In explaining how deliberate practice improves skills, Shenk cites Ericsson that “Frequent intense engagement in certain types of practice activities is shown to induce physiological strain which causes biochemical changes that stimulate growth and transformation of cells, which in turn leads to associated improved adaptations of physiological systems and the brain” (67). Keeping in mind the biological themes of structure and function, regulation using feedback systems, and the need to maintain homeostasis, describe in detail the “biochemical changes” that can “stimulate growth and transformation of cells,” as well as the “improved adaptations” that would make future participation in an activity more efficient. You may choose to focus on one certain type of activity, such as (but not limited to) running, doing math, or fighting disease, in order to be more specific about the biochemical changes and adaptations that come with deliberate practice. Depending on the activity you choose, chapters 40 (Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function), 42 (Circulation and gas Exchange), 43 (the Immune System), 49 (Nervous Systems), and 50 (Sensory and Motor Mechanisms) may be helpful.
Mackenzie Levy (GinnyFan@comcast.net)
A popular saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” The same principle is applied in each of the situations described above. The more an activity is done, the more comfortable the body or the organs are accomplishing that activity, thereby increasing the efficiency of the process.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that is important to keep in mind is that the activity only enhances the cells and processes of the organs that undergo the activity. For example, Shenk cites, “after a decade of relentless effort [...] Ted Williams came into the major leagues as an explosive hitter and just kept getting better” (9). But it is important to note that when Williams enlisted in the Air Force, “his vision [...] was well within human range” (9).
Extended usage of that particular muscle or process promotes incredible efficiency and excellence. In another study by Ericcson, he states, “Michael Jordan, even if he hadn’t spent countless hours in the gym, would still have been a better basketball player than most of us. But without those hours in the gym, he would never have become the player he was.” Through intense practice, Jordan was able to hone his basketball skills and become the great player he was.
Another example of repeated usage increasing efficiency is the immune system. The first response of the acquired immune system is to engulf the antigen by antigen presenting cells - dendritic cells, macrophages or B cells. The Helper T-cells then next attach to the APC’s MHC molecule with CD4. Through consecutive releases of cytokines, B cells and Cytotoxic T cells are activated to fight the pathogens through promoting lysis or phagocytosis. Some activated B and T cells become Memory B and T cells and travel through the lymphatic system. When infected with the same antigen a consequent time, the Memory cells are alerted by the macrophages and can immediately initiate the swift response without the initial recognition sequence. The memory cells immediately activate B and T cells to combat the pathogen. (Campbell 942). By combatting the same antigen another time, the efficiency of the immune system is increased.
http://www.freakonomics.com/2007/01/08/practice-makes-perfect-revisited/
-Rohan Dasika (rohandasika@gmail.com)
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ReplyDeletePART 1/2 OF MY RESPONSE:
ReplyDeleteIn response to Rohan’s post, I agree with your two examples of repeated usage increasing efficiency. Since I’m also mentioning the immune system, I’ll talk about different parts of the immune system than you did.
Upon antigenic invasion of the body, biochemical changes within the acquired immune system stimulate the growth and transformation of cells that would definitely improve the efficiency of with which the body battles future similar antigens.
According to chapter 43 in our textbook, “the name acquired reflects the fact that this immune response is enhanced by previous exposure to the infecting pathogen” (930). Therefore, both “biochemical changes” that “stimulate growth and transformation of cells” and “improved adaptations” that would increase the efficiency with which the body deals with antigen invasions occur within the acquired immune response.
For example, exposure to the cowpox virus creates a resistance to the smallpox virus. Although quite old, in a famous study Edward Jenner investigated the reason milk maids who were unaffected by smallpox during the 18th and 19th century worldwide outbreaks. He believed that “there was a connection between the fact that milkmaids only got a weak version of smallpox – the non-life threatening cowpox – but did not get smallpox itself.” (Courtesy of http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/edward_jenner.htm).
After using another boy as a guinea pig, (which does NOT show biophilia- and towards someone of his own species, too) Jenner proved that once infected with cowpox, other people besides the milkmaids will built up a resistance against the smallpox disease as well! Because they are very similar in structure, the immune system can better recognize and battle the smallpox virus after encountering the cowpox virus. Specifically, like we discussed in class today, it’s possible that both smallpox and cowpox share common epitopes, or antigenetic determinants. Such a discovery supports the principle that once exposed to a disease, “biochemical changes” occur within the body, transforming immune system cells, and therefore creating “improved adaptations” for anyone battling smallpox.
(Tina Ding: yuning.tina.ding@gmail.com)
PART 2/2 OF MY RESPONSE:
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, exposure to the cowpox disease probably triggered the bodies of these milkmaids to create clones of memory cells to store in their lymph nodes. These memory cells that recognized the viral “address” of the cowpox disease probably recognized some part of the viral “address” of the smallpox disease as well (epitopes common to both cowpox and smallpox), and allowed the immune systems of these milkmaids to respond to the antigenic attack more rapidly (than if they had no previous exposure to any pox virus) and recover relatively faster than other smallpox patients.
Specifically, there are portions of the acquired immune response [AIR] that correspond to the biological themes of structure and function, regulation using feedback systems, and the need to maintain homeostasis.
For example, the phagocytic cells of the cell-mediated response have a structure that helps them to function well in engulfing foreign particles (those that could be potentially harmful to our body). Unlike other somatic cells like skin cells, leukocytes are generally amoebic in structure. Because of this structure, white blood cells can extend their flexible pseudopodia to envelop pathogens that enter our bodies.
Although not part of the cell-mediated immune response specifically, hormones (cytokines) used in paracrine signaling when the body is invaded with pathogens relate to the biological theme of regulation using feedback systems. When a threat (antigen, virus, protist, etc.) to the body is present, our Campbell textbook says that “activated macrophages and mast cells at the injury site release signaling molecules that act on nearby capillaries… allowing fluid containing … phagocytic cells [that] digest pathogens and cell debris at the site” (935). (This section of the book is talking specifically about the local inflammatory response). These “signaling molecules” are a form of biological feedback that signal to white blood cells to regulate the proportion of self-cells to non-self cells in the body. Tying in to the theme of homeostasis, by maintaining eliminating foreign pathogens locally the immune system protects the homeostasis of the rest of the body by not allowing the disturbance the pathogens caused to spread to the rest of the body.
(Tina Ding: yuning.tina.ding@gmail.com)