Tyler's Blog Death of Destiny

Random

Just a few random things I was reading about while distracting myself prior to starting homework this morning...

• Apoptosis is programmed cell death. It is a natural example of destruction for construction. This cell death is the reason that humans (and other animals) have fingers and toes. It also serves other purposes in multi-cellular organisms.
• Necrosis is another type of cell death usually caused by toxins, trauma, or infection. Unlike apoptosis, it is not a natural process. Treatment usually involves skin grafting, surgical removal, or amputation. Maggot therapy is also being used to remove dead tissue.
• Recluse spiders, found virtually world-wide with the exception of extreme Northern and Southern areas, are venomous spiders whose bites are known to consistently cause necrosis in humans. These spiders are fairly common in houses but are usually not aggressive.
• Maggot therapy is the introduction of live, disinfected maggots to an open wound as a method of biotherapy. This therapy has proven to be useful in some cases of necrosis where the maggots will eat the necrotic tissue from a patient's wound.