Posted by I am covering the objective “Describe how hormones interact with production and control of other hormones” for my STEAM project with the connection to the Holocaust. For this project I went to the UAF makerspace to find helpful supplies for my project which was fairly simple. I found a nice hardback paper for my comic, and found some measuring tools for the outlines. I first drew the concentration camp which is the specific theme from the Holocaust. I decided not to draw too much detail to it since it may be sensitive to some people, and then in the next block, I drew a baby during fetal development which represents those who were about to have a kid, yet also survived the tragic event. This also represent that not only adults are affected, but it can also heavily effect a child in the mother’s womb since the placenta is also responsible for secreting sex hormones. Not only were infants affected by this change, but also teenagers witnessing the event developed disorders. In studies of Holocaust survivor offspring, parental PTSD, and particularly maternal PTSD, has been associated with increased risk for PTSD, low basal urinary cortisol excretion and enhanced cortisol suppression in response to dexamethasone which is neural development. In the next block I drew a person, now an adult with the effects, from the mother who was experiencing high levels of stress. The first person is experiencing PTSD, the next person is having trouble explaining things to a lady, and the last person is feeling anxious and isolated. Lastly in the final block I drew a human body where the adrenal cortex is, other detailed information about it, including the tissues involved, and where the tissues are located.
Epigenetics is changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.
We will broadly explore the themes of the Holocaust specifically to epigenetics. Just the exposure to the Holocaust made adults and children develop significant changes in brain functioning, sensitivity, and low basal urinary cortisol excretion, since the adrenal glands from the endocrine system sit atop the kidneys. During that time when mothers were expecting to have a child, they faced a lot of stress, but the baby inside also endures this. In fact during fetal development the baby is more sensitive to this hormone called glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoid plays a key role in terminal maturation to the pathways of fetal organs to prepare for life, but excessive glucocorticoid levels during gestation can result in the offspring to being vulnerable and having subsequent diseases. The diseases include behavioral disturbances, psychiatric disorders, metabolic conditions, and cardiometabolic risk. Glucocorticiods role in the human body is to regulate glucose levels such as cortisol, cortisone, and corticosterone, influence metabolism of most cells and help us resist stressors, and maintain blood pressure by increasing action of vasoconstrictors. Too high levels of these hormones can lead to high blood pressure, muscle loss, and altered immune function.
Although the long-term stress response helps the body successfully deal with some long-term stressors, if the stress response is prolonged, it can become detrimental.
References
Author links open overlay panelAmy Lehrner a, et al. “Maternal PTSD Associates with Greater Glucocorticoid Sensitivity in Offspring of Holocaust Survivors.” Psychoneuroendocrinology, Pergamon, 1 Dec. 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453013004356.
Author links open overlay panelLinda M. Bierer a b, et al. “Elevation of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 Activity in Holocaust Survivor Offspring: Evidence for an Intergenerational Effect of Maternal Trauma Exposure.” Psychoneuroendocrinology, Pergamon, 7 June 2014, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306453014002078.
Bowers, Mallory E, and Rachel Yehuda. “Intergenerational Transmission of Stress in Humans.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 17 Aug. 2015, www.nature.com/articles/npp2015247.
This is a cool project. I like how you chose something that not a lot of people talk about. I have heard that the people were effected, but until I did not know how they were effected. I learned that the stress that they had played a big role in their hormones that affected their child’s development. I like how your board is colorful and fun to look at, but it is also has a good meaning behind it. Good job on this project, I think you did a great job.