HIV Video

DON'T EAT MONKEYS!!!!!!! 

Can killing a wild animal give you HIV or AIDs?  Scientist Nathan Wolfe thinks he's figured this out.
 
In some countries people have resorted to killing wild animals for meat.  This is called "Bush Meat."  Most animals that live in the wild of rain forests have contracted HIV.  HIV does not affect animals as it does humans.  The animal is then skinned, causing the animals blood to contact the skin.  This contact with the blood may infect the skinner with HIV.  Wolfe has done research on these animals and informed the public in these countries what HIV is and how it is spread.  Wolfe has also created many research labs in these countries, as to get a better understanding of what species of animals are most likely to contract HIV.

I thought that this is awesome that someone is trying to prevent and or slow the pandemic of HIV.  HIV and AIDs is one of the leading killers in third world countries like Africa, and it’s great that there is at least one method of stopping it. 

Animal Testing

Should Chimpanzees be implanted with deadly viruses?  The article Chimps fate ignites debate, discusses this issue. 

The article states that in Alamogordo NM a Chimpanzee research facility has brought several unofficially retired chimps back into testing.  This has sprung up a lot of debate among the scientific community.  Most scientists believe that the chimps should return to testing and shouldn’t be allowed to retire.  Animal rights activists say that the chimps deserve retirement to a chimp sanctuary.

I think that the chimps should get to retire after a certain amount of testing.  One the chimps have a few months of testing they should be moved into a sanctuary and no longer able to be tested.  I also think that the chimps shouldn’t be taken from the wild but rather bred in the testing facility.  I don’t think it is right to take a wild animal into testing.

Organ Transplants

Last week in Biology we read an article on organ transplants.  The article was about criminals who were in jail, being able to get new organs.  I strongly disagree with the article because when you break the law you have given up the right to a new lung, kidney, heart, ect.  Although, crime is a very touchy subject.  I think that no one who has murdered someone or assaulted someone should be eligable for organ transplants.  On the otherhand someone who shoplifted a candy bar because they were hungry, I think that they should not be deprived of such a valuable item.  I think it all depends on the severity of the crime.  A simple shoplifting case (although shoplifting $2 million or something like that would not count) shouldn't count against a person in need of an organ.  Also if they have a record of criminal activity they do not diserve an organ.  I think they need to show signs of improvement towards a non-criminal lifestyle.

First Blog

I am Bryan and this is the first blog I've ever done so I'm still getting the hang of things.  Well, I live in Durango CO and go to Animas High School.  This year in biology we have been given the opportunity to blog about whats going on in class.  As far as I know we are going to do projects in bio and then blog about them, so this should be fun.  The purpose of this blog is to let the world know about what is happening in our bio class.  Such as disecting things, studying bees, or learning about cells.  I think that blogging about what we are doing in class is a great idea and I wish I could do this for every class.