Movie

In school, our unit watched a movie, " October Sky". This movie is about four students, and friends who are trying to purse there dream of winning a national science fair by making a rocket. After seeing a space orb launched by the Russians in the sky it influenced them to make a rocket that could reach space. Where these boys lived, Virginia coal mining was extremely common and most of there family's and fathers worked in the near by coal mine. Unfortunately family members were exposed to disease which impacted the boys in the movie and also cares( cooperation assertion responsibility empathy self control) was very significant in the movie.
People who have worked in both under ground and above ground coal mines can experience life threatening diseases and other minor symptoms. For example, a sever disease is black lung. This is cause by inhaling the coal dust for a long time. People who have worked in coal mines almost all their life or people with out a mask to cover there mouth may get Black Lung. This terrible disease is similar to what smoking does to your lungs. The dust builds up in your lungs and it then forms like a sticky tar like fluid, causes other symptoms and it cannot be removed. A few symptoms from this disease are inflammation, fibrosis and necrosis. From 1994 to 2004 over 1400 0 coal minors in the U.S. alone died of Black Lung. Next, some of the symptoms that patients suffer with are Shortness of breath and pain but these are the most minor problems. Other more serious and complicated issues are lung dysfunctions, pulmonary hypertension, and cor pulmonary. This is one of the most deadly diseases that you can get from working in coal mines.
In the movie "October Sky" cooperation is used by the four boys trying to build a rocket. They worked together in order to build a small shack for rocket testing and all researched and created rocket models. without cooperation they most likely wouldn't have been able to get as far as they did with chasing their dream to create the best rocket they could. Assertion was an extremely important characteristic for the main character,( the one who wanted to start building a rocket.) In his class for school there was a nerdy kind who knew everything about rockets and space. Unfortunately he was not popular or cool so if Homer was to talk and hang out with him everyone would also think he to was a nerd and un-cool. Homer used assertion and even though kids called him weirdo he became friends with him and they begun building rockets together. Since homer used assertion he was taught every thing he needed to know about rockets. A time when responsibility was shown in the movie October Sky, was when homer worked in the coal mines to support his family because his dad was sick from working in the mines. This shows responsibility because Homer, almost being the oldest thought that it was his job to help the family in there time of need. Homers brother showed empathy for him at the football try outs when his friend kept knocking Homer on his butt because he was a better line man. To show that he felt bad for his brother, he told him to go easy on him because he wasn't good. Last, self-control could have actually been used more in this movie. An example of when it could have been used is by Homers dad. Homers dad though his rocket equipment out side in the rain just because he didn't like that he wanted to build rockets. Although he felt this way he should have talked to Homer First.
In conclusion, the movie, October Sky showed some of the effects of mining as well as cares( cooperation, assertion, responsibility,empathy and self-control). This was a great movie and educational at the same time. I would recommend this movie to any one interested in rocket science and teachers wanting a movie for their students.

Cystic Fibrosis

After researching a blog on Cystic Fibrosis, I have learned the symptoms that patients have faced with this disease. From this blog I found out that people with this disease have to deal with lung infections, wheezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. These are just some of the normal effects from this disease. Some worse symptoms are when mucus clogs the lungs and then destroys the pancreas, which would cause even more worse problems. A treatment to help control mucus is an exercises to clear your lungs from mucus or flem. Like the genetic disease, Sickle Cell Amenia, Cystic Fibrosis shortens the life span of patients with it to about thirty seven years old. I think that this is terrible because if you are suffering from this disease and then find out you will probably die around the age of thirty seven is devastating. I belive this was a very well writen blog and really shows how difficult peoples lives are when they are suffering from Cystic Fibrosis. In conclusion, genetic disorders are sicknesses which lots of money and time should be put into to figure out cures or better treatments.

http://ashanima.blogspot.com/

Sickle Cell Anemia

In 1904, the disease Sickle Cell Anemia was discovered and explained to patients and other doctors every where. If you are a patient with this disease, some symptoms you may encounter are restricted blood flow to your organs, which can result in terrible pain. Also, it can lead to organ damage. Although, there are many serious conditions, some minor conditions which are also signs of the disease are frequent headaches, fevers, chest pains and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately Sickle Cell Anemia shortens both male and female patients life span to about 42 to 48 years old. This disease is extremely common in African Americans of both gender. About one in every five thousand black children have it and 1 in every 36000 Hispanic children get it. There isn't a cure for this genetic disease but treatments can help. Keeping yourself hydrated helps and analgesics. Other treatments like bone marrow transplants and blood transfusions are an option. In the molecular level of the cell if there is a second allel absent you can get Sickle Cell Anemia. This means that a person that only has one copy of the mutate allel will get Sickle Cell Anemia. To help develop new treatments, scientist should research how sickle cell Anemia effects bones as well as bone marrow. This disease destroys bone marrow and although there are surgery's to get bone marrow transplants, many people do not have the money to afford these treatments. Therefore, they should try to either find a medicine or a shot to help slow the process of the destruction of bones and bone marrow, or stop it completely. Unfortunately, research on cells is complicated and finding cures is time consuming and requires money. In my opinion, Sickle Cell Aneimia is one of the numerous devastating disease which like cancer has no cures and effects both adults, children and the elderly. On the other hand, this disease is not as common as cancer and although i feel empathy for those who have it, sicknesses like cancer are more important because cancer takes many children and adults lives.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle-cell_disease