THE Official Intel Science Talent Search Thread

[aspirer101]

Welcome to the Official Intel Science Talent Search Thread!

The Intel Science Talent Search is an extraordinary opportunity for science-minded students to get a taste of research work and discover and exhibit their talents as innovative minds of the future. Post topics being worked on, successes with respect to the actual Intel system, e.g. semifinals or finals, questions/issues in research and/or in writing the paper, et cetera. Before beginning anything, head each topic with appropriate subject area, e.g. behavioural biology, molecular genetics, etc. (Not all students are in the same field, of course!) Or, if it is a general question, mark as such.

[aspirer101]

Sample Post. BIOCHEMISTRY/MOLECULAR BIOLOGY/CARDIOLOGY
Are all general arteries and veins (exclude capillaries) coated, in some amount, with vascular smooth muscle cells?

[aspirer101]

CARDIOLOGY. What is vascular polarity?

[RishiPittacus]

General Question (response to)

Here goes my attempt:

1.) Yes, otherwise they would burst from internal blood pressure. Note that the amount of smooth muscle lining varies accordingly to blood pressure in a given vessel (the aorta's lining is much thicker then say the vessels in your arteries).

2.) I searched a couple medical journals but could not find anything. I know of vascular polarity in plants as well as the polarity across cell membranes, but in a cardiology context, no clue. Maybe try looking those two up?

I'd like to do a research project but I have no clue how to start one up =(

[Emma Watson]

Vacular polarity...What are you doing with your project exactly, aspirer101?

[Emma Watson]

RishiPittacus, aren't capillaries so thin that they are essentially single-cell tubes? That means they can't have the SMC layers as well can they?

[RishiPittacus]

Yes, but the poster said "exclude capillaries." You are right though.