Aging and Disease Lab. Biological & Biomedical Sciences

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Pre-Lab Questions
Over the past 100 years, the average life expectancy in the U.S. has increased by almost 30 years. What are some factors you believe could be attributed to this drastic increase in the average lifespan? Conduct outside research if necessary.
Life expectancy has risen rapidly due to various factors, including reductions in infant mortality, rising living standards, improved lifestyles, better education, and tremendous advances in healthcare and medicine. Significant factors in life expectancy, including gender, genetics, access to health care, hygiene, diet and nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, and crime rates, have all played a role in i9ncreasing average life expectancy in U.S. Evidence-based studies indicate that longevity is based on two major factors, genetics and lifestyle choices (Disabled World). According to Disabled World, studies show that about 20-30% of a person’s lifespan is related to genetics. The rest is due to individual behaviors and environmental factors, which are often modifiable. Studies show that lifestyle plays almost no factor in health and longevity after 80 because nearly everything in advanced age is due to genetic factors (Disabled World).
What are the four motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, and how do they affect the people afflicted?
Four primary motor symptoms manifest Parkinson's disease (PD). They include tremor, rigidity, postural instability (impaired balance), and bradykinesia (slowing down and losing spontaneous movement). This symptom affects the body in different aspects or leads to other symptoms, including having a shuffling gait that is associated with dragging of the foot, micrographia that is related to writing, small cramped handwriting, speech difficulties, stooped posture, difficulty in swallowing, impaired motor dexterity and unnecessary motor acceleration.
Using resources online, identify, and describe an age-related disease not discussed in the introduction. Be sure to include potential causes of the disease and how it affects the patient.
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent age-related disorders amongst senior populations. There are mainly two forms: the more common osteoarthritis and the less common rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis commonly occurs when a person is above 40 years. It may affect the hands, knees, spine, and hips by making it painful and difficult to move or creates joint immobility. Over time, the joint's cartilage is used, leading to wear, tear, and thinning out. Such wear and tear lead to impaired functioning from tendons and ligaments due to a reduction in joint lubrication due to cartilage tear and wear out. This condition may be associated with swelling of joints, and in severe cases, the bone the cartilage may be exhausted, leading to the phenomenon of a bone rubbing against another bone (Lifeline24.co.uk).
What is the nucleotide sequence for a telomere?
They consist of the same sequence of bases repeated over and over. In humans, the telomere sequence is TTAGGG (Yourgenome.org)
Experiment 1: Sun printing for Skin Cancer
Data Sheet
Table 1: Sun printing
Samples

Observations

UV Index

Control

There is a change in color...