Large lizard with deadly saliva

The komodo dragon is the biggest lizard that still roams the earth. Their primary habitat is throughout the islands in Indonesia. Komodo's are fierce creatures that are carnivores. They have even been reported to have attacked humans.What is the most interesting part of the komodo is how they hunt their prey.

Even though they have large size, and can run up to 11 miles per hour, the most deadly thing the komodo possesses is thier saliva. Thier saliva is known to carry various types of harmful bacteria to cause death, or severe infection, such as E.Coli and Staphylococcus sp. etc. A komodo will bite its prey, and depending on how much strength the prey shows, the komodo will back away and literally stalk the pray until the infection from the bite causes the prey to become weak and delirious. An interesting show, Eaten Alive, came out in the National Geographic Channel  demonstrating these actions taken by a komodo, but on a human. Two days, and the bite the victim recieved showed severe infection and spread out throughout the body. The victim was weak and hallucinating, giving the komodo the perfect chance for attack with the least resistance from the victim.

So the next time you see a komodo at the zoo, make sure not to get close to its cage because one bite could result in serious health problems, even death.

An extra Y chromosome in Males (XYY)

In genetics lecture last week, the professor talked on the subject of the possibility in some males of having an extra Y chromosome. He termed these individuals as "super males" due to the addition of another Y chromosome. I had to research the topic more into depth and this is what I found.

"Super males" were first found in a prison setting. Scientists found out that most prisoners carried an extra Y chromosome, thereby giving them more anger and strength than the "normal" male. It was also thought that this extra chromosome brought about homosexuality, tallness and below average intelligence to the individual. All these observations were biased because there were still males that were not in prison, and appeared normal, amongst society. It is hard to figure out which male has an extra Y chromosome because there are no phyical abnormalities, except for the characteristics described earlier.

XXY syndrome can only happen in males exclusively. Instead of the normal 46 chromosomes, the "super male" receives 47 due to the addition of the Y. It is also not an inherited trait, but rather random in 1 to 1,000 newborn males. It is also not known to be a risk for diseases, illnesses, or shorter lifespan.

So the next time someone tells you there is a "super male" that they know, just relax. He probably just has an extra Y chromosome, and may have some of the flaws listed above.

More information can be found on
http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/xyy-syndrome-1

Why did he call me "Bipolar"?

Have you ever been called, or referred to as bipolar? Do you even know what it is, or does?

It basically is when you go through random mood swings, either happy or sad, day by day. One minute you can be happy, without a care in the world. The next thing you know you are telling off everyone and have an uncontrollable anger.

It is sad to say but bipolar disorder is linked to genetics in an individual. If a family member of yours has bipolar, you are 6 times as likely to get it also.Bipolar disorder has been known to give suicidal thoughts to the affected individual, as well as poor performance in schools and jobs. Substance abuse is very common with people who have bipolar disorder, along with anxiety attacks.

Unfortuantely there is no cure for bipolar yet. Mood stabilizing medication such as lithium can prove to be a temporary fix to the problem.

So the next time you are called bipolar, rub it into the person's face that they are. Now that you know some background, tell others about what bipolar is. I have included a link at the bottom if you would like some more information regarading the bipolar disorders.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtmlhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-index.shtml

Drink OJ, no flu

Ever since middle school, the myth was passed around to all students that drinking your orange juice everyday would prevent you from getting the flu. I have always been skeptical about this statement, but not until recently did I decide to "Google" the topic.

It turns out that orange juice contains a high percentage of vitamin C, which helps boost your immune system. Therefore, a less chance of catching the flu. Not only can it help reduce the probablity of the flu, but it can help lower cholesterol levels, along with blood pressure. It is also known to help in arthritis, heart disease, and cell production (includes the healing process).

Even though it is beneficial to drink, too much can cause some problems. So it is important to have a moderate consumption of the OJ.

Who would've thought that one simple juice, many drink, could have such diverse beneficial effects on our immune system and total wellness?