Review Of Dr. Sharon Moalem's 'Survival Of The Sickest'

"Why would genes that make people sick still be in the gene pool after millions of years?" Survival of the Sickest by Dr. Sharon Moalem with Jonathan Prince explains how diseases have a purpose in human survival, they are the tools that aided the human evolutionary process. The diseases were a contribution to the human evolutionary process. A collection of different cases and scientific research support the authors' hypothesis on the connection between certain diseases that plague us in modern times and the adaptability of our ancestors in contact with these diseases. The book begins with the introduction of a man named Aram Gordon. He was diagnosed with hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is, “a hereditary disease that disrupts the way the
The full scientific name is diabetes mellitus—which literally means “passing through honey sweet.” [3] Diabetes revolves around the gluscoes in someones body. Glucose is a monosaccharide, it was broken down from carbohydrates that the body consumes. It is essential for survival as it, "provides fuel for the brain; it’s required to manufacture proteins; it’s what we use to make energy when we need it." [3] The pancreas produces hormone called insulin to store the glucose for future use. "People with diabetes have high blood sugar because their body cannot move sugar... to be stored for energy. This is because their pancreas does not make enough insulin or/and their cells do not respond to insulin normally." [4] Diabetes can cause several symptoms like, blurry vision, excess thirst, fatigue, hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, and eye problems. Diabetes can affect the circulatory system, the kidneys, the feet, the nerves, and the reproductive system. There is a increased chance of heart attacks and strokes due to the thickening of blood vessel. [4] There are two of the most major types called , Type 1 and Type 2. Commonly they are called juvenile diabetes and adult-onset diabetes for the age demographic it is usually diagnosed in. Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it is most often diagnosed in children, teens, or young adults. In this type, the body makes little or no insulin so daily injections of
It was named after fava beans. The Greek scholar Pythagoras gave a warning to "Avoid fava beans." These beans were used as ballots at the time so he could have been stating to avoid politics. There is also a different theory, " Pythagoras was just worried his students would eat too many beans and, well, pass too much gas."[5] Many legends revolved around these beans. A cult called Orphics had believed those beans contained the soul of the dead. "Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency (Favism) is a hereditary condition in which red blood cells break down when the body is exposed to certain drugs or the stress of infection." A person with this condition will not display any signs of the disease until their red blood cells are exposed to certain chemicals, or to stress. Symptoms are more are seen in men and they are, "Darkened urine, Enlarged spleen, Fatigue, Pallor, Rapid heart rate, Shortness of breath, Yellow skin color (jaundice)." [6] It was first unearthed during the Korean War in the 1950's. In that time period malaria was common in Korea. The soldiers were given drugs to protect themselves from malaria. Certain soldiers experienced anemia and some had their red blood cells literally bursting. They lacked the correct amount of the enzyme G6PD. G6PD get rid of free radicals so they don't create problems. Free Radicals are unpaired