Biology

Is it true that the mother will pass on her immunities to her child through the blood interface linking the plasenta to the womb? If this is true, do those immunities simply accumulate from generation to generation? Essentially, that would mean we should all be immune to things which our first human ancestors grew immune to within their lifetime. Does this make sense?

http://www.livescience.com/animals/090430-birds-dance.html Some cockatoo research being carried out at Harvard.

I was intrigued to see a tree a few days ago with both pink and white blossom. How can this happen? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=421796&l=1032f44911&id=1061329345 http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=421790&l=a918c5d964&id=1061329345

After shaving, does hair really grow back thicker and darker? If so, why? Thank you.

Hi all, I'm trying to build mathematical model of glutamate and glutamine transport in brain. Where can I find the value of diffusion/permeability coefficients for glutamate transport between neurons--extracellular space--astrocyte? It is this coefficient in the transport equation : lambda(C_neu - C_ecs), where lambda is the permeability coefficient and (C_neu - C_ecs) is the concentration difference or the driving force. Thanks

PDH is an enzyme that is activate/deactivated by kinases (adding P)....does this have anything to do with it following M-M kinetics? Thanks

Hi there! I have a SAC tomorrow on thermoregulation (the practical). Would anyone would be able to answer a few questions that I might think of in preparation for the written work that is to be done during class time (day after tomorrow)? For SACs we usually just get a series of questions instead of doing practical reports. Basically, the SAC will be on the effects of the human body to a range of different temperatures, with strong emphasis in the extremes. i.e. how the body responds to really cold and really hot environments. So far I've done a bit of researching and reading on the topic and found little things like: vasoconstriction or vasodilation of arterioles and…

Seems that alcohol's a bit of a theme in here, but here goes... If one were to consume, say, 21 shots of vodka (or an equivalent spirit) over an hour, roughly what would one's b.a.c. be? I have absolutely no idea how to work this out, even to a ballpark estimate. I'm aware it depends on a lot of variables but hey, run with it. Kaeroll

After the pyruvate molecules travel into the mitochondrion what happens them? I read that they are oxidized into CO2. What happens the other 2 carbon atoms then? I also read that pyruvate is converted into acetate. Would I be right in assuming that what happens is the pyruvate is split into CO2, a 2 carbon acetate and then the loose hydrogen gets picked up by NAD+?

Hi everybody! I'm interested in hearing how the body responds when it is faced by conditions of freezing and hot climate. For example, vasodilation of arterioles and capillaries occur when the body is faced by extremes in heat. However it does the opposite when conditions are cold. Does anyone know where I can possibly get a list of all these different responses to different external temperatures faced by the body? Or if this is not possible, if anyone could tell me some interesting reponses made by the body to different temperatures. Anything relevant said of the above will be appreciated!

Okay, say someone would be an alcoholic, and destroys alot of brain cells. How long would it take for the brain to regenerate cells? Also can medicine such as methylphenidate, in controlled doses, speed nuerogenesis up? And i heard OMEGA-3 fatty acids may help this.

What characteristics of IFNg suggest it is more similar to IL-2 than to IFNa? I can't seem to make this connection. Thanks

Why do the zones of the cortex have to differentiate? I assumed they can't produce hormones properly unless they don't, but I seem to remember they're not differentiated at birth...?

What's the difference between a synapse and a synaptic cleft? I've looked at the definition that my textbook gives me but they seem sort of similar. So, are these synonyms or are they supposed to be different? If they are different when would it be appropriate to use one of them as opposed to the other? If anyone could show two different sentences where it would be most appropriate to use the two terms, it would be greatly appreciated!

...specifically involving the pressure receptors under the skin.

Id heard that fungi were more closely related to animals than plants... Is this true? And if so can you provide a concise explanation? Thanks ^^

If a small, -say 1cc- human brain portion is safely, properly replaced/swapped with same exact lobe/area from another human; would it carry memories/functions/knowledge with it ? Has it been done ? How good/accurate/reliable is the current surgical technology for something like that ?

Hey all, I was bitten by an insect the other day. At first it looked pretty much like a regular bite, so I didn't pay much attention to it. However, when I woke up the day after (yesterday) my leg had swollen up from my ankle almost to my knee (the bite being sort of in the middle) and I could barely walk. Since then I've seen a doctor, and he gave me some kind of cream (Flegmoton I think, I've used it before with a chronic big toe infection) which seems to be helping. Then again, I only put it on this morning, but the swelling has diminished significantly since yesterday. What I was wondering is if anyone recognized the bite, or has any idea what kind of insect could…

As life expectancy extends more problems are shown to come, consider this however, how long do you think a brain can stay alive? First all, what is needed to sustain the life of a brain, by itself, no skull, no organs attached, just the brain. I've looked all over, as this subject becomes increasingly interesting to me but haven't found anything on this except for a company in korea (brain science research center) that's connecting a brain to a nueral network in an attempt to use a brain independent from a body, but I believe if we can study the effects, of keeping a brain indepentantly alive by creating a "simulated skull" for it to live in and supply what's neccisary …

Hello, Following my survey on cybernetics, iNow and padren proposed to make a new thread, just about the last question I asked in the survey. (you can view it here: http://www.scienceforums.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39101) I thought this was a good idea so here it is! The question goes like this: "If a brainimplant would be available, granting you direct access to the internet (thereby making you all-knowing, amongst other things), would you:" -immediately have it done -probably have it done -consider it -probably not have it done -definitely not have it done -other What's your answer? Would you only do it under certain circumstances? would y…

If a mouse is immunized with BSA, what would happen in his peripheral lymph nodes after the first and after the second injection of antigen. -Thanks

This is part of my Biology assignment oh by the way, are succulents a plant species ? sorry if I'm really dumb on this but hey, nobody's perfect

would it be possible for a genetically altered animal to be able to live in space? do you guys think it could be done?

Hey guys, I'm hoping this is in the right section, not sure if it fits here or in chemistry.. In any case, I recently visited the site "checkyourself.com". It's a site that's supposed to give teens information about alcohol and substance abuse. They posted this "myth" in their list: (source [sorry, might aswell add the specific page and not just the general site]: http://www.checkyourself.com/AlcoholMyths.aspx) Which got me thinking... I was always told that mixing types of alcohol will get you drunk faster than drinking the same amount of the same type of alcohol. I must point out -- the site is fairly good in giving information, but I had a distinct f…

does anyone know the name of the wasp which parasitizes the orchard spider (Leucauge venusta)?