Difference between revisions of "Team:Paris Bettencourt/Background"
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<h1>Background</h1> | <h1>Background</h1> | ||
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Malnutrition is a lack of vital nutrients. Many vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids can not be produced by human metabolism and must be obtained from dietary sources for good health. One billion people worldwide do not have an adequate diet and are malnourished, and an additional 850 million people are undernourished. The consequences are weakness, fatigue, blindness, infant mortality, compromised immunity, and many dangerous and debilitating medical and mental health conditions. | Malnutrition is a lack of vital nutrients. Many vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids can not be produced by human metabolism and must be obtained from dietary sources for good health. One billion people worldwide do not have an adequate diet and are malnourished, and an additional 850 million people are undernourished. The consequences are weakness, fatigue, blindness, infant mortality, compromised immunity, and many dangerous and debilitating medical and mental health conditions. | ||
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Efforts to fight malnutrition have been shown to be one of the most efficient developmental aids for developing countries. In 2015, the Paris Bettencourt iGEM team will produce genetically engineered microbes to produce and distribute zero-cost vitamin supplements to specific communities that need them. | Efforts to fight malnutrition have been shown to be one of the most efficient developmental aids for developing countries. In 2015, the Paris Bettencourt iGEM team will produce genetically engineered microbes to produce and distribute zero-cost vitamin supplements to specific communities that need them. | ||
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<h3>Vitamin A Deficiency</h3> | <h3>Vitamin A Deficiency</h3> | ||
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<br>Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is, along with iron, iodine and zinc deficiencies, one of the most prevalent and severe micronutrient deficiencies in the world. | <br>Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is, along with iron, iodine and zinc deficiencies, one of the most prevalent and severe micronutrient deficiencies in the world. | ||
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People whose diets are mostly based on starchy foods like rice are especially at risk, as these foods do not contain retinol (vitamin A) or provitamin A (carotenoids). | People whose diets are mostly based on starchy foods like rice are especially at risk, as these foods do not contain retinol (vitamin A) or provitamin A (carotenoids). | ||
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Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include xerophthalmia (extreme dryness of the eyes), night blindness, retinal degeneration, cancer, impaired immune response, birth defects and death. | Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include xerophthalmia (extreme dryness of the eyes), night blindness, retinal degeneration, cancer, impaired immune response, birth defects and death. | ||
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13.8 million children have some degree of vision loss related to vitamin A deficiency. | 13.8 million children have some degree of vision loss related to vitamin A deficiency. | ||
It is estimated that 250,000,000 preschool children have a vitamin A deficiency. Of those 250 million, 500,000 become blind every year. | It is estimated that 250,000,000 preschool children have a vitamin A deficiency. Of those 250 million, 500,000 become blind every year. | ||
Half of the children who become blind die within 12 months. | Half of the children who become blind die within 12 months. | ||
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Latest revision as of 17:18, 13 November 2015