Jaqueline Carrillo

Clark Timmins, Instructor

BIOL 1090
21 November 2016
News Analysis # 2
1. Name of news source: Science News
Article Title: "Protein linked to Parkinson's travels from gut to brain."
Date: November 16, 2016.
Byline: Laura Sanders
2. What are the main conclusions of the scientists?
The main conclusions is that the protein alpha-synuclein, found in the brain of people
with Parkinson's disease, can travel from the gut to the brain. Because of this, researchers say
they might start looking outside the brain and begin looking in the gut for the "first", and
beginning, signs of Parkinson's.
3. What are some possible impacts this information could have on society or on individuals?
This information could lead scientists towards a path of discovering a possible cure for
this disease or even allow them to come up with ways to prevent this disease from
happening. At the very least, scientists could learn about ways to drastically decrease a
person's chances of developing the disease.

4. Are other scientists, or policy-makers, mentioned as being in disagreement with the

research scientists? If so, what might make you tend to take their doubts seriously or not?
No there isn't any other scientists, or policy-makers in disagreement with the research
scientists. Though, I have to point out that all of the researchers mentioned describe this as a
great discovery that could lead to something major.
5. Are scientists mentioned in the article affiliated with a nonpartisan group, like a
University or Government, or affiliated with a for-profit corporation? If the latter, do you
suspect that altered their conclusions?
All scientists mentioned are affiliated with non-partisan groups. For instance, John Cryan,
is from the University College Cork in Ireland, Collins Challis is from Caltech, and Alice
Chen-Plotkin is from the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
6. In what ways did the article change and expand your views of the topic? If it did not
change or expand your views, describe what you knew about the subject before reading
the article.
Well, I had heard of Parkinson's disease before but never really knew what it was. This
article really explained what it was. It explains that nerve cells, in the brain, that make
dopamine, die which results in "a progressive brain disorder that affects movement." Also, I
learned that people suffering from Parkinson's also have suffered from gut problems like
constipation. Moreover, I learned about the vagus nerve which is "a neutral highway that
connects the gut to the brain." There was a study "that reported a group of Danish people,
who had their vagus nerve severed, were less likely to develop Parkinson's." So, all of this

information makes me think that, indeed, there has to be some sort of connection between the
gut and Parkinson's.
7. Do you think the reporter did a good job or bad job of giving background for the story?
Please give an example to support your opinion.
Most definitely! I think she did an excellent job because she explained what this protein
was, (alpha-synuclein), and how it was linked to Parkinson's. Also, she described step by step
the process of the experiment. For instance, she started by saying they had injected this
protein in the mice' stomach and intestines then she mentioned what the results were 7, 21,
and 60 days later. Also, she talked about CLARITY which is the technique scientists used to
see inside the mice and record results.