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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Have humans stopped evolving?
« on: 29/04/2011 08:19:28 »
A lot of the changes we experience are because of the improvement in living styles, better food (always debatable), warmer houses and other such things. Less than 100years ago people were still struggling to find their next meal and many diseases killed off lots of people too. With the advent of vaccinations many of those diseases have been controlled or eradicated (e.g. Small Pox, Polio etc). When I was growing up back in the late 40's and 50's children were still dying of Diphtheria and Scarlet fever not to mention the number who afflicted with polio. Both are unheard of today.
Quite right, we didn't evolve from monkeys (they have tails we don't except for a very rudimentary stump), our ancestors were proto plains apes and with a large ammount of luck we survived to what we are today.
Human children are born with large heads which is why women have so much trouble giving birth. The other primates have much smaller heads at birth. The reason for the large heads is because of our well developed brains that take many years to learn all the things we need to survive.
Quite right, we didn't evolve from monkeys (they have tails we don't except for a very rudimentary stump), our ancestors were proto plains apes and with a large ammount of luck we survived to what we are today.
Human children are born with large heads which is why women have so much trouble giving birth. The other primates have much smaller heads at birth. The reason for the large heads is because of our well developed brains that take many years to learn all the things we need to survive.
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Did bacteria arrive on Earth from space?
« on: 29/04/2011 08:02:10 »
It's possible, even probable that some did but not all bacteria arrived that way. Some evolved with life here.
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Do all animals start out female?
« on: 29/04/2011 07:55:53 »
Know what you're saying!
I'm well aware of the male/female genes. It's just that the embryo doesn't move to one gender or another until the actual gonad cells start to release the relevant hormones. Those cells appear about the forth week of gestation. From then on the gender is usually fixed. When the cells produce an abundance of testosterone a male child results, and of course, if they produce an abundance of aestrogen a female child is the result.
According to the info contained in the genes at conception, one set of cells will dominate over the other (but not completely stop the production of the relevant hormones by those opposing cells). This is why we all have characteristics of both genders in us.
Addendum: I am referring to humans here and that rule doesn't apply across all life but is generally so in all mammals.
I'm well aware of the male/female genes. It's just that the embryo doesn't move to one gender or another until the actual gonad cells start to release the relevant hormones. Those cells appear about the forth week of gestation. From then on the gender is usually fixed. When the cells produce an abundance of testosterone a male child results, and of course, if they produce an abundance of aestrogen a female child is the result.
According to the info contained in the genes at conception, one set of cells will dominate over the other (but not completely stop the production of the relevant hormones by those opposing cells). This is why we all have characteristics of both genders in us.
Addendum: I am referring to humans here and that rule doesn't apply across all life but is generally so in all mammals.
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Complementary Medicine / Does nicotine suppress appetite?
« on: 21/04/2011 06:43:49 »
Nicotine molecules mimic the Dopamine in the brain and smokers get a feeling of relaxation and pleasure.
I smoked a pipe for years and napped it several years ago. Didn't put on weight 'cause I suddenly found energy that I never thought I had!
Tobacco is a Petunia and, as said before, a member of the spud family. It's quite a striking garden plant but produces thousands of seeds that go wild if ya don't keep it under control.
I smoked a pipe for years and napped it several years ago. Didn't put on weight 'cause I suddenly found energy that I never thought I had!
Tobacco is a Petunia and, as said before, a member of the spud family. It's quite a striking garden plant but produces thousands of seeds that go wild if ya don't keep it under control.
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Physiology & Medicine / What blood group will the child of two AB parents have?
« on: 21/04/2011 06:20:37 »A, B or AB.Or very rarely Type O.
Their ancestors have come from the Faroe Islands to have AB blood Group.
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Physiology & Medicine / Can multiple sclerosis be cured?
« on: 21/04/2011 06:17:34 »
Wot he says!
MS is caused by the Immune System attacking the sheath that covers the nerves leaving them exposed. The result is a nerve die-off. What is not clearly understood is why it attacks some nerves and not others. To date there is no cure.
MS is caused by the Immune System attacking the sheath that covers the nerves leaving them exposed. The result is a nerve die-off. What is not clearly understood is why it attacks some nerves and not others. To date there is no cure.
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Geek Speak / Why won't media player or VLC play video, only audio?
« on: 21/04/2011 06:10:02 »
I think I need a new computer, it's getting old...
Chris
So am I mate. Can I get a new me? I'm pondering.
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Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / What caused the Haitan earthquake?
« on: 20/04/2011 12:33:23 »
Yes. It was a considerable movement along the Haiti/ Dominican Republic Fault. It was mostly a slip (horizontal) movement fortunately. Haiti was destroyed because the old buildings were not earthquake resistant.
The quake in Christchurch, NZ (my home town) and the one in Japan recently also were caused by movement on various faults. The Japan quake raised the seafloor off the country by as much as 50m and had a length of some 400km. That's a lot of water tossed onto the land nearby. [
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The Christchurch quake was caused by a strike/slip movement along the Darfield fault. The land under Christchurch moved 8m westward and 3m upward.
The quake in Christchurch, NZ (my home town) and the one in Japan recently also were caused by movement on various faults. The Japan quake raised the seafloor off the country by as much as 50m and had a length of some 400km. That's a lot of water tossed onto the land nearby. [
![Shocked :o](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
The Christchurch quake was caused by a strike/slip movement along the Darfield fault. The land under Christchurch moved 8m westward and 3m upward.
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Does a dog lick help a wound heal?
« on: 20/04/2011 12:26:29 »
Dogs saliva is very strongly antibiotic. That way they can eat bad meat that would kill us.
Not sure that I would want a dog to lick a bad wound on me though. [
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Not sure that I would want a dog to lick a bad wound on me though. [
![Shocked :o](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / What masks are suitable for virus protection?
« on: 20/04/2011 12:22:58 »
The only mask capable of stopping a virus particle is a special glass fibre type used in medical investigations. It's charged with static electricity to trap the tiny viral particles.
When the outbreak of Marburg Virus, (a variant of Ebola) in Germany some years ago the scientists used those GF filters on their antiviral suits.
When the outbreak of Marburg Virus, (a variant of Ebola) in Germany some years ago the scientists used those GF filters on their antiviral suits.
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Do all animals start out female?
« on: 20/04/2011 12:16:14 »
At conception we are both sexes (or no sexes) and it's not until the genes kick in after the first month in the womb that governs which gender we end up.
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Is smallpox really eradicated?
« on: 20/04/2011 12:12:13 »Essentially all the data we have on the infectivity and mortality of smallpox is based on experience with populations which had already been exposed to it and/ or vaccinated.
Today, very few people have any immunity, very few have been vaccinated and I rather doubt that there are stocks of the vaccine (why bother to clutter up the fridges with a vaccine for a disease that doesn't exist?)
I rather suspect that an outbreak today would be a lot nastier than in the past, and it wasn't nice then.
Quite right! There are many people who were born since 1978 when the last case was treated. They would succumb quickly should it get loose again.
It's stored and used as an illegal bio weapon. It's spread by close physical contact.
In the western nations with excellent health control an outbreak would be quickly isolated and contained. In a third world nation the situation could and would be a very serious situation indeed.
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Why doesn't the immune system kill commensal flora?
« on: 20/04/2011 12:01:43 »
Human commensal bacteria are the bugs that live on our skin mostly. They have evolved into a symbiotic relationship with their hosts.
Most of them are benign in general but occasionally they can proliferate usually after the person has had a course of strong antibiotics for another health issue. When that happens sickness can result. Candida is a yeast infection that comes from the Candida that normally live happily on our skin but if the balance of acid/alkali is thrown out it can produce a nasty infection in one's mouth and or other warm moist areas like the feet (athletes foot).
Incidentally, Sherry, and Claret wines are fermented by Candida yeasts which are inocculated by barefoot grape pressing.
Most of them are benign in general but occasionally they can proliferate usually after the person has had a course of strong antibiotics for another health issue. When that happens sickness can result. Candida is a yeast infection that comes from the Candida that normally live happily on our skin but if the balance of acid/alkali is thrown out it can produce a nasty infection in one's mouth and or other warm moist areas like the feet (athletes foot).
Incidentally, Sherry, and Claret wines are fermented by Candida yeasts which are inocculated by barefoot grape pressing.
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Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Can you ever really conquer Lymes Disease?
« on: 20/04/2011 11:52:03 »
Lyme Disease is bacterial in origin. Treatment with antibiotics in the very early stage will get rid of it completely. The prob. is that often the disease doesn't show up until days or weeks after the bite. By then it's often too late to effectively cure it completely.
The long acting reactions to it are still not clearly understood.
The long acting reactions to it are still not clearly understood.
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Geek Speak / Why won't media player or VLC play video, only audio?
« on: 20/04/2011 01:52:15 »Gspot works on all versions of Windblows and there is a version for Mac's as well.
No Mac version according to the creator(s) of Gspot ...QuoteWin95/98/ME/NT/2K/XP/Vistahttp://gspot.headbands.com/
Very suspicious if someone is tempting you to download software which doesn't exist.To find out what codec it is try this: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_video/codecs/gspot.cfm
If anyone wants to try Gspot better getting it from the original source rather than a second-hand copy which could have had code added to do something nasty ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSpot
I got my copy from Afterdawn and have had no probs with it.
My mistake, I thought there was a copy for Mac's as well.
Either way, it's a good little free programme that does all that is asked of it.
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Geek Speak / Why won't media player or VLC play video, only audio?
« on: 19/04/2011 04:17:21 »
It is a codec issue. VLC has a series of codecs that come with it. Sometimes a strange codec will bluff it.
To find out what codec it is try this: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_video/codecs/gspot.cfm
A cute little free prog. that will check the codec and then tell you if you have it on board. If not you have an identity to search for the required codec. Simple.
Gspot works on all versions of Windblows and there is a version for Mac's as well.
To find out what codec it is try this: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_video/codecs/gspot.cfm
A cute little free prog. that will check the codec and then tell you if you have it on board. If not you have an identity to search for the required codec. Simple.
Gspot works on all versions of Windblows and there is a version for Mac's as well.
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Complementary Medicine / Recurrent Cold sores- severe symptoms?
« on: 19/04/2011 04:00:44 »Most people often cold sores from adults when they are babies.... the virus actually hides in the nerve cell until it's activated - usually by stress and a drop in your body's immune defense. Lots of things can trigger this "re-activation" - bad diet, lack of sleep, too much sun. So wear your sunblock!
We contract the virus for our mother's birth canal. Almost everyone carries the virus but some never get an outbreak. Tincture of Iodine will help wnen the lesion blisters but looks a bit off. Worth a try if one is desperate.
All medicine cabinets should have these things in there as a matter of course: Tincture of Iodine, Hydrogen peroxide (very powerful antiseptic), Friars Balsam (respiratory relief) and Condy Salts (potassium Permanganate) Condy's and Iodine will stain but are excellent for all kinds of sterilizing. It will purify water too in tiny ammounts.
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Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / How does the Earth's core stay hot?
« on: 19/04/2011 02:07:24 »Your all forgetting one thing, apparently 86% of us think that there is this red dude [Aye! The world is full of whacko's!!] with a trident and horns who lives down there and supposedly he is going to keep it eternally hot, no one told him about the entropic nature of the universe!
Sorry I apologise for my completely non scientific response to your valid question but I am just sick and tired of Intelligent Design. []
The core is slowly cooling down but don't worry - it will still stay hot enough to see us out.
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Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology / Foreign languages
« on: 19/04/2011 02:03:26 »
Learning another language is always an advantage for whatever reason.
I learnt Latin at school and most west European languages have an involvement of Latin.
Simplified Mandarin is much easier to learn and one can communicate with Chinese very well using it.
I speak Russian and Czech as well as English (spent several years living in both countries). Czeshkie was a challenge to learn as it's origin is Turkic. Russian was much easier as it is pure Latinus Nobilae. Just learn their alphabet and see hows the sounds work together. The Cyrillic Alphabet is based on Greek.
I learnt Latin at school and most west European languages have an involvement of Latin.
Simplified Mandarin is much easier to learn and one can communicate with Chinese very well using it.
I speak Russian and Czech as well as English (spent several years living in both countries). Czeshkie was a challenge to learn as it's origin is Turkic. Russian was much easier as it is pure Latinus Nobilae. Just learn their alphabet and see hows the sounds work together. The Cyrillic Alphabet is based on Greek.
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