U3 Homronal distruptions: Diabetes

Question 1

Compare type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes

Answer 1

Type 1 diabetes
- the body’s immune system destroys cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin (beta cells), causing the body to be unable to produce insulin
- caused by genetics or autoimmune disease, so it can’t be prevented

Type 2 diabetes
- the body is unable to make enough insulin or is unable to effectively use insulin
- caused by insulin resistance (when cells don’t respond to insulin and can’t easily absorb glucose from the blood), obesity or physical inactivity

Question 2

What are some symptoms of diabetes, and why?

Answer 2

Hunger
- lack of insulin means glucose from blood can’t enter the cells, so the body can’t convert food into energy

Tingling/numbness of hands and feet
- high blood glucose affects nerve function

Weakness/tiredness
- high blood glucose reduces the body’s ability to use glucose for energy

Question 3

Compare hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, their causes, and symptoms

Answer 3

Hyperglycemia
- when blood sugar (glucose) level is too high
- caused by: eating too much, physical inactivity or dehydration
- symptoms: excessive hunger, nausea, weakness, feeling hot

Hypoglycemia
- when blood sugar (glucose) level is too low
- caused by: not eating enough carbohydrates, hot weather, exercise without eating
- symptoms: hunger, shaking, dizziness, anxiety

Question 4

Gene therapy

Answer 4

• Focuses on treating or curing genetic abnormalities by identifying malfunctioning genes and replacing them with healthy ones
• Gene therapy looks at methods of making it possible for the body of those with diabetes to produce insulin again
• One possibility is reprogramming other cells, such as a virus vector, to infect chosen cells and integrate their DNA into the nucleus to use protein synthesis to produce insulin

Question 5

What are ethical considerations with gene therapy?

Answer 5

• It’s difficult to label different uses of gene therapy as good/acceptable or bad/unacceptable
• The costs of gene therapy may make it only available to the wealthy
• The widespread use of gene therapy may make society less accepting of people who are different

Question 6

What are the steps of insulin being made from recombinant DNA?

Answer 6

1. Scientists build human insulin gene in a lab
2. A loop of bacterial DNA (plasmid) is removed from a bacterium
3. A human insulin gene is inserted into the plasmid
4. The plasmid is returned to the bacteria
5. The recombinant bacteria is placed in a fermentation tank
6. Recombinant bacteria uses the gene to produce human insulin
7. Insulin is harvested from bacteria
8. The substance is purified for use as a medicine