How do you feel pain?

Scientists have found a link from your genes to how people percieve pain.  Read the article:  Gene linked to pain perception - Common genetic variant makes some people more sensitive by Laura Sanders.  

What causes us to feel pain?  What did scientists discover about people who are more sensitive to pain?  What might be a possible treatment?

Affect of Drugs on Nervous System

Today we played the nervous system game and learned how drugs affect the nervous system.  Read the following article.  Drugs and zzzzzz's - People who take the drug ecstasy are more likely to suffer from a sleeping disorder by Stephen Ornes.  How does ectasy affect our nervous system?  How can sleep apnea and the changes in nervous system caused by ectasy be related? 

Nervous System Limericks

Two students just won awards for some poetry they wrote about the nervous system.  Read the following article and write your own nervous system limerick.  Badin students win national science poetry competition

Use of Stem Cells

People have been fighting for years to use stem cells to help cure spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.  This week the First U.S. stem cells [were] transplanted into [a] spinal cord. 

What are stem cells?  What is ALS?  Who is this a picture of?  Why would inserting stem cells into a spinal cord help ALS patients?

Gene Therapy for ALD

We have been watching the movie Lorenzo's Oil in class the last few days.  Lorenzo has ALD. 

What is ALD?  What does it do to a person's nerve cells?  How does someone get ALD?

 Scientists now may have a way to treat boys with ALD using gene therapy.  Read the following article:  Gene Therapy Technique Slows Brain Disease ALD Featured In Movie 'Lorenzo's Oil'

What is gene therarpy?  How is the HIV virus used? 

How do nerve cells grow?

We are starting our next unit with the nervous system.  We have looked at the shape of a neuron and will learn more about neurons in our notes on Tuesday.  Scientists have just recently discovered how nerve cells grow.  Read the following article about this research.  How Nerve Cells Grow: Researcher Decodes Molecular Process That Controls Growth of Nerve Cells 

How do nerve cells grow?  What are the parts of a neruon?  When do most of the nerve cells in your brain develop?