The Discussions are not simply statements of opinion. They are intended to allow you to expand upon

The Discussions are not simply statements of opinion. They are intended to allow you to expand upon and apply the principles discussed in your textbook, the lectures, and/or other research you conduct. Each week a question will be posed for your consideration. Before answering, you should review the chapters covered during this week and the lectures.

This week we learned about a variety of organisms. There are literally millions of creatures that we live amongst ranging from microscopic bacteria to huge land mammals. Each has their special place in the biosphere and must live in harmony with millions of other creatures. Some of the creatures we have discussed are beneficial to humans and some are harmful.

For this week’s discussion, please select one organism from Prokaryotes, Protists, Plants, Fungi or Viruses that is either beneficial or harmful to humans to discuss AND you may NOT choose the same organism that someone else has already chosen. You cannot claim a topic and your initial post must be ready to post/completed when you post to the Week 1 discussion board.

 

 

Your initial post is required to be posted by 11:59 p.m. ET Thursday of Week 1. Your initial post is required to be a minimum of 250 words in length and this MUST be in your own words. You are required to include at least one reference in your initial post and this includes BOTH in-text citations and full reference citations at the end of the post (in APA format). Do NOT use Wikipedia, Blurtit, Yahoo Answers or ANY open blog or ANY open source where anyone can post responses and the information is not verified. These are unacceptable academic resources; be sure to use reliable sources of information and research carefully. Do NOT copy and paste from the Internet. Please do not plagiarize. If you DO quote a phrase word for word (verbatim), be sure to explain the phrase afterward. If you quote directly from the source, you MUST put quotation marks around it and you MUST cite the source properly in APA format, with both an in-text citation AND a full reference citation at the end of your post. It is NOT proper citation to put a source at the end. Paraphrased information (when information from a source is placed in your own words) from a reference also require both an in-text citation AND a full reference citation at the end of your post. Note: Quoted materials do not count towards the 250 word requirement.

 

 

You are required to make at least two additional response posts to two different fellow classmates on their topic (or one fellow classmate and the professor) on two separate days and not posted on the same day as your initial post. The response posts are required to be at least 100 words and must be substantive in nature. While pleasantries such as “I agree” or “great job” are nice, they will not count as one of your required posts. A complimentary, philosophical, or off-topic comment does not count as one of the three required entries. For example, it does not help us to tell us that you did not know something before you read an entry. All entries should help everyone understand one or more of the concepts presented. Your posts are required to be posted on at least 3 separate days with all being completed by 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday.

Refer to the rubric below to see how points are allotted for the discussion board post.

 

 

Threaded Discussion Rubric

Post 1

60 Points Possible

1. Student submitted an appropriate and substantive post to the original assignment. This includes addressing all of the original questions/issues in a grammatically correct and logical manner.

30

2. Assignment submitted on time and on a different day than other posts.

10

3. Assignment met word count.

10

4. An appropriate scientific website was referenced properly and according to APA format.

10

Post 2

20 Points Possible

1. Student submitted an appropriate and substantive response to another student’s post in a grammatically correct and logical manner (this includes proper APA citation of any references used).

 

10

2. Assignment submitted on time and on a different day than other posts.

5

3. Assignment met word count.

5

Post 3

20 Points Possible

1. Student submitted an appropriate and substantive response to another student’s post in a grammatically correct and logical manner (this includes proper APA citation of any references used).

 

10

2. Assignment submitted on time and on a different day than other posts.

5

3. Assignment met word count.

5

 

 

 

The topic for the Week one Discussion: Organisms can be beneficial or harmful to humans. For this discussion, you will research the Internet and choose ONE organism from one of the following groups: Prokaryotes, Protists, Plants, Fungi or Viruses that is beneficial or harmful to humans. Do not write about the group organisms in general. You may NOT choose an organism in the Animal Kingdom. You may NOT choose the same organism that someone else has already chosen. Therefore, it is to your advantage to choose your topic early in the week. In your initial post, describe the organism that you chose and why or how they are beneficial or harmful to humans. Remember that discussion participation is required on a minimum of three separate days through 11:59 p.m. ET Sunday.

 

 

Specific organisms (one per student) from Prokaryotes, Protists, Plants, Fungi or Viruses already posted on in the Week 1 Discussion [16SB term]

 

 

Giardia (protozoan protist) ~~~~> posted on 05/29/2016

Clostridium difficile (prokaryote/bacteria) ~~~~> posted on 05/29/2016

Staphylcoccus epidermidis (prokaryote/bacteria) ~~~~> posted on 05/30/2016

Mold fungi ~~~~> posted on 05/31/2016

Marburg virus ~~~~> posted on 06/01/2016

Sarcoscypha coccinea ~~~~> posted on 06/01/2016

Aloe vera (plant) ~~~~> posted on 06/01/2016

Smallpox (Variola) virus ~~~~> posted on 06/01/2016

1. coli (bacteria) ~~~~> posted on 06/02/2016

Astrovirus ~~~~> posted on 06/02/2016

HIV ~~~~> posted on 06/02/2016

Salmonella (prokaryote) ~~~~> posted on 06/02/2016

Pencillin (Fungus/Penicillium) ~~~~> posted on 06/03/2016

 

Luv Tavadia

HIV

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HIV, also known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that spreads through the transfer of bodily fluids and attacks the body’s immune system. The most known way in which a person may become infected by the virus is through sexual intercourse. This would make HIV an STD. Infants are just as susceptible as their parents. Mothers can transfer the virus through the womb during the pregnancy. If they do manage to keep the infant safe during the pregnancy there’s a chance that they still might get it during the child birth. It doesn’t stop there. The virus is also transferable when breast feeding. Another way that HIV may spread is through sharing or pre-used needles. What the HIV does once it enters the body is that it goes into the host cell and attacks the T-Cells. We need our T-Cells to fend off viruses and germs in order to maintain our immunity. Naturally our produce millions of T-Cells a day. However, over time the HIV repeatedly copies itself and eventually overcome the healthy T-Cells with infected cells to the point of near depletion. It specifically targets the T-Cells also known as CD4 cells which leaves you vulnerable to the simplest illnesses and germs which your body could normally fight off. As to this day there is no definitive cure for the virus. Even so, there are treatment options out there that can that can help you live a longer life with it. There are approximately 1.2 million people who are currently living productive lives with HIV today thanks to drug and clinical trials.

 

 

W/C: 266

References:

 

 

Bibliography: CDC.(2016, May 2). About HIV/AIDS. Retrieved June 2, 2016, from

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html

 

 

Bibliography: HollandMedically, K. (2005). How HIV affects the body. Retrieved June 2, 2016,

from http://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/how-hiv-affects-the-body

 

Diane Frazier

Plants- The Aloe Vera

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Total views: 8 (Your views: 1)

Week 1 Initial Post  Aloe Vera Plant

 

This week my choice for the discussion I have chosen the plant organisms, and the Aloe Vera Plant is one that I thought would be interesting to research. I found out quite a bit of information on it. “The Aloe Vera is a biologically active polysaccharide known as acetylene mannose or ace mannose. This substance has been shown to be a highly effective immune stimulant, with activity against the viruses causing flu, measles, and AIDS.” (Turner, J. 2016) My daughter is a nurse in an Infectious Disease Center and says that all of their hand washing, and lotions there, are Aloe Vera based. The Aloe Vera plant has many uses today from the traditional hand cream of the past. Today it will still make your hands silky soft and it still works wonders on sun burn healing. “It also heals insect bites, poison ivy, people with psoriasis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and asthma.” (NCCIH 2012) I know that once my mother and I went to an outdoor concert and got severely sunburnt, Aloe was the only thing that gave me relief.

“The Aloe Vera plant can be tracked back as far as 6000 years, to early Egypt where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the plant of immortality, given to the pharaohs as a burial gift”.(NCCIH 2012) The flowers on the plant are yellow, and it has a triangular body with jagged edges that can grow up to 2 ft. “It came from the “Lily” family and called the “Lily of the desert” or “elephants gall.” NCCIH (2012) “It produces a clear gel within the cells of the inner portion. Anthraquinones, which exerts a laxative type effect and contained in the bitter yellow sap of the middle layer”. (Turner, J. 2016)

Studies have shown that women lactating should not ingest Aloe Vera because it could get into breast milk. Pregnant women should not ingest, as abortions have been reported after ingesting the substance from the latex layer of the plant. (Turner, J. 2016) “Also rats have been proven to get carcinoma after long periods of ingesting There has been testing in mice that shown a stabilizing effect in blood sugars, diabetes studies are being done to see how Aloe may help. (Turner, J.2016) Aloe Vera also contains; vitamins C, E, Zinc, Fatty Acids, Amino Acids, Enzymes, and Minerals. This plant offers many wonderful benefits with some health risks too, as does most everything in life.

 

W/C 430

 

NCCIH Publication D333 (2012) Herb at a glance, Retrieved from: https://nccih.nih.gov/sites/nccam.nih.gov/files/Herbs_At_A_Glance_Aloe_Vera_06-13-2012_0.pdf

 

Turner, Judith. “Aloe.” Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2016 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3435100029.html