It’s the age old question, white meat or dark meat – what’s the difference?

All parts of the bird have their benefits and the constituents of their structure is related to their function flavor.

White Meat

White meat is made up of muscles with fibers that are called fast-twitch fibers.  Fast-twitch muscles are used for quick bursts of activity, such as fleeing from danger. These muscles get energy from glycogen, which is also stored in the muscles. Glycogen is a polysaccharide of glucose, an animal starch.   Animal starch is stored primarily in the liver and broken down into glucose when needed by the white muscle.

Dark Meat

Dark meat is made up of muscles with fibers that are called slow-twitch. These muscles are used for extended periods of activity, such as standing or walking, and need a consistent energy source. Dark meat has more myoglobin, an amazing protein.  (This is the red liquid that you may see coming from meat at the butcher’s section of your local supermarket.)  Like it’s cousin hemoglobin, myoglobin delivers oxygen to the mitochondria.  Muscles that are used more frequently have higher amounts of myoglobin. More myoglobin gives the darker color of the meat.

This explains why the farmed turkeys (above left) have whiter meat than wild turkeys (above right). Farmed poultry do not fly, and is whiter than the chest muscles of the flying birds; also, why the game meat is darker (wild animals move much more than the domestic ones). Different levels of myoglobin between species also explains the difference in meat colors.
When dark meat is cooked it turns the myoglobins to metmyoglobins, which is brown/gray. Metmyoglobins are very high in iron (albeit there is not that much in dark meat in the first place).  Dark meats tend to contain more zinc, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitamins B6 and B12, amino acids, iron than white meat. Poultry dark meat contain vitamins A, K, B6, B12, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, minerals as selenium, phosphorus and zinc.

Even the fats in most of the dark meats have healthy parts. They contain Omega-3, and Omega-6 fatty acids, and other ‘healthy’ fats.

It is the saturated fat content which lowers the true quality of dark meat. To reduce the saturated fat content of chicken dark meat, simply remove the skin.

Sources:
http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2007/10/08/dark_meat_vs_white_meat_whats_the_difference.php

http://www.drdonmd.com/health_articles.cfm

http://news.softpedia.com/news/9-Things-You-Did-Not-Know-About-Muscles-74768.shtml

]]> http://biologyblog.edublogs.org/2009/11/25/fowl-science-white-meat-or-dark-meat/feed/ 3 http://biologyblog.edublogs.org/2009/11/25/fowl-science-video/ http://biologyblog.edublogs.org/2009/11/25/fowl-science-video/#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:13:19 +0000 biologyblog http://biologyblog.edublogs.org/?p=168 Reposted from Nov 25, 2008 
Why does a turkey continue to cook after it’s out of the oven? How can you be sure to thoroughly cook the dark meat without drying out the white meat? Is stuffing really a good idea? How do you make the skin golden?

This webcast at exploratorium investigates why temperature is critical, and investigates different cooking methods: roasting,deep frying, barbecuing, and smoking.

Source: http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/webcasts/turkey_cast.html

“Today, pets are in more than 60 percent of American homes,” said Charlotte McKenney, assistant director of ReCHAI (Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction). The benefits of a furry friend range from helping health problems such as lowering blood pressure to encouraging exercise and promoting a happy, healthy environment.

During the upcoming month, ReCHAI will be exploring the many ways animals benefit people of all ages during the International Society for Anthrozoology and Human-Animal Interaction Conference in Kansas City. Because this is a relatively new connection, this conference is one of many upcoming research events taking place with a goal of gaining information on human-animal interactions. From the research that has been conducted, it is evident that pet ownership may have multiple health and emotional benefits for both children and adults. Rebecca Johnson, director of ReCHAI, claims that pets are of great importance to us, especially during hard economic times because they provide us with “unconditional love and acceptance and may be a part of answers to societal problems, such as inactivity and obesity.”

ReCHAI sponsors a variety of projects in their attempt to further their knowledge and understanding of human-animal relationships. In a recent study, ReCHAI sponsored the “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound and Stay Fit for Seniors.” In this program, two groups were divided based on walking partners. One group was matched with shelters dogs, while the other group was paired with a human walking buddy. For a total of 12 weeks, both groups followed a routine that included an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. At the end of the program, researchers found that the older adults matched with dogs not only improved their confidence walking, but also their walking capabilities by 28%, as well as, their speed. The older people who were paired with a human partner only had a 4% increase in their walking capabilities and tended to be negative and discourage each other with outside forces such as hot weather.

I found this article to be of particular interest because I am a big believer that pets, especially dogs, can have a big impact on a persons life. A little over three years ago I got my dog Toby (above) who has proved to be nothing but a positive impact to my life, as well as, those around me. Two springs ago my Mother’s blood pressure got so high that she had to be put on blood pressure medicine. At the same time, my family moved to a new house near the local park that extends for 14 miles in and out of several towns. That first Spring my Mom and I started going on regular walks and bike rides with Toby at least once a day. Not only was this activity a great way to chat with my Mom on a regular basis, but it served as daily exercise for all of us, including the dog! By the end of the summer my Mom no longer needed to be on the blood pressure medicine. Not only does a simple exercise, such as walking, help lower healthy risks, but it also leads to a less stressful life. To this day, we continually go on multiple walks a day.

Dogs serve as several purposes for different people. Some people see them as cute pets they can play with. Others see them as a sense of security in terms of safety and companionship. Dogs can bring excitement to a household, whether to children, adults or elders. Not only do you have to take care of their daily needs such as food, water, and hygiene, but they take care of you! Whether through playing tug-o-war or going on daily walks like I do, a dog will promote exercise and an overall healthier lifestyle.

Source:

http://www.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-1/A-pet-in-your-life-keeps-the-doctor-away-10143-1/

Researchers are currently investigating gene therapy to explore ways to treat Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) which is a bone marrow disease that patients mostly sixty years and older suffer from. MDS also can turns into acute myeloid leukemia. Researchers are now able to create a better understanding of what drives the development of this disease.

In the article the author explained “The researchers believe examining RhoB levels in samples from patients with advanced MDS could help direct them to better treatment options.” Researchers are trying to come up with new treatments to help. In the United States 15,000 people a year are affected by MDS.  When someone has MDS they do not have enough blood cells and their body creates abnormal blood cells which causes side effects. These side effects include fatigue, bruising, bleeding, a weak immune system, shortness of breath, and fevers. Albert has advanced in his research work. The article stated, “This breakthrough in our knowledge has the potential to provide us with both new avenues of research, as well as new insights to develop improved treatments for MDS, and other disorders.” Explaining the improvements we are making into helping provide for people who are suffering from this disease.

A quote I like from the article is Albert saying, “Our goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop new drugs that affect their activity, but also to find ways to improve upon existing therapeutic strategies that are often associated with deleterious side effects” This is beneficial to the article because it simply states the reasoning for Albert’s research, there is no confusion of his intentions. He used a language that was easy for people to understand rather than using terms her would use when researching or speaking to another colleague.

I liked how the article was short and to the point. However, since I am not an expert on this topic I would have liked more explanation of MDS and what has been done in the past to treat the disease. I can do my own research but I would have liked the article to go into more depth in the beginning. Also, more specifically what types of advances are researchers trying to make, such as treatment options. On the other hand, I liked the statistics it told readers, making them aware of who and how many people are diagnosed with MDS. Having no knowledge previously on this topic, I am now more aware of the advances trying to be made.

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by Edward Michalak

On CNN.com, under the Health section, there is a Q&A section where people from around the world can ask questions concerning current topics in the scientific world, and CNN’s medical unit of experts answers the question on a publicly viewed blog in CNN’s health section. On September 18^th, 2009, a man from Massachusetts asks if DNA analysis can help identify the best weight loss method. One of the scientists named Dr. Melina Jampolis, a physician nutrition specialist answers the question and discusses the relationships between DNA, genes, and, surprisingly, weight loss.

The physician nutrition specialist begins her answer with the an examination of the genetic aspects of obesity and finishes with the importance of exercise along with a healthy diet. She states that obesity has a genetic component without a doubt, which varies from 40 to 70 percent. There are several hundred genetic regions that are associated with weight loss but there is no observed evidence that directly links the analysis of DNA to formulating an effective weight loss program. Dr. Melina Jampolis also talks about a new field in the world of science called nutra-genomics which studies the interaction of nutrition and genetics.

Later in the post, she states that genes have been identified that are linked to a person’s responsiveness to exercise. She mentions an Obesity Society meeting that found that regular exercise in some people actually switches off obesity causing genes. No other information on this topic was given, but Dr. Jampolis ends the article with recommendations for people who are looking to lose weight the healthy way and urges regular exercise and healthy habits.

The question relates to what my Biology class has been studying over the past few weeks. We have discussed DNA, genes, RNA, and the four organic compounds which were all touched on in Dr. Melina Jampolis’ explanation of the relationship between DNA and weight loss. DNA, also known as deoxyribonucleic acid contains the blueprints for each human being, and genes are parts of DNA that code with proteins. The four organic compounds are carbohydrates, proetins, lipids and nucleic acids. Each can be found in various foods that we consume each day and each compound affects our bodily functions as we move throughout the day.

The article also touches on an ongoing dilemma for many countries, including the United States. Obesity is growing in young children and adults due to a variety of factors. Many programs have been set in place to combat this growing problem and educate children, parents, and adults about the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise. If further testing and analysis of DNA can show a way to formulate a personalized diet and exercise plan based entirely upon someone’s genetic code, then the levels of obesity in America and other areas all over the world will certainly fall.

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by Jennifer Malise

On September 30, 2009, a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society indicated that there is a link between the size of the brain and socialization. It is interesting to see that our ability to socialize has to do with the size of our brain and its complexity. Researchers from the University of Oxford and Roehampton University explored this theory among a group of monkeys; the result being that the size of the brain correlates to the size and number of grooming clusters that monkeys belong to. The part of the brain in question is the neocortex, which is responsible for higher-level thinking. The difference is that bigger brained monkeys spend more time grooming a smaller, more intimate group of monkeys within a larger group of monkeys. Monkeys with smaller neocortices, however, tend to live in smaller groups with a less complicated social structure.

The bigger the neocortices, the bigger the community of monkeys whereas monkeys with smaller neocortices belong to smaller groups. Species with larger neocortices can live in larger communities because they can create intimate friendships with a few members of the group and have less close acquaintances. However, species with smaller neocortices cannot manage intimate friendships and therefore tend to separate easily. The social ability has to do directly with the size of the neocortex since it is connected with cognitive functions like learning, memory, and more complex thought. In comparison to monkeys, humans are able of managing far more complex social structures. Since our neocortex is three times larger than that of monkeys, we can manage even larger, more complex social groups than the monkeys with large neocortices.

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Researchers at the Indiana University School of Dentistry recently did a study showing a connection between dental plaque and ones risks of heart damage in blacks and males. Studies showed that if most black males had dental plaque build up, their neutrophils (an important part of the immune system and a very common blood cell) increased significantly. Neglecting ones hygiene of the mouth leads to an increased white blood cell activity, which could help doctors better diagnose patients who are more likely to get infections involving the heart. This finding is significant because people who are more likely to get heart disease could be a result of more blood cell activity caused by plaque.

One of the reasons I chose this article is because my dad is a dentist and I have worked in his office since I was in high school. I just found it very interesting that something such as plaque could have a disease on ones heart. Normally when we think of heart disease it is never associated with ones hygiene. Although there has not been too much talk on the heart directly, it has been significant to a few class discussions. We have also discussed a little information about white blood cells.

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Pregnant women are constantly being advised to stay away from pretty much anything that may have a chance at being harmful, even with minimal evidence. Taking a chance is not an option for most pregnant women, especially when it comes to the health of their unborn baby. However, could this idea of avoiding everything even as minor as certain foods such as sushi or cheese, begin to have negative affects such as pushing women to think even vaccines could be harmful?  This paranoia that is administered towards almost all pregnant women scares them away from almost everything, and the thought of taking the flu vaccine is out of the question. Unfortunately this way of thinking is deadly, and with a second strand of the flu invading 50 percent of the population, this leaves everyone including pregnant women at risk. A study done in the Lancet this past summer gave frightening results that a high rate of death in pregnant women, along with close to fatal sickness like Pneumonia were due to the H1N1 influenza. Pregnant women have recently been placed on the top priority list for the vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; who have also strongly advised any pregnant woman that has been exposed to the virus should take antiviral medications immediately. No matter how forceful the recommendations, in one study there was still a low amount of only 15 percent of pregnant women who received the flu vaccine, this rate is much lower than any other adult group recommended for it. The women from the Lancet study who passed away were not treated soon enough after symptoms began to occur. Due to the thalidomide disaster in the 1960s, people were concerned about the fatal risks of taking drugs and the affects they had on fetal development. Doctors and women from than on avoided taking any type of medicine while being pregnant. Even with strong evidence this way of thinking still exists. For example, pregnant women with untreated or poorly treated asthma are proven to have higher rates of growth problems in the fetus, pregnancy issues, and premature birth. Another example of evidence would be that pregnant women with untreated diabetes increases the chances of their child having birth defects as high as 1 in 4. Even with this hazardous yet helpful evidence, getting away from this mindset is difficult for most women, but sadly enough this pattern can continue for flu victims. A continuous alert should be made for pregnant women and receiving the flu vaccine along with any antiviral medications. Research should also be a priority in looking into the safest ways in which pregnant women can take dugs without risking their unborn child. Six major medical centers are carrying out studies with pregnant women in trials of the swine flu vaccines, which are financed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. This crucial research and concern should not be ignored and awareness should continue to spread, in order to keep pregnant women and their unborn safe.

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As a woman one of my many dreams is to one day become a mother. The entire idea of becoming pregnant and going through the process is exciting yet scary. Other than my mother I have been lucky enough to watch some of my own friends go through this crucial process. The thought of birth defect and constantly worrying about making sure the baby comes out perfectly healthy is natural. I am not exactly sure how it feels to be pregnant but I know from what I have been told it is one amazing feeling and horrible feeling at the same time. Besides the fact that your body is holding another human being, the morning sickness, the weight gain, and other lovely side effects, not only is being pregnant a wonderful gift but a tremendous burden. The woman has full responsibility and will do everything in her power to protect her future child. Taking every single precaution is crucial, but this is where situations become worrisome and difficult. If I had ever gotten sick and needed to take drugs, there is always a risk in whether the drugs that are given could have some sort of negative affect on the fetus. However, if I did not take the drugs and my sickness became worse it is risking my life and the life of the unborn child. So where does a woman turn to? Even doctors are not sure about most of the vaccines and drugs out there. One question I have is even if the flu has become a hazard for pregnant women ,what if the vaccine prevents the death from the flu but causes other birth issues? How can anyone at this point prove this? I feel that this is an extremely hard predicament and even though I have no idea what it is like to be pregnant all I know is that it would not be a simple decision. One more question I have is would it be possible to make a vaccine strictly for pregnant women?

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