http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/disease Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:15:35 -0400 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:15:35 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1850/genetic-coevolution-transposable-elements-and-their-impact-on-disease-development-in-humans By Gillian K. McNeil - Transposable elements (TEs), also referred to as ‘jumping genes’, are sequences of DNA located in the eukaryotic genome that have the ability to mobilize. This functional mobilization allows TEs to insert at random positions throughout the genome. It is currently being investigated whether or not the genetic instability caused by these relocations has effectively promoted the development of diseases in human populations, including rare genetic conditions and various types of cancer. This paper will review the theorized system of evolution of TEs in the eukaryotic genome, and the potential... Mon, 14 Dec 2020 10:55 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1850/genetic-coevolution-transposable-elements-and-their-impact-on-disease-development-in-humans http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1807/the-keto-diet-and-long-term-weight-loss-is-it-a-safe-option By Natalya F. Giroux - The ketogenic diet, or keto diet for short, is a fad diet that has gained significant attention in recent years as a popular weight loss approach. The diet is characterized by a depletion of carbohydrates which in turn place the body in a state called ketosis. In this metabolic state, the body breaks down fat stores directly and produces ketones to be used as fuel, which correlates directly with the ability of the diet to induce rapid weight loss. Fierce debate surrounding the diet originates from mixed opinions of the diet’s safety and efficacy, especially in the long term, based on the... Thu, 01 Oct 2020 02:07 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1807/the-keto-diet-and-long-term-weight-loss-is-it-a-safe-option http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1748/studying-ancient-dna-to-understand-contemporary-disease By Wafaa Khatau - The study of DNA and genetics has always been a large mystery to many scientists. The current Ancient DNA (aDNA) research on human history is more complex than what can be inferred from modern DNA research. Scientists and researchers are constantly using modern day populations, and modern DNA to make inferences about past populations (Haber et al., 2016). With the new technologies available in ancient DNA, the study of past diseases and populations is more easily conducted with little to no contamination. Studying aDNA does not only tell us about current and past disease, but can also shed light... Thu, 20 Dec 2018 12:07 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1748/studying-ancient-dna-to-understand-contemporary-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1507/genetics-pathology-and-potential-future-advances-in-the-study-of-huntingtons-disease By Matthew D. Rose - Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects around five people in every 100,000. It is caused by an increase in a polyglutamine region of the Huntingtin protein, resulting in a toxic gain of function mutation. However, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis, or even the exact role of the normal Huntingtin protein are not comprehensively understood. It is known that Huntingtin is ubiquitously expressed and has interactions with many different cellular components. Mutant Huntingtin has been extensively studied and its effects on cells noted but questions regarding... Tue, 13 Dec 2016 02:05 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1507/genetics-pathology-and-potential-future-advances-in-the-study-of-huntingtons-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1214/spatial-analysis-of-inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-south-carolina By Joshua E. Sellner - The etiology of IBD has yet to be definitively established. The most popular theory is the ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’ which points to a decrease of infections during adolescence leading to an increase of autoimmune diseases later in life, such as IBD(Okada, Kugn, Feillet, & Bach, 2010). While it is widely accepted that this may play an essential role in the development of IBD, many believe that it is but a small piece in the web of causation. A more comprehensive explanation may be a combination of an individual being genetically susceptible to the disease along with being exposed to... Mon, 12 Oct 2015 05:42 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1214/spatial-analysis-of-inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-south-carolina http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1091/interviews-of-college-students-with-siblings-who-have-genetic-diseases By Melanie DeArdo - There are more than 6,000 different genetic diseases manifested in 1/200 live births. These children are often part of a family with siblings. The purpose of the study was to learn through interviews the lived experience and needs among college students of siblings with genetic disease. The aims of the study: 1) explore the lived experience of the college-aged student in a family living with a genetic disease process, 2) learn how universities may support these students, and 3) identify nursing interventions that would benefit these siblings. A literature review shows limited research has been... Fri, 01 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1091/interviews-of-college-students-with-siblings-who-have-genetic-diseases http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/804/development-of-a-micro-integration-technique-for-the-fabrication-of-a-cell-fiber-scaffold-complex-in-heart-valve-tissue-engineering By Qi Jia - All clinically available heart valve prostheses, such as mechanical and bioprosthetic valves, are intrinsically flawed in that they are unable to grow and become a fully functional part of the native tissue. In response to this critical need for a better heart valve substitute, we aim to develop a multifunctional scaffold that ideally mimics a native heart valve in mechanical properties, serves as a growth factor and cytokine delivery vehicle, and supports cell attachment and proliferation through tissue engineering. An innovative technique known as micro-integration, involving simultaneous electrospraying... Fri, 22 Nov 2013 08:35 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/804/development-of-a-micro-integration-technique-for-the-fabrication-of-a-cell-fiber-scaffold-complex-in-heart-valve-tissue-engineering http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/800/the-contribution-of-hpg-axis-hormones-and-hormone-replacement-timing-on-cognition-and-associated-signaling By Jesal Shah - Many women experiencing menopause show cognitive function deficits and have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease (AD). While estrogen (E2) has been shown to improve cognition and improve molecular signaling associated with learning and memory, these effects are lost if estrogen replacement is not started within a critical time period, close to menopause onset. During menopause the ovaries no longer produce estrogen. Thus, the negative feedback of estrogen onto gonadotropin production is lost, and gonadotropins such as Luteinizing Hormone (LH) increase substantially. The downregulation... Thu, 21 Nov 2013 11:21 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/800/the-contribution-of-hpg-axis-hormones-and-hormone-replacement-timing-on-cognition-and-associated-signaling http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/203/neuropsychological-and-behavioural-aspects-of-huntingtons-disease By Heena Mulchandani - Huntington’s disease, one of several polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases, is a genetic disorder attributable to a single autosomal, dominant gene. HD is well known for being one of the first inherited genetic diseases for which an accurate test can be performed and as a result its genetic characteristics are now well known (Albin & Tagle, 1995). The test was facilitated in 1993 by the work of Nancy Wexler and a conglomerate of researchers, who, under the US-Venezuela HD Collaborative Research Project deduced the genetic make up of the HD gene. From analysis of the world’s largest HD... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:41 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/203/neuropsychological-and-behavioural-aspects-of-huntingtons-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/199/using-stem-cell-and-gene-therapy-technologies-to-treat-parkinsons-disease By Heena Mulchandani - The sudden onset of Parkinsonism in drug addicts consuming the heroin- analogue MPTP in the 1980’s, led to its discovery as a potential cause of sporadic PD; indeed several chemical agents such as Rotenone have also received considerable attention (2). Although its etiology is still incompletely understood, the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of PD has been hotly debated for decades. The recent discovery of at least five genes (such as a-synuclein and parkin (Park-2))(3) together with animal lesion models (6-OHDA, MPTP, Rotenone) and human post mortem tissue analysis has polarized belief... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/199/using-stem-cell-and-gene-therapy-technologies-to-treat-parkinsons-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/195/mitochondria-and-brain-disease By Heena Mulchandani - Mitochondria are eukaryotic, membrane-enclosed, 1-10um sized organelles, described as “cellular power plants” as they are responsible for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and oxidative phosporylation. Signal transduction (buffering and storage of intracellular calcium), control of cell cycle and cell growth, as well as programmed cell death (apoptosis) are other important homeostatic processes governed by mitochondria. It is not surprising therefore that, despite extensive research efforts at elucidating the still un-established pathophysiology of neurological disease... Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:39 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/195/mitochondria-and-brain-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/193/recent-advances-in-neural-stem-cell-research-how-stem-cells-in-the-brain-are-altered-by-a-changing-environment By Heena Mulchandani - Our current knowledge indicates that the production of new cells in the brain follows a multi-step process during which newborn cells are submitted to various regulatory factors that influence cell proliferation, maturation, fate determination and survival. Progenitor cells isolated from the forebrain can differentiate into neurons in vitro, as was demonstrated by Reynolds and Weiss in 1992 (Gage, 2000). Since then NSCs have been isolated from various areas of the adult brain, including non-neurogenic areas such as the spinal cord. Today we know that there are two discrete regions - the Subgranular... Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/193/recent-advances-in-neural-stem-cell-research-how-stem-cells-in-the-brain-are-altered-by-a-changing-environment