I Am A Dna Test Results Back - 2119 Words

When I was told that I was going to get my DNA test results back, I felt two distinct emotions during that moment of waiting. Nervousness and excitement followed. True fully, I’ve always thought I knew what I’m susceptible to getting in the future or right now in the present. Due to the fact, I’ve had a talk with both my parents about what family diseases are getting passed along in both my family trees. It’s pretty common diseases: diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson, asthma, hearing loss, and COPD, etc. The few minutes of waiting to get my test results back, made my anxiety levels increase as well as my emotions increasing. When I was given my test results, I immediately ripped open the envelope and read the company’s informational letter. It described to me what PersonaGen Cooperation stands for, Privacy Policy, and how they were capable of finding out certain information about me through viewing my genetic data. I then seemed at my test result paper seeing that I have three different chromosomes that show I’m homozygous or heterozygous for those traits. These results will either show what I need to commute on my health of living style, and what precautions I might need to take in the near future. All I know is that it’s make or break time. My results indicated that I’m heterozygous to carrying Jacobsen syndrome trait. I’m homozygous to having or passing along with brownish eyes and carrying hypertension (or susceptible to getting it). Jacobsen syndrome is when aShow MoreRelatedTriple X Syndrome Testing and Diagnosis769 Words   |  3 PagesDear, Brown Family I am Dr. Cunningham I have a PHD and MD from Stanford University. I am a Obstetrics and Gynecology affiliated with St. Vincent Health Hospital I have been working here for about 6 years now. Over week I have been doing numerous test on your daughter such as Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus sampling. Chorionic villus is collected by pu tting a long thin needle through the belly into the placenta. Amniocentesis is tested by getting a sample from the amnion or amniotic sac surroundingRead MoreGmo Lab Report Essay1304 Words   |  6 Pageshas been researched quite often. A study was done in the Czech Republic over a course of five years (2002- 2007) to test many foods, such as tomatoes and rice, for approved and unapproved Genetically Modified Organisms. Similar to the experiment conducted in the botany lab, the scientists involved in this study used a Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR, method to determine their results (Kyrova, Ostry, Laichmannova, Ruprich, 2010). Enrico Dainese and his partners did another similar study, on soybeansRead MoreAmanda Knox : The Film Analysis Of Amanda Knox1575 Words   |  7 PagesIn the documentary, a video is shown of Knox who, on request, makes an emotional declaration of innocence before her appeals trial. Knox tearfully states, â€Å"I never expected to find myself here, convi cted of a crime I didnt commit. To Merediths family, Im very sorry that Meredith isnt here anymore. I cant possibly know how you feel, but I too have little sisters. The idea of their suffering and never seeing them again terrifies me.† The empathy in her declaration and tearful-ness of the deliveryRead MoreCode Green Fluorescent in Bacteria1169 Words   |  5 Pagesbacteria have evolved in order to take up free DNA from their environment. Today’s lab, we are transforming bacteria with a gene that code for green fluorescent protein (GFP) Our purpose for this lab is to demonstrate how bacteria transformation performs in different conditions. The results we got form this experiment is that E.coli exposed to pGLO grown on the plates with (-) LB, (+) LB/Amp, and (+) LB/Ara. No bacteria colonized on the plate with (-) LB/Am and (+) LB/Amp/Ara. From these five platesRead More Genital Herpes Essay1052 Words   |  5 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I have infected 45 million Americans and will infect 1 million more Americans each year. Who am I? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Herpes, from the ancient Greek meaning to creep or crawl, is the name of a family of viruses of which herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are the most serious human pathogens. HSV-1 is normally associated with orofacial infections and encephalitis, whereas HSV-2 usually causes genital infections and can be transmittedRead MoreThe Expression Of Two Genes Within Drosophila Fly Cells922 Words   |  4 Pagessemiconservative process in which two strands of DNA are created from one double strand of DNA. The total production is four single strands of DNA, each strand made from one old and one newly made single strand. Replication first starts with a cluster of proteins called a protein complex. When a protein complex binds to a section of DNA with adenine and thymine repeats, called regions of replication, it creates a ‘bubble’ between the DNA. With a small opening in the DNA an enzyme called helicase comes in andRead More Should We Use Capital Punishment? Essay1050 Words   |  5 PagesCapital Punishment is that inhumane methods are used to kill criminals. In the past, methods such as stoning, gassing, hanging, electrocuting and shooting have all been used to kill. Although I agree that these methods are inhumane I am still for Capital Punishment because I believe two things. Firstly, these criminals who are being put to death have committed evil crimes, such as murder or rape. When they committed these crimes they probably did not treat their victimsRead MoreThe Second Service Learning Experience With The Dna Club1319 Words   |  6 PagesThe second service-learning experience with the DNA club was a roadside clean-up on Highway 16, near Pettibone Beach. There were 18 of us who spent 2 hours cleaning up the half-mile stretch of highway. It was amazing to see how quickly our garbage bags got full. With every piece of garbage, I picked up, I found myself becoming more and more upset. It is difficult to fathom how individuals in our society resort to throwing their garbage out of their windows, rather than recycling it or throwing itRead MoreEssay on Human Genetic Screening2461 Words   |  10 Pagesconsists of forty-six chromosomes, which are paired into twenty-three different pairs. Each one of these chromosomes carries thousands of genes. Each gene consists of information that codes for a particular trait. This information is determined by the DNA found in that gene. A gene for one trait may have various alleles that will make one person appear a little different than that of a person with a different allele. An example would be of a person with brown hair. They would have a dominant allele forRead More DNA Chip - Genetic Testing of the Future Essay2397 Words   |  10 PagesDNA Chip - Genetic Testing of the Future Many, if not most diseases, have their roots in our genes. Genes, through the proteins they encode, determine how efficiently we process foods, how effectively we detoxify poisons, and how vigorously we respond to infections. In the past 20 years, amazing new techniques have allowed scientists to learn a great deal about how genes work and how they are linked to disease. This rapid pace of discovery of genetic factors, responsible for certain diseases,

The Importance Of Enculturation - 1001 Words

As a human being in a culturally diverse society how do we fathom the idea of being children turning into prospering adults? What are the cultural values we learn to become acceptable in our perspective communities? The main idea of how one overcomes cultural differences and steps into a productive society is how we examine culture across culture. How we learn to function in our selection of cultures is called enculturation. â€Å"This is the process by which youngsters learn and adopt the ways and manners of their specific culture. â€Å"(page 64) Enculturation starts at a very young age and almost always is affected by triggers involving enculturation. This could include ultimately anything such as families, environments, and peers.†¦show more content†¦This taught the five-year-old patience and diligence. The United States preschool told the students to â€Å"use their words† and speak with the teacher about what they thought of the pictures they had drawn. While the teacher would copy exactly what the student stated, this would teach the child positive learning skills along with giving support within language development. I noticed China and Japan students had more hands on time with teacher-student interaction, while America spent less time with the students yet cracked down on what was expected of them. Without information from the video or from our text, we are fully attentive of culture shaping our lives. Every time we interact or engage culture takes place. â€Å"Culture is a macro, social, group-level construct.† (page 21) In context to the video, America teaches preschoolers to â€Å"use their words† and encourage creativity to better support children’s language development. America generates values, which refers to goals that motivate positive outcomes. Yet, Japanese preschools are more common to a sheltered culture by generating group interactionism within the community. However there were positive cultural abilities taught among the Japanese, they taught their children the ability and willingness to respond to the needs of others. This can come into play when speaking among cultural norms and the influence they have on human behaviors. Problem solving for teachersShow MoreRelatedGlobalization Of Dreams And Its Effects On Dreams1353 Words   |   6 Pagescalculate a correlation of enculturation and dream changes to answer the question of whether or not cultures influence dreams. Measures The survey given to the participants consists of 20 questions not including questions pertaining to demographics. The questionnaire consists of questions asking the participants about their original culture’s values and beliefs and how that may have affected their dreams and how their dreams changed after enculturation. Enculturation is not explained in the surveyRead MoreSocial Constructionism And Biological Determinism1552 Words   |  7 PagesThe ideology that gender is socially constructed is a view that has been present in a number of philosophical, sociological and psychological theories. This view shares an understanding that gender is a product of enculturation through a prescribed ideal, as well as determines what is considered socially appropriate behaviour for a person of a specific gender. Society is shaped globally through social order. Each culture and society share a social order that is defined as a particular set of customsRead MoreEssay On Individualism And Collectivism1162 Words   |  5 Pagesto verbally judge and respond as to what the length of the given line is; the Crutchfield paradigm, essentially the same experiment as the Asch paradigm, but the response is given in writing instead of verbally to determine conformity levels; enculturation, defined as the process in which we are surrounded by cultural influences. All of these terms are important in understanding the concept that individualism and collectivism influence conformity through each of their characteristics and values.Read MoreWhen I Was A Kid Growing Up From A Western Capitalistic Society1583 Words   |  7 PagesLeMark’s theory that through daily events, both in the classroom and at home, figures of authority help children to learn specific patterns of social behavior. LeMark quotes a comment made by Ochs and Kremer-Salik who also studied the importance of conflict in enculturation, and in a process akin to ‘trial and error’, children learn â⠂¬Å"to think and feel in ways that resonate with notions of morality that relate to social situations† (2007:5). Through trial and error, both mediated by teachers and guardiansRead MoreMass Media and Popular Culture1367 Words   |  6 Pagesentered the market and brought influence to people s lives. Mass media enculturation has impacted many people in today s society because the world is constantly being exposed to mass media in which has affected popular American culture. The impact that mass media has had on enculturation is invasive in communities because information is being transmitted on a daily basis. Television has impacted mass media enculturation in influencing teenagers and adults. Teenagers and adults are constantly beingRead MoreMy Cultural Identity1007 Words   |  5 PagesEid-ul-fitr consider as the religious festivals the our people like to celebrate because in these festivals people like to meet each other, make variety of food, and went to prayer together all day long. In my culture both enculturation and acculturation take place. Enculturation when a person learns to identify with a particular culture’s thinking, ways of relating, and worldview. For example according to my culture I am raise by the teaching of Asian culture that is inspired by the Arab culture thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Like Water For Chocolate By Laura Esquivel1377 Words   |  6 Pagesso-called â€Å"basic needs† - psychological, safety, social, and esteem - and concludes with the â€Å"growth need†. Among other characteristics, Maslow describes self-actualized people as highly creative, independent, genuine individuals who are resistant to enculturation and accept themselves for who they are. Jovanovic2 Tita is the youngest daughter in the De La Garza family, and according to Mexican tradition she is not allowed to marry in order to take care of her mother, Mama Elena. Mama Elena is portrayedRead MoreHow Magnet Status Is Important For Safe And Quality Patient Care Essay1382 Words   |  6 Pagesthat includes significant participation from all hospital staff. As stated by Pinkerton (2008), Magnet recognition is not a checklist of achievements, but rather an enculturation of values, standards, vision, commitment, and pride. An organization needs to have the support and accessibility to resources to achieve this enculturation. For a hospital or organization to achieve Magnet status, they must meet all 14 Forces of Magnetism, which are configured into the 5 Model Components, as outlined byRead MoreApes and Behavioral Research569 Words   |  2 Pagesbehavior than wild apes. Enculturation implies that human-reared apes operate on a different mental plane because they have benefited from human culture simulation. This way of thinking is at the hallmark if speciesism. It implies that our form of culture helped the apes tap into a mental ability that they wouldn’t have if they were not raised by humans. While others see enculturation as a way to show that animals lack culture, de Waal proposes otherwise. He suggests that enculturation is a form of culturalRead More Childhood and Socialisation in Australia Essay532 Words   |  3 Pagesterms of distinct psychological stages and how these stages influence socialization and enculturation (see Jureidini amp; Poole, 2003, pp124  ¡V 127). Other important theorists to look at are George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) and Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934). Agents of Socialization: In Australian culture, socialization occurs through various agents, and due to Australia being so multicultural and diverse, the importance of each of these agents is different from individual to individual. „Xnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Family

Energy Flow Systems Essay Example For Students

Energy Flow Systems Essay Richard Whites Organic Machine, and William Cronons Changes in theLand, both examine environments as energy flow systems. The energy flow modelwas utilized by the authors to explain relationships within ecosystems. Richard Whites thesis is to examine the river as an organic machine, asan energy system that, although modified by human intervention, maintains itsnatural, its unmade qualities. White emphasizes on energy because it is auseful concept that can be easily understood. He says, the flow of the riveris energy, so is the electricity that comes from the dams that block that flow. Human labor is energy; so are the calories that are stored as fat by salmon fortheir journey upstream. White notes that energy is as concrete as salmon,human bodies, and the Grand Coulee Dam. White wants his readers to think aboutnature and its relationship with humanity. White explains how the river is energy. The Columbia River works asgravity pulls it to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia is continuously cuttinginto the terrain that it flows through. Over millions of years water rushedthrough the Columbia Basin to form the Columbia River. Water carries soil, silt,and debris downstream. The constant movement of material in the river cuts andshapes the river basin into the land. This movement is a slow and inefficientuse of energy. According to White, only two percent of waters potential energyresults in the work of erosion. The other ninety-eight percent of waters energywas lost as water molecules rub against themselves, the river bed, and the riverbanks. This energy was released as heat into the river. Often the energy of flowing water was not recognized. There areoccasions when rivers do show their power is destructive ways. Power wasusually demonstrated through floods, and more so in flash floods. Thousands ofyears ago, an ice dam in the Columbia River, holding the glacial lake Missoula,broke and created the largest known freshwater flood in earths history. Theflood rushed into the Columbia Channel and created the Grand Coulee and otherrock channels that would have taken the Mississippi River three hundred years atfull flood to create. Salmon are also a part of the Colombian energy model. As the riverworks its way downward to the Pacific Ocean, the salmon work their way up theColumbia to spawn. The energy in salmon can be measured by their body fat andcaloric value. Salmon start their run upstream prepared for the long hard run. Their bodies have stored fat and oil after a year worth of feeding at sea. Thestored energy in salmon is used as energy as they battle head to head againstthe force(energy) of the Columbia River. As the salmon work upstream, they usetheir stored energy and their bodies become leaner. When the salmon reach theirdestination, they are in ill condition. The skinny salmon lay their eggs anddie of exhaustion. Work and energy also link humans to the Columbia River energy model. Alexander Ross and his crew learned how powerful the river was in 1811. Theyattempted to enter the mouth of the Columbia from the Pacific. Ross learnedthat the rivers current and the oceans tide work against each other creatingan astonishing amount of friction. Fresh water is pushed several miles out tosea and the ocean tides can be felt one hundred and forty miles up river. Thetide form sandbars at the mouth of the river and the current crashing on themproduces huge waves and foaming breakers. These breakers form barriers thatAlexander Ross and his crew had to cross. .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 , .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .postImageUrl , .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 , .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49:hover , .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49:visited , .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49:active { border:0!important; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49:active , .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49 .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2bf64d547bb91bb3bdb01c1d40573f49:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Junk Food Is A Favorite EssayHuman energy challenged the energy of the river mouth in 1811. Thefirst attempt to cross the barrier was a failure. Rosss friend Fox and hiscrew were lost while battling the waves of the seemingly unapproachable mouth ofthe Columbia. Ross and his crew with will and muscle somehow survived the forceof the tide and current and made it across the rivers mouth for the first time. Rosss drama to enter the river was explained by White by using the energy cycle. White explains that lunar energy causes the ocean tide and thesun provides all of the remaining energy of the cycle. The sun heats theatmosphere that heats and evaporates the ocean water and provides the wind tomove the moisture to the mountains. The clouds cool and moisture is released asrain or snow that falls to the land. Gravity pulls the water to the ocean againthrough the rivers and the process starts over again. Man attempts to slow down the natural energy cycle to extract energyfrom the river by building dams.Dams are used to store and regulate waterthat is used to turn turbines. These turbines power generators that produceelectricity. Hydroelectricity was first in abundance. Electricity was a productwithout much demand. Soon farmers used electricity to light their homes and torun small electrical devices such as toasters, irons, and washing machines. Electricity was also used to light city homes, factories, and streets. Thehydroelectric companies still needed more customers to consume the electricitybeing produced. Californians bought electricity and soon major industries wereattracted to the Columbia area because of the abundance of electricity. Electricity was a necessity for the production of aluminum. Aluminum andElectricity were the perfect combination for the production of airplanes. U.S. plane manufacturers are centrally located in the Colombian area because of thisunique utopia of energy. Later, electric energy in the Colombian river basin was producedautomatically. The Columbia River was fist a sewer for radioactive wasteproduced by the production of Uranium. The Columbia was also used to coolnuclear reactors.The result of waste dumping was contamination, and theresult of the Columbia cooling the nuclear reactors was the rivers temperaturerose after the warm water returned to the river. Whites model of the energy cycle in the Columbia River Basin fullydescribes how energy is a naturally reassuring process that is altered by man,but can never be destroyed. William Cronon also uses an energy flow cycle in his book Changes inthe Land. Cronon describes how the Indians and the Colonists create differentcycles with the same environment. The European farmers cleared the forest for fields to plant corn andgrain. Farmers also cleared land for their animals to graze on. The corn andgrain growing in the fields took energy from the rich soil and the water.Thisenergy was then passed to humans or animals that ate the food. The animals thatgrazed the land, took energy from the grass and water. They to would pass energy to humans by the form of labor or in the form of food. The energy in the soil came from the trees that held the water and richtop soil in place. As the trees were cut, the valuable topsoil was washed awayfrom the rain and snow that easily washes into the streams and rivers. Soon thesoil dries and is lifeless because the energy system was disturbed. Cronons solution to the Europeans problem was to sustain the farm land. Wood should be cut when necessary and new trees should be replaced to preservethe soil. In farm lands, crops need to be rotated ignored to sustain sufficientminerals in the soil for the harvest. The trees will hold topsoil andimportantly water in the ground. The fields being sustained avoids the need toclear other fields for farm use. .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd , .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .postImageUrl , .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd , .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd:hover , .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd:visited , .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd:active { border:0!important; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd:active , .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf137b8515873577256b7e6a954df6cdd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Microsoft Windows EssayAmerican Indians manipulated their natural environment in a differentway. Indian women were the farm workers. They grew their crops among the trees. The trees held the soil and water. Indian women would also grow many cropstogether. This created a balance of mineral replacement and water replacement. Indian men hunted for meat instead of grazing domesticated animals. Indianswould create utopias for game by burning the forest floor annually.By doingthis, the Indians create growth of small shrubs for the animals to hide inwithout destroying the forest. The sustained yield of crops and animalssupported the Indian lifestyle until it was disturbed by European influences. White and Cronon both use energy flow systems to explain environmentalhistory. Energy is easy to look at in history because man has used it andchanged it throughout time. Energy sustains life and is and ever lasting cycle.

Migraines Essays - Migraine, G Protein Coupled Receptors

Migraines Migraine headaches are the result of a disturbance in the neurochemistry of the central nervous system. They are relatively common, affecting three times as many women as men. Migraine sufferers typically report a definite pattern to their headaches, and they can report what stimuli bring them on. Most migraine sufferers experience their first attack before the age of 20. There is no single cause of migraines, but the tendency to get migraines does tend to run in families. When a migraine occurs, it means that something has altered several of the neurotransmitter-sensitive receptors located on the outside surface of the nerve cells (neurons) so that the nervous system is no longer able to constantly maintain the natural balance that the nervous system is intended to maintain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerve cells (neurons) use to communicate messages to each other. Receptors are special areas that receive these chemical messages. The key neurotransmitter in migraine is called serotonin (often referred to in the scientific literature as 5-HT or 5-hydroxytryptophan). If something interferes with the normal functioning (production, release, receptor docking, and/or re-uptake) of serotonin, that disrupts the normal functioning of the nervous system and can lead to various symptoms associated with migraine. The severe pain associated with migraine occurs when the mechanism that normally inhibits and/or mediates pain is disabled. There is no actual tissue damage occuring during a migraine attack. Instead, the pain results from a deranged neurochemistry. Migraine pain is like a loud fire alarm bell ringing when there is no fire. Scientists suspect that a caffeine withdrawal could be the possible cause of common migraines. Why? Well, caffeine is a powerful psychoactive drug that is addictive. Caffeine withdrawals produce all the same symptoms as migraine. Chronic caffeine use causes a number of changes to the central nervous system. Caffeine use increases the number of some types of serotonin receptors and some types of adenosine receptors as well. Adenosine is another neurotransmitter; adenosine strongly inhibits serotonin release. Chronic caffeine use increases the number of adenosine receptors.(The body is trying to compensate for the constant presence of caffeine, which occupies and blockades adenosine receptors and thus interferes with adenosine reception.) When caffeine is withdrawn, however, the chronic caffeine user is left with too many adenosine receptors. Having too many adenosine receptors is equivalent to having too much adenosine. As a result, serotonin release is inhibited and this leads to migraine symptoms. As you know there are many drugs used against migraine. Many of these drugs contain caffeine, for good reason: caffeine relieves migraine by reversing caffeine withdrawal. Migraine drugs that contain caffeine include Fiorinal (40mg caffeine), Fioricet (40mg caffeine), Excedrin (65mg caffeine), Anacin (32mg caffeine), Cafergot, Norgesic Forte (60mg caffeine), and others. Sumatriptan (Imitrex) is effective in relieving migraine attacks presumably because the sumatriptan molocule mimics (is very similar to) the serotonin molocule, and thus is called a serotonin agonist (helper). Sumatriptan, in other words, makes up for the shortfall of serotonin by occupying certain types of serotonin receptors. Sumatriptan is called a selective serotonin agonist because it has a greater affinity for (sticks more to) certain types of serotonin receptors than others. Other drugs, such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft, are intended for the treatment of depression but they also seem to reduce frequency and/or severity of headaches including migraine (although they are not as effective as sumatriptan against oncoming migraine attacks). These drugs are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which means they interfere in the reuptake of serotonin back into the interior of the nerve cells (neurons). To understand what reuptake means you need to understand that neurotransmitters, once released, must be quickly grabbed and transported back into the interior of nerve cells for reuse. That must happen to "clears the boards" for the next message. If something (like Paxil) interferes with re-uptake of serotonin, that makes more serotonin available to dock with serotonin receptors. That explains why these anti-depressant drugs help reduce migraine to a certain extent. If caffeine withdrawal causes migraines then there is a way to end your migraines without surgery. You would have to either quit caffeine entirely or else maintain consistent daily caffeine intake. To do either you would need to be aware of