AFA in news Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

AFA in news - Essay Example The other Wes however is not so lucky and surrounded himself with addicts, sunk deeper and deeper into drug trade, fathered many children and finally ends up behind bars. The story somehow connects to slavery since we are told of poor black neighborhoods which could have resulted due to the enslavement of the ancestors of the black community. Thus Blacks’ economic standards are usually lower than those of other races because they lack a firm and solid economic foundation, due to prolonged slavery of their forefathers. As I read the story, I could not help imagining how a person’s determination can elevate one beyond his/her current circumstances and improve one’s chance at living a better and morally upright life. The main problem portrayed in the story is that of drugs, crime and negative influences in one’s life. Thus the problem of crime and drugs is well highlighted and can be attributed to the kind that the other Wes Moore lived. A possible solution to this is educating such neighborhoods on the dangers of drug and crime involvement as well as making sure that youths have got enough role models and institutions to kee p them off the

Genetics of sickle cell Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Genetics of sickle cell - Assignment Example Those with a single inherited gene do not suffer from the disease but possess the sickle cell trait that can be transferred to their children. The genetics of sickle cell disease are discussed here, with respect to the inheritance of the disease, its molecular genetics and genetic variation. SCD is a multi-system disease in which episodes of acute illness occur along with progressive organ damage (Rees, Williams and Gladwin, 2010). It is among the worlds most commonly occurring severe monogenic disorders. Herrick first described the occurrence of sickle shaped red blood cells in 1910 (Cited in Rees, Williams and Gladwin, 2010). Pauling et al. (1949) later identified that sickle haemoglobin has electrophoretic abnormalities, therefore terming SCD as a molecular disease. Normal red blood cells can pass freely through capillaries while abnormal sickle shaped red blood cells cannot. Sickle shaped red blood cells are long and sticky, with tapering ends. Figure 1 shows the difference between normal RBC and sickle cells. Sickle cells tend to bunch up while some break down, stopping or slowing down the flow of blood (Peterson, 2008). Sickle cells do not receive enough oxygen and their waste products cannot be carried away. Because of the buildup of waste products and lack of oxygen, sickle cell disease causes great pain and even death. As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates, around 72,000 Americans, most of which are African Americans, suffer from sickle cell anemia (Peterson, 2008). Worldwide, there are millions of people inflicted with the disease, which commonly occurs in warm areas near large bodies of water (Peterson, 2008). While the occurrence sickle shaped red blood cells was discovered by James Herrick and their abnormal electrophoretic mobility was identified by Linus Pauling and colleagues, it was Vernon Ingram who discovered that the disease resulted from a