Fava Beans and Paleontology Project

In class 9/26/13, we reviewed chapter 4 of Survival of the Sickest. Chapter 4 was about Favism, the most common enzyme deficiency in the world, 400 million people are affected by it. Favism is most common and deadly in North Africa and Southern Europe, around the Mediterranean Sea. Favism is carried on the X chromosome, making it more common in men because they have XY chromosome, while women have XX chromosome. If Favism affects one X chromosome, women still have another X chromosome, while men only have one X chromosome.

 

            Favism is a G6PD deficiency, caused by eating fava beans. Fava beans are mad of two sugar compounds: Convicine and Vicine. Which produces free radicals(unpaired electrons) that attack red blood cells and burst them, and produces hydrogen peroxide. This can lead to hemolytic anemia and sometimes death.

 

 

            The G6PD deficiency  carried in people with Favism, is due to evolution to fight Malaria which is prevalent around the Mediterranean Sea. Malaria is a deadly disease transmitted through mosquitos with parasites. The G6PD deficiency is an advantage because it makes red blood cells less hospitable for Malaria, and reduces their chances of getting Malaria and Malaria seeks healthy red blood cells.

 

 

Malaria and red blood cells

            Plants develop toxins to defend against predators, so they can survive and reproduce. For example, the Cassava plant, when eaten raw produces cyanide which can be fatal. Another example are Nightshades ( spicy peppers), Nightshades produce Capsaicin, a sticky poison which cannot be dissolved in water. The last example is the Jimsonweed, the Jimson weed produces chemicals which can cause hallucinations.

 

 

Cassava Plant

            In class, we also chose the organism for our Paleontology project. My partner and I chose Hippocampus Sarmaticus( early seahorse) and for the rest of the class period we researched the organism.