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Adrenal Gland
The adrenal glands are found on top of the kidneys. These glands interact with the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, both found in the brain, to secrete hormones that assist in regulating metabolism and stress. Adrenal glands can be divided into the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla. The adrenal cortex secretes hormones that regulate metabolism whereas the latter secretes hormones epinephrine and norepinphrine.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
The hormone ACTH or Adrenocorticotropic hormone, through a series of complex processes, regulates the secretion of glucocorticoids – another hormone in humans that assists with metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.
Alpha Cell
Like beta cells, alpha cells are found in the pancreas. When the blood glucose level dips too low, the body tells alpha cells to make and release a hormone called glucagon, which travels to and tells the liver to release glucose into the blood for energy.
Beta Cells
Beta cells are cells that can produce insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood, very quickly when glucose levels spike. These beta cells that are found in the pancreas are important as extreme levels of glucose can be fatal. A chronic loss of beta cells leads to abnormal glucose levels, resulting in Type 1 diabetes, a disease that is usually found in children and young adults.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone that all humans produce in their adrenal cortex (on the edge of the adrenal glands). Although all the physiological elements of cortisol have not been determined, this hormone is known as a regulator of energy. It performs this duty by directing the body to utilize the correct fuel for the particular situation. Cortisol also directs the maturation of certain fat cells and is a immune suppressant during stressful situations.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that communicates signals from a neuron to a specific cell. As such, It is involved in many neural processes including movement control, emotions, sleep, attention and the experience of pain or pleasure. Although research regarding dopamine and its role in human psychology is not yet extensive, preliminary research and hypotheses suggest that dopamine concentrations effect an individual’s personality.
Eicosanoids
Eicosanoids are a family of hormones that participate in communication between cells also known as intercellular communication. Hormones within this family perform many different duties and are involved in almost all physiological processes. One particularly important process that eicosanoids participate in is water re-absorption by the kidneys. The eicosanoid hormone regulates whether water is reabsorbed and the amount.
Epinephrine (Adrenaline)
When a human finds her- or himself under emotional or physical stress, the brain of the individual signals the adrenal glands to secrete the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. This hormone makes the heart rate increase, which in turn increases oxygen circulation to muscles. With more oxygen, muscles are able to react faster. This is one physiological process that epinephrine facilitates. Researchers are currently determining other processes that this hormone is engaged in.
Fibrocartilage
Fibrocartilage is a tissue made up of other tissues and collagen. Certain forms of this tissue can repair not only itself but different cartilages and bones.
Glucocorticoids
Glucocorticoids are 21-carbon corticosteroids produced by the adrenal cortex (on the edge of the adrenal glands). They affect carbohydrate and protein metabolism, as well as water and electrolyte balance. These molecules have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activity. Some of their actions are at the level of gene regulation.
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that delivers oxygen from the lungs to other tissues. Interestingly, hemoglobin is identical among all humans. As blood types are formed by the difference in the membrane of the blood cells and the hemoglobin is inside the membrane, even if individuals have different blood types, their hemoglobin are identical.
Mineralocorticoids
Mineralocorticoids are hormones that regulate the concentration of minerals in the body. Similar to eicosanoids, which regulate water re-absorption in the kidneys, certain mineralocorticoids regulate sodium re-absorption in the kidneys. Mineralocorticoids are produced in the adrenal glands and their secretion is regulated by other hormones such as ACTH through complex feedback systems.
Mirror Neurons
Mirror neurons are neurons that mirror the emotional and physical experiences of others within oneself. Located in frontal lobe of the brain, they help us learn new tasks and recognize familiar ones others do. They allow people and animals to personally experience what they see others doing such as smiling or crying. Although research is still in development it appears that the system of mirror neurons is the basis for the ability to empathize.
Myocytes
There are various forms of myocytes in a human body. Of these a particularly fascinating myocyte is the cardiac myocyte. These cells “beat” individually during the initial stages of embryonic development. However, after a few days the individually cells form into a connected sheet of myoctye cells and beat together in unison.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most ‘abundant’ cells found in the blood stream. Although there are proportionately fewer neutrophils in the blood, most of these cells are recruited in the bone marrow, they perform a crucial task: to defend the body against infections and inflammation. Nuetrophils accomplish this by phagocytosis, the process of cells consuming other particles.
Norepinphrine
Norepinphrine is a hormone very similar to epinephrine (AKA adrenaline). The two hormones are secreted by the adrenal glands, specifically the adrenal medulla, as a response to emotional or physical stress. They both inhibit ‘non-essential’ processes and increase metabolic rates. Norepinphrine in particular constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure.
Oxytocin
A recent study of oxytocin found that people that were administered more of this hormone exhibited a marked increase in trusting other people. Oxytocin has been considered a hormone related to bonding among humans. According to the experiment, oxytocin facilitates the process of ‘prosocial behavior’ or bonding by mitigating ‘trust obstacles such as betrayal aversion’ in humans. It does not necessarily direct a human to bond but removes ‘obstacles’ to forming relationships. This discovery could be utilized to develop treatments for mental disorders that have anti-social symptomes.
Progesterone
Both males and females produce the hormone progesterone. This hormone, like most other hormones, performs a number of different duties in the body. The most commonly identified process that progesterone is connected with are menstrual cycles. The concentration of progesterone generally indicates what phase of the reproductive cycle a woman is in. Although all the abilities of progesterone are not known yet, some scientists claim that this hormone can improve memory and other mental functions.
Race and Genetics
Following the completion of the Human Genome Project, the theory of race as a biologically validated concept was strongly disavowed by the scientific community.
Same Genes
Genes are the basic physical and functional units of heredity contained in cellular structures called chromosomes. Genes are specific sequences of DNA bases that encode instructions on how to make proteins. Genes comprise only about 2% of the human genome, an organism’s complete set of DNA.
Testosterone
Testosterone is a hormone secreted in the reproductive organs of both men and women. It is involved in many different biological processes such as muscle development and development of male reproductive organs.
The Same DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
DNA from all organisms is made up of the same chemical and physical components. DNA molecules are shaped like a twisted ladder (“double helix”). Each rung/step is made up of a Base pair of nucleotide (molecules) bases, either A (Adenine) and T (Thymine) or C (Cytosine) and G (Guanine)). These Base pairs are held together by a band of Sugar phosphate on either end. The DNA sequence is a particular side-by-side arrangement of bases (half of the ladder) along the DNA strand (e.g., ATTCCGGA). The genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA.
Thrombocytes (blood platelets)
Thrombocytes or blood platelets are small pieces of platelet cells. They are the smallest blood cells, averaging 2-4 microns in diameter. Their main role is to repair tears in blood vessels. While these tiny particles conduct a very important role in the human body, thrombocytes survive for only a few weeks before macrophages remove them from circulation.
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this is a very commendable effort and I’d like to point you to a really long list of human universals put together by anthropologists. There are a lot of gems in it, please go dive at http://condor.depaul.edu/~mfiddler/hyphen/humunivers.htm
I learned about it through the work of Steven Pinker, who I recommend to you. His “Blank Slate” and “How the Mind Works” were extremely revealing to me and could help your mission as it focuses on what we all share as human beings.
Finally, one universal you don’t include in your Genetics part is the ability to mix genes and reproduce with any able member of the other sex. That’s the ultimate test of a species and what keeps us as a big family (I would include “We all come, eventually, from Africa” as a neat universal, even if it appears that we borrowed some genes from european Neanderthals..).
Best luck with your efforts!
david ’08
Thank you, David, for these suggestions!!
I’ve incorporated the list from Donald Brown to this one here.
All the best,
Wendy
Nice website! I enjoy a few of the articles which were written, and especially the comments posted! I will definately be visiting again!
Thank you for your support, Sid!
Best,
Wendy
Your work has always been a great source of inspiration for me. I refer you blog to many of my friends as well.
Awesome stuff. You made a really nice compilation. Thanks!
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Thanks, Xavier!
Wendy
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the basic ethical values are important, the quest for freedom of expression and creativity, the quest for excellence, respect for individual rights and authorship, pride and dignity, memory and heritage …. all contained within the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. we know that politicians often only pay lipservice to this important document….often more so in the so-called developing world, we also observe these values are made visible in the visual arts (excluding propaganda, curio ceremonial and traditional arts which be default is exclusive) as can observed in most public art collections and which speaks to all of humanity….we further know that humanity often only believe in that which they can see/observe, while that which remains invisible we either fear or disbelief…we further know that societies that do not respect human rights are often the same societies that supress the arts……
very good post. thank you for sharing!
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Thank you. I’m glad you find it useful. 🙂