Research began with high school and killer cancer cells

florist · Guest

My research began with simple information and one link that was great is high school at

The main part I was interested in was as folows and what percipitated it:
Fever
Fever is an abnormally high increase of body temperature in response to pathogen invasion. Body temperature is regulated by a section of the brain called the hypothalamus . Normal temperature is set by the hypothalamus at 37°C (98.6°F). If pathogens should enter the body, then macrophages, which would be fighting the invaders, secret chemicals called pyrogens. These chemicals order the hypothalamus to raise the body temperature; therefore, the body works harder to meet the set temperature. This means that there will be an increase in cell division. Not only does an increase in temperature kill many bacteria that can't live in temperature over 37°C, but the immune cells divide and work faster to kill the pathogens.

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Natural Killers
Natural Killers are a unique set of cells which kill virus infested and cancer cells by a process called lysis. This involves the use of proteins called compliment. This arrow like strand of proteins allows the natural killer to drain all the cellular fluid in the cell. The process is similar to cutting yourself and letting all your blood drain out. Since bacteria can replace it's membrane just like we can replace our skin, the natural killers' compliment has a protein called C9 which keeps the membrane hole open. This ensures the full drainage of the cellular fluid. Mainly, lysis and the nonspecific ability to destroy all diseased cells spontaneously gives Natural Killers' their name.

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Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis is the cellular action of "eating". This mechanism is mostly used by immune cells called macrophages and nuetrophils to destroy pathogens and disease infested cells. The cell grabs any bacteria or diseased cell with its flowing extensions like if it were a blob engulfing its victim. After the bacteria is ingested in a food vacuole, a ball of highly acidic enzymes called a lysozyme, inside the cell begins, to digest it. To further impose harm on the surrounding pathogens, the neutrophil secretes a deadly chemical somewhat similar to household bleach. Unfortunately, upon secreting the chemical, the nuetrophil can not live in such an environment and dies along with the other pathogens.

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