All she ever asked for was–
a morsel of good meal
with her family
in a house that
protected them
from the blistering sun,
from the drenching rain and
from the chilling cold.
***
Her wish never came true
but she hoped it would,
until one day–
the dark clouds
washed out her crops,
washed out her hut,
washed out her hopes,
washed out her life.
***
She now wails, but in vain!
For it is not loud enough
to wake the gods up in heaven
above those dark clouds
that brought the rain!
Drosophila aka fruit flies are important in genetic studies. In this article on Heather Notes, Heather explains how these insects are being used in study of proteins related to chronic pain (allodynia) and their repression.
http://wp.me/p6wVNB-6Zu
70 years- a very short time period for the Earth, but a long time for the most intelligent being in the Earth…
70 years- many Earthlings have lived and died within this time span…
70 years- many progresses have been made…
70 years- many wars have been seen…
…a day to be remembered forever, actually two- 6th and 9th August, 1945…
…the day when the best of Earthlings in intelligence proved that they could be the worst…
…the day the atomic bombs were dropped in densely populated cities to kill millions of people and to leave the traces of the devastation for centuries
For all these 70 years, the day has been remembered. Humans proved that day that they could do anything against anyone to gain power. Innocent people of Japan, who had nothing to do with the war were made the victims of a mad idea.The bombings were not required for the war but that does not mean they were not necessary.
The effect of bombings were not confided only to those who suffered. The multiplier effect of the US Power was seen all around the world. The might of the weapon of mass destruction made them rule the world. Not only that, other nations learnt, “Never try to intimidate a nation with nuclear weapons. Who can say when their mad politicians use them to destroy the world.”
As for Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they have been recovered as major cities but no crops, no grass has grown yet and it’s unknown until when. The wounds still give pain.
Parasites are not new to us, neither is evolution. Parasitic evolution, too, is not new to us but its extent might be a new field of study.
The WHO, in a report[1]states that, “we are heading for a post-antibiotic era in which common infections and minor injuries can again kill.” This indicates that the available antibiotics are being ineffective against the infections like TB, Malaria, Typhoid and even common cold.
Cases showing effects of drug-resisting parasites have been revealed all over the world, the most common being the MDR-TB. It is extreme case of TB in which the Mycobacterium resists the effects of the strongest of the drugs in use- Isoniazid and Rifampicin. Similarly, cases of multiple drug resisting Plasmodium falciparum have also been reported. Its resistance to Artemisinin-based combination therapies(ACTs) has created a sort of havoc among the medical practitioners. Also, Ciprofloxacin, a common antibiotic against typhoid has become completely ineffective.
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| Immune system fights against all the foreign agents. | Antibiotics are their foreign supplements. Therefore, the use of antibiotics is to be minimized. | Photo courtesy: younglivingoillady.com |
The root cause of the evolution of these of these parasites underlie in our medication behaviors. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics, rampant prescriptions and incomplete prescribed course are the main factors influencing mutations of the parasites. As a result, drug resistant strains directly attack new hosts thereby increasing the cost of treatment. This has added woes to the poverty-stricken people.
The other problem is- we lack new types of antibiotics. The WHO says that since Penicillin in 1920s, only three major types of antibiotics have been developed and since 1990s, no major antibiotics have been developed. The post-antibiotic era is thus arriving at a faster pace, increasing the risk of lives of thousands of people. So, this has been an area of study among scientists including parasitologists, pathologists, microbiologists, chemists and health workers all around the globe.[2]
[1]Antimicrobial Resistance: Global Report on surveillance 2014.
[2] Summarized from “Tougher bacteria add to patients’ woes, expenses”, The Kathmandu Post, May 11, 2014.
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