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Just Chat! / For Neil
« on: 22/03/2009 23:47:07 »
put your speakers on!
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Just Chat! / Pastafarians/Flying Spaghetti Monster meetup in the UK
« on: 02/04/2007 21:48:18 »
ooooo, yes!!!
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Just Chat! / Free in-home wireless broadband service
« on: 02/04/2007 21:45:34 »It's already April 2nd over here (will be so in a few hours on the other side of the pond). []
Nope, it was posted on the 1st, allbeit after midday.
MessageID: 73353
01 April 2007, 21:59:51
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Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution / Trees - How do they exist?
« on: 20/02/2007 17:14:04 »
To ask 'how are they alive', you must first answer 'what is life?'.
The common definition for life, as I see it, seems to be vaguely around the ability to reproduce in an inexact but inheritable way (i.e. each generation is subtly different from the previous, but the changes that occur from one generation to the next is then passed on to subsequent generation).
Sorry George, gotta problem with 'each generation is subtly different from the previous'. What about Amoebae that reproduce by binary fission? They are most definitely alive. I would suggest that this should be rephrased to 'the ability to reproduce'. This led me to discussions/arguments with my academic tutor when I was an undergraduate, over whether viruses were 'alive'. He said they weren't because they couldn't reproduce without 'hijacking' another living cell, I said they were because that meant they reproduced!
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Physiology & Medicine / What is colourblindness, and what's it like to be colourblind?
« on: 20/02/2007 17:01:14 »
Another interesting point, more men than women are colour blind.
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General Science / Why do we have a preference?
« on: 20/02/2007 16:06:26 »
Left or right side of the bed doesn't worry me. For some reason I prefer the side nearest the door.
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General Science / Why do we have a preference?
« on: 20/02/2007 16:05:29 »It may be that for married people there is a territorial thing about his and her side of the bed, or it could be just that I like greater variety than other people.
What about co-habiting? [
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Physiology & Medicine / Body clocks
« on: 03/02/2007 17:35:31 »
There is a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that is depression during the shorter/darker days of winter. Exposure to sunlight (eg going outside at lunchtime or using a special lamp) can help alleviate/overcome this problem.
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Physiology & Medicine / Dermatology - what are spots and pimples? How can they be cured?
« on: 03/02/2007 17:06:42 »... but the principle is similar to the use of blue-dominated lights in toilets to prevent drug addicts from shooting up.
Chris
Eh??? Please can you explain this Chris.
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Physiology & Medicine / Different blood types - What are they ?
« on: 03/02/2007 16:46:03 »
Just a quick add on re blood groups A, B and 0. The 0 actually stands for 'zero' (ie neither A nor B antigens are present) although we all tend to call it 'OW' Someone with blood group 0 is known as a universal donor because people with the other blood types (A, B or AB) can receive transfusions from blood group 0 (providing the rhesus factor is compatible).
For other organ transplants (ie solid organs rather than blood) there needs to be a much tighter compatibility, not just the A,B,0 blood groups. We all thave markers on our cells that identify them as ours, not foreign. This is known as the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). For organ transplants these must match as closely as possible or the recipient's immune system will identify the different MHC as foreign and attack it. This is what organ rejection is and is why close relatives usually make the best donors (similar genetic makeup). This is also why recipients often take immunosupressor drugs to help prevent rejection.
It's also important to 'wash out' donor blood from the organ before the transplant, particularly a type of white blood cell called T cells.
For other organ transplants (ie solid organs rather than blood) there needs to be a much tighter compatibility, not just the A,B,0 blood groups. We all thave markers on our cells that identify them as ours, not foreign. This is known as the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). For organ transplants these must match as closely as possible or the recipient's immune system will identify the different MHC as foreign and attack it. This is what organ rejection is and is why close relatives usually make the best donors (similar genetic makeup). This is also why recipients often take immunosupressor drugs to help prevent rejection.
It's also important to 'wash out' donor blood from the organ before the transplant, particularly a type of white blood cell called T cells.
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That CAN'T be true! / humans
« on: 03/02/2007 16:24:13 »
I don't think it's a question of 'good' and it depends what you mean by 'superior'. IF there are/have been/will be more 'superior' beings some where/when/how, being able to perceive them MAY or may not use other senses than we use/have. To a certain extent it depends on what you actually mean by your question.
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General Science / Re: Is evidence against evolution all nonsense?
« on: 28/12/2006 21:09:41 »
I heard that L Ron Hubbard had a bet with a fellow science fiction writer that he could start a religion - scientology was the result.
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Just Chat! / Re: The Days Are Getting Longer Now .....YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!
« on: 28/12/2006 20:41:52 »Thank you hun. But be careful, I'm coming up fast from behind []
Just remember to use protection [
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Just Chat! / Re: HAPPY CHRISTMAS
« on: 25/12/2006 11:57:44 »
Dear All, sticks head above the parapet and waves, luv ya all!
http://www164.123greetings.com/card/12/25/03/40/HD31225034003621.html
