Juvenile Diabetesand its Genetic roots

By Cole Eron + JB Brown

Blue Circle from <http://www.diabetesbluecircle.org/>

Background Information

What is Juvenile Diabetes?A form of diabetes that can have either environmental

or genetic roots.

What happens in the body if you have Juvenile Diabetes?

What happens is the cells start to attack each other in order stop the disease, which then leads to problems producing insulin.

What does insulin do for the body?It helps regulate blood sugar, which if it isn’t cared for

can cause other health problems (heart disease, blindness).

What are the symptoms?Some of the main symptoms are sleepiness, dry

mouth and urinating often.

Is it dangerous?If not treated, it can cause other health problems.

Driving Question?

Is it possible to cancel out the gene(s) that lead to developing Juvenile Diabetes?

?

From our Research.

We discovered that from what scientists know today, that it is currently impossible to cancel out the gene.

Are there any ways to stop the transfer of the gene(s)?

No, there are no current ways to cancel the gene(s), but scientists believe that taking these simple steps can help prevent it.

• Healthy Diet• Exercise• Good Hygiene• Not using Drugs and Alcohol

Is it worth continuing research toward a cure for Juvenile Diabetes?

Most scientists agree that research should be continued. If a cure were to be found it would be a great contribution towards society.

What are some reasons to continue the research?

Scientists have discovered many new things from their research.

• There are multiple traits that can lead to developing the disease.

• The traits are more common in people with European or North American Ancestry.

• The traits for Diabetes can be either recessive or dominant.

Some General Statistics about Juvenile Diabetes in America

• 25.8 million have Diabetes in the United States (8.3% of the population)

• 18.8 million diagnosed• 7 million undiagnosed• 79 million prediabetes• 1.9 million new cases in 2010 alone (20 yrs +)

Are there any new Technologies towards treating Diabetes?

There are a few new techniques such as the Islet transplants and the Biohybrid.

What is an Islet Transplant?

An islet transplant is the donation of healthy islet cells from a donor to a person with diabetes. The unhealthy islet cells in a diabetics body are attacked by others, which leads to problems producing insulin. The transplant of these helps the body produce more insulin on its own. Scientists believe that this may help the person produce insulin normally.

What is a Biohybrid?

A Biohybrid is a device which contains insulin producing cells to be put in the body. The device is placed under the skin and is only about the size of a grain of rice. This technology is currently still under testing like the Islet transplant, but doctors, scientists, and patients are hoping for the best.

An image of a Biohybrid in the palm of a scientist.

Biohybrid image from <http://www.diabetesresearch.org/page.aspx?pid=734>

What do you think about continuing research towards

a cure for Diabetes?

Pictures

"Biohybrid Devices & Technologies: Implantable." Leading the World to a Cure for Diabetes: Diabetes Research

Institute. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. <http://www.diabetesresearch.org/page.aspx?pid=734>.

Diabetes Blue Circle Symbol. Web. 11 Mar. 2011. <http://www.diabetesbluecircle.org/>.

Notes and Other Files

• Juvenile Diabetes Notes Science.docx • notes.docx• Juvenile Diabetes WC Science.docx

Credits

Thanks to Kato’s Cajun for making this whole PowerPoint possible.

We would like to thank Mrs. Vrieze and Ms. Penner for her help with this project and for being an amazing Science teacher.