What Kind of Sex Are You?

On any average day, we don’t really think about our gender. Why we were born a man or woman doesn’t cross our minds very often. Really, the only time we ever actually “think” about our gender is when we are asked “female” or “male” on some kind of form that we are filling out. But what if being a man or a woman has a lot more to do with your appearance and what body parts mommy and daddy’s genes gave you.

For those women out there reading this, how many of you spend at least ten minutes a day putting on make up to get ready? Don’t be ashamed while thinking about this and realize it might be a little more than ten minutes… maybe even thirty; we all need to look our best, right? Well, have you ever thought about how long you’ve owned the mascara or eye shadow you’re currently applying? Don’t worry; because until I read an article about the bacteria that live on make up, I didn’t either.

Sadly enough, that brand new collection of beauty products might be great for now but, depending on what it is, in as little as four months, it might have to be taking a trip to the trash. According to the article, Infections Caused by Bacteria in Makeup, “… recommends throwing mascara way after three to four months, foundation after one year and eye shadow after two years to reduce the risk of these infections”

Although some of us might have never thought about throwing out our cosmetics, here are three great reasons to say sayonara and move on: Keratitis, Stye and Blepharitis. Keratitis is an infection that occurs on the cornea. One way to contract this disease is through contact lenses, and although contacts aren’t any type of make up, the contamination takes place when a contact is placed after applying make up that could have infectious bacteria. Symptoms include decreased vision, light sensitivity and puffy eyelids. Another infection that could be picked up is Stye, an infection that affects the eyelid, caused from trapped oil or bacteria from cosmetic products. Symptoms of stye include, tenderness and inflammation or a small lump on the eyelid. Lastly, blepharitis is an additional infection that could happen. Blepharitis comes from staphylococcus bacteria that contaminates make up, and when applied to/around the eye, can cause pain, redness, blurred vision, eye discharge and light sensitivity.

As frightening as these diseases all seem, I wouldn’t fret just yet. Take a minute and remember when you bought most of the products that you are currently using. If it is more than the recommended time of use, throw them out and run to the nearest drug store to buy some more. Although these infections can occur, it doesn’t happen to everyone, so now that you are realizing that you’ve had that mascara for a little too long, just be happy you didn’t pick up one of these infections.

Unfortunately, the woman bashing isn’t over yet. We, yet again, are more prone to having bacteria follow us around and live on us than the average man. Depending on what sex you are could determine what types of and how many bacteria live on you. Even though there are a few types of bacteria that are more likely to live on men, there are more that live on women, but who could blame them? In a study done by colleagues at the University of Colorado Boulder, it was shown that palms of women had more bacteria living on them than men. The results of this study had researchers believe that various things caused the fluctuations between men and women, such as, sweat, skin thickness, hormone production, cosmetics application, etc. One factor, among many others, was the pH level a person may have. Microbial habitats tend to be much lower in higher pH level environments, and according the study, men on average have higher pH levels than women (“The Influence of sex…” study).

So, ladies, next time you go to the bathroom and pick up that foundation, think about how long you’ve owned it before applying it, and men, be thankful for your higher pH levels, it could be keeping away some unwanted bacteria.

Cites:

“Microorganisms Responsible for Sexually Transmitted Diseases.” ScientificPsychic.com – Physical Fitness, Puzzles, Personality Test, Educational Software. Scientific Psychic, 2007. Web. 22. Nov. 2011. http://www.scientificpsychic.com/health/sexually-transmitted-diseases.html

Zaykoski, Leigh A. "Infections Caused By Bacteria In Makeup | LIVESTRONG.COM."LIVESTRONG.COM - Lose Weight & Get Fit with Diet, Nutrition & Fitness Tools | LIVESTRONG.COM. 15 June 2010. Web. 22 Nov. 2011.

They Do It Too? Yep.

Dear Author,
There isn’t much of an argument that, unless you took some sort of biology class in high school or college, you aren’t going to know about microbes and how they live their lives. But there are the many people who have devoted their lives to studying, teaching, and working in the fields of biology. These are the people that tell us interesting facts like the fact that humans and animals aren’t the only ones who have sex, the little things we call microbes do, too. I completely agree, if it weren't for the biological minds of our planet, the rest of us would be lost in a world filled with life we don't know a thing about. Microbes reproduce, kinda of like we do. They find a partner, which may or may not be of the same species and multiply. Some of the outcomes of microbe reproductions can be beneficial to humans and other living things, while others may be harmful.
One of the many organisms that have been beneficial to our world is a soil organism known as Pseudomonas. This organism is a genetically modified, or genetically engineered, organism (GMO, GEO). Pseudomonas is an organism that helps prevent ice from forming on plants, which leads to death of the plant. Although Pseudomonas is beneficial, it could potentially be harmful to the plants also. Stopping the process of ice forming on plants could lead to lack of water being transferred into the clouds.

Numerous sciences and technologies are using microbes to enhance our lives and to help better the environment. For example, Genomatica, a company that is leading the “green” industry by producing materials made from chemicals rather than oil and gas, has engineered a microbe that helps change trash into plastic. According to Sign On San Diego, “Genomatia has already genetically engineered a bacteria to feed on sugar and make a chemical typically produced from oil and natural gas” (Sign On San Diego). The reason this microbe is important is because it will not only reduce the amount of waste in landfills, but will also help with the production of plastic. Many technologies and industries could potentially advance using genetically engineered microorganisms.

So, is sex among microbes a good or bad thing? Personally I would argue for it both being good and bad. It all just depends on how they are reproducing. Microbes that reproduce on their own all have different outcomes, some could be very advantageous to our environment, others may not, but we have no control over any of that. I do agree that microbes that we, as humans, create though, could be very benefitial. For example, the combination of E.coli and Salmonella, is benefitial in producing insulin (Reynolds 1). Although I do agree that some microbial reproduction can be good, I could also agree that some can be bad. Microbe reproduction that could lead into a bad situation would be ones that we, as humans, create. The genetically engineered organisms that scientists, or even people who think they know what they are doing, could easily have something go wrong that would end in disaster. Or in a much worse situation, anyone with the will and tools to do so can use GMOs as a bioterrorism attack such as anthrax.

Roughly three years ago I knew close to nothing about the biological world. Here I am today sitting in a college level microbiology class and know more than I would have ever imagined back in my sophomore biology class. A subject that is very relatable to all of us in the class is the relationship between sex and microbes. In no way am I saying that we are all promiscuous teenage college students, but whose to say that all of us know everything there is to know about sex? We definitely don’t know much about the microbial connection to what we learned about in our health classes. We need more people to know about not only the factors of sex among humans and microbes who play a role in that case, but also how microbes themselves also reproduce and what kind of advantages, or disadvantages, we can get from their reproduction.
Sincerely,
Adelina Gomez

Article: http://www.wcponline.com/pdf/September%20On%20Tap.pdf
Picture: http://wownesia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/C0053344-Love_microbial_art-SPL.jpg