Judi L. Nath's Blog

November 24, 2024

Hello, Good People! As Thanksgiving is upon us, you may be less inclined to read. Yet, it is because Turkey Day is upon us that this week is a good time to talk turkey. Today’s intersection of science and society topic is about an issue that receives a lot of negative press and likely will come up at gatherings. To that end, here are some considerations.

Remember when the President-Elect stated that he knew “nothing” about Project 2025? Millions of people believed him, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary showing the overlap between Project 2025 and Agenda 47. Well, an interesting thing happened recently: The President-Elect named at least 4 nominees to his cabinet who are contributors to Project 2025. This time, we draw our attention to the section of the Project that calls for the widespread elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and language.

Here’s an initial query: How much do you really know about DEI? Be honest. Talking heads have used DEI to create culture wars, those fabricated ideas to create conflicts between people. It makes one wonder if some person is sitting with a spinner wheel loaded with a list of terms used to identify the next target for hate.

DEI Spinner, Courtesy of Spinner Maker, Mike Nath

To frame our discussion, take this 3-question True (T) or False (F) quiz. Nobody but you will know how you answered.

T or F: DEI is really a part of our every-day lives.T or F: DEI is a consideration in science teaching and textbook writing.T or F: College professors, including those teaching in medical schools, are on watch lists for explaining human biology?

The answers to each of these questions is True. Now it’s time to talk turkey, as in, let’s honestly discuss DEI, topic by topic.

D = Diversity. Diversity explores the richness of being a member of the human race. It examines differences and commonalities in human identity, race as a social construct, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ethnic backgrounds, genders, intellectual and physical abilities, biases, history, and other topics of humanity.

E = Equity. Equity involves the fair distribution of resources, access to resources and information, and opportunities so every person has what they need to succeed. It addresses principles of fairness and justice.

I = Inclusion. Inclusion is the intentional effort to ensure that diverse individuals are welcomed, supported, and valued. This oftentimes extends to accessibility, which ensures that all people – regardless of ability – can interact with information and services.

In science, DEI plays important roles, because understanding the past informs the present. Imagine being decades into adulthood before learning about:

• The Tuskegee Syphilis Study. This study was a medical research project whose purpose was to observe the effects of untreated syphilis in a population of Black men. The atrocity is that treatment was available and withheld, causing people to die of a treatable disease. 

Human test subjects from the Tuskegee Syphilis Study talking with a study coordinator, Nurse Eunice Rivers

• Using poor Puerto Rican women as test subjects for oral contraceptives (the Pill).

• Putting real people on display as exhibits in Human Zoos or in circuses as “Freak Shows”. 

The list goes on. However, teaching about such topics is now being censored and banned. Currently, more than 30 states have introduced, passed, or enacted anti-DEI bills.

I’ll end with some examples in my science textbook writing to show real-life experience and to illustrate the necessity of DEI when trying to live in a kind world with human decency at the fore. Here are some overarching considerations to be sure readers themselves are represented across the pages:

• Skin Tone: Portraying a cross-section of individuals found across the globe. 

School Friends

• Physical Attributes: Making sure that all people are represented. Are common medical devices shown? Are people from birth to very old age found within the pages of narrative and imagery?

• Depersonalization: Realizing that not everyone has the same capabilities. For example, when explaining a muscle’s action, do so from a functional perspective. This point really hit home years ago while lecturing on the sartorius muscle, and I said, “When you cross your legs, the sartorius muscle is responsible for that action.” No sooner had those words left my mouth when I looked straight at a student in a wheelchair, who had no lower limb mobility. I felt horrible; and it still sticks with me. Now, this phrase is flipped to “The sartorius muscle flexes the knee and hip, abducts and laterally rotates the thigh, and enables leg crossing.”

• Language: Considering that all readers are not native English speakers or familiar with regional idioms. This actually has allowed for more precise, universal language. For example, “A blow to the head caused a concussion” is now “A collision or hit to the head caused a concussion.” Again, students brought this to my attention, as in “How could air cause a concussion?”

• Sensitivity: Rephrasing so the person is not the disease. This involves changing from “the diabetic person” to “the person with diabetes.” People are so much more than their affliction or pain.

• Sources: Ensuring that information and images are obtained from reputable sources, ethically obtained, and scientifically accurate. This was not always the case. An infamous historical case involves a 7-volume anatomical work known simply as the Pernkopf Atlas. The original work, titled in German, is Topographische Anatomie des Menschen. Eduard Pernkopf was an Austrian anatomy professor who worked with medical illustrators over 20 years creating the atlases. The color plates are considered classics in the field, are painstakingly accurate, and have been reprinted and used in textbooks. However, there is a colossal ethical problem here: Pernkopf and his illustrators were all Nazis who used executed political prisoners as their subjects. The book is still in use, causing ethical dilemmas on many fronts.

Pernkopf (second row, third from right) and his mentor, Ferdinand Hochstetter (1861-1954), (center of second row) at the Anatomy Institute in Vienna. (Photograph courtesy of the Institut für Geschichte der Medizin der Universität Wien).

In a nutshell, DEI is a framework that ensures fair treatment and consideration everyone. It’s a system that reminds us to check ourselves within the complexities of society. It helps us to be moral, empathic, and compassionate people. It encourages us to treat others as we ourselves want to be treated.

Happy Thanksgiving to those that celebrate!

References

Creepiest Circus Performers You Need to See to Believe

DEI Legislative Tracker

https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/ant...

The History of Eduard Pernkopf/s Topographische Anatomie des Menschen

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles...

Human Zoos: America’s Forgotten History of Scientific Racism

Puerto Rico Pill Trials

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...

School Friends

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Author: woodleywonderworks

Tuskegee Syphilis Studyhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...-

Vanquishing by Vaccinating

November 18, 2024

Today’s public health topic is infectious disease and prevention. We’ve experienced the COVID pandemic, the scourge that has killed over 7 million people worldwide. Pandemics don’t magically go away, COVID is still with us, and there will be others. By definition, a pandemic is a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease that spreads over the world. The term is derived from the Greek words pandemos that means all and demos meaning people. Research shows that there have been 249 pandemics stretching back from 1,200 BC to 2024. Many were referred to as plagues. Let’s take a moment to focus on the cholera pandemic, because its story shaped public health and also resonates with current times.

Cholera is a bacterial infection caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. Affecting the small intestine, the infection is typically contracted from infected water supplies. Outbreaks have occurred worldwide. It causes severe diarrhea and vomiting and is often fatal due to dehydration. On the surface, you may be thinking, “ahh, I can deal with dehydration because I’ve been there, done that.” In reality, without quick medical intervention, the intake of fluid cannot keep pace with the voluminous expulsion of water. This leads to hypovolemic shock, a condition characterized by exceedingly low blood volume, which causes a profound drop in blood pressure and oxygen. People cannot survive without blood and oxygen.

Between 1817 and 1923, cholera killed 1 million people. Enter a savvy physician, Dr. John Snow, who used the scientific method to identify how cholera was spreading in a crowded neighborhood in London, England. Snow concluded that people were getting infected from contaminated water at the Broad Street pump. Dr. Snow reported his findings to community leaders, who removed the pump handle, preventing access to the water and thereby preventing additional deaths. Of course, there was public outcry – much like mask mandates in our present time – but the infections dropped and subsequently, so did deaths. Snow went on to become known as the Father of Epidemiology. Epidemiology is the branch of science that deals with the incidence, spread, and  control of diseases that affect public health. Public health is the science of improving and protecting the lives of communities.

A replica of the Broad Street pump that commemorates John Snow’s finding that linked the cholera outbreak to contaminated water. Photo courtesy of Jamzze on Wikimedia Commons (link below).Entrance to Cholera Cemetery. Two photos of the Cholera Cemetery in my hometown of Sandusky, Ohio. People were dying so quickly that they were buried in mass graves. Photo courtesy of Mike Nath and Greta our pretty German shepherd, who joined him on the venture.

Today, there is a vaccine against cholera called Vaxchora. This vaccine doesn’t work against other waterborne illnesses, but it is effective at reducing profuse diarrhea and vomiting. Fast forward to today. The mission of the United States Department of Health and Human Services is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. This past week, the President Elect tapped Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK Jr.) to head this department. Much has been written about RFK, Jr., who is a lawyer, conspiracy theorist, misinformation peddler, and vaccination opponent. He rejects science. As an anti-vaxxer, he encourages others to be as well. Not vaccinating leads to deaths from preventable diseases. To illustrate, RFK Jr. visited America Samoa. After spreading misinformation about measles vaccines, vaccination rates decreased, leading to a measles outbreak that infected 57,000 people and killed 83.

Thanks to vaccination, polio and measles had been eradicated in the United States. However, as a result of lagging vaccination rates, people are at risk. In fact, there have been outbreaks of measles in unvaccinated and under-vaccinated communities. For those who may not be familiar, polio (full name is poliomyelitis), is a viral infection affecting the brain and spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent paralysis. People infected spent much of their lives in an iron lung, which fitted over the entire body, enabling breathing.

1960 photo of a nurse with a patient inside an iron lung. Photo courtesy of CDC Public Health Image Library #12009

The CDC estimates that 4 million deaths are prevented by childhood vaccination worldwide. While Americans thrive on individualism, we also live in society and depend on one another for survival – regardless of wealth. Afterall, there are only so many pillows, yachts, or spacecrafts a person can use, and none exist through spontaneous generation- they are made through a chain of resources and swaths of people. If enough of the population resists vaccination, the pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) proliferate. When a high proportion of people have immunity (protection) from a pathogen through previous infection or vaccination, herd immunity is established. We rely on herd immunity to protect communities and each other. This is especially important for protecting the most vulnerable among us, including those with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients, small children, and aging individuals.

There’s also a very dark side to consider when we quit vaccinating: we are vulnerable to bioterrorism. Foreign adversaries and evil doers can release deadly viruses, bacteria, toxins, or other biological agents to cause death or illness. This is yet another reason why we still need scientists in key positions and why we need companies to manufacture vaccines. Smallpox, Anyone? How about Anthrax? (Vaccines are available for both.) Our military personnel are also vaccinated against 17 major infectious disease threats.

Our time on this planet is finite. Let’s make those years as happy and healthy as possible. Yes?

References

American Medical Association Journal of Ethics

https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/...

Broad Street Pump Photo

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/global-immunizati...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Museum

https://www.cdc.gov/museum/online/sto...

CDC Public Health Image Library

https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid...

Current Status for Military Personnel

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NB...

The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...

University of Cincinnati “The Great Pandemics of History Presentation”

https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/refres...

Post-Election Stress Syndrome

November 10, 2024

Four years ago, I started writing Science & Society newsletters in response to the COVID pandemic, when disinformation and misinformation was populating all venues of communication. It was my attempt to help friends and family understand some microbiology, pharmacology, and human biology. Much of that writing also focused on combatting pseudoscience handed down from the highest governmental office. This is the same office that is poised to place a conspiracy theorist and anti-vaxxer in the cabinet. What happens in the upcoming months is uncertain. What is clear is that post-election, many people are stressed, sad, despondent, angry, and scared along with a host of other emotions too numerous to mention. On November 5, 2024, people cast their ballots, and the next president of the United States won with just 50.5% of the vote.

For 70,916,946 voters, many are experiencing post-election stress syndrome. The emotions are justified as the rhetoric, vitriol, and plans for the next administration target citizens and non-citizens alike. Since the election (that’s 6 days ago) these groups have been targeted:

• members of the LGBTQ community

• women

• non-white people

This is the backdrop for uncertainty and unrest, all accompanied by physiological responses. This is not an over-reaction. I’ll begin by explaining what the stress response is and then provide concrete examples of why this election’s results are currently harming the people living within our borders.

Stress Response – This is our body’s automatic physiological reaction to a perceived threat. It’s a survival mechanism. The threat can be physical danger or psychological fear. It is commonly referred to as the “Fight or Flight Response.” Without our awareness, stress chemicals such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol are released to prepare us to confront danger (fight) or flee from danger (flight). It readies us to meet the danger and act. Heart rate increases, breathing rate goes up, glucose (sugar) is released to give us energy, and muscles tense. After the danger passes, this response usually resolves, and life goes on. For example, if you are driving a car and a dog runs out in front of you, your sympathetic nervous system immediately acts, and you slam on the brakes. You feel shaky as all those automatic responses kicked in. Once the dog is safely to the curb, the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in, and the stress chemicals no longer flood the blood, and calm resumes. But sustained stress can cause health problems: high blood pressure (hypertension), anxiety, depression, addiction, disordered sleep, and overeating. Each of these comes with a host of other conditions. Moreover, for individuals with stress disorders, triggers such as sights, sounds, smells, feelings, objects, or news reports of an assault can set off a response. This is true for dogs, too.

Many are struggling to understand how 74,650,754 people voted for a person with 34 felony convictions plus charges of fraud, election subversion and obstruction, defamation, and sexual assault. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women in the United States have experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime, and 81% have reported sexual harassment and/or assault. For survivors of sexual assault, triggers are common.

LGBTQ+ The president-elect’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ people have been ongoing for years. The Trevor Project’s post-election day crisis data is disheartening. The Trevor Project is a non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people. To demonstrate the gravity of this, on November 6th, there was a:

            • 700% increase in overall post-election services compared to weeks prior

• 5,200% increase in election-related content in conversations

• 125% increase in crisis contact directly related to election results

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and those that love them are on constant alert. Thus, the stress response is overactive.

Women. Since the election, social media has been flooded with misogynistic messages, including from Nick Fuentes, an American far-right political pundit who promotes white supremacy, misogyny, and antisemitism. In fact, he posted “your body, my choice” as more hate and harassment towards women continues. This guy has also dined at the private residence of the president-elect. Three of the six men on the United States Supreme Court have been accused of sexual assault. The president-elect appointed one of them. This is the same court that abandoned women in June 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned. Since stripping women the right to body autonomy, the maternal mortality rate in Texas increased by 56% and is attributable to the abortion ban. According to the CDC, 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are preventable. Yes, women are stressed.

Non-White People  Starting the day after the election, texts were sent country wide to Black people with messages telling them to report to the nearest plantation to pick cotton, that executive slaves would pick them up in a van, and that they would be slave labor. According to the NAACP, people now feel emboldened to spread hate. More stress and fear.

Post-Election Stress Disorder is the collective mental health condition, developed after experiencing the election. It is taking such forms as anxiety, sadness, depression, fear, anger, and detachment from other people. As millions of people struggle with the consequences of the election, it’s important to note that this affects the health of a nation. To hear people say “this is not who we are” discounts the feelings and experiences of millions of our neighbors. This is indeed who we are. Two elections have proved this is who we are. The election was not about choosing between Coke or Pepsi or the Cleveland Browns versus the Cincinnati Bengals. People will say they voted because of the economy. This is a convenient trope to repeat to friends and family, but in reality, it’s a refrain that likely hides their true hearts. The proof? According to the Economic Policy Institute by 2024:

• GDP has risen 2.9% annually since 2022, compared with 1.8% between 2007-2019 and 2.5% between 2017-2019

• Inflation-adjusted wages have reached a record high

• Unemployment averaged 3.8% since 2022, compared with 6.4% between 2007-2019 and 4.0% between 2017-2019

• Job growth has been faster overall

• New business formation is higher

• The stock market is higher and has grown much more rapidly

• Today’s economy is historically strong

Serotonin is a feel-good chemical, and increased levels make us happier. Stress depletes serotonin. To counter stress and increase serotonin levels without medicine, health experts suggest:

Limiting news consumptionTaking a break from social mediaSeeking mental health helpGetting outside to enjoy sunshineBreathing deeplyExercisingYogaMeditatingLaughingEngaging in a social activityTaking daily 10-minute walks outdoors

The United State of America was once held as the beacon of democracy. However, the aftermath of this election may extinguish that light. Look at the photo of Greta as a puppy, take a deep breath, and smile.

Economic Policy Institute

www.epi.org

NAACP

www.naacp.org

National Sexual Violence Resource

www.nsvrc.org

America’s New ABC’s: Academic Antics, Book Banning, and Censorship Clownery

America’s educational system is under attack from within as books are banned, censorship is on the rise, hate runs amok, and laws are passed limiting what can be taught within academic institutions. The American Library Association reported that between January 1 and August 31, 2024, 1,128 unique titles were targeted for censorship. Such attacks sabotage intellectual freedom, innate curiosity, critical thinking, scientific literacy, and self-edification. Any one of these is detrimental to society, but taken in total, it leads to the dismantling of a democratic republic. This is not hyperbole.

History: The Department of Education has deep roots as it was created by President Andrew Johnson in 1867. Its purpose then and now is to collect information on schools and teaching to help states establish uniform effective school systems. Today’s mission of the Federal role in education is still forward thinking: It seeks to “promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.”

Consider: Project 2025 (the detailed blueprint for the next Republican president) and Agenda 47 (the manifesto of the Republican presidential candidate) both plan for a total overhaul of the education system in the United States, from kindergarten through college. Both seek to eliminate accreditors and federal regulators in favor of state governors and legislators remaking education that favors ideological whims of the states. If this sounds a lot like reproductive healthcare across America, it’s because it is.

Consequences: These plans would eliminate standardized curricula across the states. Imagine yourself or your child going to school in one state and then moving to another state, but once in your new environment, you discover that you are not prepared. Or, think about entrance exams for college or graduate school. Or think about being educated in one state and then being under-prepared for college-level courses in another state. Like healthcare, there are universal advantages to standardization.

Consider: Relative to higher education, currently institutions are accredited by non-partisan education professionals, who evaluate whether colleges and universities are meeting educational standards. When standards are not met, this forces institutions of higher education to fix the problems or lose accreditation. Losing accreditation is a big problem because the faulty school may close, lose federal funding, or cause issues for students transferring credit to other schools. Unaccredited degrees may not be accepted by employers or graduate schools. However, this correcting model ensures that degrees earned by students are meaningful and legitimate, no matter where the live or move.

Consequences: Weakening accreditation allows political interests to shape curricula. Teachers, who are professionals in their discipline, not politicians, should be in charge of course design and delivery.

Consider: Current legislative attacks erode academic freedom and place gag orders on so-called “divisive topics.”

Consequences: Bills and laws are proposed and passed by legislators, who have no expertise in the content area. Students are robbed of learning.

The attack on science by Republican leaders continues, most recently in regard to the CHIPS and Science Act. Last week, Trump publicly stated (verbatim), “That CHIP deal is so bad.” House speaker, Mike Johnson, reported that Republicans will repeal the act if they have a majority in Congress. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed in 2022, has created thousands of jobs in the United States. Moreover, as the National Science Foundation (NSF) proclaims, “The act authorizes historic investments in curiosity-driven, exploratory research and use-inspired, translational research. These investments will advance the most innovative ideas across all areas of science and engineering— accelerating their translation to solutions for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s — at speed and scale.” The mission of the NSF is to advance scientific progress. Historically, the United States has been the leader in scientific advancement. One reason is because we have the best institutions of education and research. Hands-down.

Lastly, a personal story. There are over 4,000 degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. As a science professor, textbook author, public presenter, and past president of an international scientific society, I’ve had the privilege of visiting countless college campuses from coast to coast and border to border, developing relationships with other authors and hundreds of professors. These are people who share a common vision of educating our future healthcare providers, teachers, researchers, and anybody who wants to learn. But I was taken aback last year when I had to justify whether or not the latest edition of an anatomy & physiology textbook that I author aligned with a particular state’s laws regarding reproductive anatomy, physiology, gender, sexual activity, hormones, and chromosomes. This was clearly a case in which the law was counter to the science. I didn’t know where to begin with writing my justification because what was written in the law was nonsense. Imagine reading a recipe for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with instructions that began something like, “after boiling the water for the bread, smear on the cinnamon sugar.” This is where we are, Folks.

Let’s talk about sex. Not the kind of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, but the kind that’s on the ballot. And pre-emptive apologies for going long with the blog, but sometimes we have to play the long game. Before we do, here’s a little background: The United States is in the throes of election season, and political ads are running endless loops of bunk. While we don’t know the election’s outcome, we do know one thing: Voters have been consistent that they are most interested in the economy. Yet, it is gender and anti-trans rhetoric that is dominating the repeating cycle across media platforms. Our government is attacking us. According to the Human Rights Campaign, as of 2023, over 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures and over 200 bills specifically target transgender and non-binary people. Non-binary is a term that describes a person’s identity that doesn’t fit squarely into male or female. To be clear, these bills target human beings. These bills target people who are citizens of the United States of America. These bills target individuals deemed as “other” when there is no such thing where humans are concerned. Recall that in addition to Jewish people, Black people, people with disabilities, and “other” select groups, Adolph Hitler and the Nazi regime also targeted and dehumanized people of the LGBTQ+ community. Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945, and the Defense Casualty Analysis System estimates that 405,399 American service members died in World War II. Did our ancestors die in vain?

Project 2025, the 922-page blueprint for the next Republican president, targets LGBTQ+ individuals and refers to Trump 270 times. Moreover, in Agenda 47, Trump’s 16-page GOP Platform to Make America Great Again, Chapter 9, item 5 states: “Republicans Will End Left-wing Gender Insanity.” In addition to attacking its own citizenry, these laws and platforms do so without a complete understanding or knowledge of human biology. However, biology really shouldn’t matter, because in American democracy, people should not be targeted by their government. Note that in states with anti-trans laws, suicide attempts by youth identifying as trans and non-binary increased 72%. These are our children. Perhaps understanding a little basic science and applying some human kindness might help calm the chaos. This particular topic is complex because humans are complex. Yet, the underlying fact is that there are no abnormal people.

No law aimed at people identifying as LGBTQ+ has any foundation in science or medicine. To help in our understanding of a complicated issue, let’s focus on a few key words and phrases that come up in discussions, political ads, and legislation. The paragraphs that follow are a distillation of the complexity of human development, genetics, anatomy, and physiology. It’s like trying to explain the unified field theory by describing it as “the theory of everything” without providing the supporting math and physics. The first common phrase is “sex assigned at birth.” This is merely a label given to an infant shortly after entering this world based on visual examination of external genitalia. The healthcare provider typically records male or female in the birth record. Before reading further, review the opening image, labeled karyotype. A karyotype is a picture of a person’s chromosomes. But chromosome count is variable. At birth, no karyotyping is done.

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, with the last pair called sex chromosomes that are labeled X and Y. Sex is used to divide humans into two groups, male and female, on the basis of reproductive function. And is written as:

•XY, male; assigned male at birth (AMAB)

• XX female; assigned female at birth (AFAB)

In each case, someone else is making the decision about a newborn’s sex by just looking at the body. However, this can be wrong. One reason is because some infants (about 1 in 2000 births) are born with ambiguous external genitalia and cannot be clearly identified as male or female. Another reason is that a person’s sex is not always determined by external anatomy. We have internal anatomy, too. Furthermore, some individuals are born intersex, meaning that sex characteristics, genitals, reproductive organs, and chromosomes may not match the binary XY or XX. So, including “sex assigned at birth” into legislation creates problems because not all humans are XY or XX. We are a rich tapestry in which there can be a mismatch between sex chromosomes and anatomy. Such is the case with “differences of sex development (DSD)”, a group of conditions in which an XY individual is born as female, and an XX individual is born as male. This means that a person whose genotype is XX born as male, has testicular tissue instead of ovaries or gonads or a mixture of both. Then, there are individuals who are intersex meaning they have a mosaic karyotype in which some cells have one karyotype, and other cells have a different karyotype. And this is just the beginning of a very complex topic. Many variations aren’t known until teenage years or upon dissection in a cadaver lab. If you’re interested in learning more about anatomic variations in humans, my colleague, Dr. Kevin Patton, has a great podcast exploring this topic (link at bottom of page).

Let’s wrap up by discussing gender identity, sexual orientation, and transgender.

• Gender identity is more nuanced than sex; it is the person’s internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither and how they should conform to social norms.

• Sexual orientation is a person’s emotional and/or sexual attraction to another person and is independent of gender identity.

• Transgender is an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity, internal knowledge of self, gender expression, or behavior is different from the sex they were assigned at birth or grew up thinking they were. Some transgender people choose to medically transition so that their personal gender identity can match their outward appearance. This is known as gender affirming care. Medical and other professional organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Psychological Association (APA), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), offer guidelines, policies, and support for access to evidence-based health care for a transgender world.

Because humans are products of a long evolutionary chain, nothing described in the previous paragraphs is new. It’s merely that language has also evolved, and science has advanced. Recall Hermaphroditus from Greek mythology: Hermaphroditus was the two-sexed child of Aphrodite (Venus) and Hermes (Mercury). In fact, an outdated term for intersex is hermaphrodite. The animal kingdom also offers countless examples of our sexual spectrum: male seahorses give birth; clownfish can change their sex depending on circumstances; and giraffes and bottlenose dolphins routinely engage in homosexual activity. The natural world has multitudes of other examples.

The overarching theme: We humans are who we are. Stop legislating hate.

References

• The A&P Professor, “Anatomic Variations in Humans”, TAPP Radio Episode 43

theAPprofessor.org/podcast-episode-43.html

• Human Male Karyotype Image

Courtesy: National Human Genome Research Institute, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_male_karyotpe_high_resolution.jpg

• Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project

https://www.project2025.org

On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion with its Dobbs v. Jackson decision, leaving individual states as arbiters for reproductive healthcare. This ruling marked a considerable intersection of science and society as individual states have passed a patchwork of laws regarding medical care and created a society in which Americans can no longer freely navigate between the states. Consider this scenario of road-tripping: You are on a road trip from your home state to another state to visit a friend. About 15 minutes into the trip, you panic slightly because you realized that you had forgotten to pack an essential item. But within moments, the sense of panic quickly evaporates because you realized you could always buy the item once you reached your destination. No big deal, right? Now, consider this scenario and imagine that it’s nearing Thanksgiving, and you are excited to visit your family for the holiday. But this time it is different. You are pregnant and are thrilled because you and your spouse have been trying to conceive your second child.

This pregnancy and travel are now linked, and your plans to see your family have been upended because you are afraid. You are afraid that if you travel to this other state to see your family and something goes awry with the pregnancy while you are there, you may not be able to receive the reproductive care you need. Your life might even be in jeopardy. You had never thought about this before because pregnant people in the United States of America could travel freely between states without worry of not receiving healthcare. If a person has a heart attack or a life-threatening illness, we can rest assured that no matter what state they were in, physicians and healthcare personnel would spring into action and do everything to save the life, by whatever means necessary. The calculus changes if the person requiring life-saving healthcare has a uterus.

While many bemoan the existence of a federal government, the primary purpose of federal government mandates is to ensure the safety of its citizens. Some laws need to be laws of the land, to ensure that no matter where we are, we can enjoy general welfare, including life, safety, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of chromosome count, body organ differences, or health condition.

Throughout these United States, reproductive healthcare is on the ballot this election. There has been no greater intersection of science and society than on this issue. To clarify the scientific piece, let’s consider reproductive anatomy and physiology, focusing on some organs and their functions, which have been legislated, oftentimes with language that is so ambiguous and contrary to science that the laws make no sense.

A common misperception is that a pregnant person’s uterus is simply an incubator for a developing baby. The “bun in the oven” phrase gives credence to this falsehood. In truth, it is a muscular organ that is well supplied with blood vessels that under specific conditions plays a role in embryonic and fetal development. However, this is an oversimplification, and a lot of behind-the-scenes events happen long before and after pregnancy occur. In a typical undergraduate anatomy & physiology course, several textbook chapters and lectures are devoted to this one topic. And this is just the tip of the learning: Entire courses in graduate and medical schools are taken by future researchers and healthcare professionals. In short, it’s very complicated. The same holds true for every other organ system in the body. That is why we have medical professionals who specialize in treating the human body in health and disease.

Yet, there are laws legislating reproductive health – but only for those people with a uterus. There is not a single reproductive health law that targets people with a penis or testicles. Let’s consider these two organs, which are just as critical to human reproduction as the uterus. Their role is just less obvious and occurs before pregnancy, because it is these two organs and their associated structures and products that cause 100% of all pregnancies.

Testicles (testes) are not just sacs that house sperm. Just like the uterus, the anatomy and physiology is complicated. These organs and their associated structures can produce and store sperm – those necessary cells for pregnancy to occur. Yet, without them, there is no sperm. For example, the epididymis is a convoluted duct within each testicle that can become inflamed with an infection, causing epididymitis. Besides it being a 6-syllable word, this condition can also lead to the life-threatening condition called sepsis (the body’s overwhelming response to infection), which can lead to septicemia (blood infection). Because untreated sepsis or septicemia can quickly lead to organ failure and death, it is treated immediately.

Complicated pregnancies and miscarriages increase the risk of sepsis and subsequent septicemia. In states that ban abortion, pregnant people live in fear of “what if scenarios.” Furthermore, physicians are placed in uncertain situations whenever they encounter a pregnant person who requires preventive treatment for sepsis or septicemia. It’s like playing chicken with a pregnant person’s life. In some states where abortion laws are open to interpretation, physicians have been placed in predicaments in which they know what to do medically, but they fear treating the condition because of legal ramification. This leads to unnecessary trauma at best and death at worst. Both could be avoided.

So, let’s circle back to our interstate travel scenario. Pregnant people are dying needlessly because medical care has been withheld in situations where the physicians were prevented from doing their jobs. Without uniform reproductive healthcare across the entire United States of America, pregnant persons are discriminated against and their free will is held hostage.

Image Citation

Sperm

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spermatozoons_42.svg

Welcome to October 2024 and another installment of the newsletter that helps you navigate the intersection of science and society! Top of mind is teasing out fact from fiction. Textbooks contain facts. But how do we know what we don’t know?

For years now, we’ve experienced the science denialism, barrage of misinformation, constant stream of disinformation, and the endless loop of propaganda. Each of these does not enhance democracy, but rather fuels democrazy, a democratic system that is inherently flawed and has descended into absurdity. It describes our current situation. None of this is beneficial to society and one must ask, “What’s the end game and why do so many people suspend critical thinking?” To engage in some self-education, we’ll begin with some essential vocabulary so we can place everything into context, continue with some facts – because facts matter-, and wrap up with some tools you can use to combat nonsense and live a safer life.

Science denialism = attacks on science to advance conspiracy theories. Science denialism has been around for a long time. Notably, the science attacker and Soviet Union dictator, Joseph Stalin, portrayed scientists as enemies of the state. Pseudoscience – something that sounds scientific because it uses science-sounding words but is false – was foundational to the spread of Nazism and Hitler’s popularity. Today, science in America is politicized and anti-science rhetoric is fueling emotionally charged nonsense. And much of what is happening is advancing an ideology that mimics fascism. While book banning is off the charts, leading scientific journals have devoted pages underscoring the seriousness of American anti-science sentiment as researchers have received death threats and warnings of physical violence. Yet, science matters, especially when individual and public health is at stake. For example, anti-vaxxers die needlessly from vaccine-preventable diseases and they reduce herd immunity. Herd immunity protects populations: When a sufficient percentage of the population is already immune from contagious disease, this increases resistance to infection. Another example includes campaigns aimed at removing fluoride from public drinking water; removing fluoride from public water sources denies others the benefits of preventing cavities.

Misinformation = false or inaccurate information to further an idea. Misinformation is so prevalent that it is increasingly difficult to argue statements because they have no basis in science. Most Americans get misinformed on social media platforms and heavily biased visual programming. Unfortunately, the more often we hear or see misinformation, the more likely we are to believe it’s true. This speaks to the value of finding reputable sources and trusted people. Everybody is not an expert and Internet sleuths are not out there finding nuggets of information that have been hidden from the world’s leading scientists and researchers. When misinformation gets written into laws, reproductive health, racism, and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments flourish. Currently, hate-based legislation that is contrary to science is negatively impacting too many people. It’s also driving youth suicide attempts and rates.

Disinformation = false information that is intended to mislead. Disinformation is harmful, especially when it relates to public health and voting on issues. Fear mongering is a constant theme of disinformation and most of it is propagated from about a dozen sources. That’s all it takes for something to reach millions of people, who freely suspend critical thinking, and relay the information as a chain reaction. Disinformation compromises health-promoting decision making, leading to unnecessary emergencies and self-harm. It also perpetuates hate in daily living and at the ballot box. October is Hate Crimes Awareness Month. Among a litany of other good services, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) tracks hate groups in the United States. Currently there are 1,430 active hate and antigovernment groups operating in our 50 states. Every state has at least one, so it’s up to all of us to disarm disinformation.

Propaganda = information used to promote a particular cause or doctrine. Think of propaganda as disinformation that is intentionally pushed through all media venues to persuade a population. It erodes public trust. There is a good deal of overlap between disinformation and propaganda, and in its most evil form, it’s meant to manipulate citizens into believing falsehoods. The worst parts of our history, tainted with science denialism and hate, has gained traction and what seems to be unstoppable momentum. But we can stop it if we choose. Propaganda dismantles societies by interrupting legitimate communication while placing trust in a charlatan.

We’ve heard repeatedly that we are a polarized society and that tribalism is powering this. Is it true or are we falling victim to tropism? Tropism means that if we hear or read something often enough, we begin to believe it whether it’s true or not. If we all feel divided, then the disinformation dastards and propaganda purveyors win. Fortunately, there are tools to combat science denialism, misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. But it will require engaging the brain, becoming more scientifically literate, and a willingness to quit “othering” by treating everyone as humans sharing this planet and making the most of our days here.

Educational research shows that arming people with facts is not enough. Bummer. So, we must use other strategies. Our society is already polluted with so much conceptual contamination that to stop the spread of misinformation/disinformation/propaganda – bunk disease – we need a solid plan. Bunk must be disarmed. Since we can’t compete with super-sharers of bunk, we must reduce our susceptibility through treatment and prevention.

Treatment: When exposed to a post on social media, fact check it. Make truth a priority.
Here are reputable sites to fact check or fake check quickly:

            GENERAL

            www.snopes.com

            www.rumorguard.org

            HOAXES

            www.truthorfiction.com

            www.hoaxslayer.com

            POLITICS

            http://factcheck.org

            http://politifact.com

Prevention: Inoculate yourself with information through media literacy and science education. If a person is already informed, they are less likely to fall victim to bunk disease. Further, when confronted with falsehoods, refute them directly with solid, factual information.

If bunk disease has no host to spread it, bunk disease goes away.
Let’s remain the UNITED States of America, not the divided States of America.

Tired.  That’s the word many of us use to describe how we’re feeling these days.  It’s been a daily 5-alarm fire for more years than we care to count. Every day we wake up, doom scroll, and if we happen to miss a day, that’s no big deal because the news of the new day supersedes the previous day’s news.  Do we really enjoy living life like this?  With the bombshell ruling from the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the nation seems further divided, angered, and hopeless.  Our political stage is designed to divide us: with a two-party system an “us v. them” ideology is already set. This is further enhanced by conservative v. liberal judges.  The Dodd decision was a surprise to no one.  What is maddening is that we the people allow this to happen.  Judges are supposed to be non-partisan and to rule by the facts.  Our elected officials are supposed to represent the people.  But when gerrymandering with no recourse is allowed to prevail, then we’re stuck with politicians who no longer represent people, but who represent power and deep pockets backing them.  To change this, we’ll need courage to vote.  And, we’ll need courage to vote beyond single issues.  We’ll need courage to vote for the best candidate, not the R or D associated with their name.  We’ll need to find candidates who are not talking heads or one-trick ponies.  We need candidates who legislate based on facts, which brings me to being tired.

In Ohio, if you’re paying attention, you’ll realize that some laws our current politicians have passed or are in the process of passing have nothing to do with knowledge or facts and everything to do with catch phrases and trigger topics aimed at inciting “their base.”  Aren’t you tired of hearing about “their base”?  Once elected, everybody in the state becomes “their base.” We should become a blended family despite any differences.

What makes you tired?  For me, it’s beating my head against the wall every time I read of something being banned without facts, knowledge, forethought, and thinking.  This ranges from banning books and curricula to banning history and abortions.  The latter is very likely a product of banning the former.

While anti-abortionists might claim victory on this overturn of Roe v. Wade, it is really a defeat for everyone.  Why?  Because Roe v. Wade wasn’t based solely on a woman’s right to have an abortion only up to 24-28 weeks, it was also based on a pregnant person’s right to privacy without excessive government restriction. The right to privacy.  Something that every voting American – I hope – still values.  I can write ad naseum about what has already been written:  my body, my choice; guns have more rights than women; it is the woman’s right to choose; babies identify as human from the point of conception.  The list is endless, but what many are overlooking is the right to privacy and the right to healthcare delivered by experts, not politicians.  The government now controls reproduction.  It was bad enough that Texas allows “bounty hunters” to stalk women; but now physicians and their patients are beholden to the government every time a woman walks into her ob/gyn’s office for her annual exam. This isn’t the first time in our history that the government took control of reproduction: In 1927, by an 8 to 1 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could forcibly sterilize a person whom they deemed unfit to procreate. The 1932-1972 government-sanctioned Tuskegee Syphilis Study withheld life-saving antibiotics to a group of Black Americans who were being studied like lab rats to record the natural progression of the sexually-transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.  But your history class would have had to tell the story or you would have had to have access to that banned book. Keep in mind that despite 182 years of women trying, there is still no equal rights amendment.

While polls show that most Americans favor choice, it is likely that we will never be on the same page when it comes to abortion.  That’s okay:  it’s like vanilla and strawberry ice cream.  If you don’t like strawberry ice cream, don’t eat it.  If religion dictates the values, even the various religions do not arrive with the same definition of when life begins.  If religion is not part of individual decision-making, then personal experience, fact-based knowledge, and values define life for you.  What everyone, regardless of political ideology or background seems to agree upon, is that once that fetus is born and enters the world, it is a baby who is endowed with the values bestowed by the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Physicians, health scientists, and ethicists were not part of the Supreme Court’s decision-making process.  Had they been, they could have informed these lawmakers of the myriad reasons why abortion is an important part of medical care.  They would have told them to quit reciting the phrase “heartbeat bill,” which is used to provoke. The sound heard via ultrasound at week 6 is a group of cells with electrical potential that will become the heart’s pacemaker, but lots of developing and membrane folding still must occur – it is not a teeny, tiny, miniature heart – and there is no indication of pregnancy viability at this point.  They could have educated lawmakers, many of whom know nothing about basic human reproductive biology.  They could have provided them with pages of scenarios to consider that cannot be addressed by blanket laws.  For those who think that individual states should mandate such laws, let me remind you that some laws are American laws, meaning we need Federal legislation.  To illustrate, alcohol laws can vary by state because nobody needs alcohol.  But healthcare is a necessity for all. Consider the recent case of a 10-year-old Ohio child who was pregnant by physical abuse; she had to travel to another state for abortion care because she was 3 days over Ohio’s ban on abortions for pregnancies beyond 6 weeks. Let that sink in.  She was 10 years old. Or, consider the case of Ohioan, Jim Obergefell, whose partner of 20 years, John, was dying of ALS.  When the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, they traveled via medical jet to Maryland to get married.  But, when they got back to Ohio, their marriage was not recognized.  The 2015 landmark case, Obergefell v. Hodges, which made marriage equality the law of the land, was mentioned three times in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. We are a transient society, and there are some laws that should be the law of ALL the land, hence federal laws.  Otherwise, we are not the United States of America but rather the Divided States of America.

Know that Roe v. Wade is more than abortion rights or alternate ways to cross the English Channel. Aren’t you tired of swimming?

Here’s the text, and the link to the article is below. It was published April 9, 2022.

Dear Ohioans, it is time to hold our legislators accountable.  While the people of the world are focused on the war in Ukraine and measures to keep the coronavirus “manageable,” Ohioans with the power to make life better are instead centering their collective energies on senseless legislative acts, namely, Ohio’s version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. Government leaders commonly misplace priorities, but this one is certainly noteworthy.  Why?  The reason is that there are many other important issues requiring the attention of our elected officials.  For example, we still don’t have electoral maps that are fair, thus preventing candidates from knowing their districts and hampering district constituents from getting to know their proposed candidates.  Another issue our legislators seem to ignore is the actual education of our youth; according to 2021 Department of Education statistics, only 22% of Ohio students reached the college ready benchmarks in all four areas of science, math, reading, and English on the ACT, a standardized exam for college admissions. And USA Facts, a data-driven, non-partisan group, cites that across these United States, only 37% of grade 12 students were at or above reading proficiency.  Meanwhile, Ukrainian students are going to school online against the backdrop of air raid sirens and atrocities.  Furthermore, another research-based group, the Institute for Public Relations, polled Americans and reported that health care costs were the biggest concern for Americans. In this same poll, out of 12 major concerns cited, preventing discussions related to sex, gender, or identity did not make the list.  Racial discrimination, however, ranked 11th.

As reported by the Trans Health Project, currently, there are more than 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills being pushed across 36 states. This means that transgender youth are under attack as legislatures push policies that disregard well-established science. Data from a paper published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence show that 82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide.  These attempted suicide numbers are highest among transgender youth – the very people who need support, not bullying, from an inclusive educational system. Why are legislators attacking their own citizens?  This mirrors laws passed in Russia, where LGBTQ youth are targeted and their mere existence politicized. Remember that Russia is led by a dictator with a government that has no tolerance for independent media nor pluralism of any manner.

These so-called “Don’t Say Gay” laws are not popular, and 60% of Americans oppose them, per polls by the Advocate and the Independent. It’s fortunate that we live in a country valuing freedom of speech, while we condemn the stifling of free speech in other countries.  Ironically, we do this while failing to recognize that with each nonsensical proposed bill or passed law, we too, have begun our descent down the slippery slope of censorship.  What’s worse is that our legislators are passing laws that contradict science and are contrary to human decency.

What we have is a colossal failure of scientific literacy, an underappreciation for teachers, and a group of people who relish misinformation, disinformation, and tropes.  If legislators and people who support such bills/laws would take the time to educate themselves on the topic, they’d soon learn that we are who we are and look the way we do because of our genes; teachers are skilled professionals who are quite adept at navigating the classroom climate and helping students understand topics of science and curiosity; and many among us repeat sound bites and snippets without checking their accuracy.

Our heartland state is home to some of the nation’s greatest institutions of higher education.  You wouldn’t know that if you looked at proposed legislation on the docket.  Let’s turn our attention to improving the lives of Ohioans, not making people feel like they are “other.” We can do better.  And we should.

Judi L. Nath, Ph.D.

Author, Professor, Humanist

Sandusky

https://sanduskyregister.com/news/380235/dont-say-gay-attacks-our-own/

The more people I know, the more I love my dog.  We’ve likely heard some variation of this phrase, and in fact, these very words frame a photo of a beloved canine.  As we move into year three of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began on December 12, 2019, with a cluster of infections in Wuhan, China, we find ourselves still at odds with one another.  Why?  The reasons are as varied as people themselves.  What has remained steadfastly constant is the intersection of science and society.  To that end, let’s answer some societal questions with scientific responses.

Who should be vaccinated?

According to the CDC, any person who is eligible to get the vaccine should get initial vaccine doses and boosters. That means everyone 5 years old and older should get the first doses and everyone 16 years and older should get a booster after their first doses.  As of December 2nd, 59.6% of the US population has been fully vaccinated, while 70.6% has received at least one dose.  That means we’re averaging an F and a C. Fortunately, these aren’t final grades, so we Americans can boost those scores without bribing the professor with wine and dark chocolate.  That doesn’t mean the professor doesn’t want to find those items in her Christmas stocking, though. To get out of this pandemic, it will take all of us.

Are there any vaccine exceptions? What about vaccine exemptions?

Like many rules, there are exceptions.  If a person has an allergy to a substance in the vaccine, whether it is the mRNA (Moderna and Pfizer) vaccine or Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine, that person should not get the vaccine.  The two substances in the vaccines that a person may be allergic to are polyethylene glycol (PEG) found in the mRNA vaccine and polysorbate found in the J&J vaccine.  And, that’s as far as I can go here.  People in this situation should talk to their healthcare providers. Vaccine exemptions are personal reasons that free a person from vaccine obligation.  All 50 states and Washington, D.C. allow exemptions from state or local vaccine requirements. Exemptions range from medical and religious reasons to reasons of conscience.  While 1 in 10 Americans states the COVID-19 vaccine conflicts with their religious beliefs, I’m not sure what those beliefs are because no major religion or religious leader has stated opposition to vaccination, including Pope Francis. Actually, faith leaders can play a very positive role in educating and encouraging their congregations.

Should people who have had COVID-19 be vaccinated?

This is an excellent question! And the answer is YES!  One would assume that if you’ve had the disease then a vaccine isn’t necessary because you’d have natural immunity.  That’s partly true: you do have some immunity but vaccination is still recommended.  Here’s what the CDC states about this: “whereas there is a wide range in antibody titer in response to infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), completion of a primary vaccine series, especially with mRNA vaccines, typically leads to a more consistent and higher-titer initial antibody response.”  Additionally, “the body of evidence for infection-induced immunity is more limited than that for vaccine-induced immunity in terms of the quality of evidence and types of studies.” Current research shows that vaccination following COVID-19 infection increases protection against re-infection.  This makes sense because antibody levels will vary depending on the severity of the initial infection. It’s like interest on savings: the more money you have in your account the more interest you’ll earn and the greater the total sum will be.

If vaccinations are so great, why do people have breakthrough infections?  What about reinfections?

A breakthrough infection occurs when a person gets a disease for which they have been vaccinated against. Once again, this speaks to our individual immune systems and immune responses, plus the fact that vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection. The statistics show that most people who do get COVID-19 are unvaccinated and for those who are vaccinated and get a breakthrough infection, the disease is usually much milder. As for reinfections, they can occur, but they are rare. We must remember that scientists are still studying this very active coronavirus, and with time, more will be known.  As an example showing immune response individuality, think about seasonal allergies: some people have them and some don’t depending on one’s personal immune system. Now, don’t go thinking you’ll take your chances with COVID-19…it’s caused by a highly infectious, easily transmittable, deadly virus.  Without protection in the form of vaccines, your own immune response may not be able to handle it, despite your healthy lifestyle.  Some things simply can’t be life-styled away.

Why is there still so much misinformation?

This is a perplexing question.  In the age of instant information, instant disinformation is just as prevalent.  According to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, the “Disinformation Dozen”, a group of 12 anti-vaxxers, produces 65% of the anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms.  Facebook and Twitter are cracking down on the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation and disinformation, but it’s an interesting fight because freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment. This is where being scientifically literate would help us all. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all knew enough science that if or when we encountered conspiracy theories we’d click past them and onto puppy pictures? People spewing forth venom and intentional false information thrive on drama.  If you’re looking for drama, turn on Netflix.  If you’re looking for real information, check reputable sources.  And when it comes to COVID-19 and vaccines, you can begin with the CDC’s website.

What About Those Meddling Mandates?

Many claim that the vaccine and mask mandates violate body autonomy, civil liberty, and the right to make your own health care decisions. Check, check, and check…until those rights infringe upon others. The coronavirus is a highly infectious agent that is deadly.  That means, personal actions or inactions have consequences for others.  If you decide not to brush your teeth and you have chronic halitosis, that’s on you; but if you decide to blow that nasty breath in my face, it’s now on me.  And that’s a problem. Vaccines and masks protect all of us – you and me.

Explain Those Virus Variants

Viruses arevery, very good at changing.  They’d get an A+ for their ability to change, that is, evolve.  When a virus changes, it creates a new variant, formerly known as a new strain.  This is what viruses do.  And these new variants/strains usually don’t affect its mode of operation – it’s still a virus, but the virus might behave differently.  It’s kind of like dating or marriage:  With the passage of time, the person changes until the relationship ends (the virus kills the person) or it becomes mutually beneficial (virus finds the variant that allows it to survive and carry on forever). The two latest variants are delta and omicron.  We’re living in real-time science as researchers study the variants and report what is known about them as more data are compiled.  Our current vaccines do offer protection against the variants.  The best way to keep viruses in check is to eliminate them or protect yourself so that they don’t eliminate you.  As a group, viruses are particles that honestly don’t care who or what they inhabit:  they’ll even infect bacteria, which is why viruses have been on this planet longer than humans.  They’ll also be here long after we’re gone, so it’s up to us to determine which ones remain.

All We Need is Love and Puppies

Let’s get back to dogs and puppies.  In the dog world, pack animals take care of each other.  Even outside a pack, a dog will exhibit “splitting behavior”, which means if things are getting out of hand between two dogs or one dog isn’t behaving as it should, another dog will intercede and play the peacekeeper. No violence is involved, the dog will merely stand and stop the bad behavior.  This behavior restores the good of the order.  Gotta love dogs.

What a wonderful world this would be if we took some COVID-free deep breaths, exhibited calm amidst the chaos, and thought about all the reasons to mask up, vaccinate, and care for one another. Now, pull your mask down and experience puppy breath kisses from the newest member of our pack, Greta.

Peace, Love, and Dogs.