Week 12--Biochemistry: Cell Biology and Radioactivity

Re: Quantum Tunneling

I found this article interesting, largely because I didn't understand how q.t. is affecting finding more complex compounds in outer space.  So, after a little research, I landed on this video, which helps explain the basic principles:

brief explanation of quantum tunneling

That electrons aren't always found in the outer valence shells, which I've been taught and read about for the span of my education, was a new idea.  Also, that they can travel through seemingly solid materials without leaving a "hole in the wall" and appear on the other side is another somewhat incomprehensible idea, but fascinating. Reminds me of Star Trek and the ability to re-materialize in different locations.

Re: Links

Found it helpful to think about bacteria and how they are grouped based on their:

1. response to oxygen: aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative anaerobic bacteria, which like oxygen but don't necessarily need it. (that was a new one to me.)

2. how they obtain energy: heterotrophs and autotrophs, which create their own energy, and reminded me of the exploration of types of jelly fish for creating a light source which could help brain research with paralysis.

The idea of plasmids caught my attention:
Plasmids may carry genes that provide resistance to naturally occurring antibiotics in a competitive environmental niche, or the proteins produced may act as toxins under similar circumstances. Plasmids can also provide bacteria with the ability to fix nitrogen or to degrade recalcitrant organic compounds that provide an advantage when nutrients are scarce. (wikipedia)

Helps me appreciate that Chinese herbal medicine is synergistic vs. targeted antibiotics, which aren't always effective, possibly in connection with bacterial plasmids in that Chinese herbal formulas have more than one mechanism of action.

Archeans

"Even older than the bacteria are the archeans (also called archaebacteria), tiny prokaryotic organisms that live only in extreme environments: boiling water, super-salty pools, sulfur-spewing volcanic vents, acidic water, and deep in the Antarctic ice."

I had never heard of this and appreciate that they are even older than bacteria of 3.5 Billion years. 
"Many scientists now believe that the archaea and bacteria developed separately from a common ancestor nearly four billion years ago." --one of the oldest living organisms on Earth, and quite distinct from bacteria even though they are superficially grouped together.  Learning more about the evolution of our planet and the stuff we're made of.

Week 9--A Question of Balance

Thoughts about: pH Balance: Acids & Alkalis and Anti-Oxidants

Proponents of this diet say that eating more alkaline foods helps prevent disease. By avoiding more acidic foods, the body maintains a better mineral balance as it doesn't have to process high levels of acid from more acidic foods such as meats, dairy, and refined foods.

Of course there's debate when it comes to scientific studies advocating the specific benefits of eating more alkaline foods as to whether it does prevent cancer or help support the body with less strain on the kidneys, bladder and liver for detoxification.

The blood pH maintains a slightly alkaline pH measurement of 7.35-7.45, so one could measure blood pH in relation to diet and see if that remains at homeostasis. Also, it's important to look at urine and salivary pH, which could be more significant indicators of how the body deals with acidosis.

I like the suggestion of trying a more alkaline diet for 2 months as well as with checking urine pH daily at the same time every morning after waking to see how the body detoxifies during a resting state through the night.

How to measure pH with pH test strips:
http://www.thebestofrawfood.com/ph-test-strips.html

Thoughts on discussions: MSG presentation

I found the presentation on MSG very informative and useful.  It is hidden in so many foods under the guise of other names such as "natural flavoring," "yeast extract," and even "enzymes."

Here's a link showing sources of hidden processed free glutamic acid or MSG:
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

I appreciated learning that:

free glutamate as an isolated compound varies from the bound form.
it is an excito-toxin like aspartame.
it stimulates the pancreas to release insulin--important for understanding more about the epidemic blood sugar mismanagement that plagues industrialized society.
it's calming like valium--my first conscious experience of being "high" was after eating Chinese food as a child.
it causes vasoconstriction, and has a possible connection with salt intake and heart disease.