Going into the interview I expected it to go very well considering I am currently in Invertebrate Zoology with Dr. Haskins and know she is very knowledgeable about the topic. Seeing as our group had a fairly good understanding of the cause of malaria going into the interview Dr. Haskins was able to provide us with even more additional information. This made for a very interesting interview because it was not full of that same old material you can find in a textbook. Dr. Haskins was able to make the topic even more interesting by making it easier to relate to, which is very important because malaria is not encountered in the United States like it is in some countries.
2) What changes occurred for you as a result of the interview?
Going into the medical field for my future occupation and wanting to participate in medical service trips this has altered my view on parasites. Living in the United States really isolates us from many parasites that other less fortunate countries suffer from, whether it be due just to location or having the proper medical care available. This interview sparked a little desire in me to make sure I have a good base knowledge of parasites that way I might be able to identify the symptoms of a parasitic infection in the future.
3) Did anything about it disturb you?
The most disturbing thing to me would have to be the lack of knowledge individuals have when referring to parasites, especially malaria. It seems as though like with other illnesses individuals do not have any interest or become concerned with them until they have or their loved ones have become affected by it. This is unfortunate because sometimes if something is discovered too late in the game then the effects are irreversible.
4) Discuss the connection you found between the interview and your research/classwork.
The biggest connection that I can make between the interview and my research/classwork would have to be malaria's connection to sickle cell. An individual that is heterozygous for sickle cell, have sickle cell trait, is in some areas more fit then individuals who do not. These areas include areas greatly affected by malaria. The advantage to having the sickle cell trait is that an individual only has half the normal hemoglobin, which means Plasmodium (cause of malaria) is only able to attach to half of the hemoglobin because it is not able to attach to the folded hemoglobin (sickle shaped) seen in sickle cell trait individuals. This leads to these individuals experiencing mild if any symptoms from malaria. This relationship has been briefly covered in my previous general biology classes I have taken, but it was not until this year that this relationship has sprung to life. I have encountered this relationship in Evolution, Invertebrate Zoology, and Advance Principles of Biology.
Josh Linton
The biggest connection that I can make between the interview and my research/classwork would have to be malaria's connection to sickle cell. An individual that is heterozygous for sickle cell, have sickle cell trait, is in some areas more fit then individuals who do not. These areas include areas greatly affected by malaria. The advantage to having the sickle cell trait is that an individual only has half the normal hemoglobin, which means Plasmodium (cause of malaria) is only able to attach to half of the hemoglobin because it is not able to attach to the folded hemoglobin (sickle shaped) seen in sickle cell trait individuals. This leads to these individuals experiencing mild if any symptoms from malaria. This relationship has been briefly covered in my previous general biology classes I have taken, but it was not until this year that this relationship has sprung to life. I have encountered this relationship in Evolution, Invertebrate Zoology, and Advance Principles of Biology.
Josh Linton
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