What are the mechanisms by which neurons differentiate to achieve the spectacular complexity of the brain? Join UCSD's Nick Spitzer as he explains what we know about this process. (57 minutes)

This activity is a classroom and field activity in which students record observations of birds in their natural habitat and make connections between the structure and function of the bird feet.

Revised Edition

Short Description:
'How To Do Science' has been written for students of the life sciences who are actively engaged in the scientific process. This guide introduces you to what it means to be a scientist. You will learn about the scientific method and how to carry out many tasks of a scientist, including: designing experiments, visualising data, accessing scientific literature, communicating science, and writing literature reviews.

Long Description:
How To Do Science has been written for students of the life sciences who are actively engaged in the scientific process. This guide introduces you to what it means to be a scientist. You will learn about the scientific method and how to carry out many tasks of a scientist, including: • designing experiments to test a hypothesis • performing simple statistics • visualising data by creating graphs and tables • accessing scientific literature, and using referencing software • communicating findings from original investigations through research papers, posters and oral presentations • writing literature reviews and summaries • communicating science to the non-expert audience

Word Count: 34892

ISBN: 978-0-6453261-3-0

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Hello Readers, My name is Eddie Joo and I am the co-author as well as the person behind the cover art for this OER. The reason I chose the specific elements on the cover are relatively simple. I dislike the textbooks that just slap random images or things related to the subject and make the cover look really busy. I don't know about you, but any poster or ad that has something to do with Alaska usually includes mountains so I chose the ocean/water instead. Same reason with the animals as the Bear, Wolf, etc. are the go to animals when portraying Alaska so a Dall Sheep, Orca, and an Owl grace the cover. Last but most important to me is the sunrise/sunset gradient. I love seeing both in the winter and is special to me so I added it in as a little Easter egg for me. I hope you enjoy this book! Regards, Eddie

Long Description:
This book is the first edition (Fall 2022) to the exploration of two main core concepts in physiology; Systems Integration, and Homeostasis, in animals at the tissue and organ system level. The flow of this book focuses on how organ systems work together. Foundational homeostatic principles are introduced within the first chapter and threaded throughout the chapters within this text. This text was created by Eddie Joo to supplement students learning within the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Animal Physiology course. The content in this open textbook was adapted from other open textbooks (CC-BY-4.0) resources or created/written by Rachael Hannah and Eddie Joo. This work was funded by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institutes of Health as a Curriculum grant from ALASKA INBRE.

Word Count: 53586

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

This inquiry-based lesson allows students to explore how our bodies use our voluntary and involuntary nervous systems to make our bodies function. This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Basic overview of the Autonomic Nervous system along with their respective receptors and neurotransmitters.

Why are humans the only species to have language? Is there something special about our brains? Are there genes that have evolved for language? In this talk, Jeff Elman, UCSD professor of cognitive science and co-director of the Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, discusses some of the exciting new research that helps us understand what it is about human language that is so different from other animals' communication systems, and what about our biology might make language possible. (58 minutes)

Maybe you haven't heard of inhalants, but you probably come across them pretty often. Hair spray, gasoline, spray paint -- they are all inhalants, and so are lots of other everyday products. Many inhalants have a strong smell. That's why they're called inhalants: Some people inhale the vapors on purpose. Why would anyone do this? Because the chemicals in these vapors can change the way the brain works, and those changes can make people feel very happy for a short time. But inhalants can also do harm.

This 155-page manual is comprised of two types of learning activities: 1) free response fill-in-the blank questions focused of the facts and principles of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology that underpin the neurologic examination and specifically developed exercises that demonstrate how the facts and principles are related to the particular tests and procedures that comprise the neurologic examination. Free response questions form the bulk of the Neuroscience Review section of each chapter and are intended as a review of information previously or concurrently being learned regarding the structure, function and organization of the nervous system. Some questions focus on anatomical or physiological facts and relationships that help explain why certain techniques are performed as they are, such as why non-nociceptive tactile stimuli are required in order to activate nerve impulse transmission in the lemniscal system. Other questions are intended to revisit facts and concepts that are needed to properly interpret the elicited findings. 2) The Application Exercises of each chapter are designed to demonstrate how neuroanatomical and neurophysiological information is used in the design of particular clinical tests of neurologic function. The application exercises are also intended to help users learn how to perform and become comfortable with the various clinical maneuvers and tests that comprise the routine neurologic examination. An important outcome of performing these exercises is that, as a member of a learning group, each individual has the opportunity to experience the neurologic examination from the point of view of the subject (patient)—an experience that arguably provides insight and understanding that can be gained in no other way.

Word Count: 2424

(Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Throughout the day, your nervous system monitors and makes endless adjustments to your body's basic systems -- all to keep you alive. This interactive feature illustrates the complexity of such a task.

UCSD's Charles Zuker explores the neurobiology of taste, smell and vision. (88 minutes)

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"This small hormone found in the mitochondria is known as MOTS-c. MOTS-c is known to regulate metabolic functions throughout the body, most importantly turning glucose into usable energy. Now, new research shows that MOTS-c could help boost glucose metabolism when injected into obese mice fed a high-fat diet. The implications for humans: improved control over blood sugar levels for those with type 2 diabetes and obesity. The findings are among the latest supporting the use of MOTS-c as an exercise mimetic, a drug that stimulates biochemical changes normally activated only through exercise. In animal models of obesity and diabetes, researchers have found that certain metabolic pathways are overactivated. These include the breakdown of fats and energy sources other than glucose. The detection of products and by-products of this breakdown serve as clues that normal, healthy metabolism has gone astray..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Surgery may not be the only way to relieve the symptoms of adenomyosis – a condition where endometrial tissue, which normally forms the inner lining of the uterus, instead grows within the uterine muscle wall. Often managed with hysterectomy, the abnormal spread of this tissue can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and severe, debilitating pain. Although conservative treatments like hormone therapy can ease symptoms, many women with adenomyosis must choose between major, life-changing surgery or living with their symptoms. Now, researchers have shown that the minimally invasive procedure known as uterine artery embolization, or UAE, is a promising non-surgical treatment option. During UAE, a catheter is inserted into the groin and then guided to the uterine arteries , which supply blood to the uterus. Tiny plastic particles are then injected to block blood flow. Because healthy uterine tissue can readily recruit new blood vessels, it isn’t harmed by this blockage..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. While people have benefited greatly from advances in drugs and surgery, one glaring problem remains: unlike the cells that make up our other muscles, once heart cells are gone, they simply can’t be regenerated. That is, unless you were just born. Studies show that muscle cells in the hearts of newborn mice, rabbits, and even humans can go on dividing for up to days after birth. And now, in what could be a new world record, scientists have recorded signs of regeneration beyond two weeks after birth in the South American gray short-tailed opossum. Their ability to replicate this feat in mice could point to new ways of healing the hearts of humans with cardiovascular disease. The experiments that led to these results were carried out by Wataru Kimura and colleagues at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research in Japan..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

The eye’s retina receives and reacts to incoming light and sends signals to the brain, allowing you to see. One part of the retina, however, doesn't give you visual information—this is your eye’s “blind spot.”