environment and all the life in it.