Gladiatorial combats originated in Etruria. Rome first saw gladiators when three pairs fought at the funeral of the father of Decimus Brutus in 264 B.C.E. Julius Caesar when running for office entertained voters with 300 pairs of gladiators. Emperor Trajan exhibited 5,000 pairs. Spartacus, a gladiator, led a revolt of gladiators and runaway slaves beginning in 73 B.C.E. He was defeated and killed in 71 B.C.E. by Crassus.

Legend says that the gladiatorial contests were halted by the bravery of Telemachus, a monk. In 404 C.E. he ran into the arena and tried to separate the fighters. Guards killed him, but Emperor Honorius abolished gladiatorial contests.


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Thyroid Problems

Online Health Chat with Christian Nasr, MD, Mary Vouyiouklis, MD, & Rosemarie Metzger, MD

January 28, 2013

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On Cleveland Clinic

On Your Health

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About the Speakers

Let’s Chat About Lifestyle Choices: Root Causes of Chronic Diseases

Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism

Kammy: What are the symptoms of an unhealthy thyroid gland? And do patients with narcolepsy often have thyroid problems?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  There are many symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. With hypothyroidism, there is reduced thyroid hormone. As such, things tend to slow down. Some symptoms include: reduced mood, constipation, fatigue, slow metabolism/weight gain, dry skin and cold intolerance. With hyperthyroidism, the opposite can occur. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include: irritability, anxiety, diarrhea, weight loss, clammy skin, heat intolerance and heart palpitations. There can be changes in menses as a result of both conditions. To my knowledge, I do not know of an association of thyroid problems and narcolepsy. Hypothyroidism if untreated can cause extreme fatigue.

Laboratory Ranges for Thyroid Disorders

dharral4588: What is the normal range for TSH?
Dr_Nasr: The normal range of TSH depends on the laboratory, but a typical range is about 0.4 to 4.5. The upper and lower ends of the range might be a little higher or lower depending on the lab. However, about 90 percent of individuals without thyroid problems have a TSH that falls between 0.4 and 2.5. Treatment is not indicated until the TSH gets above 4 (if symptoms of hypothyroidism are present) or above 10 (if those symptoms are not present). The lower numbers are a little trickier and require a clinical assessment.

MrsSyp: I would really like to know why so many doctors still only look at a TSH level.  AACE guidelines are wrong and this is not how thyroid disease should be treated. For 14 years I had symptoms but each doctor said your TSH is normal. It was only when I developed a tumor that something was done.  I had thyroid cancer. If the many doctors would have treated me, just maybe, I would have a thyroid today.  I am an administrator with the group, Thyroid Change™, and over 9,000 suffering with thyroid disease are asking for changes.  Our petition is international.  Maybe changes need to be made now so the new cases do not continue to grow.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  Doctors should not go by lab tests alone. We strive to listen to the patient’s concerns. It is essential to do a full thyroid exam to see if there are any palpable nodules. If these are noted, further intervention with neck sonogram is then warranted at that time. In addition, if there is a family history of thyroid disease, we also take this into account. Typically, we do not only check the TSH. We also assess free thyroid hormone (FT4) and at times T3 (based on symptoms) as well as thyroid antibodies when necessary

Endocrine Disorders and Blood Pressure

boomer: Does an endocrine system disorder cause a heart murmur, high blood pressure or erratic blood sugar levels? If so, which glands are involved? Can those three problems be reversed? How do I get my doctor to listen to me about my suspicions that I have an endocrine system problem? What tests should he run and how should he interpret them?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  There are several endocrine issues that can cause high blood pressure and erratic blood glucose levels, although it is unlikely that these can they cause heart murmurs. I suggest you emphasize your concerns about your high blood pressure and erratic blood glucose to your doctor. Question him about other possible causes of these conditions. Hyperthyroidism can affect blood pressure. In addition, several hormones— if in excess—can affect blood pressure. (These include cortisol, aldosterone metanephrines and catecholamines.) We, as endocrinologists, tend to evaluate these hormones in patients with uncontrollable high blood pressure, or in those patients who were diagnosed with high blood pressure at a young age. Patients who have excess cortisol (Cushing’s syndrome) can have both erratic blood glucose levels and high blood pressure. If this remains a concern for you after discussion with your physician, you can always ask to see a specialist for further evaluation.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Pmsavol: Why do I continue to have symptoms of hypothyroidism (i.e., fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, etc.) when my blood tests keep coming back in the normal range? Is there an area on the range that would possibly lower these symptoms?
Dr_Nasr: I do not expect patients to have severe symptoms of hypothyroidism when the TSH is less than 4. Some patients might continue to have milder symptoms compared to when they were initially diagnosed if their TSH was not kept below 2. I do not expect your symptoms to improve just by pushing the dose to try to further suppress the TSH. A doctor should look for other possible causes of your symptoms.

Gae: According to recent blood tests, my thyroid level is slightly below normal.  My primary care doctor and I have discussed Synthroid®.  I have researched hypothyroidism and Synthroid®.  The only symptom of the condition that I appear to have is hair loss.  My hair is quite thin.  It disturbs me to read that hair loss is one of the side effects of Synthroid®.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: It is unlikely that your hair loss is caused, per se, by Synthroid®. However, a change in thyroid function can cause hair loss. Therefore, if there is evidence of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), this likely should be treated. Remember, that hair loss may occur for some time after thyroid function is normalized as there can be a delayed response. But, typically, widespread hair loss due to thyroid dysfunction (as shown by abnormal thyroid function tests) is usually reversible.

ChrisOH: How do you know if a person with Hashimoto's disease has hypothyroidism or  hyperthyroidism? How do you test for cancer—by the thyroid number? Are selenium and zinc important for thyroid health?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune thyroid issue. Most often when you hear this term it relates to a person who is hypothyroid due to an autoimmune thyroid issue. (They usually have positive thyroid antibodies, and can also have a family history of this.) Hyperthyroidism can be caused by an autoimmune condition as well. It is known as Grave’s disease.

You cannot test for cancer from thyroid function tests. A full thyroid exam is important to help evaluate this. If there is any suspicion of thyroid nodules, then a neck sonogram is needed for further evaluation.

We do not typically recommend supplements in patient with thyroid issues. Selenium, however, can sometimes be helpful in lessening some of the effects of eye changes that may occur in patients with Grave’s disease (autoimmune hyperthyroidism).

laura628: I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease in 1992.  I have been on thyroid medication ever since.  What is the difference between hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease? Since I have Hashimoto's disease, is there anything additional I should be doing besides taking my thyroid medication and having annual blood work done to test my TSH levels?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  Hashimoto’s disease is basically autoimmune hypothyroidism. This is one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a general term that describes underactive thyroid hormone. Monitoring thyroid function regularly (yearly if there has been no significant change in your dose since diagnosis or sooner if you have new symptoms) is important to ensure that no dose adjustment is necessary.

Myadvocate: I have a chronic cold body temperature. Typically, it is  96.5 degrees Fahrenheit,  but it has been as low as 93 degrees. It has never been up to 98.6 degrees in the last five years, yet my TSH level is usually in the normal range. Only once was it slightly low.  What else should I have checked, as I really dislike my constantly cold hands and feet?  Even moving to South Carolina did not help.  Are there additional tests or different studies that might be useful?
Dr_Nasr: This cannot be explained by hypothyroidism. Coldness in the extremities is typically due to ‘cold sensitivity’, which is a spasm of the small arteries to the fingers and toes (and sometimes to the ears and the tip of the nose). An extreme case of this is Raynaud's phenomenon.  You should keep your body warm including in the summer when you enter an air conditioned area.

Pas: I am suspecting a sluggish thyroid because of fatigue, fibromyalgia (diagnosed in 1989 at The Ohio State University Hospitals Department of Rheumatology and Immunology with 13 of 18 trigger points affected) and headaches (which I have experienced the majority of my life). Could this be related to thyroid or parathyroid problems?  Also, all of the routine tests say no, but no one ever scrutinizes my T3 and T4 levels.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Sluggishness can be seen in patients with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). If the TSH is in the normal range of 0.4-4.5 (depending on the laboratory), it is less likely that your symptoms are a result of this. TSH is a very sensitive marker for thyroid function, so while a free T4 may be additional useful information, a TSH should be able to indicate if there is thyroid dysfunction.

If you have a parathyroid issue, sluggishness can sometimes be seen— typically if the blood calcium levels are very high. Normal serum calcium will most likely rule out this condition.

Judy: I have been on thyroid medications for 20 some years. I was just wondering whether thyroid issues can cause depression or anxiety issues.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  If the thyroid function tests are abnormal while being on the thyroid medication, you can certainly feel symptoms of anxiety (if your dose if too high causing hyperthyroidism) or depression (if your dose if too low suggesting hypothyroidism). But when the thyroid function is normal, the medication itself does not actually cause these conditions.

Immunosuppression and Hypothyroidism

RRH: Have any of the physicians participating in the web chat seen patients that also have other autoimmune disorders? If so, how does immunosuppression play a role in Hashimoto's disease? Will it alter my TSH lab results? I'm curious because I still have monstrous fatigue (taking 1/2 of 0.125 mg of Synthroid®), but I also inject methotrexate (.60 cc). My throat also feels like it swollen on the inside—either when I’m swallowing or not. I also have scleroderma.
Dr_Nasr: Physicians who deal with non-endocrine autoimmune disorders are rheumatologists and not endocrinologists. I suspect you are seeing one.  If you are already hypothyroid, I do not expect immunosuppression to modify the course of Hashimoto's disease. Medications other than glucocorticoids, such as prednisone and the like, should not affect your TSH, T4 or T3 levels. Your throat symptoms could be related to the scleroderma. You should have that investigated by a doctor though to make sure there is nothing else going on in that area.

Hypothyroidism and Diabetes

duffer50: I am 63 years old and have been taking Synthroid® 100 mg for hypothyroidism for six years. I just had two fasting glucose levels taken this month, which were 106 and 107. I also have moderate mitral valve regurgitation, atrial fibrillation and moderate pulmonary hypertension. I take Pulmicort Flexhaler® (budesonide) two puffs daily and Proair® HFA two puffs daily, plus blood pressure medications and warfarin. My foods are all fresh. I plug in everything I eat and drink to My Fitness Pal mobile phone app, and average about 28 g of sugar per day. Could any of the above be influencing my glucose?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Steroids can affect blood sugar, especially if you have a predisposition for diabetes or a family history of diabetes. Steroid effects are usually more pronounced if they are taken orally or if given intravenously. Steroid inhalers (like Symbicort® [budesonide]) are less likely to affect blood glucose although this could happen.

Treatment for Hypothyroidism

Nance107: What causes Hashimoto's thyroiditis and what is the best method of treatment? Can getting intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) cause this condition? Can iodine help this condition?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a type of autoimmune thyroid disease in which the immune system attacks and changes the texture of the thyroid gland. Hashimoto's thyroiditis stops the gland from making enough thyroid hormones for the body to work the way it should. Therefore often people will need thyroid hormone replacement. Levothyroxine replacement (T4) is used to treat Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, although there are other formulations such as Armour thyroid (which contain both T3 and T4), which is also sometimes used.

What are you getting IVIG for? Is it for an autoimmune issue? If yes, sometimes people with one autoimmune issue can have other autoimmune diseases as well. Autoimmune thyroid disease (i.e., Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases.

One should avoid taking iodine in this situation. If you have evidence of underactive thyroid and are symptomatic, the treatment of choice would be thyroid hormone replacement (T4 replacement).

Babi: I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis two years ago.  After treatment with Synthroid® 75 mcg, my lab numbers were normal with a TSH level between 1 and 2. My free T3 is 2.94, and has always been under 3.0). However, I was mildly depressed even after a psychiatrist put me on Zoloft® 50 mg. My doctor added compounded T3 10.3 mcg one year ago and started me on a progesterone cream (estradiol was 192.10 and progesterone 7.92 in the luteal phase). Even though the mild depression decreased in intensity, I still get it every two or three months. It lasts about 35 days, regardless of the psychiatrist adjusting the dose. (I am now on Zoloft® 150 mg). The psychologist who evaluated me believes that the cause of my depression is not psychological. Should I try raising my compounded free T3 level and lowering the Synthroid® dosage? My latest laboratory test results show free T3 is 3.14 pg/mL. My free T4 is .81 ng/dL and  TSH is .33. My estradiol is 212.55 and progesterone is 12.62 in the luteal phase.

I lose hair every time I wash it and I have broken nails, along with the on-and-off mild depression. One doctor told me I was over-medicated and should stop taking the compounded T3 because it doesn't do anything (since my TSH is .33). Another doctor told me TSH fluctuates constantly, and I should just repeat the test in a month to see if it is over .50  Since T3 levels are related to mood and feelings, I am afraid to stop taking the compounded T3. In your opinion, considering my mild depression problem, should I stop taking the compounded T3 and stay with the Synthroid®  75 only Or should I adjust my Synthroid®  dose and continue taking the compounded T3 to raise the TSH level? Although my TSH was .33, other times it has been.66 or .54.

Would having the free T3 level between the 4.0 and 5.0 range improve my mood?  (It is currently 3.14 with the help of the compounded T3 10.3 mcg and Synthroid®  75 mg)

Could a TSH third generation of 4.49 and T3 total of 1.34 when I was at 36 years old (which was four years before I was diagnosed) have caused a depression episode I had that lasted two months?  At the time I was not taking any thyroid medication and had started taking Paxil®.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Your TSH level is too low, which means you are on too much thyroid medication and this will need to be adjusted. While we typically treat with levothyroxine (Synthroid®) alone, sometimes we do add T3 to help with mood. There are some studies that have suggested that the addition of T3 may help, but we use the combination with a goal of keeping your thyroid function within normal range. At this time, your TSH level is lower than normal as stated above. You should not make any changes to your medication on your own. This should be done by your endocrinologist.

A TSH level of 4.49 is not a mid-normal level, but for some laboratories it may be considered within normal range. It is theoretically possible that you may have had somewhat of a decreased mood with this TSH level, although it is doubtful that it would result in a two-month depressive episode.

Symptoms Following Hypothyroidism Treatment

anjalique: I have had hypothyroidism for four years now, and I am taking Levoxyl® 125 mcg. However, I still do not feel normal. I have no energy although I am active. I've got brain fog and other symptoms.  I get regular blood tests and my doctor says they are O.K. I watch what I eat, which is mostly a vegetarian diet. I eat like a bird and can’t lose a pound. I have never been heavy my entire life. Would seeing a thyroid specialist benefit me? I'm at my wits end and very frustrated.
Dr_Nasr: A bird eats the equivalent of its weight every day, so I am not sure you are eating like a bird. I am not sure whether you had these symptoms when you were first diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and whether the magnitude of the symptoms improved somewhat after treatment was started. If your TSH is in the normal range, I would expect you to feel like you have no energy. Sometimes patients will feel their energy is not that good when the TSH is in the upper half of the normal range. Sometimes fine tuning the medication dose will help. When I read about these severe symptoms, I suspect other things could be happening. Seeing a thyroid specialist or even an endocrinologist might help. However, a specialist might concur with your physician. I should say though that if low energy and brain fog were the only significant symptoms, then giving you a low dose of T3 might help you.

rnk01: I am really looking forward to getting more information on thyroid issues. I have been struggling with this for years. One and one half years ago my TSH number was 35.64. That was when they first discovered I had a problem. Medication has brought it down to 5.14, but I still do not feel any better. I have extreme sensitivity to cold, weight gain that will not go away no matter how much I diet and exercise, fatigue and sleeplessness—plus many other issues. All of this is combined with menopause and extreme hot flashes and night sweats.

Can you give me any suggestions on how to get relief from some of this?  I am absolutely miserable and the menopause has been going on for about four years now. I am just wondering whether these two issues are working together somehow.  I just want to get my life back.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  You may be still feeling symptoms because you are still hypothyroid. Your TSH at 5.1 remains slightly elevated, so you should probably have your dose adjusted. Please note that the TSH range is wide. Also, it can take up to six weeks to three months to see changes in thyroid function, and it can sometimes take time to see a complete response to the medication. I would suggest you talk to your doctor about your symptoms of cold sensitivity, fatigue and weight gain and discuss possibly increasing your thyroid hormone replacement dose to see if your symptoms improve.

Harris: I have been taking thyroid medication for over 50 years. I presently take one Synthroid® 0.075 mg and two liothyronine tablets 5 mcg daily. My recent blood test results showed  TSH 0.93   with a flagged reference range of 0.34 to 5.60. My free T3 was 2.84 with a flagged reference range of 2.50-3.90. My free T4 was .067 with a flagged reference range of 0.58 to 1.64. I have been told these are normal! During the past two years my energy level has dropped and  I believe I should have more energy than what I am experiencing.  Do you have any suggestions?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  Do you mean your free T4 is 0.67 or 0.067? If 0.67, then yes, your thyroid tests are within normal range. Perhaps your decreased energy may be from some other issue not related to your thyroid, which should be evaluated. When was your last ‘well’ visit with your primary care physician? A yearly blood work screening may sometimes show other causes that may cause reduced energy.

KDow: I have had hypothyroidism for 10 years and take 125 mcg of levothyroxine. I have a history of superficial blood clots. I have been having chest pain and pressure for several months. I have had an EKG, ultrasound and chest CT scan, which are all normal. Could this chest pain be related to the hypothyroidism or possibly blood circulation?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  Is your thyroid function normal at this time? Chest pain is unlikely related to your history of hypothyroidism. Further evaluation should be done by your primary care physician, a cardiologist or pulmonologist.

deband: What causes the heart to flutter when you take Synthroid®, or do nodules on the thyroid cause heart fluttering? I am a 56-year-old female and have hypothyroidism. I am on Synthroid® .75 mcg. My numbers are T4 1.5 and TSH 2.42. When I started in 2011, I was on Synthroid® .25 mcg and my numbers were T4 1.15 and TSH 7.53. The nodules that were found in October measured3 mm. Also, is there really a difference between Synthroid® and the generic brand? I usually wake up and take my Synthroid® and lie back down for an hour. My sister said lying back down could cause stomach problems. Is that true? Should I stay up once I have taken it? Does orange juice interfere with the medicine—particularly if there is calcium in the orange juice? I feel pretty good except for the heart flutters and sometimes I have to burp, which I never did before.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Heart fluttering can be from taking too much Synthroid®—although your recent TSH level of 2.42 is within range. Perhaps the fluttering is from some other cause. You may want to talk to your doctor about this. They can further evaluate you with an EKG or Holter monitor to see if there is any change in your heart rhythm, etc.

Your question about brand-name medication vs. generic is a common one. We usually like to use brand-name medication (regardless of the brand) because we know that the dose will be consistent each and every time. Occasionally, generics that are sold to pharmacies change. Some studies have shown that a change in the type of thyroid hormone replacement even though the dose on the pill may be the same, may actually have different effects on the patient. So, we like to stick to a brand of thyroid hormone replacement to ensure consistency. This is especially important in patient on medication during pregnancy or if they have a history of thyroid cancer.

You do not have to stay up after you take Synthroid® as long as you take it with water and wait before eating or drinking anything else. Yes, orange juice has been found to possibly interfere with its absorption, so it’s best to take it with water.

Wondering: I just started treatment for hypothyroidism about seven weeks ago and slightly prior to treatment noticed some blurring of vision. Are the two related and should I see my eye doctor?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Yes, you should see your eye doctor about this, although it is less likely related to your thyroid. How high was your TSH level? Have you had your recent yearly physical and blood work to ensure that nothing else may be causing these symptoms of blurry vision?

IslandGirl12: I am a 64-year-old female diagnosed with hypothyroidism many years ago and take 0.125 mg of Synthroid® daily. I have many of the symptoms of low thyroid, including brittle fingernails that peel and sensitivity to cold. However, but I also have extreme heat sensitivity and profuse sweating constantly—even in air conditioning. I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy when I was 42 years old. I don't take estrogen for this. Could this sweating and heat sensitivity be related to the thyroid, or is it possible that I don't know what sensitivity means. No one likes extreme cold or heat, but what is meant by sensitivity? I've told my family doctor about the sweating many times, but he just ignores me.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  What is your current TSH level? It sounds like some of the symptoms you describe may be hot flashes, but it could be related to the thyroid if your TSH level is lower than normal. This may be a sign of too much thyroid hormone on board.

AGUS: Five years ago I went to my primary care doctor complaining of never feeling rested. I would go to bed around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m., and wake up to my alarm the next morning around 7:30 a.m. or 8:00 a.m. I felt like I had to drag myself out of bed, and I was always tired during wake time. Other symptoms I had or currently have are very emotional, constant highs and lows.  My primary care doctor instantly put me on Zoloft® for depression. I told her I didn't think I was depressed and begged her to do blood work. I thought maybe I was going into menopause. I was 42 years old at the time. It turned out that I have hypothyroidism, and the doctor put me on .75 mg of Synthroid®. I felt better a few weeks later, but never felt 100 percent.  Two years later I went in for a blood test, and I told the doctor that I thought my medications were going to need tweaked because I was having all of the same symptoms again. The doctor said my blood work was in the correct levels for the amount of medicine I was on, and if she were to increase it I could have a stroke.  This did not sit well with me.

I took matters into my own hands, and found Dr. S. Sethu Reddy at Cleveland Clinic. He did more extensive blood work and it turned out that either my T4 or my T3was still off.  He adjusted the medicine, and I am feeling pretty good now. However, I won’t go back to my primary care doctor now, Dr. Reddy does not need to see me anymore and I need to find a good primary care doctor. Also, is my medicine always something that will need to be changed over the years?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Sometimes the dose may need to be changed. If you have any changes in gut absorption and/or if you take vitamins and iron, the medication may not be absorbed as well. You should wait three to four hours after taking the thyroid hormone replacement before taking any vitamins or iron.

You can still see an endocrinologist for a follow-up visit, even though your thyroid levels may be normal now or you can follow-up with your primary care physician, whomever you prefer

Jlhoule: Just was wondering why Armour Thyroid is not prescribed very often? I am on Levoxyl®, and although my levels are so-called normal, I am still symptomatic—constipated, fatigued, etc. I have Hashimoto's disease. My endocrinologist has also tried adding Cytomel®, but I had a bad reaction to it. I eat right, exercise and take vitamins. My biggest complaint is that even though I regularly get eight to nine hours of sleep per night, I still feel like I have to take a nap in the afternoon, which of course is impossible since I have two children.
Dr_Nasr: Armour Thyroid is still prescribed. However, just for the purpose of helping with the energy, I have to tell you that only some patients will benefit from that intervention—so I would not put a lot of hope on that. If your levels are normal by the endocrinologist's interpretation, then you should not be having severe symptoms. The symptoms that you describe are those of hypothyroidism, but they should have disappeared or at least improved if the thyroid was causing them. Constipation has many causes. Sleep apnea can cause more fatigue than hypothyroidism and having both is a double whammy! Enjoy your children.

Nutrition and Hypothyroidism

Wondering: Are there any supplements or dietary issues you should be aware of with hypothyroidism? Should mustard be avoided?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  If you are hypothyroid and on thyroid hormone replacement, we don’t usually recommend any dietary changes or restrictions. If you are borderline hypothyroid without symptoms and do not wish to start medication, you should be careful with eating too many soy products. Soy may result in noticeable hypothyroidism which would require treatment. I am unaware of any association of mustard and thyroid issues.

aka9hh: I have hypothyroidism, and did not find out until after I had my daughter. I am having a hard time losing weight and not sure if there is a right diet for me. I also have heard not to eat certain foods because it cancels out my medicine. Is this true? I am so blind when it comes to hypothyroidism, i.e.  when it comes to how I should live my life to be a healthier me. Can you please give me advice on these matters?
Dr_Nasr: First make sure your thyroid level is good. You should work on reducing your calories regardless of the thyroid state if you are trying to lose some weight. There is no ‘thyroid diet’—except if you have hypothyroidism, you will have to make sure you do not consume kelp or a lot of seaweed. Do not take high amounts of iodine (but do not worry about the usual iodide content of foods). Soy-containing food if consumed in large amounts may affect the absorption of your thyroid medication

Zeberk: I have been newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My TSH levels had been checked for years and they were low, but never to the point that anyone felt I should be on medication. All of my life I have struggled with my weight. Now that I am in my 40s, I was able to lose a great deal of weight. However, if I am not almost perfect about what I eat and exercise two hours each day, I can gain it back very easily. I have found a web site that focuses on the right foods to eat with hypothyroidism—and that seems to be very key. What do you tell patients on the nutritional side for eating to improve thyroid?
Due to some other issues beyond just weigh, including extreme coldness, skin issues, dry hair, brittle nails, etc., a new doctor checked my free T4 and T3 levels. It was determined that I have a very low T4. I have been on 100 mg of Synthroid® for about six weeks now. I am experiencing great changes and it seems it gets better almost daily.
Dr_Nasr: Other than excess iodine and excess soy, I am not aware of any foods in the Western diet that would affect thyroid function.  I am concerned that your doctor diagnosed your hypothyroidism based on a very low T4 level.  I am glad you are feeling better, but the issue of low T4 in the setting of normal TSH might need to be investigated further. Please discuss this with your doctor.

salvuccima: My main concern with my thyroid issue is weight gain. What we can do to lose weight while on medication and dealing with a thyroid problem?
Dr_Nasr: Untreated hypothyroidism can cause some weight gain. Once the hypothyroidism is treated though, the weight should start coming down to baseline with the appropriate efforts.  You should be able to lose weight regardless of the medication as long as you are on the correct dose.

Pregnancy and Hypothyroidism

sarika2012: I am suffering from autoimmune hypothyroid disease with severe muscle and joint pains and constipation. I take a very high dose of Synthroid® (250 mcg) to keep my pain level down. This means my TSH is suppressed; my free T3 is 5.6; and my T4 is 3.6 times higher than the normal maximum limit. I am very thirsty and experience frequent urination. Is this related to thyroid disease or due to something else? I am planning to conceive with this condition, so what precautions should I take? Which Cleveland Clinic doctor should I see who is experienced to treat my thyroid condition and support my plans to conceive and give birth to a healthy baby?
Dr_Nasr: I am concerned that you are being placed in a not so healthy thyroid hormone range. This might prevent you from conceiving and also threaten pregnancies.  We have several experienced thyroidologists who can help you. Your symptoms are not expected when your levels are in that range. I am suspecting other causes.

Fluctuating Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

WN: I was treated for hypothyroidism, which has been stable for 12 years.  Then suddenly I became hyperthyroid, leading to atrial fibrillation.  For the past two years my TSH levels have been fluctuating between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.  Adjustments to the dosage levels of my levothyroxine adjustments are being done about every seven to eight weeks based on my TSH levels.  Atrial fibrillation seems to be related to hyperthyroidism.  Why after so many years of being stable, did things change?  Do you see a strong correlation between atrial fibrillation and hyperthyroidism?  I am seeing an endocrinologist who can’t explain why my thyroid suddenly became unstable.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: What is your thyroid hormone dose? Was it too high and that is why you became hyperthyroid? Sometimes our absorption of the medication can change, requiring dose adjustments even after being on it for many years. Did you have your TSI antibodies checked? Sometimes we can see fluctuations in levels in patients who have autoimmune disease. These patients may appear to have overactive thyroid hormone production, and then develop hypothyroidism or vice versa. This may be due to the effects on the thyroid by thyroid antibodies.

Yes, it is likely that the atrial fibrillation may be precipitated by the hyperthyroidism. This certainly can be a side effect of untreated hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

thumper26: I am a 66- year-old male being treated for hyperthyroidism for approximately three years due to low TSH. I have hyperthyroid symptoms which have continued to get worse. This includes extreme fatigue, shakiness, occasional insomnia, heat intolerance, occasional atrial fibrillation and irritability. Is it possible to be hyperthyroid and also have normal values of TSH, free T4 and T3 uptake? I’m on methimazole (Tapazole®) 5 mg. When I try to wean off, I feel much worse. My doctors are stumped.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  Is your T3 also normal?  If you have been treated with methimazole for three years and your thyroid levels are not improving when you are tapered off medication, you likely need another form of treatment for your Grave’s disease (either radioactive iodine [RAI] or surgery) especially since you have significant symptoms from the hyperthyroidism (atrial fibrillation). Do you have a large thyroid gland? Sometimes patients with larger thyroid glands do not respond as well to medical treatment of Grave’s disease. Given the length of your treatment without significant improvement, you should probably consider alternative treatment.

GritGirl: My laboratory tests all show my levels for Grave's disease are normal after 1.5 years on medication.  I still have tremors. My doctor has suggested I may need to consider radioactive iodine therapy or see a neurologist about these tremors.  To complicate the condition I also am post-menopausal at 46 years old. It has been very complicated treating both medical issues going on at the same time. What are your thoughts on treating the tremors?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  If you are tapered off the medication and your thyroid hormone levels end up remaining in the normal range, it may be that the tremors are not related to your hyperthyroidism. It also depends on what kind of tremor it is. Is it both hands? Are there any other neurologic issues? I would agree with an evaluation by a neurologist if the tremors do not subside despite 1.5 years of improvement in thyroid function. There may be different medications that may help your tremors, but we first must identify the cause.

Treatment for Hyperthyroidism

greyhoundlady5: I have a TSH of 0.01. My free T3 and free T4 are borderline high normal and low elevation. My other thyroid levels are normal. I am told that it's not all about the numbers, but I am not being treated. I exhibit about 85 percent of the symptoms of Grave’s disease, but no one will listen to me. I have an immediate family history of thyroid issues, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. I'm feeling just miserable and I need some help! What can I do?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Your TSH is certainly low. Given your symptoms, treatment is likely warranted. To determine the cause of hyperthyroidism, a thyroid uptake scan is typically recommended with a neck sonogram as well if you have any notable thyroid nodules on examination. Based on the diagnosis, different treatment options will be considered. If the diagnosis is Graves’ disease, there are three options for treatment: anti-thyroid hormone medication, radioactive iodine (RAI) or surgery. If you have thyroid nodules producing excess thyroid hormone though, treatment is either RAI or surgery. There is another possibility with hyperthyroidism, called thyroiditis, which may resolve on its own. This condition likely will not warrant treatment. This is why the nuclear uptake thyroid scan is important as it can help to differentiate between these possibilities.

sugarcookie: I am a 61-year-old female who has recently been diagnosed with Grave’s disease.  I also had a hyperparathyroidectomy 12 years ago.  I had normal free T4, a normal free T3 and a high TSH receptor antibody.  My only symptoms are a mild tremor and palpitations caused by atrial bigeminy. I've chosen not to start a beta blocker for that condition, since it's not too troublesome.  I began taking methimazole one week ago. Would you have started me on treatment or assumed a "watch-and-wait" course?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: What was your TSH level? If your TSH level was below normal and you had symptoms of hyperthyroidism (the tremor and palpitations that you described), then treatment would be indicated.

MOX878:  What is the recommended treatment for Grave's disease?  I have been on methimazole since October 2011. I have teetered back-and-forth between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, with my worst case of hypothyroidism this past August with a TSH of 141! I have been debating with taking the RAI test (131l uptake test) and surgery.  Can a patient stay on methimazole for long periods of time? I have had regular blood work. The latest test showed I was within normal range, and my liver function was normal, etc.
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Is your thyroid very enlarged? The size of your thyroid gland is also important in determining the best treatment approach. Methimazole is a good treatment option for Grave’s disease, but sometimes patients with Grave’s disease who have large glands may not respond as well with medication alone. The goal is that methimazole could be used for about one year then tapered off while maintaining a euthyroid state (normal thyroid function). If this cannot be achieved, then other treatments should be considered, such as radioactive iodine (RAI) or surgery. Again, if your gland is big and/or if there is any concern with breathing or swallowing issues due to the size of your thyroid, then surgery may be the better option. Surgery will require permanent thyroid hormone replacement, but it will make these wide fluctuations that you have been experiencing less likely.

JFKAcres: Our 27- year-old daughter was diagnosed with Grave’s disease two years ago and is currently taking methimazole. She has recently done extensive, additional research and wonders if diet could be considered an alternative to thyroid removal or radioactive iodine treatment, if it becomes necessary? She is very leery of such invasive treatments, and is willing to undergo extensive diet modifications if it could possibly work for her. She has a small goiter, but no bulging eyes. What is Cleveland Clinic's stand on diet as a treatment to curb Graves' disease symptoms?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: What are her thyroid function levels? It is quite unlikely that diet alone will normalize thyroid function. She is 27 years old, and of child-bearing age. I am not sure what pregnancy plans she has or will have, but these are important questions to consider. If she would like to get pregnant in the near future, it is best that she is euthyroid (normal thyroid function) prior to this and during pregnancy—as untreated hyperthyroidism may have adverse effects on the fetus. Also note—methimazole should not be used in the first trimester of pregnancy, so barrier protection or birth control is recommended if she is sexually active. With a small thyroid gland, she may respond very well with a course of methimazole. She has been on methimazole for two years? If her thyroid levels have been normal on methimazole, she should be slowly weaned off by her endocrinologist. She should then be re-assessed to see if her thyroid function is normal off of medication.

Nutrition and Hyperthyroidism

clam4: I have hyperthyroidism. Are there any foods that would help keep this under control? I have gained more than 20 pounds. What can I do to lose this weight? Are there any diets or programs I can follow?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  There are several different causes of hyperthyroidism. Your treatment options will differ depending on the reason for your condition. Also, depending on how hyperthyroid you are, you may not need medical treatment right away. For example, if you have subclinical hyperthyroidism where you do not exhibit any symptoms of hyperthyroidism, you can be watched closely. We do not typically recommend any particular foods to keep it under control.
You have gained 20 pounds in what period of time? If this weight gain has been within a short period of time, you will likely need further evaluation with blood and or urine testing. Have your eating patterns changed? Do you exercise regularly? If nothing has changed and you have put on this weight, I recommend following up with your doctor or endocrinologist. You doctor will review your diet, do a full evaluation and possibly order lab testing. Hyperthyroidism typically causes weight loss, not gain.

Thyroid Nodules

thetop2: I have a calcified nodule on my thyroid gland that was found by an ultrasound. I found a Mayo Clinic study that says out of 374 patients who were having their thyroid removed, 29 had calcified nodules. Out of that group, 75.5 percent of the nodules were found to be cancerous. This is even after biopsies had come back fine. I have several health conditions, and my thyroid seems to be causing a lot of the new health symptoms. These include extreme exhaustion, atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, high blood pressure, muscle fatigue, joint pain, altered mental awareness, etc. Is it better to have the thyroid removed or do we, the patients, have to endure more severe health symptoms before it's a good idea to be removed?
Dr_Nasr: I am not sure the thyroid is causing the symptoms that you are experiencing because you have not mentioned anything about the thyroid function. Typically, thyroid function is independent of thyroid anatomy. So, having a nodule in general does not affect the function except when it is an overactive nodule. If the calcifications are suspicious on ultrasound, then a biopsy should be performed (also depending on the size). If cancer or a suspicion of cancer is found on biopsy, then surgery would be indicated.

IrishGram: I am 64 years old and have undergone follow up for several years for thyroid nodules, which have always been biopsied as benign. Because these nodules have worrisome characteristics, I seem to be at high risk for developing cancer. Is there a point in time where I can relax about these follow ups and not need to keep under surveillance, or would this be unwise to do so? I love my doctor and trust her judgment.  The nodules have grown over time (4 cm is the largest), but they are not causing structural problems.
Dr_Metzger: Typical risk factors for developing thyroid cancer include previous history of head or neck irradiation (this does not include just routine x-rays for the dentist) and a family history of thyroid cancers. Worrisome characteristics on ultrasound can indicate that the nodule has cancer within it, but do not change your risk of developing cancer.  One of the reasons we continue to follow nodules is to assess for growth, which can signify to us that there might be a cancer growing within. It is reassuring to hear that your repeated biopsies have all been benign, and I would hope that your most recent biopsy was following the growth of your nodule. Even with a benign biopsy, we always say there is an up to a five-percent chance of there being a cancer contained within the nodule. That is one of the reasons we continue to monitor these nodules. I would continue to see your physician for yearly ultrasound examinations of your thyroid as well as repeat biopsy should there be any significant change in size or other feature.

chihuahua3mama: I had a cancer biopsy done because an ultrasound showed an enlarged thyroid. Three nodules inside my thyroid were causing it to be enlarged, but the biopsy came back negative for cancer. It's still enlarged like it was one and one half years ago. Do I need to have it checked for cancer periodically?
Dr_Metzger: You should have your thyroid rechecked every year with an ultrasound to make sure the nodules have not changed in size or appearance. There is no good blood test to show whether you have thyroid cancer, so it is important to have the ultrasound performed. A significant increase in nodule size can indicate a cancer within, and this should trigger a re-biopsy. I do not know if all of your nodules were biopsied, but it is standard for any nodule greater than 1 cm to be biopsied. There is always a small risk that even a benign biopsy missed an underlying cancer (about three to five percent of the cases), which is why follow up is important.

BTroyer:  Can thyroid nodules affect vocal quality and, if so, should they be removed?
Dr_Metzger: Thyroid nodules can occasionally affect vocal quality depending on their size and location. Nodules that are big enough to cause voice changes often cause other compressive symptoms in the neck, including difficulty swallowing or feeling like your air is getting cut off. It is very reasonable to be evaluated by a thyroid surgeon if you are having these types of symptoms from a thyroid nodule. Most often, the pressure of the nodule on other structures in the neck causes these symptoms. Rarely, the nodule might be growing into important structures in the neck that help control your voice. Many times, however, people experience voice changes for other reasons that are entirely unrelated to the thyroid nodule. Gastric reflux, for example, can affect voice quality.  These things can be easily sorted out by a thyroid surgeon, and it might be worthwhile for you to be seen and evaluated.

klileigh: I have a goiter and nodules on my thyroid.  I have had tests that all come back negative. However, a lot of the symptoms described here in this web chat I have, such as weight gain, diabetes and no energy. I watch my diet and work out four times per week, yet I can't seem to lose weight. Is it possible that I have metabolism problems that the regular tests are not showing?
Dr_Nasr: You probably have a slow metabolism, which cannot be measured through blood work. A rough estimate of your metabolism rate is through your average calorie consumption over a week. From that your energy requirement could be estimated and would reflect your ‘metabolism’. If all of your blood work tests came back negative, then you do not have a significant abnormality of your thyroid. Therefore, focusing on the thyroid will not help. You should watch your diet more and continue to work out. You should be able to lose weight by following the basic rules of diet and exercise which affect metabolism.

Treatment for Thyroid Nodules

JaneyL: I have had small thyroid nodules on both lobes for eight years. These have increased in number on periodic ultrasounds, and all measured under one centimeter until May 2012. In December 2010, my blood work showed an autoimmune attack on the thyroid, but my repeat blood work has not indicated this. In May, my ultrasound showed dominant nodules—one on each lobe—each measuring 2 cm. Follow-up fine-needle aspiration biopsy showed follicular neoplasm on the left lobe. My thyroid blood work was within normal range, and I feel fine. As of October, there have been no changes in the size of the dominant nodules on ultrasound. Due to the follicular neoplasm and dominant 2 cm size, a total thyroidectomy is being recommended by my endocrinologist and ENT surgeon. Do you concur with this thyroidectomy recommendation? Is there any possibility that eating many vegetables, walnuts and soy, as part of a plant-based diet, for the past two years could have caused increased the in size of multinodular goiter, and creating the dominant nodules?  With a follicular neoplasm , are there any alternatives to total thyroid removal surgery? Does postponing surgery increase the chances of these dominant nodules being cancerous?
Dr_Metzger: I completely agree with the recommendation for a total thyroidectomy.  The diagnosis follicular neoplasm carries with it a 20 to 30 percent chance of there being a cancer inside of the nodule. This is not the chance of developing a cancer in the future, but that there currently is cancer in the nodule. Pathologists cannot make this determination from a needle biopsy, which is why we recommend proceeding with surgical removal. When pathologists can examine the whole specimen, they can figure out whether or not there is a cancer within. Because of your bilateral nodules, it is appropriate to proceed with a total thyroidectomy. If only the left side was removed and the pathologists said it was cancerous, you would need a second operation to remove the other side. Even if you removed the left side and it wasn’t cancer, the right side would have to be monitored because it has a nodule. You would still likely need biopsies of that nodule in the future and serial ultrasound evaluation. If the other nodule became suspicious at all, you would need a second surgery. Second surgeries are always slightly more risky that initial surgeries due to the scarring that happens after the first surgery.

There is really no other alternative. You could have the nodule re-biopsied and some of the cells sent to a company to look at the genetic profile of the cells. This can help determine whether the nodule is benign or suspicious. However, this only really helpful if the result is benign. If the result is suspicious, you are back in the same spot as previously and still need surgery.

Delaying surgery does not increase the chance of it being cancerous. Remember, what follicular neoplasm means is that the pathologists cannot tell from just looking at the biopsy cells whether or not it is cancer. Seventy to eighty percent of the time it is not cancer, but 20 to 30 percent of the time it is cancer. This means that the cancer cells are already there in the nodule right now. Regarding your other question, no, your diet did not cause these nodules.
finnishgirl: Can a patient remain on medications (i.e. Tapazole®) for hyperthyroidism due to a nodule rather than going the route of radiation or surgery? Can a patient take this drug for a long period of time?  Can the dose be lowered (i.e. taking it  every other day) or does that have side effects?  Does this drug cause weight gain?
When a patient is hyperthyroid will the troubling symptoms of sensitivity to temperatures and some hair loss resolve with the medication?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis:  Tapazole® is only a temporary solution for people who are hyperthyroid due to a thyroid nodule. This is because the nodule is ‘autonomous’ and it is not ‘checked’ by the rest of the body. So, after you stop the medication, the nodule will begin secreting excess thyroid hormone again. This is why radioactive iodine (RAI) or surgery is the preferred treatment for a nodule. In addition, if you are of child-bearing age, you should not get pregnant while on Tapazole®, since there may be risks to the fetus in the first trimester.

Yes, the dose of Tapazole® can be lowered. Tapazole® should not cause weight gain unless you become hypothyroid due to too much medication.

Yes, symptoms of hyperthyroidism improve with treatment. Please note that sometimes there may be a delayed response, but symptoms do typically improve.

Medications Following Thyroidectomy

Blpayton: Since my thyroidectomy in 2009 I have experienced hair loss, and I do not have the energy that I once did before my thyroid cancer. I am taking .150 mg of Synthroid® and .10 mg of Cytomel®. Is there anything else that you can recommend to help lessen these conditions?
Dr_Nasr: You should make sure your TSH level is not too wild— although TSH would be difficult to interpret when you are on this combination of medications. Measuring T4 and T3 would not help in this case. Also, your doctor should look for other causes of low energy and hair loss, such as vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

Appointment Locations

jhansen:Do you make appointments at the Willoughby Hills location?
Dr_ Vouyiouklis: Yes, there are two endocrinologists at Cleveland Clinic Willoughby Hills Family Health Center: Dr. Mary Vouyiouklis and Dr. Leila Khan.

Contact Information


Suzuki Cup: PH Azkals stay upbeat

Weiss’ crew seeking at least a scoring draw in Singapore

Inquirer Viber

  • peteryang47

    After watched both Semi’s, the Group B teams which initially were the least favored to reach the final, has  defy the odds, and proved to be quite a handful to the more favored teams of Group A. The last night 1-1 scoreline between Thailand and Malaysia at the Bukit  Jalil Stadium was played at fast pace compared to the other semi finals between Singapore and Philippines,  Still there is another 90 minutes to determine the match of the winner takes it all, If Philippines can hold off Singapore or to even score an early goal, .the cup is within sight and favor Philippines and the other semi. the Thais hold the ace cos the Malaysian team lapsed when they were leading 1-0, they allowed the Thais to come back into the game to snatch a precious 1-1 scoreline. which may give the Thais  the advantage in Bangkok for the return leg.
    There still hope for a final between Thailand and Philippines though.

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Type II SURF Guidelines-Undergraduate Research Office - Carnegie Mellon University

Type II Guidelines for SURF

for Proposals other than Arts and Creative Humanities

The effectiveness of your proposal will depend on your ability to explain the nature, context and scope of the project. The selection committee will also be looking for an indication that your project will be more than just a learning experience-what does it contribute to your field that we do not already know? Your proposal should include the following information and should include these exact headings:

 Abstract: A summary of your research question and your project design. Researchers typically write the abstract after they have finished writing the rest of the proposal. Include it as the first section on the first page of your proposal.

• Research Question and Significance: This is a key section that helps provide important background for your project. You should discuss the broader contextual framework: What has been done before in the field? What has been done in the particular lab you may be working in to set the stage for this project? What is new about what you are proposing? How will it advance in the field?

In terms of the audience you are writing for: You should frame the question that you want to explore in your research for a broader audience and discuss why this is an interesting and important question. How might its applications improve people's lives or the world we live in? If working on a larger project within a lab, what is your individual contribution to this endeavor?

• Project Design and Feasibility: This is an important, larger section and should include much of the substance of your proposed project. It is appropriate to use your discipline-specific language to provide detail about how the project will unfold. The details on the actual process will be critical. How will you go about exploring your research question? What will be your methods? Are these methods in keeping with traditional approaches in this research area or is this new, uncharted territory that requires an experimental methodology? What is your expected timetable for carrying out this research? A timetable can be especially helpful to outline how the project will unfold.  Break down the specifics of what your projects steps are going to look like.

• Background: This is a shorter section to let the committee know what courses and/or work/research experiences have prepared you to undertake this project. Please include how you know the faculty mentor. If this is a group project with fewer than 5 people, then you should include a sentence on the responsibilities for each team member; if this is a larger group project, then please highlight the main students.

• Feedback and Evaluation: This is a shorter section. Who will provide feedback on and evaluate your project and according to what schedule and what criteria? How often will you meet with your faculty mentor? Are you also working with graduate students, if so what are their names?

• Dissemination of Knowledge: How will you share the results of your project? What form will your final report take? You should include Meeting of the Minds but if there are other venues to share your work - a departmental poster session or a discipline-specific conference, please mention these options here.

Proposal Format for SURF

Your SURF proposal may be up to 3-pages in length, single-spaced.

Submission of Hard Copies to the URO (531 Warner Hall)

  • All SURF proposals are submitted online, with hard copies submitted to the URO Office, 531 Warner Hall (EXCEPT FOR FACULTY LETTERS which are submitted online only)
  • Hard copies must be SINGLE SIDED
  • Faculty letters are submitted ONLY online, no hard copies

Review a Draft

You are strongly encouraged to work with your faculty advisor on your proposal, attend a Proposal Writing Workshop run by the URO (dates listed on the main page), and to meet with the Undergraduate Research Office Director or Associate Director at least once prior to submitting a SURF proposal to review a draft. To schedule an appointment, e-mail Stephanie Wallach at sw4s@andrew.cmu.edu, or Jennifer Keating-Miller atjkeating@andrew.cmu.edu, or call x8-5702.


Lots of witnesses, but still no arrest in NE Portland homicide

Durieul_Harris_ODL_Photo.jpgView full sizeDurieul Harris

A triple shooting and a homicide that grew out of a Northeast Portland riot last year remains unsolved and authorities have offered a reward to break open the case.

Police were called to Fontaine Bleau Nightclub, 237 N.E. Broadway St., on November 9 and found an estimated 100 people involved in a large fight.

Police found Durieul Joseph Harris, 30, had been shot multiple times. He died at the scene. Two other people suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds during the disturbance.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information in the case. Tips can be left online, or by 503-823-4357.

--Tom Hallman Jr.


Tonic Hotel du Louvre

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Tonic Hotel du Louvre

The Tonic Hotel du Louvre is a charming hotel that welcomes you in the shade of the ancient walls, ideally located in the heart of Paris, 3 minutes walk from the Louvre Museum, between the Pont Neuf and Canopée des Halles.

This hotel is a typical Parisian boutique hotel with 35 rooms which are located in 2 wings with 2 lifts.

The elegant setting combines tradition and simplicity, and everything has been designed to cultivate the art of well-being.

A little history

In 1689, within the framework of the town planning ordered by Louis XIV, rue du Roule was designed to facilitate and enable a direct connection between the Pont Neuf and the church of Saint-Eustache; it takes the name of a former fief called du Roule. It quickly became one of the busiest streets in Paris.

Even today this passage’s position gives it a strategic nature in the heart of the historic district of the city.

The buildings constructed in this street by Jean-Baptiste Prévôt, architect of King Louis XIV Buildings were the forerunners of the new planning rules that brought Paris out of the Middle Ages and into the era of Urbanism.

An ideal location in the heart of Paris

The Tonic Hotel du Louvre in the centre of the street is strategically placed at the crossroads. So you can easily walk to the Louvre Museum and Tuileries, then Concorde, the Champs Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe themselves are not too far away. The bravest can continue to the Eiffel Tower.

Place Vendome, the Opera, The Museum of Modern Art at the Pompidou Centre, the Seine and finally its magnificent bridges are just a few metres from us.

For shopping you are also in the ideal place, from the Forum des Halles to Rue Saint-Honoré, not forgetting the diverse Rue de Rivoli, there is something for all budgets.

The rue Montorgueil has become one of the most popular meeting places in Paris. Restaurants, food stores, and terraces… Picturesque, it is where the Bohemians can be found. You will certainly find what you’re looking for there too.

However, if you prefer not to walk or the weather is not too forgiving, we are surrounded by three metro stations (Louvre Rivoli, Pont-Neuf and Chatelet) serving countless stations and give you access to all major intramural and extramural attractions and taking you directly to the main train stations and two airports in Paris.


Fossils are remains of animals and plants that existed a long time ago. The age of fossils ranges from thousands to millions of many years ago. The mineralized remnants of dead creatures go via chemical, biological and physical forces that combine to turn the materials of a creature to stone. It requires the perfect combination of circumstances for them being formed. This is a site made on hand for you to discover the Sulphur River Fossils you were looking for. Loads of these river fossils are accessible on ebay - as it has become a very common network for the buying and selling of river fossils. This site is approved by eBay to assist you to get that unique Sulphur River Fossils you are searching for and present them for you. If you do not find the Sulphur River Fossils hunting for listed below. Use the search function on your right, or use one of the recent Sulphur River Fossils lookups in the list.

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There are numerous rivers that are famous for having fossils. More than the years, geologists have been studying and analyzing these sites. The fossils found during the numerous rivers have various ages and characteristics. River bottoms are generally good fossil hunting areas. Erosion usually exposes strata. The top layer is washed away leaving another layer of bare rocks that have fossils. One significant river with regards to the understand of fossils is the Green river; it's located at the converging factor of three states, namely Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. It is famous mainly because that it is the world’s most famous paleontological site. It has very rare fossils. The age of the river is inside the Eocene period and the fossils discovered in it date back to 50 million years ago. There are lots of sorts of fossils that were discovered during the river such as people of fish, reptiles, prehistoric plants and mammals. There are different methods that another person can use to identify fossils which are discovered in rivers. The modern day geological web site exactly where the fossils are discovered is important. The modern geological structure ought to be determined and evidence of erosion areas noted. Estimation on the geological strata that has the fossils must also be made. Geological layers and the features in the layer can be used to place the fossil inside a geological column. The fossils must then be measured. An overall measurement need to be done and if you'll find any distinctive features there measurements ought to also be taken. These features could be the shell spirals or leaf size. The symmetry can be used to see the kind of fossils. Keen note need to be taken to see if the symmetry is either bilateral or radial. Bilateral refers for the fossil having identical parts on both sides of an axis although radial is exactly where there is an identifiable pattern that happens at the same distance inside the center. After taking all this information the last step is to compare them in the fossils that have already been identified and categorized. This must give an individual a clear group that it fits in.

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A Child’s Curiosity

“What is gravity?” asks my then four year old nephew to his family.
Quite an inspirational question from a four year old! But then again, at the time they were all watching the highly acclaimed Cosmos; the science documentary hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. A child’s curiosity clearly knows no bounds when it comes to the world around them, and I am astounded by the equally captivating questions his brother asks me (“What does e in math[s] mean?”)
It is sad that in later years children eventually lose their interest in science. In 2008, The Telegraph published a report with statistics that showed some children were losing their interest between primary and secondary school (42% of 9 year olds were interested in science, but this drops to 38% of 12 year olds and 35% of 14 year olds). In 2013 Ofsted reported an assessment of science education and recommendations based on a survey [Maintaining curiosity: a survey into science education in schools] conducted between 2010 -2013. CaSE in London responded positively to this report and has called for the UK Government to heed these recommendations.

I had the chance to observe such inspirational curiosity during my Easter holidays when I visited my cousin and her children (hereafter referred to as my niece and nephews) in Boston, centre of scientific excellence. It really doesn’t get any better than that! One of the things I was particularly looking forward to was extracting DNA from strawberries with them. I had of course previously done this with Science Brainwaves at a school outreach event in 2011. Just telling my 11 year old niece and 9 year old nephew about this got them really excited. When I told them their dining table needed to be cleaned, my nephew (who prefers to kick a football around the house much to his parents’ disapproval) was so eager that he could not clean the table fast enough! I complemented this little experiment with a brief 101 on DNA and PCR (polymerase chain reaction, which copies DNA). When I interviewed them later about it, they told me they loved it and would gladly do it again. Score 1 for science! If doing practical experiments benefits children so much, then it certainly makes the removal of practical work for A’ Level exams by Ofqual in the UK dubious. Naturally, this move has been criticised and on the 12th May 2014, a hearing was hosted by the Commons Select Committee to discuss this proposal.

I also had the opportunity to visit some of the scientific attractions of Boston with the kids; the New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science. I found that the trip to the aquarium was definitely worthwhile. My nephew had his own epiphany linking the ecology of sharks and their prey to the food web, as he dictated later in the evening. I was amazed and a little scared when I had the chance to touch stingrays and a baby shark in the giant ‘touch-tank’. But I wasn’t the only one in seventh heaven. It was interesting to find out that my niece actually wants to be marine biologist. Score 2 for science. I asked my 9 year old nephew what he wanted to do and he replied with a list of potential careers: archaeologist, cosmologist or footballer. I was completely honest with him when I said that he might make more money becoming a footballer, there probably won’t be very much opportunities in archaeology, but that cosmology might be more fulfilling. He didn’t seem too upset or waylaid by this. I neglected to ask the youngest, as at the time he was 4 years old and most of his ambitions included chocolate and tickling. I will ask him another time.

When it comes to their parents encouraging them into science, my cousin and her husband do not hold back! Amazed by my nephew’s questions, the family is now subscribed to the Scientific American and together they all sit down to watch Cosmos. This documentary, playing on Fox and National Geographic, follows on from the Carl Sagan version which played in 1980. I watched the second [Some of the Things That Molecules Do] and fourth [A Sky Full of Ghosts] episodes, glad that the second episode provided a neat and tidy introduction to genetics and evolution, the ideal precursor to extracting DNA from strawberries. I was really astounded at how the show pitched itself perfectly to both adults and children. The parents and all three kids were glued to the screen, and I found the balance between explanation and visuals in complete harmony. But of course, a documentary like this does not go unnoticed by the Creationists in the USA, especially when evolution is involved. In an article in the Huffington Post, the show was criticised by Creationists for not given its due time on Creationism. I asked my niece and nephew what they thought and they make the same claims as any scientist would make: Why give inaccurate information to the public, especially when there is evidence to back up what we already know? Score 3 for science.

For the final flourish in this scientific journey with my niece and nephew I tell them I write a monthly blog for Science Brainwaves. So I asked them to read Resurrection! Bringing species back from the dead, and get their thoughts and feedback. They both would like to see the sabre tooth cat brought back (clearly indicating they have not seen Jurassic Park). My niece is for bringing back species from the dead as she thinks it will make great study material. My nephew on the other hand is a lot more cautious. I don’t think I can score this as either for or against science, but I’m definitely happy to see this younger generation at least considering the ethical options. Either way, the final score is 3 for science, I’m still the Cool Fun Aunt and now I can happily watch and nurture their scientific ambitions to reality.

DNA Extraction

Doing DNA extraction with my niece and nephew

The touch tank at the New England Aquarium

Interbreeding humans: The Sassy Palaeolithic Action

Are you confused about the different types of humans that got it on with each other?
If you are, then in this blog entry, I provide a summary factsheet style of the pairs of hominids that interbred with each other, with evidence for and against it, and the current conclusion. All dates are expressed as years before present, and be aware that in the field of ancient DNA, human contamination is always an issue that can potentially confound the results.

Hominid Action Pair #1:     Neanderthals     +        Humans: Non-Africans
Home-turf:                            Europe/Asia                         Global
Lived from:                        400,000 – 30,000             200,000- present
When and where:                     47,000-65,000 Middle East
Evidence for getting it on: FORinterbreedingIf the different colours represent different genetic make-up, then the answer to the question “Where did the modern humans get their genes from?” can only be “from mating with Neanderthals”.

Evidence against getting it on: AGAINSTintebreedingThis model clearly produces the same pattern but without mating.

Current status: The literature arguing against interbreeding has been focused on the pitfalls of the method used. Nevertheless, new methods are now confirming that Neanderthals and humans were up in a tree K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Now, we are starting to identify what genes we got from them.

Hominid Action Pair #2:         Denisovans      +      Humans: Asians/ Oceanians
Home-turf:                           Siberia (Tropics?)                       Oceania
Lived from:                            ? – ~50,000                       200,000- present
When and where:                      S.E Asia and prior to 44,000
Evidence for getting it on: It’s the same case as the evidence for mating between Neanderthals and humans, except here the genes that went into the ancestral populations of the Aboriginal Australians, Near Oceanians, Polynesians, Fijians, East Indonesians, and Philippine Mamanwas and Manobos can only have come from the Denisovans.
Evidence against getting it on: While models are presented in the literature for discussion, they have been argued against. The consequence of which is that the results are described as a best fit to the data.
Current Status: We know that the action took place BUT we don’t know enough about the Denisovans. We only have a tooth and small finger bone from a Siberian cave. Watch this space!

Hominid Action Pair #3:              Denisovans       +         Homo erectus?
Home-turf:                              Siberia (Tropics?)        Africa, China, Indonesia
Lived from:                                 ? – ~50,000               1.9 million years- 150,000
When and where:                                         ? and Asia?
Evidence for getting it on: The Denisovan tooth has some features that you can find in some of the older Homo species, and the DNA appears to also look quite archaic. Homo erectus was widespread across Asia, so it does seem likely that the two hominids crossed paths.
Evidence against getting it on: At the minute, there isn’t any. This model was proposed as the most likely scenario to a result that arose from another study.
Current Status: As already said before, we don’t know that much about the Denisovans. There are still a lot of gaps making this a hypothesis.

Hominid Action Pair #4:             Neanderthals        +       Denisovans
Home-turf:                                    Europe/Asia              Siberia (Tropics?)
Lived from:                                400,000 – 30,000              ? – ~50,000
When and where:                                    ? and Europe/Asia?
Evidence for getting it on: NeintoDeEvidence against getting it on: Not presented.
Current Status: This has just recently been published, and the amount of DNA material from the Neanderthals into the Denisovans is calculated to have been very small. More analyses will have to be done.

Here is a final tree summarising the relationships between the hominids, and the arrows indicate where interbreeding took place. Adapted from Prufer et al 2014.

SummaryWhile I used a lot of literature to create the above summary, if you are looking for more information then I recommend Veeramah and Hammer 2014, Nature Reviews Genetics 15, 149-162 as it provides an up to date informative review while also including relevant references.

Resurrection! Bringing extinct species back from the dead

My best friend has nightmares about dinosaurs; T. rexes chasing and searching for her as she hides behind furniture. I don’t blame her. Courtesy of Jurassic Park, I’m sure there are plenty of others who have had similar nightmares. During my PhD, I once had a nightmare that Neanderthals were back and trying to take over Europe. But is it really possible to bring back species from the dead?

At first glance, it seems to be more difficult than the movies give credit for. In 2009, the New Scientist published an article outlining the method for any Dr Moreau wannabes, but also why the technology is not available for it to work:

1- Obtain a complete and accurate genome

2- Package and assemble this genome into chromosomes

3- Identify a suitable surrogate to provide the egg and to gestate the embryo to full term

But as technology is moving at a face pace the limits of scientific accomplishments are being further tested. Revive and Restore is a project aiming to push the boundaries for resurrecting extinct species. Inspiration for this project came when the last passenger pigeon (a species hunted to extinction for its meat) named Martha died in Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. Several species have since been chosen as candidates to be resurrected, including a range of birds, the quagga, the Easter Island palm and several Pleistocene mammals. The first meeting held on the 8 February 2012 brought together conservation biologists and geneticists to assess the feasibility of resurrection. Since then the project has established a list of criteria to examine the suitability of each candidate species, e.g. how will bringing back the species answer scientific questions, is it possible to re-wild a species and, if selecting a species further back in time, is there enough preserved DNA. Sure enough in 2013 an article What If Extinction Is Not Forever? appeared in Science discussing the risks versus the benefits. The objections fell into five categories: animal welfare, health, environment, political and moral, and the benefits included: scientific knowledge, technological advancement, environmental benefits, justice and the “cool” aspect of it.

One of the reasons why the passenger pigeon was selected is because there are plenty of samples that are young enough to obtain good quality DNA. The key issue therefore lies in the survivability of ancient DNA sequences. The potential rests firstly in obtaining increasingly older DNA sequences and secondly, ensuring that the genome is of high quality. The oldest DNA sequence obtained to date is the 700,000 year old horse genome from Canada, a far cry from what was once an hypothesised maximum of 100,000 years old (Shapiro and Hofreiter, 2014). Sequencing technologies have also drastically increased genome coverage (how many times a gene is “read” a bit like each time you re-read a book you pick up on more information and with better accuracy). The Denisovan genome, for instance, before the use of the new sequencing technology enabled a coverage of 1.9 fold, which increased dramatically to 30 fold once the new techniques were applied. Nevertheless even with the new technology to analyse fragmented DNA, Shapiro and Hofreiter (2014, p. 1236573-2) state “it may not be possible to sequence any eukaryotic palaeogenome truly to completion”- a sad case indeed for the 11 year old boy who once asked me at a Science Brainwaves workshop “can we bring monsters back?” Assuming he meant dinosaurs and without getting into the logistics with him, I gave him the theoretical but not entirely true response of ‘yes’. He then exclaimed “COOL” really loudly and wondered off. To be honest, I didn’t really want to break his heart, and I may just have inspired him to become a scientist! A similar question was posed (in a considerably much more professional manner) at the Royal Society meeting in London Ancient DNA: the first three decades in November 2013. Towards the end of the talk The Future of aDNA by Professor Michael Hofreiter, a colleague from UCL asked “can we reconstitute from ancient DNA (putting aside the technical details) a viable sequence to create a viable organism?” The answer was a resounding no. When it came to resurrecting dinosaurs, Professor Hofreiter quite clearly stated that the field of ancient DNA will never be able to go that far back in time. With an added flourish came the phrase “don’t waste your time or money!”

So should we be worried about dinosaurs chasing us, or Neanderthals taking over? With the advancement of technology opening up the possibility of resurrection, it is only those that have not been extinct for very long that could be resurrected, such as the dodo or the passenger pigeon. The debate on this however continues: It is through this approach that together scientists, policy-makers and the public can work together to ensure that this new science is used in a mature and sensible way. As for my best friend, she is relieved and hasn’t had a dinosaur nightmare since.

Jurassic Park, copyright IMDB Universal Pictures 2012

Jurassic Park, copyright IMDB Universal Pictures 2012

Neolithic Revolution in the air!

THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION WAS A KEY MOMENT IN THE PREHISTORY OF HUMANS. It sparked civilisation as we know it- settlements were established, crops were grown and animals were domesticated transforming the economy of subsistence globally. Beginning in the Levant (Near East) around 12,000 years ago, the Neolithic Revolution spread into Europe 8000 years ago and lasted up until 4000 years ago when the Bronze Age began.

The major question is how did this revolution spread? Did the indigenous hunter gatherers adopt farming solely though cultural transmission? Or did the farmers pass on their practices alongside their genes? These two models (see diagram) – culturally diffused model (CDM) and demic diffused model (DDM) – originally seen as two polar opposites as mechanisms of the spread, have been debated throughout the 20th century. By identifying the proportion of Mesolithic/ hunter-gatherer and Neolithic/ farmer genes within the current gene pool (see diagram), the correct model could be identified.

Classical genetic markers in present day populations (such as blood groups) appear to lend support to the DDM revealing a genetic cline from the Near East towards the West. But modern genetic markers can reflect population processes that have taken place both before and after the Neolithic spread. Instead ancient DNA (aDNA) provides a unique window of opportunity to look back into the past. Ancient DNA studies do come fraught with difficulties. Over time DNA degrades and fragments into short molecules. Usually this means any contaminating modern DNA is favourably extracted and analysed instead. Nevertheless strict and rigorous protocols exist to minimise contamination and new technology has been optimised for aDNA extraction.

The archaeological record has shown that as farmers migrated across Europe, two different routes were taken as indicated by distinct ceramic styles. One route was through Central Europe, from Hungary to Slovakia, Ukraine and through to Paris, as shown by the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) and Alföldi Vonaldiszes Kerámia (AVK) pottery styles. The other route represented with Impressed Ware/Cardial culture was along the Mediterranean coast. aDNA studies have been conducted on samples from these different sites and cultures, and the picture that emerges is one more complex than just picking one model over the other. It certainly appears that the two routes have their own model: while the Central Europe/ LBK route shows little to no genetic continuity between the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and the Neolithic farmers, the Mediterranean route tends towards genetic continuity and therefore a level of gene flow between the two populations, a pattern which even seems to lead up into Sweden.

But this most certainly is not the end of the story. For one thing, the genetic studies carried out were analysing the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which is inherited solely down the female line (men inherit their mothers’ mitochondrial DNA but will not pass it on). In one study, it was found that of Spainish Neolithic samples while the mtDNA belonged to hunter gatherer groups from the Palaeolithic, the Y chromosome was shown to be from the Neolithic Near East. This does seem to suggest that the role of men and women during the advance of the Neolithic differed to some extent. Additionally, it also appears that the change to farming practices did not happen as rapidly as expected, and was not as clear cut. In two recent papers (with a particular focus on Germany), it was found that hunter gatherers and farmers lived alongside each other for about 2000 years and, interestingly while the Mesolithic hunter gatherers and the Neolithic farmers had their own distinctive gene pools, at some point in the Neolithic there were intermediary groups with shared ancestry and lifestyle undoubtedly reflecting the transition that was taking place.

There is a level of difficulty when studying the past; we cannot always state processes or cause and effects with a perfect degree of certainty, but we can say what the evidence appears to suggest, and in this case it appears to suggest a high a degree of complexity as the Neolithic Revolution took hold. There is never just any one specific model that can answer our questions, and there will always be other lines of evidence to explore. To answer the original question how the Neolithic Revolution spread cannot be placated with just one simple answer. It is never that easy. But as aDNA analyses show, we can still get one step closer to that very complicated answer.

More information:

Bollongino et al 2013 Science 342 (6157) 479-481

Brandt et al 2013 Science 342 (6155) 257-261

Gamba et al 2011 Molecular Ecology 21 (1) 45-56

Haak et al 2005 Science 310 (5750) 1016-1018

Lacan et al 2011 PNAS 108 (45) 18255–18259

Pinhasi et al 2012 Trends in Genetics 28 (10) 496-505

Skoglund et al 2012 Science 336 (6080) 466-469Neolithic Revolution

Reproduction Revamp: Stick Insects and Going It Alone.

Timema cristinae: making a lack of a love life cool.

Love can be tough. If you wish awkward dates and trawling through match.com were a thing of the past, you could take a leaf out of this stick insect’s book. Tanja Schwander (University of Lausanne) studies how Timema stick insects are changing the dating game. Rather than reproducing with a partner, female Timema have developed the ability to produce offspring individually.  There could be a number of causes for this bizarre transition from sexual to non-sexual offspring production, so read on for a how-to guide in ditching dating.

Conversion to non-sexual reproduction may occur genetically. When female Timema are prevented from mating, some eggs that haven’t been fertilised by sperm hatch and develop. Could this virgin birth scenario, reminiscent of biblical times, replace sexual reproduction in Timema? Or are virgin births merely a strategy to ensure female stick insects can carry on their line when opportunities to mate are thin on the ground?

Alternatively, a type of bacterial infection may stimulate non-sexual reproduction. Infecting bacteria are only transmitted through the female sex cell, the egg, and so males slow the spread of the bacteria. In light of this, the bacteria devised a cunning strategy to eliminate males: inducing a kind of non-sexual reproduction that produces only female offspring. Could bacterial infection be the instigator of non-sexual reproduction?

Schwander’s studies of genetic data reveal the virgin birth scenario cannot explain the change in Timema reproduction. Conversion to non-sexual reproduction may occur genetically, but not via virgin births. To determine if bacterial infection causes the stick insect’s lack of libido, Schwander cured the infection. This restored sexual reproduction and production of male offspring, proving bacterial infection can result in non-sexual reproduction. Watch this space; could Boots’ next bestseller be bacteria to eliminate human males?

Designer Babies- What’s It All About?

Throughout the social and scientific worlds, there is controversy surrounding the potential to genetically modify embryos to create ‘designer babies’. These are embryos that have been screened for genetic diseases, and will therefore only contain selected desired qualities chosen by the parents. However, there are many stories in the media which exaggerate and distort the facts- and this can even be seen in the term ‘designer babies’ itself. It is important to think about the likelihood and implications of this idea, plus to outline what actually gave rise to this concept.

We could suggest that the idea of genetically engineered embryos or the ideas that led to this originated in 1978 and the first in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. The procedure gave and still gives hundreds of infertile couples a chance to have a child by transferring an egg fertilised in a laboratory into the mothers uterus. It subsequently led to a procedure known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This is a technique used on embryos to profile their genome- it is a form of genetic profiling and embryo screening and is a more technical and accurate way of regarding ‘designer babies’. In terms of health benefits, using PGD means embryos can be screened outside the womb. Embryos can be selected that only carry normal and healthy genes, and are therefore free from genetic abnormalities. Whilst this technique is currently popular, PGD could in the future be used to select any desired specified trait of a child, such as eye colour, intelligence, and athleticism; be used to select embryos to be without a genetic disorder, to increase successful pregnancies, to match a sibling in order to be a donor, for sex selection and therefore be used to design your own baby. Selecting the gender of a child is already possible due to the fact only the X or Y chromosome needs to be identified, but other traits are more difficult due to the amount of genetic material required. Recent breakthroughs have meant that every single chromosome in an embryo can be scanned for genes involved in anything from Down’s Syndrome to lactose intolerance using a single microchip, but how advanced is this and what are the ethics behind this?

There are a large array of ethical, social and scientific concerns over the concept of creating a ‘perfect’ child. Some people worry that in the future there will be an imbalance between genders in the general population especially in societies that favor boys over girls, such as China. Also, a key issue suggested is that there is an element of eugenics to this idea- PGD will mean that people with ‘unattractive’ qualities will be lessened and potentially society may discriminate against those who have not been treated. If we look at this from a more extreme perspective, it could be suggested that we may end up with a race of ‘super-humans’ and a divide between those who have been treated and those who haven’t.  Also, this selection of genotypes suggests a potential deleterious effect on the human gene pool, meaning less genetic variation. Whilst at first this may seem positive due to the fact you could eliminate genetic disorders such as hemophilia A before it becomes prevalent in the body, it is also likely that new diseases may evolve and accidentally be introduced into the human race. Due to the decreased gene pool, only partial evolution would be able to occur and therefore we will be more susceptible to new diseases having a dramatic effect. It is clear from this evidence that regulations must be put in place and strictly enforced before any new advances are made.

So, how close are we to being able to ‘customise’ our children?
In terms of altering genes already present in the embryo, we are already well on our way to refining this technology. Scientists have been altering animal genes for years, and germline therapy is already being used on animals. Germline gene therapy is now being closely linked and developed with PGD- and it could soon be used to change human genetics. Our germline cells are our sex cells (egg and sperm), and using this branch of gene therapy essentially involves manipulating and adding new genes to the cells. The clear possibility from this in terms of PGD is that any trait can be added to an embryo to create a designer baby. This may involve adding a gene to stop a genetic disorder being expressed in a baby’s phenotype by fixing them as they are noticed in PGD, but it could also mean that only certain people will be able to advance in society.

On he other hand however, before these ‘more advanced’ humans are created we need to learn more about the genetic code. The basis of all genetic technologies lies in the human genome, and whilst PGD advances are ever-increasing, at present we can only use this technique to look at one or two genes at a time. Therefore, we cannot use it to alter the genes in embryos, and this would logically lead us to think about gene therapy, but the current lack of technology and the strict regulations regarding experimenting with germline gene therapy makes it unlikely that anyone will be able to create a completely designer baby in the near future.

Designing our babies is a reality that government bodies and various organizations are beginning to accept and address fully, and society’s view of the moral implications behind PGD and gene therapy being a key factor in determining how far this concept can advance; there will be increasingly new debates and controversy over the acceptable applications of gene technologies in humans and human embryos.

Biotech for all – taking science back to it’s roots?

This morning I came across a very interesting TED talk by Ellen Jorgensen entitled “Biohacking — you can do it, too” (http://on.ted.com/gaqM). The basic premise is to make biotech accessible to all, by setting up community labs, where anyone can learn to genetically engineer an organism, or sequence a genome. This might seem like a very risky venture from an ethical point of view, but actually she makes a good argument for the project being at least as ethically sound than your average lab. With the worldwide community of ‘biohackers’ having agreed not only to abide by all local laws and regulations, but drawing up its own code of ethics.

So what potential does this movement have as a whole? One thing it’s unlikely to lead to is bioterrorism, an idea that the media like to infer when they report on the project. The biohacker labs don’t have access to pathogens, and it’s very difficult to make a harmless microbe into a malicious one without access to at least the protein coding DNA of a pathogen. Unfortunately, the example she gives of what biohacking *has* done is rather frivolous, with a story of how a German man identified the dog that had been fouling in his street by DNA testing. However, she does give other examples of how the labs could be used, from discovering your ancestry to creating a yeast biosensor. This rings of another biotech project called iGem (igem.org), where teams of undergraduate students work over the summer to create some sort of functional biotech (sensors are a popular option) from a list of ‘biological parts’.

The Cambridge 2010 iGem team made a range of colours of bioluminescent (glowing!) E.coli as part of their project.

My view is that Jorgensen’s biohacker project might actually have some potential to do great things. Professional scientists in the present day do important work, but are often limited by bureaucracy and funding issues – making it very difficult to do science for the sake of science. Every grant proposal has to have a clear benefit for humanity, or in the private sector for the company’s wallet, which isn’t really how science works. The scientists of times gone by were often rich and curious people, who made discoveries by tinkering and questioning the world around them, and even if they did have a particular aim in mind they weren’t constricted to that by the agendas of companies and funding bodies. Biohacking seems to bring the best of both worlds, a space with safety regulations and a moral code that allows anyone to do science for whatever off-the-wall or seemingly inconsequential project that takes their fancy – taking science back to the age of freedom and curiosity.

A matter of inheritance

Image courtesy of 'Digital Dreams' / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of ‘Digital Dreams’ / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Some basic genetics

Uses and abuses

Dominant and Recessive Genes In Humans

As briefly referred to in the previous Genetics blog, for each of our genes we posess two ‘alleles’. One of these alleles in inherited from our father and one from our mother. There can be many different alleles for one gene and it can be completely up to chance, or perhaps luck, what we inherit from our parents. When speaking in general terms about dominant and recessive alleles, we tend to speak about genes as if for each of them there are two different alleles. This is not always, or often, the case, but it sometimes is and makes it much easier to explain this way.

For example, for a particular gene, say the ability to roll your tongue, there is a dominant and a recessive gene. We can call the dominant allele ‘R’ for being able to roll our tongue and the recessive allele ‘r’ for being unable to roll our tongue. Our parents could posess any combination of these alleles: AA, aa or Aa. Then, it is completely down to chance what we inherit from them.

One unexpected example is that the allele for dwarfism in humans is the dominant allele and the allele for normal growth is recessive. This means that if we inherited both of the different alleles for this gene we would show the dwarfism trait.

Below is a table of dominant and recessive traits shown in humans.

Dominant Trait in Humans

Recessive Trait in Humans

A blood type

O blood type

Abundant body hair

Little body hair

Normal vision

B blood type

O blood type

Baldness (in male)

Not bald

Broad lips

Thin lips

Broad nose

Narrow nose

Normal growth

Hazel or green eyes

Blue or gray eyes

High blood pressure

Normal blood pressure

Large eyes

Small eyes

Mongolian Fold

No fold in eyes

Normal vision

Rh factor (+)

No factor (Rh -)

Second toe longest

First or big toe longest

Short stature

Tall stature

Six fingers

Five fingers normal

Webbed fingers

Normal fingers

Tone deafness

Normal tone hearing

White hair streak

Normal hair coloring

When we are speaking about the inheritance of alleles and the genetic make-up of a person with respect to one gene, we use one of two phrases. The first is homozygous, meaning that the two alleles an individual posesses for one gene are the same i.e. AA or aa. The second is heterozygous, meaning that the two alleles an individual posesses for one gene are different i.e. Aa.

By Robyn Bradbury

Finding out what makes you, you.