Use the resources below to answer the following questions

1)What is radiation?  What are the wavelengths of UV radiation from sunlight?

2)What is carcinogenesis? How does too much exposure to UV radiation lead to carinogenesis?

3)Who is Bert Vogelstein?  How many citations does he have? What does he say are the ways to eliminate cancer?

4)Which wavelengths of light do plants absorb? For what purpose?  What makes plants green?

5)Which Group 2 metal is and important component of chlorophyll?  What is its oxidation state and what role does it play in the structure of chlorophyll?

6)Who is Bruce Ames?  How many publications does he have?  

7)Which micronutrient is a Group 2 metal and also missing in many people's diets?  Which age related diseases are negative consequences of this specific micronutrient deficiency?  

1. What is his triage theory of aging?
2. What are some key roles for this Group 2 metal in the cell?
3. What is the best way to get the Group 2 metal micronutrient into the diet?

 

1)Radiation, or radiant enrgy, is the emission of energy in the form of particles or waves that travels in the speed of light. The UV radiation from sunlight that we are exposed to is mainly in the bands of UV A (315-400 nm), and a lesser component of UV B (280-315 nm).

2)Carcinogenesis is initiated by a non-lethal genetic damage which can lead to a gain-of-function, loss-of-function or inappropriate regulation of genes which leads to tumor formation. It is a multistep process in which a normal cell or tissue becomes malignant because of genetic damage. UV radiation causes DNA damage by formation of pyrimidine dimers, formation of single or double strand breaks or cross linking of DNA strands, and mismatch of base pairs.

3)Bert Vogelstein is a medical doctor and scientist who first expounded on the molecular basis of colorectal cancer. He has published nearly 500 research papers, and his studies have been cited around 400,000 times. Avoidance of risk factors, detection of hereditary gene mutations that make a person likely to have a certain type of cancer and early detection and treatment of cancer give cancer patients a better outcome. His studies which have elucidated the tumor suppressor genes and other factors that cause carcinogenesis have been the basis of creating drugs that help mediate these pathways to prevent further spread of cancer.

4)Plants contain chlorophyll, a molecule which has the basic structure of a porphoryin ring which absorbs sunlight in order to use it for synthesis of carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide. Chlorophyll a is the most abundant chlorophyll in plants, which absorbs light at wavelengths of 430nm(blue) and 662nm(red). This reflects as green light which imparts a green color to plants.

5)Magnesium, Mg2+, is an important component of chlorophyll. It is the central atom in the tetrapyrrole ring in chlorophyll A and B.

1. Bruce Ames is biochemist ang geneticist who developed the Ames test for chemical mutagens. He has over 550 publications.
2. Magnesium is a group II metal that is often deficient in people's diets. Magnesium deficiency leads to mitochondrial damage and eventually premature senescence of cells; diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis and even colorectal cancer are associated with magnesium deficiency.
3. Bruce Ames' Triage Theory of Aging postulates that micronutrient deficiency causes subtle but accumulating damage on cells that accelerates age-related chronic conditions. When micronutrient availability is limited or deficient, cell functions for short term survival are prioritized, thus nutrient requirements for long term survival of cells are not met.
4. Magnesium is a cofactor of almost 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, binds to ATP in kinase reactions, affects neuromuscular transmission. Thus it is required for glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.
5. Green leafy vegetables, nuts and beans are rich sources of magnesium. Cereals and other wheat products are often fortified with magnesium.