Day Four

John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science

Back at the MHMS for one more day. Dr. Craig Hanis presented and showed a Powerpoint slide show on diabetes awareness and prevention.

Dr. Hanis discussed the two types of diabetes, the genetic and environmental causes of both types, current research and treatment, and his own research in Star County, Texas, which has one of the highest per capita rates of diabetes in the nation. His research had been highlighted in a recent national news stories, which was also discussed. Participants were especially interested in this discussion, given the diets of today's middle schoolers.

Dr. Hanis's recommended websites:

http://www.uthouston.edu/distinctions/archive/2001/oct/diabetes.htm

http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/10_15_00/page_12.html

http://www.hhmi.org/news/bell2.html

http://www.businessweek.com/1996/26/b3481123.htm

After lunch, Dr. Norman Weisbrodt presented Frontiers in Physiology: The Neural Network, which included information from Day Two's dissections of the brain. His presentation focused on the differences between reflex and reactions. To begin with, he showed short segments of the film Jurassic Park, and participants listed as many responses as they could. Dr. Weisbrodt then went through them and pointed out which ones were reflexes and which ones were reactions, and some that were both depending on the situation and conditioning. It was a very interesting discussion, and the participants asked lots of very good questions. The day ended with Dr. Weisbrodt handing out the Frontiers in Physiology packet, discussing some of the labs and materials in the packet, and describing how they can be done in the classroom.

Dr. Weisbrodt's recommended websites:

http://www.the-aps.org/education/frontiers/

http://www.enc.org/resources/records/0,1240,020201,00.shtm