Similarities Between Their Deaths: A Case Study
After reviewing the case study and each individual, I was able to distinguish a few similarities between their deaths. The symptoms that most patient’s exhibited were a headache, confusion, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, dizziness, and vomiting (Gazdik, 2010). Another similarity between the individuals was that most of their deaths occurred within a few hours of their symptoms and were very rapid (Gazdik, 2010). A connection between the seven individuals is that they all resided in the same neighborhood and/or family (Gazdik, 2010).
The function of the cell that looked like it was interrupted was cellular respiration, which is a function of the mitochondria. Cellular respiration is defined as the process of cellular level breathing,
where the cells use oxygen and glucose to create energy(Science, n.d.). This is done via oxygen and glucose being sent to the mitochondria of a cell, where they have broken apart and reorganized into ATP, water, and carbon dioxide (Science, n.d.). When cellular respiration is occurring, a molecule of glucose is slowly being broken down into water and carbon dioxide (Steps, n.d.). In addition to this, ATP is directly created via the reaction that transformed glucose, and oxidative phosphorylation, which produces a lot more ATP and is powered via electrons moving through the electron transport chain (Steps, n.d.).
Based on the table provided, it can be seen that glucose and the pyruvate average metabolic levels are within close range to the normal metabolic levels (Gazdik, 2010). Since the levels of pyruvate and glucose are within normal limits, it can be determined that glycolysis is functioning normally (Gazdik, 2010). However, NAD+ levels were extremely low in comparison to the normal levels, but the average levels of NADH are extensively higher (Gazdik, 2010). This means that there is a small amount of NAD+ being produced, but a ton of NADH. This would make my hypothesis for the pathway that was affected have to be the electron transport chain or ETC, based on the information and abnormalities presented within each patient (Gazdik, 2010).
The function of the cell that looked like it was interrupted was cellular respiration, which is a function of the mitochondria. Cellular respiration is defined as the process of cellular level breathing,
where the cells use oxygen and glucose to create energy(Science, n.d.). This is done via oxygen and glucose being sent to the mitochondria of a cell, where they have broken apart and reorganized into ATP, water, and carbon dioxide (Science, n.d.). When cellular respiration is occurring, a molecule of glucose is slowly being broken down into water and carbon dioxide (Steps, n.d.). In addition to this, ATP is directly created via the reaction that transformed glucose, and oxidative phosphorylation, which produces a lot more ATP and is powered via electrons moving through the electron transport chain (Steps, n.d.).
Based on the table provided, it can be seen that glucose and the pyruvate average metabolic levels are within close range to the normal metabolic levels (Gazdik, 2010). Since the levels of pyruvate and glucose are within normal limits, it can be determined that glycolysis is functioning normally (Gazdik, 2010). However, NAD+ levels were extremely low in comparison to the normal levels, but the average levels of NADH are extensively higher (Gazdik, 2010). This means that there is a small amount of NAD+ being produced, but a ton of NADH. This would make my hypothesis for the pathway that was affected have to be the electron transport chain or ETC, based on the information and abnormalities presented within each patient (Gazdik, 2010).