STS ISSUES AND THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

scientists are taking advantage of the far reaching effects of hormones by genetically and artificially producing them to be used in a number of different ways.

this ability can have both positive and negative impacts on society. EX:

1. ANABOLIC STEROIDS:

similar in structure to Testosterone; they were originally created to treat patients with disorders affecting loss of muscle

now also being used by both male and female athletes to artificially increase muscle mass

side effects include: bloated faces, shriveled testes, infertility, liver damage and severe acne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17RjXYZwYh8

2. GROWTH HORMONE:

using Recombinant DNA Technology scientists are able to produce large quantities of GH to treat children with Dwarfism so normal size can be obtained

like anabolic steroids it can be used by athletes to increase muscle mass and size of the individual

Growth Hormone from other species has been produced in similar manner; this has had far reaching effects on the Agriculture Industry but affects on humans are as yet unknown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP1oRNQsrB4&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFPxmJC_nhU

Recombinant DNA Technology

this technology involves the copying of a human gene and the transplanting of this gene into another organism’s DNA (usually bacteria)

the bacteria can then be replicated and be stimulated to produce the hormone that the human gene codes for

The hormone can then be injected into an individual in need of it

DISORDERS OF THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Several technologies have been developed to help diagnose problems with the endocrine system:

1. SCANNING DEVICES:technologies like X-rays,

CT and MRI scans are various imaging techniques that are used to observe the basic structure of the endocrine glands without having to operate.

these are used to detect the presence of growths or tumors in or on the glands.

2. URINALYSIS: levels of hormones can be monitored over a time period by chemically analyzing the contents of the urine

hormones are excreted in the urine so both hypo and hypersecretion of hormones may be detected

this analysis is also used to detect for the presence of other chemicals that should not be present, like glucose in the case of Diabetes.

TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES

1. HORMONE THERAPY:

for many endocrine disorders, hormone therapy is the easiest and most efficient treatment

it involves the injection and sometimes the ingestion, of the deficient hormone directly into the blood stream for immediate use by the body.

the hormone is usually produced using Recombinant DNA Technology, both Diabetes and thyroid deficiencies are treated this way.

2. ISLET CELL TRANSPLANTS

this experimental technique involves the transplant of thousands of donor islet cells into patients suffering from diabetes

these donor cells if accepted by the body, will take over the functioning of the old cells and begin producing insulin

other endocrine glands that have non functioning cells may also be treated in the same manner.

the main concern with this treatment is where the donor cells are coming from.