PBS Study Guide

biomedical science

the application of the principles of the natural sciences to medicine

control group

The standard, non affected group of what is being tested (used as a base for reference of change)

dependent variable

a variable that changes throughout the lab

forensic science

The application of science to criminal and civil laws, example, criminal investigation.

hypothesis

a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

independent control

The variable that the experimenter controls, the component we choose to change

negative control

particular samples included in the experiment that are treated the same as all the others but are not expected to change from any variable in the experiment.

Personal Protective Equipment

protective clothing, helmets, gloves, face shields, goggles, face masks and/or respirators or other equipment designed to protect the wearer from injury or the spread of infection or illness.

Positive Control

a control group that is not exposed to the experimental treatment but that is exposed to some other treatment that is known to produce the expected effect.

What clues may be found at a scene of a mysterious death that may be help to determine the cause of death?

Blood splatter, weapons, any information regarding the MOI, physical trauma on the body, witnesses etc...

If someone was interested in a career with the responsibility to determine the cause of death, what careers should they consider or investigate?

Forensic pathologists solve the medical mystery by performing an autopsy autopsy technicians also wor with the pathologists to examine the body for the cause of death.

adenine

purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA

chromosome

a threadlike strand of DNA in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order

cytosine

a base found in DNA and RNA and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with guanine

deoxyribonucleic acid

a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix

gel electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis is a method for separation and analysis of macro molecules and their fragments, based on their size and charge (separates DNA and RNA and proteins on size)

gene

a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons

guanine

a purine base found in DNA and RNA; pairs with cytosine

helix

the shape of a DNA molecule (double helix)

nucleotide

the basic structural unit of nucleic acids

restriction enzyme

an enzyme produced chiefly by certain bacteria, having the property of cleaving DNA molecules at or near a specific sequence of bases.

restriction fragment length polymorphisms

restriction fragment length polymorphism is a technique that exploits variations in homologous DNA sequences, known as polymorphisms, in order to distinguish individuals, populations, or species or to pinpoint the locations of genes within a sequence.

thymine

a base found in DNA and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

What are chromosomes made of?

proteins and DNA organized into genes

What is the relationship between chromosomes, DNA and genes?

chromosomes contain a persons gene structure, with DNA being wrapped in a helix in order to form the chromosome

What is DNA?

self-replicating, contains genetic instructions for phenotype and genotype traits

Does every cell in an organism have the same DNA?

Every cell in the body has the same DNA created from the same DNA, but will vary depending on mutations and other differences in the DNA causing genetic variation.

How do scientists isolate DNA to study it?

The use of DNA extraction kits allows scientists to isolate DNA, which can also be done on a much smaller scale at home with fruits. Through the use of detergents, water, salt, and more DNA can be isolated.

How much DNA is in a single human cell?

6 pg of DNA

autopsy

conducted on a dead body to discover the cause of death

bibliography

a list of writings with time and place of publication

documentation

confirmation that some fact or statement is true through the use of documentary evidence, documenting evidence of a crime scene

HIPPA

Health insurance portability and accountability act

medical examiner

The medical examiner is an appointed official in some American jurisdictions who is trained in pathology that investigates deaths that occur under unusual or suspicious circumstances, to perform post-mortem examinations, and in some jurisdictions to initiate inquests

Is there ever a time when patient confidentiality should be broken?

assisting examiners in finding a dead person or cause of death, in an event of emergency disaster, required info for public health laws, etc... (any emergency situation or legalities)

anemia

condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues.

Erythrocytes

A red blood cell that (in humans) is typically a biconcave disc without a nucleus. Erythrocytes contain the pigment hemoglobin, which imparts the red color to blood, and transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the tissues.

Hematocrit

the ratio of the volume occupied by packed red blood cells to the volume of the whole blood as measured by a hematocrit

leukocyte

blood cells that engulf and digest bacteria and fungi; an important part of the body's defense system

Sickle cell disease

sickle cells die early, less red blood cells, can clog blood vessels, due to its sickled shape, shortens life expectancy.

Thrombocyte

help form blood clots to slow or stop bleeding and to help wounds heal. (aka platelets)

How do cells get the oxygen they need for energy production?

The heart pumps blood through the lungs. In the lungs the blood receives oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. Then the heart pumps this oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to your cells. When the oxygen-rich blood gets to the cells, the cells receive the oxygen and release the carbon dioxide.

What do normal red blood cells look like when placed under a microscope?

pink or purple toned, circular, darker rim with a lighter center, a "divet" in the center of the cell

How does someone get sickle cell disease?

The Sickle Cell Gene has to be present in both parents, so the child would inherit one copy from each parent. The Sickle Cell Disease is passed genetically, not through direct/indirect contact

Can sickle cell disease spread from one person to another the same way as a cold or the flu?

Sickle cell can not pread from one person to another like the cold/flu

How are diseases inherited from parents? Why does sickle cell disease run in families, yet is not present in every generation?

The gene needs to be present in both mom and dad, causing it to run in families but not be present in every generation. Both parents need a copy to pass onto the child, so if someone only has one copy they are a carrier

What are examples of human diseases that are inherited?

Cystic Fibrosis, DMD, Huntington's disease

What many chromosomes do human normally have?

46, 23 pairs

allele

either of a pair of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character

dominant trait

only one parent needs the trait in order for it to get passed down to offspring.

gene

a segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can include regions preceding and following the coding DNA as well as introns between the exons

genotype

a group of organisms sharing a specific genetic constitution

heredity

the biological process whereby genetic factors are transmitted from one generation to the next

pedigree

line of descent typically with a purebred animal

phenotype

what an organism looks like as a consequence of the interaction of its genotype and the environment

recessive trait

both parents need the trait in order to pass onto offspring, carrier is an option

How are pedigrees used to track diseases?

through the use of shading and shapes, it is easily trackable to see where disease came from, and the odds of offspring receiving it

How can doctors and genetic counselors calculate the probability of a child inheriting a disease?

punnet squares and DNA tests

aorta

the large trunk artery that carries blood from the left ventricle of the heart to branch arteries

aortic valve

a semilunar valve between the left ventricle and the aorta; prevents blood from flowing from the aorta back into the heart

artery

a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body (away)

atrium

any chamber that is connected to other chambers or passageways

cardiovascular system

blood circulatory system, is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate.

cell

a small unit serving as part of or as the nucleus

inferior vena cava

receives blood from lower limbs and abdominal organs and empties into the posterior part of the right atrium of the heart

superior vena cava

receives blood from the head and arms and chest and empties into the right atrium of the heart

mitral valve

valve with two cusps; situated between the left atrium and the left ventricle

pulmonary circulation

circulation of blood between the heart and the lungs

systemic circulation

circulation that supplies blood to all the body except to the lungs

tissue

a group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit. A nonliving material, called the intercellular matrix, fills the spaces between the cells.

tricuspid valve

valve with three cusps; situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle

valve

a structure in a hollow organ with a flap to insure one-way flow of fluid through it

vein

moves blood into the heart