Cytoskeleton Microtubules

Cytoskeleton Microtubules 

The cytoskeleton is composed of protein fibers that determine the shape of a cell without cell walls. It primarily provides for movement of cells, for the structural support, movement organelles within the cell and the framework for moving and separating chromosomes during cell division. The three types of protein fibers in the cell are thick microtubules,  thin microfilaments, and medium sized intermediate filaments. Microtubules structure are hollow tubes that assemble from subunits made out of the protein tubulin. Cell subunits are assembled into microtubules by microtubule organizing centers found in many locations inside the cell, in particular, eukaryotic cells have a microtubule organizing center near the nucleus which is known by the name of the centrosome.  The centrosome during cell division span the particular microtubes call the spindle apparatus which separates chromosomes and divides then between the two new daughter cells.

Natural Death

Reflection 

Natural Death 

I came across an interesting article titled: "What Our Cells Teach Us About a Natural Death." The author Haider Javed Warraich compares and contrast two different points the deterioration of cells and the end of life. At the begging of his article, he sets scenarios and explains how death has been view throughout history. He then makes a transition to the end cycle of cells. The author explains that cell dies via three primary mechanisms. One which is considered the ugliest form of cell death is necrosis; it occurs because of lack nutrients, cell's burst open by this releasing their content. The second mechanism of cell death is called autophagy, and this is when a cell turns on itself which the redundant cytoplasmic components transform into lysosomes. The third and most known cell death is apoptosis, is the natural deterioration or signaling molecules undergo a form of self-demolition. As a result, apoptosis is convenient for ourselves; it regulates the structures and growth of our organisms. At the end of the article, the author makes his point of viewed. What is beneficial for an organism is best for the cell, which whether a cell has to die in appropriate fashion for the sake of society, ecosystem, or body.

Source: 

Warraich, Haider Javed. "What Our Cells Teach Us About a ‘Natural’ Death." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Mar. 2017. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.

Kidney Stones

Encounter

Kidney Stones Formation

I decided to write about Kidney Stones because a family member has encounter this condition. I got a called this week from my father and in our conversation he mentioned his excruciating pain in his lower back. As Biology major I started to put his symptoms to figure out what was the cause from his pain. I didn't imitatively know what it was, but I did my researcher on the possibilities of his pain and everything pointed out to kidney stones. I told my dad to not take my word for it and I then encourage him to see a physician to get tested. Half way through the week my father calls me and tells me that I was right, it was kidney stones. The doctor than prescribe him medicine for the discomfort and expulsion of the stones. I wanted to be right, I didn't wanted to be something worst. I was than intrigue and curious on how this small components are form. Here is what I found out. 

I kidney stones are easily formed, some even can be the size of a head pin or a small rocks. The pain resulting from this crystal structure can be dangerous. Another name for kidney stones is renal calculi, are aggregates of crystals enclosed in a matrix that is developed inside the kidney. There are five major categories of crystals which are: calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, struvite, uric acid, and cysteine. The most common crystal is calcium oxalate. For a stone to form it has to go through several phase. The first phase is nucleation, ions like calcium and oxalate are filter into the urine by the kidney spontaneously and then join together to form a solid crystal. The crystal then travels along nephron and then deposited at the renal papilla where they obtain grow and this is the second phase. Crystals that are in the same place and have already form stick together with other crystals to create a clusters this is the third phase aggregation. The last phase is retention, The clusters than are formed to a stone that which are retain in the kidney where they continue growing for an unspecified time. Then the stones are moved and are displaced into the ureter tube. If the stones continues to grow until it reaches a critical size it can be too large to pass easily through  the ureteropelvic junction, the illiac artery, or the ureterovesicle junction. In result there is pain and obstruction, until the stone slowly passes into the bladder and then expelled through the urine stream.  

Source :Evan, Andrew P. "Physiopathology and Etiology of Stone Formation in the Kidney and the Urinary Tract." Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany). Springer-Verlag, 01 May 2010. Web. 03 Mar. 2017.