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Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 9/9/2008


Question
Sir I've multiple queries..

1. Why hair become white with the passage of age?
2. Why carbon mono oxide is poisonous?
3. Whether cloning should be done or not?

I'll be very thankful to you for your answers..Thanks in advance!!

Answer
Hi again, Pooja:  I see you're still thinking!

Hair becomes white/gray with age because the pigment (melanin) decreases in the hair follicles.  This is related to changes in gene expression over time.

Carbon monoxide is poisonous because it binds irreversably to hemoglobin, thereby not allowing oxygen to bind.  You die from not enough oxygen in your system.

Science doesn't answer questions of "should"  These are social questions that have to be answered by debate.  Here's a good article on cloning:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloning

Keep in touch!

FM Rollwagen, PhD

Biology

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Florence M Rollwagen

Expertise

I can answer questions in biology, microbiology and immunology on the undergraduate or graduate level. I can also address medical and health concerns regarding alternative medicine, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) liver disease and intestinal problems.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience in research and teaching at the medical/graduate level, and 5 years teaching college biology and microbiology. My expertise is in microbiology and immunology, specifically the biology of cytokines and soluble immune response modifiers. I also carried out original research in blood substitutes and shock/trauma.

Organizations
American Association of Immunologists (AAI) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Publications
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, Cytokine, Shock, Experimental Hematology

Education/Credentials
BS biology 1966 MS biology 1968 PhD immunology 1979

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