2021 Issues

Statement: The elderly, infants and people with a compromised immune system are at the highest risk for COVID-19.

Explanation: The weakened immune system of the elderly, infants and people with a compromised immune system puts them at the highest risk for experiencing severe symptoms of COVID-19. The immune system is the part of the body that protects you from bacteria, viruses, and other harmful organisms. When it weakens, your body becomes an easy target. As you age, the system reacts slower, and fewer white blood cells respond. Infants do not have a fully developed immune system yet, so the virus can easily cause significant damage. A person with a compromised immune system, regardless of age, can’t protect themselves. To protect these people, remember to wear a mask and only leave the house if necessary.

Metaphor: Think of a life cycle. A person is most vulnerable physically when the person is an infant and old age. This is the same concept. The strength of immunity is at its weakest when the person is an infant or an elderly.

References:

The Immune System. Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/the-immune-system#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20immune%20system,and%20proteins%20that%20work%20together. Jan 1, 2021.

Pagan Noe Camille. How Aging Affects Your Immune System. WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/seniors-boost-immunity. Jan 1, 2021.

How your baby’s immune system develops. Preganacybirth&baby, July 2019, https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/how-your-babys-immune-system-develops. Jan 1, 2021

Statement: The vaccine uses mRNA to produce the virus protein and train the body.

Explanation: The vaccine contains different parts of the virus. Once the body detects the virus, it starts attacking. Specific cells remember the virus, and if you get infected, your body can quickly get rid of it.

So what about the COVID-19 vaccine?

This vaccine uses a protein from the virus, but instead of directly using this protein, they use mRNA. The mRNA causes your cells to create the virus protein. Then your body will attack, remember, and be ready for the next time.

Metaphor: Think of a training lesson. When training, you remember what you are doing, so when you actually do it, you know what to do. This is the same concept. A white blood cell gets trained by the proteins, so when a real virus infects you, it remembers and easily gets rid of it.

References:

Hanson, Joe. “Inside the Lab That Invented the COVID-19 Vaccine.” Youtube, uploaded by It’s Okay To Be Smart, 8 Dec 2020,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-92HQA0GcI8.

Types of Vaccine. Oxford vaccine group, Jan 3rd, 2020, https://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/types-of-vaccine#:~:text=Inactivated%20vaccines,sugars%2C%20which%20cannot%20cause%20disease.

How Vaccines Work. PublicHealth, https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/understanding-vaccines/vaccines-work/.

Statement: DNA and RNA’s structure seems to be the same, but are actually very different.

Explanation: The makeup is one of the main differences between DNA and RNA. DNA is a double-stranded molecule, meaning it’s composed of 2 strands that run opposite to each other in a helix. RNA, on the other hand, is single-stranded, meaning it only has 1 strand. These molecules’ building blocks are called nucleotides. The nucleotides are made of sugar molecules and nitrogenous bases. The sugar molecules in DNA and RNA differ. DNA is made of the sugar deoxyribose while RNA is made of the sugar ribose. The nitrogenous bases are also different. While both DNA and RNA have the bases adenine, guanine, and cytosine, DNA consists of thymine, and RNA substitute thymine for uracil. The structure of DNA and RNA seems the same but is one of the main distinguishers.

Metaphor: Think of a tortoise and a turtle. Turtles and tortoises appear to be the same, but they are very different. This is the same concept. DNA and RNA may seem to be the same but are vastly different.

References:

Ruairi J Mackenzie, Genetic Research from Technology Networks, December 18th 2020,

https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/lists/what-are-the-key-differences-between-dna-and-rna-296719, February 8, 2021

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Thoughtco, Dotdash, February 2, 2020, https://www.thoughtco.com/dna-versus-rna-608191, February 9, 2021

Genetic Education, October 25, 2020, https://geneticeducation.co.in/dna-vs-rna-differences-and-similarities/ , February 9, 2021

Kevin Beck, Sciencing, Leaf Group, April 23 2019, https://sciencing.com/dna-vs-rna-what-are-the-similarities-differences-with-diagram-13718421.html

February 9, 2021

Diffen, Mediavine Food, https://www.diffen.com/difference/DNA_vs_RNA , February 9 2021

Statement: The COVID-19 vaccines are given to the ones with the highest likely chance of contracting the virus.

Explanation: Each state will distribute the vaccines in its own way, but there is a similar structure. The first group receiving the vaccines are health-care workers and first responders. Next are people with underlying diseases that make them high risk. Then people with a high risk of exposure, such as school teachers and workers at homeless shelters. Children and essential service workers will be next. And finally any remaining residents.

This is the order because the people who have the highest likely chance of being exposed to COVID-19 will need the protection the most.

Metaphor: Think of protecting beach residents first in a hurricane. During a hurricane, you save the people on the beach first because they have a higher likelihood of being damaged than people more inland. This is the same concept. You give the vaccine to people who are more likely to get infected by COVID-19 first than the ones that aren’t.

Reference:

Subbaraman, Nidhi. Who gets a COVID vaccine first? Access plans are taking shape. Nature, https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02684-9. February 25th, 2021

Statement: Proteins are the main workers of the human body.

Explanation: Proteins are essential to a healthy functioning human. The many different proteins found in your body are all made up of only 20 types of amino acids put in different combinations. The amino acids are created and put together into a chain by mRNA. Some proteins can also be absorbed into the body through food consumption. But regardless of where the proteins came from, they are the main workers of the body. The uses of proteins range from growth and repair, strengthening the nervous system, and coding for the human’s genetic makeup. Proteins are what keeps our body running correctly.

Metaphor: Think of workers in a factory. Without the workers, the factory will not run properly. The workers are essential for making the factory work. This is the same concept. Without proteins, the body will not work properly. The proteins are essential for making the human body run properly.

Reference:

Proteins – what they are and how they’re made- https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1901-proteins-what-they-are-and-how-they-re-made#:~:text=Proteins%20are%20the%20key%20working,RNA%20is%20translated%20into%20protein.

Statement: Vaccines are important because it helps control and eliminate the virus.

Explanation: Vaccinating is important because it can control and eliminate the viruses. For example, before the Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine, millions of people got infected every year. However, after years of vaccinating the population, the virus was eliminated. We can see this in present events too. For example, COVID-19 is controlled and, with hope, will be eliminated using a vaccine. In the long term, vaccines can help us eliminate certain viruses from the population.

Metaphor: Think of bug spray. The spray is used to control the bugs by preventing them from infesting a house. This is the same with a vaccine. The vaccine is used to control the virus by preventing it from infecting the body.

References:

MMR vaccine-Vaccine Knowledge Project: Medical Content reviewed by Professor - Andrew Pollardhttps://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/mmr-vaccine#:~:text=MMR%20vaccines%20contain%20live%20measles,cause%20disease%20in%20healthy%20people.

Center For Disease Control: Measles (Rubella) Authorized by: U.S Department of Health and Human Services https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html

Vaccines: The Basics: Center For Disease Control and Prevention-U.S Department of Health & Human Services

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vpd-vac-basics.html

Covid 19 Pfizer Vaccine information: UAB News What you need to know about the pfizer Covid-19 vaccinehttps://www.uab.edu/news/youcanuse/item/11758-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine

Covid 19 Pfizer Vaccine information: Information abouit the pfizer covid 19 vaccine https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Pfizer-BioNTech.html

Statement: Children’s minds are more susceptible to influence than adults due to their still-developing brain.

Explanation: It’s a pretty common fact that the minds of children are not fully developed when compared to adults, but why? The part of the brain in charge of decision making, located in the front, does not start developing until puberty. During the development of the adolescent’s mind, the brain is more flexible to its environment. In other words, their minds can be influenced easier than adults. Hence, the reason children have a more difficult time judging situations and are very easily swayed in doing things, regardless of whether it’s good or bad.

Metaphor: Think of making a clay pot. Before cooking the clay, the clay is flexible and you can mold it into any shape you want. Once you cook the clay, it’s hard and not flexible anymore. The brain is similar to this. The children’s brain can be molded and is flexible, but once you become an adult and your brain develops it is harder to mold.

References:

Maanvi Singh, NPR, North Carolina Public Radio, December 19th, 2019,

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/12/19/371679655/some-early-childhood-experiences-shape-adult-life-but-which March 4th, 2021

State University Education Encyclopedia, Web Solutions,

https://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/2212/Media-Influence-on-Children.html March 4th, 2021

CDC, Center for Disease Control, February 21st, 2021,

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/early-brain-development.html March 4th, 2021

National Center for biotechnology information, US National Library of Medicine,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53409/ March 5th, 2021

Kendra Cherry, Very Well Mind, Dotdash, November 27th, 2019,

https://www.verywellmind.com/experience-and-development-2795113 March 5th, 2021

Knoll, Leung, et al, National Center for biotechnology information, US National Library of Medicine, October 2017,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5614112/ March 5th, 2021

Statement: Yes, even with the Covid-19 vaccine, there is a chance that you can still spread the virus.

Explanation: Because the vaccine is so new, it is still unknown whether or not the vaccine stands in the way of transmitting the virus if one contracts it. This does not mean that the vaccines are illegitimate! They do help in preventing you to contract the COVID-19 and becoming severely sick. So, even if you get the vaccination, you can still have the potential to get the virus and then spread it to other people. Not everyone can get the vaccine yet, so it is advised to still take all precautions and measures against COVID-19 to protect those people at risk. Remember the 3Ws: Wear a mask, Wait 6 feet, and Wash your hands!

Metaphor: Think of wearing a raincoat. The raincoat will protect you from getting wet, but has a chance to spread the water to others (because if you touch a wet raincoat you’ll get wet). This is the same concept with the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine will protect you from the virus, but there is a chance to spread the virus to others.

References:

Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical school, Fully vaccinated against COVID-19? So, what can you safely do? https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19-so-what-can-you-safely-do-2021032522230

NBCChicago, Can You Spread Covid After Receiving Vaccine? https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/can-you-spread-covid-after-receiving-vaccine/2478894/

Cone Health, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine: 6 Facts You Should Know: https://www.conehealth.com/services/infectious-disease/johnson--johnson-covid-19-vaccine-6-facts-you-should-know/

Center for Disease control and prevention, Key Things To Know About Covid-19 Vaccines:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html

Statement: We get different seasons because of the Earth’s tilt and rotation around the sun.

Explanation: Many people think the seasons are due to how close the Earth is to the sun, but the proximity of the Earth to the sun is not the main reason. The main reason for the changing of seasons is the tilt of the Earth, allowing the planet to receive an uneven amount of sunlight; the side of the Earth facing the sun will get the most heat, and the side facing away from the sun will get the least amount of heat. The Earth’s rotation around the sun also causes each region to be heated for about 3 to 4 months. Because the entire globe isn’t heated at the same time and regions of the Earth are heated one at a time, we get these different seasons.

Metaphor: Think about walking around a campfire. As you walk around the campfire different parts of your body get warmed and at different degrees of heart. This is the same concept as the Earth. As the Earth rotates around the sun different parts gets warmed and at different temperatures, thus seasons.

References:

NASA Science Space Place, NASA, https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/seasons/en/ , April 6th, 2021

SciJinks, U.S. Government, https://scijinks.gov/earths-seasons/ , April 6th, 2021

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/changing-seasons , April 6th, 2021

National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, https://www.weather.gov/fsd/season , April 6th, 2021

Deanna Conners, Earth Sky, September 22, 2020, https://earthsky.org/earth/can-you-explain-why-earth-has-four-seasons , April 6th, 2021

Nola Taylor Redd, Live Science, Future US, March 22, 2016, https://www.livescience.com/25202-seasons.html , April 6th, 2021

Statement: A combination of the environment and genetics creates differences in our appearance.

Explanation: Differences in skin tone are controlled by our DNA and the environment our ancestors lived in. The color of your skin depends on the amount of melanin produced by your body. Melanin is a natural pigment that protects against the harmful effects of the sun’s rays and the amount produced is controlled by your DNA. People who have ancestors that lived in hotter climates typically have darker skin colors because of the need to have more protection against the sun. While people with ancestors who lived in colder climates typically have lighter skin colors because of the lack of sun. The variation is also caused when different races migrate or “mix” causing new genetic combinations to be formed (i.e., different skin tones). All in all, these differences are superficial, we are all human with the same mechanism to adapt to different environments, hence the variation in skin tones. No one should be treated any less because of their skin tone.

Metaphor: Think of different breeds of dogs. Dogs that originally lived in colder climates, like Siberian huskies, need to have more fur than, for example, a great dane, thus varied amounts of fur. This is the same with humans. People who live in colder climates need less melanin in their skin than people in warmer climates, thus varied skin tone.

References:

https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics/human-skin-color-variation/modern-human-diversity-skin-color

https://genetics.thetech.org/ask/ask377#:~:text=Eye%20color%20is%20the%20result,of%20pigment%20gives%20brown%20eyes.&text=All%20of%20the%20different%20shades%20of%20eye%20color%20happen%20the%20same%20way.

https://www.mrsec.psu.edu/content/dna-determines-your-appearance#:~:text=These%20pairs%20of%20genes%20then,given%20two%20sets%20of%20chromosomes.

https://udel.edu/~mcdonald/mythintro.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2014/09/18/why-do-human-faces-look-so-different-evolution-made-us-that-way/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2c8MCUHbo

Statement: There are many differences between the COVID-19 vaccines that are important to know before choosing a vaccine to take!

J & J:

• Needs only one dose

• Ages 18 or older

• Carrier Vaccine (Uses a deactivated virus to carry the genetic info into the body)

• FDA Approved (Emergency use)

• 72% Effective

Moderna:

• Two Doses (Second dose after 4 weeks, 28 days)

• Ages 12 and older

• mRNA Vaccine

• FDA Approved (Emergency Use)

• 94.1% Effective

Pfizer:

• Two Doses (Second dose after 3 weeks, 21 days)

• Ages 12 and older

• mRNA Vaccine

• FDA Approved (Emergency Use)

• 95% Effective

** This is just basic, surface level information! Make sure you fully understand each vaccine in order to choose one that fits you the best.

References:

Kathy Katella, Yale Medication, Yale University, May 7th, 2021, https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison, Accessed May 11th, 2021

Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine/comparing-vaccines, Accessed May 11th, 2021

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 23rd, 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines.html, Accessed May 11th, 2021

NBC 5 Chicago, March 1st, 2021, https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/pfizer-moderna-johnson-johnson-comparing-the-3-covid-vaccines-now-available/2450279/, Accessed May 11th 2021

Hilda Bastian, The Atlantic, March 7th, 2021, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/pfizer-moderna-and-johnson-johnson-vaccines-compared/618226/, Accessed May 11th, 2021

Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, March 16th, 2021, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/03/16/covid-vaccine-differences-moderna-pfizer-johnson/4671649001/, Accessed May 11th, 2021

Peter Burke, West Palm Beach TV (WPTV), Scripps Local Media, March 22th, 2021, https://www.wptv.com/coronavirus/understanding-different-covid-19-vaccines-authorized-for-emergency-use, Accessed May 11th, 2021

Molly Walker, MedPage Today, April 26th, 2021, https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/91489, Accessed May 11th, 2021

Statement: Your immune system attacks and remembers the contents of the COVID-19 vaccine allowing your body to attack faster and more efficiently if you get infected with the real virus.

Explanation: To understand what happens after the COVID-19 vaccination, you must know about the immune system. The immune system is the system in our body that attacks any invaders from hurting us. It’s made up of many different types of white blood cells (protectors of the body) and is very complex, so for the sake of simplicity I will only talk about only a few white blood cells in this process. Once the mRNA in the vaccine gets injected into the body, the mRNA turns into COVID-19 protein spikes. These spikes have antigens which are like tags that allow the body to know what is an intruder and what is not. The immune system detects these antigens and sends in many different white blood cells (WBC), such as macrophages (WBCs that swallow the intruder) to attack it. These WBCs leave behind the antigens, but digest everything else. The antigens are used to create WBCs called T-lymphocytes. These cells have a memory. It can “remember” the antigens, so that if there is ever a COVID-19 infection, your body will be able to work faster and more efficiently to get rid of the virus.

Metaphor: Think of learning a concept. When you are given a practice math worksheet, you learn how to do the math while working through the practice. Then next time you remember the math and can do it much faster. This is the same concept. Our body is given a practice round with the virus (the vaccine) and while the immune system attacks the spike proteins, our body learns how to attack it. Then if you get attacked by the real virus, your body remembers and can destroy it much faster.

References:

Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work. CDC, 27 May 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html. 5 July 2021.

Malcolm, Kelly. What Happens After You Get the COVID-19 Vaccine. Michigan Health, 20 January 2021, https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/what-happens-after-you-get-covid-19-vaccine. 5 July 2021.

How the immune system remembers viruses. ScienceDaily, 2 November 2020, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201102110039.htm. 5 July 2021.

Statement: Viruses and bacteria may seem to be very similar, but they have many significant differences.

Explanation: Venn Diagram

Virus:

Not alive: Because viruses can not reproduce on their own, they are not considered to be living.

Needs a host to reproduce: Viruses “hijacks” a host cell to make the cell reproduce the virus.

Diseases: Specific diseases such as common cold, influenza, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19 are all caused by viruses.

Bacteria:

Replicates through binary fission: Bacteria mainly replicate through binary fission. Binary fission is when a bacteria cell splits into two identical cells.

Can be treated by antibiotics: Antibiotics are specifically made to treat bacterial infections or diseases caused by bacteria.

Large: The average bacteria is 10 million times bigger than the average virus

Both:

Pathogenic: Pathogenic means a microorganism that causes diseases. Both viruses and bacteria cause disease.

Can be Beneficial: There are some viruses and bacteria that are actually good for us. For example, there are bacteria and viruses in our intestines that help us digest food and keep us healthy.

References:

Virus or Bacteria - What’s the difference. Mana Medical Associates, https://www.mana.md/virus-or-bacteria-whats-the-difference/. 4 August 2021.

What’s the difference between bacteria and viruses?. The University of Queensland Australia, 20 April 2020, https://imb.uq.edu.au/article/2020/04/difference-between-bacteria-and-viruses. 4 August 2021.

Ben-Joseph Elana. Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa. TeensHealth, March 2019, https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/care-about-germs.html. 6 August, 2021.

American Society for Microbiology. "Viruses: You've heard the bad; here's the good." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 April 2015, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150430170750.htm. 5 August 2021.

The Good That Viruses Do. Annual Reviews, September 2017, https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-vi-04-071217-100011. 5 August 2021.

Mathew Cynthia. Not All Viruses Are Bad For You. Here Are Some That Can Have a Protective Effect. Science Alert, 10 August 2019, https://www.sciencealert.com/not-all-viruses-are-bad-for-you-here-are-some-that-can-have-a-protective-effect. 6 August 2021.

Statement: Because of the unique combination of antigens and antibodies, blood type “O” is the universal donor and blood type “AB” is the universal recipient.

Explanation: First, you have to understand what antigens and antibodies are. Antigens are markers on the blood that tell the body what type it is. Antibodies are created by your immune system to fight off anything that is not recognized by your body. People with blood type “A” has “A” antigens and if they have blood type “B” they would have “B” antigens. If a person has blood type “AB”, they would have “AB” antigens and, finally, a person with blood type “O”, would have no antigens or no markers.

So what about antibodies? People with blood type “A” would produce “B” antibodies to make sure to only have “A” blood. The same goes with “B” type people; they have “A” antibodies. In the case of “AB” blood, there would be no antibodies because the body has both “A” and “B” antigens, so in other words, there is nothing that is unrecognized by the body. But, with “O” blood there would be both “A” and “B” antibodies because anything with an antigen should not be in this body.

So, what does this mean?

Since “O” blood has no antigens, it can be donated to anyone because there are no antigens for the recipient’s body to detect. This is why it is called the universal donor. And in the same train of thought, “AB” blood can receive any blood because there are no antibodies produced by the body to fight off foreign blood. This is where we get the name, universal recipient.

**More specifically O negative is the universal donor and AB positive is the universal recipient, but that delves into Rh Factor which would make this explanation even longer.

Metaphor: Think of mixing food coloring in water. When you mix water into a cup with blue food dye it doesn’t change color. When you mix other colored water into black colored water the black color won’t change. This is the same concept. Blood type O can be given to other blood types without any issues and blood type AB can receive any blood type with no issues.

References:

What is a Universal Blood Type?. American Red Cross, 08 Jan 2021, https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/what-is-a-universal-blood-type-0.html. 20 August 2021.

Chargé, Sophie and Hodgkinson, Kendra. Blood: the basics. Canadian Blood Services, https://professionaleducation.blood.ca/en/transfusion/publications/blood-basics. 21 August 2021.

Statement: A mix of dominant and recessive alleles from your parents allows for variation in your physical appearance.

Explanation: To answer this question, we need to understand genetics and how it works. For simplicity, I will talk about only a tiny part of genetics.

First, here is some vocabulary. An allele is a form of a gene. For example, a gene would be for eye color, and the alleles would be brown, blue, or green eye colors. These alleles could be either dominant or recessive, and we get one allele from each parent. Dominant alleles will always show if you have at least 1. Recessive alleles will only show if you have 2.

So what does this mean? Because of your genetics, you may not look like your parents.

For example, if two black-haired parents (1 dominant allele, black hair in this case, and 1 recessive allele, red hair in this case) have a child, they will still have a chance of having a red hair child because the parents both have a recessive red hair allele and can pass it on to the child, making the child have red hair.

However, hair color, height, and eye color are much more complicated because most of our traits are affected by multiple genes, not just one. But this explanation lays out the basics of genetics and how we differ from our parents.

Metaphor: Think of mixing colors. If you mix two different colors together, you’ll see one more than the other, depending on the strength of the colors. For example, if you mix black and yellow, it’ll stay black because black is stronger than yellow, but, if you mix yellow with yellow, the result would be obviously yellow. This is the same concept. Dominant alleles will mask the recessive alleles when you mix them and so you won’t know you have the recessive trait, but when you have two recessive alleles mixed together, it’ll show the recessive trait.

References:

“Mendelian Genetics.” Genetics Generation, 14 Feb. 2019, https://knowgenetics.org/mendelian-genetics.

“Mendelian Inheritance.” Genome.gov, https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Mendelian-Inheritance.

Statement: Carbohydrates are broken down first by the body then fats next if there are no more carbohydrates, so eating small amounts of carbohydrates forces your body to burn the fat first.

Explanation:

Breaking down carbohydrates and fats are two ways our body gets energy. But, our body will always use carbohydrates first before breaking down fats. This is because there is less storage space for carbs in your body, it’s easier to break down carbs than fats, and most of our bodies prefer glucose (the substance that comes from breaking down carbs) to fatty acids (the substance that comes from breaking down fats). So, being on a low-carb diet causes the body to not have enough energy from carbohydrates and is forced to use fats. This then results in burning fat and losing weight.

Metaphor: Think about warehouse storage. If warehouse A and warehouse B stores supplies and warehouse A is easier to get supplies from, then you’ll always use warehouse A. Only when warehouse A is empty will you go to the further warehouse: warehouse B. If warehouse A keeps getting restocked, you’ll never use warehouse B.

This is the same concept. The body will only use fat when there are no carbohydrates left to use, so if you keep eating carbohydrates you’ll never burn the fat. But, if you eat very few carbohydrates, your body will start burning those fats instead.

References:

“Carbohydrates: An Efficient Energy Source.” Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/nutraceutical/about/nutrition/sports-nutrition/essential-nutrients/carbohydrates.html.

“Why Do Our Bodies Burn Carbohydrates before Fat?” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf Group, https://www.livestrong.com/article/467835-why-do-our-bodies-burn-carbohydrates-before-fat/.

Libretexts. “4.4: The Functions of Carbohydrates in the Body.” Medicine LibreTexts, Libretexts, 27 July 2020, https://med.libretexts.org/Courses/Sierra_College/Sierra%3A_NUTF10_(Sheldon)/Text/04%3A_Carbohydrates/4.4%3A_The_Functions_of_Carbohydrates_in_the_Body.

Statement: Constant exposure to air pollution causes children to develop a high risk of different lung diseases.

Explanation:

Air pollution is defined as the presence of substances in the air that are harmful or poisonous. Smoke and dust are examples of these harmful substances, and they can come from cars, factories, or even wildfires. So how does this impact children?

Since children are still growing, constant exposure to air pollution can be dangerous to their lung health. Children can develop a high risk of, but not limited to, asthma, pneumonia (an infection of the lungs), and negative effects on their brain development. While this can impact people of all ages, babies and young children are more at risk because their breathing is faster, which causes them to take in more pollutants (substances that cause pollution).

What are some solutions?

Use less energy (turn off lights when not in use), switch to renewable energy (like solar panels), reduce emissions caused by road transportation (carpool, walk, or ride a bike).

References:

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/blogpost/young-and-old-air-pollution-affects-most-vulnerable

https://bmcurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12894-020-00710-6

https://www.cdc.gov/air/particulate_matter.html

https://www.childinthecity.org/2019/02/01/air-pollutions-devastating-impact-on-childrens-health/?gdpr=accept

https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/risks-to-childrens-lungs/air-pollution

https://www.who.int/news/item/29-10-2018-more-than-90-of-the-worlds-children-breathe-toxic-air-every-day