SC121 Unit 4 Assignment

PART 1

Do not forget to add your references and citations. The references will go on the last page.

1. Why are cells important to the body? What do they do for us that makes them indispensable? (75-word minimum)

Cell is the structural unit of life. This means that many cells combine to form tissues which combine to form organs, many organs combine to form an organ system and many organ systems combine to form the human body. Cell thus gives us the basic structure of our body.

2. Which cell organelle do you think would kill you the fastest if you lost it? Include an explanation of the normal functioning of the organelle in the body when it is present and connect that to what would happen if we lost it. Defend your logic and thoroughly explain. (75-word minimum)

The organelle that I think would kill you the fastest if lost is Mitochondrion. Mitochondria are essential for the cell’s biochemical processes that require energy. They are responsible for producing power in the form of adenosine triphosphate. Without ATP, the cell would rapidly die since it would be incompetent in performing all the biochemical processes that sustain life. Mitochondria enable cells to generate fifteen times more ATP than they could without it. Organelles act like a digestive system which takes in nutrients, breaks them down, and creates energy rich molecules for the cell.

3. In our lives, many things have a certain form and shape that help with their function (ex. the nozzle of a spray bottle). Choose anything (does not have to be related to the body) and discuss that relationship. Then think about your cells – they too have certain forms that help with function. Discuss this relationship. Then further discuss the examples provided below. (100-word minimum)

For example, Mitochondria are the equivalent of the engine in your car, except they are the engine or power house for the human cell. In your car you put in fuel, which the engine ignites to release energy to pump the pistons, which drive the car and recharge the electrical capacity of your car via the battery.

If the car engine deteriorates; because its old, because there is an underlying defect, because it has been exposed to the wrong fuel, because it’s been exposed to the wrong environment, it will eventually break.

Similarly, inside almost every cell in your body there its own little engine, the mitochondria; nutrients and compounds arrive at the cell and are transported to the mitochondria which then converts these into the energy to make the cell work. If your mitochondria stop functioning properly, they signal cell necrosis or inappropriate death and the cell stops doing its job.

A: Sperm cell:

A sperm has three main parts: The head of the sperm contains the nucleus. The nucleus holds the DNA of the cell. The head also contains enzymes that help the sperm break through the cell membrane of an egg.

B: Red blood cell:

Red blood cells also known as erythrocytes, have two main functions: To pick up oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to tissues elsewhere. To pick up carbon dioxide from other tissues and unload it in the lungs.

C: Nerve cell:

Neurons are nerve cells, or cells found in the nervous system. These are specialized cells designed to stimulate other cells in the body in order to communicate. Neurons are excitable, which means they function by using electrical stimulation.

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4. Choose from one of the following diseases/disorders that affects organelles or cellular components. (200-word minimum)

Then, answer the following:

• Mitochondrial disease
• Zellweger disorder
• Lysosomal storage disorders

Name of the disease/disorder that was chosen

Which part of the cell is affected?

How does this part of the cell normally function? What does it do for the body?

How does this disease/disorder develop? In other words, how do you get it?

What are the symptoms?

What options are available to treat this disease/disorder?

MITOCHONDRIAL:

Mitochondrial disease, or mitochondrial disorder, refers to a group of disorders that affect the mitochondria, which are tiny compartments that are present in almost every cell of the body. Their job is to process oxygen and convert substances from the foods we eat into energy the mitochondria’s main function is to produce energy. Mitochondria produce 90 percent of the energy our body needs to function.

Mitochondrial diseases can affect almost any part of the body, including the cells of the brain, nerves, muscles, kidneys, heart, liver, eyes, ears or pancreas. For instance, Ophthalmologic manifestations of mitochondrial disorders are frequently neglected or overlooked because they are often not regarded as part of the phenotype. The eye is frequently affected by syndromic as well as no syndromic mitochondrial disorders. Primary and secondary ophthalmologic manifestations can be differentiated. The most frequent ophthalmologic manifestations of mitochondrial disorders include ptosis, progressive external ophthalmoplegia, optic atrophy, retinopathy, and cataract. More rarely occurring are nystagmus and abnormalities of the cornea, ciliary body, intraocular pressure, the choro idea, or the brain secondarily affecting the eyes. It is important to recognize and diagnose ophthalmologic manifestations of mitochondrial disorders as early as possible because most are accessible to symptomatic treatment with partial or complete short-term or long-term beneficial effect. Ophthalmologic manifestations of mitochondrial disorders need to be appropriately diagnosed to initiate the most effective management and guarantee optimal outcome.

First, mitochondrial diseases aren’t contagious, and they aren’t caused by anything a person does. They’re caused by mutations, or changes, in genes in the cells. Genes are responsible for building our bodies, and are passed from parents to children, along with any mutations or defects they have. That means that mitochondrial diseases are inheritable, although they often affect members of the same family in different ways.

The eye is frequently affected by syndromic as well as no syndromic mitochondrial disorders. Primary and secondary ophthalmologic manifestations can be differentiated. The most frequent ophthalmologic manifestations of mitochondrial disorders include ptosis, progressive external ophthalmoplegia, optic atrophy, retinopathy, and cataract. More rarely occurring are nystagmus and abnormalities of the cornea, ciliary body, intraocular pressure, the choro idea, or the brain secondarily affecting the eyes. It is important to recognize and diagnose ophthalmologic manifestations of mitochondrial disorders as early as possible because most are accessible to symptomatic treatment with partial or complete short-term or long-term beneficial effect. Ophthalmologic manifestations of mitochondrial disorders need to be appropriately diagnosed to initiate the most effective management and guarantee optimal outcome.

Some of the ophthalmology symptoms and conditions. Abnormal eye movements, some may get double vision. You may have eyelid abnormalities or Myasthenia gravis Optic nerve problems (such as optic neuritis and ischemic optic neuropathy) Thyroid eye disease or Transient visual loss, Unequal pupil size, Unexplained visual loss, Visual disturbances and Visual field loss.

When you have a serious eye problem – an eye socket tumor or eyelid abnormality – you need cutting-edge care from skilled, experienced practitioners. Our team of oculoplastic surgeons specializes in the latest surgical techniques to treat problems of the orbit, or eye socket. These include issues related to the tear ducts, eyelids, eye structures and face. Orbital surgeons can also reconstruct the eye and surrounding tissues.

Using minimally invasive techniques, we’re able to perform orbital surgery through the skull base, sinuses, cranium and nasal passages. These approaches allow our surgeons to access tumors and other abnormalities with smaller incisions, less scarring and faster recovery times.

PART 2

Refer to the images found on the Unit 4 assignment sheet located in course resources. Please type in the CAPITAL letter of the answer only – NOT the full answer (for example: 4. C). No references are required for this section.

5. D).

6. B).

7. B).

8.C).

9. B).

10. E).

11. B).

12.B).

13. C).

14. D).

References