Testing your Pee - There's An App For That!!

There is an app that can test your urine for health problems.  The UChek app was developed by Mumbai’s Myshkin Ingawale and uses your smartphone’s camera to test colour changes in your urine at set points in the day.  No need to fret if you don’t have an iPhone – an Android version is in the works!  Check out the details - UChek Urinalysis

A 'New' Knee Ligament Found!

 A great example of how we are continually learning about the anatomy and physiology of the human body! Knee surgeons in Belgium suggest that they have identified a new ligament in the knee (anterolateral ligament).  Surgeons have long suspected that, in addition to the 4 main ligaments in the knee others must exist in order to provide the stability that we see in our knee joints.  Think about all of the textbooks that may have to be changed!   A New Knee Ligament Found!

Thanks to Taylor (GHS student) for suggesting this post!  :)

A New Way to Grow Bone Tissue

Watch this talk by scientist Molly Stevens as she explains a new way to grow bone tissue within people by stimulating stem cells found in the periosteum.  The process can also be used to grow cartilage.

Worth watching!

Manipulating Memory???

 Two scientists from MIT suggest that they have discovered a means by which memories can be pinpointed and manipulated in living mice by shooting a laser beam into their brains. As you watch this interesting and entertaining talk (these two scientists are actually engaging) note the number of concepts mentioned that you have discussed in your Psychology and Human Biology courses (ie. memory formation, brain anatomy, receptors, stimuli).

Can you imagine if we were able to do this sort of thing in the human brain???

This is Your Digestive System..... This is Your Digestive System on Junk Food....

Ever wonder what happens to a gummi bear after you eat it???
Take a look at the impact of processed food vs. whole food on the human body with researcher Stefani Bardini from Boston.
Stefani videos the digestion of gummi bears and other processed foods using a swallowed M2A capsule [Mouth to Anus capsule] which wirelessly transmits images from the digestive tract.
You may never eat another gummi bear after watching this!  Click on this link to Watch a Gummi Bear on Its Journey Through Your Digestive Tract!

Fevers. A Helpful Defense Against the Flu???

 Fever Reducing Medications - Are They Enhancing the Spread of the Flu???

Check out this link (Flu and Fevers) to a spot off Thursday’s CBC “The National” where a mathematician from McMaster University, Dr. David Earn (Vikki's undergraduate research supervisor - How cool is that???), was interviewed.  Dr. Earn specializes in mathematically modeling infectious diseases.  His speaks briefly about the effects that taking fever reducing medications, such as Tylenol and Advil, may have on the spread of influenza.

Japan and Blood Types: Does it Determine Personality??

 As you know your blood type is determined by glycoproteins present on the surface of your RBCs.  Does whether you are A, B, O or AB determine your character?   Many people in Japan believe that it does.  Japanese interview committees, dating sites and  even educators are using blood type information. With Valentine's Day fast approaching you may wish to think about who is your "type"!!
Follow this link to read more....
What your Blood Type Says About You!