AIDS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

AIDS - Essay Example In recognition of his contribution, in late 1990, the US Congress passed the Ryan White Care Act which provides funding for care, education and prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV is a lentivirus which attacks the immune system. There are two main strains of the virus: HIV-1 which is particularly virulent, and HIV-2. The name lentivirus means slow virus – due to the fact that they take years to destabilize the immune system. Lentivirii have been found in a number of mammals, but of particular interest is the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) which is found in monkeys. HIV-2 is very similar at molecular level to SIVsm which afflicts the sooty mangabey (also known as the green monkey), naturally found in West Africa. In 1999 Paul Sharp of Nottingham University and Beatrice Hahn of the University of Alabama completed a 10 year study into the origin of the virus in humans. They satisfied the scientific community that the HIV-1 virus had crossed from chimpanzees to humans. The cross-over of viruses from one species to another is called zoonosis. It is believed that the virus mutated once it found a new host in humans to become HIV-1. Since the virus is most easily transferred by blood, most of the theories suggest that the route of transmission must have been either the consumption of an infected chimpanzee or through a contaminated vaccine or syringe. The earliest known death from HIV-1 took place in 1959. However, Dr Bette Korber of the Los Alamos National Laboratory presented results in January 2000 at the 7th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections which indicated that the HIV-1 strain has been around since the 1930s. Belgian researchers led by Dr Anne-Mieke Vandamme, published findings in ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Science’ in 2003. Their conclusion was that HIV-2 originated in sooty mangabeys around 1940 - 1945. They claimed that the most likely place of origin was the former

Learning to Accept the Controversial Issues Essay

Learning to Accept the Controversial Issues - Essay Example With the vast technological growth and advancement in the telecommunications sector, people of today get to experience so many innovative discoveries never before availed. One might not be able to imagine a world without cell phones or the internet, of social networking or being perennially tuned to tunes and gadgets that keep on being upgraded to the level. The same-sex union had previously been unorthodox from my personal perspective, simply because of firsthand experience – my biological mother chose another female for a lifelong partner. My mom took Dinah as her partner when I was eight. I also have an adopted sister named Isabella who we came to our home about three years ago. It was very difficult and embarrassing for me to be around with my family due to the unconventional arrangements. I remembered trying desperately to avoid discussions prying on my family life. I made endless excuses when friends want to hang out at home: I have to make errands, I would be suddenly i nvited to a neighbor’s night out, I was not able to sleep well due to the neighbor’s howling Labrador. The list was endless and I got to be so inventive that I thought my friends actually enjoyed finding out what my next excuse would be. One time, I remembered working on an academic project that required researching on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. I found out how children of same-sex partners were not to be affected at all by the unusual arrangement since the affection and support received from them are actually the same as what heterosexual partners give. Reflecting on this, I realized that the holistic support provided by my ‘parents’ have been exceptional so far and that there really is nothing to be ashamed of. Over time, I began to start accepting my family life and started opening up to others about it. I started bringing my closest friends one at a time at home and felt immensely relieved that they did not see anything wrong with the relationship. I was just apparently too sensitive about it – making a mountain out of a molehill.