Sandon Stokes
Curated Paper #2
July 13, 2020
Beyond Biological Science
In the day to day life of a college student, there are many different areas where the focus may lie. Some of those include classwork, careers, hobbies, health, wellness, friends and family. These areas are not directly connected to biological science, but in their own way science can play a role in each of these activities. The smallest of molecules to the largest organ systems can contribute to our interactions with other areas of our lives outside the field of science.
Two main fields of science that can influence other aspects of life are the function of the brain and how drugs affect the body. The brain is an extremely complex organ that contains on average 86 billion neurons by some estimates. This amazing organ in essence controls every function of the human body. From the most precise brush strokes of an artist, the muscle strength of a powerlifter and even how we feel and perceive emotions is controlled and made possible by the brain.
When the brain is not functioning correctly this could be recognized as a mental disorder. This could be caused by many factors including traumatic brain injuries, genetic, or environmental influences. Some of the most common mental disorders in the United States are anxiety, depression and different types of dementia. Some of these disorders originate in the brain’s chemical messenger system from miscommunication between neurons and/or a lack of or overabundance of neurotransmitters.
These disorders can be detrimental to the human body itself and also in other aspects of life. These areas could include family and friend relationships, careers, hobbies, and educational pursuits. When the chemical messengers are not communicating correctly it has been found that personalities and moods can change drastically. These chemical imbalances can lead to constant fluctuations in mood, activity levels and even differences in personality. In the case of Phineas Gage, a traumatic brain injury damaged a large part of his left frontal lobe. From this damage, the brain could not communicate in the same way and this event altered his personality, temperament and essentially who he was previously as a person. Because of this personality change his personal friendships and family relationships were greatly influenced. When drastic changes like these occur in the biological network of the brain there can be noticeable differences in personal interactions and in day to day functions
Another area that brain disease can influence is career and other monetary life pursuits. An example of how brain disease influences careers comes from the early years of Major League Baseball. Lou Gerhrig was top athlete of his day and played 1st base for the New York Yankees. After 19 seasons of stellar fielding and batting his neuromuscular health deteriorated and he had to withdraw himself from the starting lineup. Soon after withdrawing he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) and would never be able to play another game of baseball. So drastic was his physical change that his career ended and lost most control of his muscular function. From a biological defect in his genome it caused the loss of his career and affected how he could interact with those around him as well.
In combating mental disease and disorders a main focus of the current scientific field is researching new pharmaceuticals. These drugs have been synthesized by medicinal chemists and are also found through natural products occurring in nature. Their aim is to help the chemical messenger systems to work correctly by targeting specific increases or decreases in neurotransmitters. The goal is to allow people to function optimally again and be free of the various disorders. These pharmaceuticals have been helpful to a certain extent but many of them have side effects that can be detrimental in other areas of life.
In the case of depression medications, they help the body produce and maintain levels of serotonin which can lead to more feeling of enjoyment and happiness. On the down side though there are side effects like increased appetite, weight gain, nausea, sexual dysfunction, and even anxiety has been repeatedly reported. Side effects as these contribute to the overall physical and mental health of individuals. And as was discussed in the examples above these undesired changes can influence personal relationships and other aspects of life drastically
Overall, It is interesting to see how biological processes contribute to connections with others and overall feelings of well being. It shows that chemical messengers can influence other areas of life broader than human physiology. Science is not just a field of study explaining the natural world, but it also helps explain how we interact with others, our career pursuits and our very own emotions are controlled from a biological perspective.
I really enjoyed reading your article. I also thought it was very interesting how the biological processes contribute to our whole body and our overall health. I agree that science is much more than just facts but understanding connections.
ReplyDeleteYour paper made me think about one thing in Ty Redd's syllabus. Under the section "How to do well in this class" He recommended to, "think of organic chemistry often." I think that a big key to success in science is to really think about what you are learning often and make connections with your daily life. Its easy to get bogged down with studies and to only think about what you are learning in a very compartmentalized manner but true and deep learning happens when you make connections and you think about how your new knowledge can help you better understand daily life on earth! One reason I have really enjoyed this class is that it has encouraged me to make those connections and to synthesize what I've learned during my time here at SUU. I think the theme of your paper is very appropriate for this class!
ReplyDeleteOne thing your paper made me want to learn more about is the science behind using real world applications and connections as a study method. I know there is research out there on this subject. Maybe if you were ever to expand on this paper it would be interesting to include how making connections "beyond biological science" can actually enhance learning in college and in life as a scientist.
I really enjoyed reading your paper, it reminded me of how important proper brain function is in the body. When you discussed how it controls every function of the human body, it made me think of my abnormal psychology class. When the brain is not functioning properly, the body is 'thrown off', showing the impact and control the brain has. It is amazing to me how many functions it controls, essentially everything! Great post!
ReplyDeleteYour post was nicely written. Do you think the side effects from the experimental drugs is because there isn't specificity in the cells it effects? With 86 billion neurons, one pill might affect more areas than intended. You stated that the pill can affect certain neurotransmitters, but those neurotransmitters can affect more organs causing side effects.
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