KYTOS Biology

Forensics labs are frequently asked to examine documents to determine if they have been altered or forged. An altered document is an original, valid document that has been changed in some way. For example, one common type of altered document is a cheque in which the numbers have been changed to increase the amount drawn. A forged document is one that is created from scratch to masquerade as a valid document, or a valid document to which a page or pages has been added to alter the meaning or intent of the original document. Forensic document examiners use several methods to determine the validity of a questioned document. The first step is always to examine the document with the naked eye and under low magnification. A surprisingly large percentage of forgeries are so crudely done that the forgery is obvious even on cursory examination. If the document passes this first “sniff test,” forensic document examiners have many other tools available.

COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the term given to a group of diseases which affect the lungs. These include emphysema and chronic bronchitis. They are inflammatory diseases and will obstruct air flow to and from the lungs. There is no cure for COPD as it causes permanent lung damage. Treatment can slow down the progression of the condition. However, people with COPD are also at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer and other chronic illnesses. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Obesity is rising dramatically across the world. Since 1975 it is estimated that the number of obese people has almost tripled. One of the chronic diseases that is linked to obesity is type 2 diabetes. The dramatic rise in individuals suffering from this disease is causing a global medical emergency. In a world where our knowledge of the importance of diet and exercise is at a peak, the battle against being overweight is being lost. Scientists worldwide have attempted to find a link between obesity and genotype. Individuals vary greatly in their tendency to lay down fat in the body. This suggests that there is a genetic predisposition to fat storage. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

By not being exposed to agents that stimulate our immune system in infancy, we are at greater risk of developing inflammatory responses and autoimmune diseases in later life. Some scientists vigorously reject the hypothesis, arguing that the term hygiene hypothesis was potentially dangerous. This is because it might lead people to believe that they were too clean and would neglect their cleanliness. The simple message is that neglecting personal hygiene will not reduce allergies or autoimmune diseases but could lead to an increase in infectious diseases. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Sepsis is a condition which results from an uncontrolled and disorganised reaction of the body to an infection. If it is caught at an early stage, a combination of treatments can help to cure it. However, sepsis has the power to kill if left either undiagnosed or untreated. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

Hormones are chemical messengers that have a specific physiological effect in the body. Research suggests that hormones also have considerable influence on behaviour and emotion in both human and non-human animals. This supports the notion that behaviour and emotion have physiological origins. It is not appropriate, however, to say that hormones cause behaviour but that hormones influence behaviour. Research highlights the interaction between physiological factors and environmental stimuli, supporting a correlational effect. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)

There is evidence that, when the solar system was young, conditions on Mars and Venus may have been suitable for life. The surface of Mars has clearly been altered by water in the past and it may still exist deep underground. Venus is the nearest planet to Earth and is almost identical to Earth in both size and geological composition. Recent research has suggested that, long ago, Venus could have been Earth’s sister planet, complete with rivers and life. (With thanks to our sponsor 'Curriculum Press' for providing content for this podcast)