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A Recent Study of the Effects of the General Anesthetic

question 15

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A recent study of the effects of the general anesthetic isoflurane suggests that it has a direct impact on an organism's biological clock. This study focused on honeybees because their clock genes are similar to those found in mammals. Prior to the start of this study, bees were trained to fly to an artificial flower to obtain sugar water and then return to the hive. In this study, researchers caught the bees as they approached the artificial flower. Half of the bees were anesthetized, and the other half were contained and not allowed to return to the hive immediately. After six hours, when all the anesthetized bees had awoken, both groups of bees were released. Honeybees use the sun to navigate, and their biological clock allows them to correct for the time of day. The bees that were not anesthetized flew directly to the hive, making adjustments for the time of day. However, those that were anesthetized made adjustments as if the time were hours earlier and flew at the wrong angle. Doctors report that people often emerge from general anesthesia disoriented in time and may sleep fitfully for a while afterward. Based on the honeybee study, researchers are looking into ways to keep the internal clock ticking normally even during surgery. In a natural system, honeybees as well as the flowers they feed on and pollinate would be considered a(n)

Definitions:

Production Function

An equation that describes the maximum output that can be produced with a given set of inputs.

Demand Curve

A curve that shows the relationship between the price of a good and the quantity demanded by consumers, typically downward sloping.

Cournot Duopolists

A model of competition between two firms that decide on quantity to produce independently and simultaneously with the assumption of no further entry into the market.

Demand Curve

A graphical representation of the relationship between the price of a good and the quantity demanded, usually downward sloping.