Are traditions important?

   Traditions are big human knowledge, what we must remember and continue. In my opinion it's important to continue traditions of our families, because they were taking place long ago. Traditions are part of history, they say us where we came from.

Biotechnology

BIOTECHNOLOGY

http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/forget-meds-new-implants-could-deliver-meds-131020.htm

Forget Shots - New Implants Could Deliver Meds

If you’re diabetic or have Pernicious anemia you have to manage injections, sometimes daily. Now there’s hope for treating such chronic diseases via implants powered by nothing more than light-triggered engineered cells.

The implants could also monitor toxins in the body in real time, providing long-term health data — either warning you to take your heart meds or even administering the meds themselves.

5 Major Advances in Robotic Prosthetics

The technology, reported in the journal Nature Photonics, consists of transparent polymer implants. Each implant has genetically modified cells in it that activate in response to light. The cells can be programmed to release chemicals. 

Myunghwan Choi and Seok Yun led a joint Harvard University and University of Toronto team to build a set of implants made of hydrogel, a polymer material that is compatible with tissue. Each hydrogel implant was 4 millimeters by 40 millimeters, and only a millimeter thick. The patches were loaded up with cells engineered to respond to light.

Choi and Yun demonstrated the implants in two ways. In one experiment they used them to deliver insulin, and in another they were toxin detectors.

The insulin system was used on diabetic mice. The scientists sent blue light through an optical fiber to the implant, inducing the cells in the implant to make a protein that stimulates insulin production.

Artist Implants Chip For GIF Tattoo

For the toxin detection, the engineered cells emitted green light in the presence of heavy metals. By measuring the light levels from the implant, they could see how much heavy metal was present.

There is still work to be done before it gets to local clinics. First, the cells have to be taken from the host — otherwise there is the risk of immune reactions. Also, the transmission of light through the hydrogel has to be extended — humans are bigger than mice. Third, it will take time to discover how porous the hydrogels should be in order to best deliver the kinds of drugs necessary. 

If that happens, one day our bodies could be networked as much as our devices.

OCT 20, 2013 01:00 PM ET // BY JESSE EMSPAK

TASK 1 Read the text and choose a correct answers.

1) What could implants also monitor?

a) pesticides in the air

b) toxins in the body in real time

2) Can this technology help you if you are diabetic and Pernicious anemia ?

a) Yes, only if you are diabetic.

b) Yes, only if you have Pernicious anemia.

c) No

d) Yes.

3) Who were Myunghwan Choi and Seok Yun?

a) doctors from a joint team

b) technologists from a joint team

c) policemen from a joint team

4) How many experiments had Choi and Yun?

a) 2

b) 3

c) 4

5) Does protein stimulate insulin production?

a) Yes

b) No

6) Is this technology finished?

a) No, it's fail.

b) No, there is still work to be done before it gets to local clinics.

7) Where from are Choi and Yun? (2 answers)

a) From Harvard University

b) From University of Denver

c) From University of Toronto

8) How many major advantages are there in Robotic Prosthetics?

a) 3

b) 5

c) 7

Biotechnology

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