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Justice League Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Hawkman’s Body – CBR – Comic Book Resources

April 16, 2020 medical

Since the Justice League is home to many of DC's greatest heroes, it's easy to lose track of Hawkman. While his signature wings might not be as flashy as some of the team's other stalwarts or its newer members, Carter Hall -- the latest reincarnation of the Egyptian prince who was cursed to live through an endless cycle of death and resurrection -- has a lengthy DC history both on his own and alongside DC's other heroes.

With a history unlike any other Hawkman has accomplished feats that would make even the strongest aliens blush using his unique anatomy. Now, we're taking a closer look at what makes this winged warrior a fearsome fighter in any age and on any world.

RELATED: DC's Strongest Hawkman Was Just EMBARRASSED by Its Scariest Hawkman

While Hawkman might be named for his wings, every version of the character wasn't born with them. However, Carter Halls prosthetic wings do more than just complete his look, they provide him with flight stabilization and are laced with Nth metal.

Nth metal is an alloy native to Thanagar, homeworld of the Thanagarians -- the alien race which Hawkman was a member of in a past life. It can be formed into various tools and bestows abilities to the user who wields it, including but not limited to anti-gravity -- which allows the user to lift heavier objects than they would normally -- and flight. Halls wings have been shown to cross the 200 MPH mark and can fly indefinitely, which isn't bad considering he flaps them using his shoulders.

Part of Carter Halls long, convoluted history is the fact that hes very, very mortal. An ancient Egyptian prince by the name of Khufu Kha-Tarr stumbled upon a Thanagarian ship that contained Nth metal, and his exposure to it altered his existence. He was doomed or destined to be forever reincarnated alongside his lover, Chay-Ara whenever they pass. Unfortunately for the star crossed duo, they are joined by their consistently lethal high priest Hath-Set, the man who cursed the three of them in a never-ending cycle of death and reincarnation by repeatedly killing them both in each lifetime.

After a few millennia of death and rebirth, the current incarnation of Hawkman, Carter Hall, uses his Nth metal gear to stand alongside some of DCs heavy hitters. While it may seem like a disadvantage knowing he is about to be murdered by the same individual over and over again in a new form, its also a strength knowing death isn't likely to show up from anywhere else. Hes able to withstand falling from great heights, capable of handling extreme temperatures and even going toe to toe with the likes of Black Adam, someone who could give Superman a run for his money.

RELATED: DC Introduces a Very, VERY Different Hawkman in April

While Hawkman isn't quite on par with someone like Superman or Martian Manhunter, Hall is capable of carrying hundreds of pounds into the air with relative ease. He has also been shown to easily rip apart cars in addition to being able to fight for hours on end.

In one of the many Hawkman lifetimes, he was a police officer on Thanagar- a planet with much more gravity than that of Earth. When that version of Hawkman arrived on Earth, his strength was amplified due to the sudden lack of gravity restrictions. Combined with his Nth metal gear, his strength would become far greater than "the strength of 12 men" which he was said to have in his earliest appearances.

In keeping with the bird theme of his power set, Hawkmans eyes are keenly tuned to the environment around him and have allowed him to perform such feats as watching the Flash vibrate through walls before he was completely visible. With his enhanced eyesight comes a faster reaction time and of course, better reflexes.

Boosted by Nth metal, his eyes also have the acuity to track quickly moving objects like a hummingbird's flapping wings, which also helps him use firearms and projectile weapons. As a result, hes quite the sharpshooter, and he was Hannibal Hawkes, a Wild West vigilante who was known for his accuracy, in one of his past lives.

Due to his aforementioned habit of dying and rebirth, Hawkman has had plenty of lifetimes to fine-tune his tactical senses and skills. Much like the X-Men's Moira MacTaggert, Carter Hall has used death and reincarnation as a learning experience to make himself even more of a fierce warrior. His skills are well-regarded enough that he was selected to bring down Batman by Lex Luthor. His knowledge isnt limited to combat, and his unique condition has made him one of the most prominent historians and archaeologists in the DC Universe.

He has also used his ingenuity for more altruistic endeavors like creating flying vehicles and managing food supplies during wartime. While its tempting to write him off as just another hero sub-par in comparison to the Justice Leagues main roster, its always important to realize just how much unique versatility Hawkman brings to the table. With Hawkman rumored to be featured in the upcoming Black Adam film, it may not belong until Hawkman stops being the DC Universe's best-kept secret for much longer

KEEP READING: Hawkman, Young Justice's Aqualad Join the DC Legends Roster

Stargirl: The Justice Society's Green Lantern, Explained

A content creator since 2005, Kai's work has netted several awards in the online community. From fiction to documentary, page or screen, you'll find much of his work covers a little bit of everything. Follow him on Instagram as @themediabay

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Justice League Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Hawkman's Body - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Anatomy

X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Juggernaut’s Body, Explained – CBR – Comic Book Resources

April 16, 2020 medical

*Juggernaut image in feature byDavidBksAndrade.

The X-Men may be known for protecting the world from mutant threats, but one of the team's most famous villains and occasional members isn't a mutant at all. The Juggernaut, Charles Xavier's stepbrother Cain Marko, acquired his super-strength through mystical means. Still, the Gem of Cyttorak made him one of the strongest and deadliest forces in the Marvel Universe.

But just because the Juggernaut's powers are magical doesn't mean that they're without explanation, and there's actually a surprising amount of comic book super-science behind the gargantuan body of the unstoppable Marvel villain.

RELATED: How X-Men Comics Kept Retconning the Dark Phoenix Saga

Due to his personal connection to the X-Men's founder Charles Xavier, it's easy to assume that Juggernaut is simply a mutant. After all, Stan Lee first developed the idea for mutant powers as an easy way to dispense with lengthy origin stories to explain so many different powers, but even as early as Juggernaut's first appearance in X-Men #12, Lee and Jack Kirby detailed the Juggernaut's mystical origins.

While serving alongside his stepbrother in the Korean War, Cain Marko entered a lost temple where he discovered the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. Though the temple collapsed around him and Xavier thought him dead, the Gem actually imbued Marko with phenomenal power as the avatar of the dark otherworldly god Cyttorak. This meant that many of the technologies that could work on mutants -- such as power dampening collars and Sentinel tracking device -- simply had no effect on Juggernaut. It also massively increased his human body to Hulk-like proportions, making him roughly 9.5 ft. tall and weighing slightly under two tons.

Due to the mystical enchantments of the Gem of Cyttorak, the Juggernaut is physically unstoppable once he starts building up momentum. Once he sets himself in motion, he can pummel through anything in his path while running at speeds in excess of 600 miles per hour. His immense strength and unending invulnerability make him a big enough threat even when he's not in motion, but this is the true power of the Juggernaut.

To make matters even more difficult for anyone trying to stop Juggernaut, he's made all the more invulnerable by the ability to produce a powerful force field around his body. The aura has even resisted the power of Thor and Mjolnir with its own dark enchantments. All of this works together to make the Juggernaut almost impossible to stop through any kind of physical means.

Though Juggernaut's power does seem unending, his body only acts as a conduit for energies from Cyttorak. If the nigh-omnipotent being decides to cut Juggernaut off, he can reduce the flow of power to a fraction of its former strength, and Marko has had to get by with scraps of power that pales in comparison to what he is used to more than once. Cyttorak is a jealous and focused god of destruction, and he punished Marko whenever he accepted power from other beings or wielded those powers in the name of preservation rather than destruction.

Despite that, Cyttorak's powers rarely leave Juggernaut's body in their entirety. Even when Marko is cut off he often retains a still impressive degree of super strength and invulnerability, and he's certainly got more than enough power to deal with most threats in a weakened state, even if he just can't take down a Hulk.

Conversely, the Juggernaut is strong enough to smash through the walls of reality itself as the Trion Juggernaut.

RELATED:X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Emma Frost's Body, Explained

To truly be unstoppable, the Juggernaut needs enough power to keep on goingad infinitum. For Juggernaut, his ceaseless reservoir of mystical energy serves as that power, and that means that he does not need sustenance in order to fuel himself or even survive.

Juggernaut has gone weeks and even months without eating, sleeping or even breathing. In The Amazing Spider-Man #230, Juggernaut once famously fended off the raging supervillain by tricking him into a pool of wet cement he slowly sank into. While Juggernaut could not get leverage to free himself, he simply sat in waiting until the opportunity to escape presented itself much later on.

Even if Juggernaut is famously "unstoppable," that doesn't mean he can't ever be stopped. Over the years, the most tried and true method of putting Marko down is to hit him with a psychic blast strong enough to KO him directly, bypassing all of his physical defenses and attacking his mental ones instead. The easiest way to do that is to take off his helmet, which serves as a magical armor that protects from telepathic intrusions. But even beyond that, Juggernaut has psychic defenses of his own, and it takes a formidable telepath like Xavier or Jean Grey to break them down.

As the X-Men know all too well, the goal to putting Juggernaut down usually involves most of the team trying to tear off Juggernaut's helmet while Xavier or another telepath breaks down his mental barriers. Over time, this has gotten harder, and Juggernaut has learned to guard against this particular form of attack. While the Juggernaut might be one of Marvel's most physically imposing villains, this goes to show that even characters with extraordinary amounts of power have their limits.

NEXT: Hulk vs. Juggernaut: Who's REALLY Marvel's Strongest Powerhouse?

Justice League Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Hawkman's Body

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X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Juggernaut's Body, Explained - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Anatomy

Discover: This LU researcher blends science and art to create anatomical masterpieces – Sudbury.com

April 16, 2020 medical

Amanda Durkin isnt your typical researcher. As a PhD student at Laurentian University, she is developing a drug to treat diseases caused by inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. When she leaves the lab, she returns to her art studio to create anatomical masterpieces.

Durkins journey to art started with the Laurentian University SciArt Exhibitionin 2015. Each year, the exhibition showcases pieces created by elementary and high school students, LU faculty and students, and members of the community. The diverse range of art includes paintings, short films, poetry, fashion, sculpture, and photography. Each masterpiece connects to a scientific field for Durkin, that was human anatomy.

I drew an anatomical heart on a textbook page, Durkin explains. I had it in a shadow box with a glass cover, and I painted an ECG (electrocardiogram) line on it. That year, her piece won first place at the SciArt Exhibition.

Over the next few years, community support for her art grew. Her organ illustrations were intricate, impactful, and personal. Some people have emotional ties to organs, Durkin shares. People who had an organ removed and they want an image of it or [...] an organ they had a disease in that they overcame, as a tribute to how strong that organ is.

Inspired by the positive reception to her art, Drukin launched the AmandatomicalArt Etsy shop, selling prints, enamel pins, stickers, and greeting cards.

I base my images on ancient anatomy textbooks that Im slightly obsessed with, Durkin explains. One of her inspirations is Leonardo da Vinci. He did a lot of anatomical drawings that were very spot on for what they knew at the time. Looking at her pieces, you truly feel like youve entered the study of an ancient anatomist.

When she began creating art, Durkin had no idea that there was an entire community of people sharing the creative side of science through illustration, animation, and design. The #SciArt hashtag on InstagramorTwitterreveals thousands of artists showcasing their masterpieces.

Two Photon Artfunds small grantsfor artists and writers by selling art.Gaius J Augustushelps researchers tell science stories through illustration and multimedia. The London Natural History Museum opens their doors to photographers in their annual Wildlife Photographer of the Yearexhibition. Scientists around the world are finding beauty beyond the lab, field, or software they use to make their discoveries.

When shes not creating art, Durkin works at the Health Sciences North Research Institute. She studies a drug initially created to treat cancer. However, she discovered that it works even better as an anti-inflammatory drug. Inflammation is our bodys response to harmful bacteria, virusesand physical damage.

Most of us have experienced swelling or redness after a bug bite or injury. Typically, this is a healthy response. You need inflammation to get rid of infections or a bacterial intruder that comes in your body, explains Durkin. But when that inflammation gets dysregulated, thats how you end up with autoimmune diseases.

There are more than 100 autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and inflammatory bowel disease. For the millions of people living with these conditions, their immune system attacks healthy cells in their body. The drug Durkin is developing has the potential to treat these conditions.

Art has been a great way for Durkin to balance rigorous lab work with a creative outlet she enjoys. Her stunning pieces show that there is more to science than meets the eye.

Some people dont appreciate the beauty of what organs are, Durkin shares. The idea of drawing an organ on a textbook page was to bring back the beauty of what the organ does but also tie it back to what the parts do.

You can shop for Amanda Durkins anatomical art on Etsy.

Ive Velikova is a science communication student at Laurentian University and the host of the Science Sucks podcast. You can find the podcast on Stitcher and other podcast sites.

Source: Autoimmune Disease List. (2018). American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association.

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Discover: This LU researcher blends science and art to create anatomical masterpieces - Sudbury.com

Anatomy

‘Trolls World Tour’ | Anatomy of a Scene – The New York Times

April 16, 2020 medical

Hi, Im Walt Dohrn. Im the director of Trolls World Tour. First things first, these trolls need some serious cheering up, and were going to have to go top shelf. Now this scene here we find where Poppy, the queen of the Pop Trolls, is trying to connect with the Country Music Trolls by singing the most important songs of all time. So we had a lot of fun coming up with this scene. It started with hours and hours of meetings, making lists of guilty pleasures or songs so bad theyre good kind of idea, really recognizable songs. We really wanted to go over the top because from the Country Music Trolls point of view, these characters dont really understand the cultural sensitivity of this genre just yet. When we presented this notion to Anna Kendrick, who did the voice of Poppy, and Justin Timberlake, who is also our executive music producer, they rolled their eyes a little bit at the concept of this. But by the end of it, like these characters, they were completely into these songs. We had a choreographer who really choreographed this guy. And so the story artist add a lot of jokes, the choreographers add jokes, and then we take it to layout, who add some moments. And then it gets to the animators, who kind of interpret all of that business there. But one of the best jokes, I think, coming up, this kind of final joke. Tell em, Poppy. Shake that! [WIND WHISTLING] You suck! This you suck tumbleweed came out of an idea from a story artist, which I thought was really kind of perfectly described how most of the audience was feeling at this point. And this last joke here, Branch kind of has the last word. This was an improv from Justin. I think thats how he really felt. Well, I knew it. Who Let the Dogs Out, too far.

Anatomy

‘Grey’s Anatomy Fans Are so Emotional About This Callback to George OMalley in the Season Finale – GoodHousekeeping.com

April 16, 2020 medical

Leave it to Grey's Anatomy to make fans shed tears even with an unplanned early finale! The ABC medical drama aired its season 16 finale episode Thursday after cutting the season short due to the coronavirus crisis and amid all the rollercoaster moments of the episode, fans couldn't help but notice a subtle callback moment to none other than an old fan-favorite character, the late George O'Malley (yes, you read that right!).

The episode, titled "Put on a Happy Face," featured plenty of surprises, including (spoiler alert!) an official diagnosis for Richard Webber and an unexpected twist in the Owen-Teddy-Tom love triangle. But the highlight of the finale definitely came when Amelia Shepherd went into labor to deliver a healthy baby boy but since her boyfriend and baby daddy Link was in surgery, it was up to Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) to help her out with the delivery. In a sweet callback to an old Grey's scene, Miranda then stepped in to sit behind Amelia during the delivery yes, exactly in the same way that George O'Malley (T.R. Knight) had done for Miranda way back in season 2!

Needless to say, Grey's fans couldn't help but tear up over the sweet and unexpected throwback moment to an old fan-favorite character, with many viewers taking to Twitter to express their emotional reactions over the sentimental scene.

"Okay JUST realized that Bailey helped Amelia through labor the SAME WAY George helped Bailey through labor," one fan wrote above a side-by-side photo of the two scenes. "Bailey climbing up on the table with Amelia sure was a callback to her labor with George ... and I am crying," another viewer tweeted, before adding a crying face emoji.

As longtime fans might remember, George O'Malley was among the many Grey's characters who have been killed off from the show, with actor T.R. Knight exiting the medical drama in 2009 due to a "breakdown of communication" with show creator Shonda Rhimes. Before George passed away in the first episode of season 6, however, the sweet moment in which he helped his mentor Miranda Bailey through her delivery was definitely one of the most memorable scenes in season 2 with Miranda even naming her son, William George Bailey Jones (known as "Tuck"), after him!

Of course, with such emotional moments in the season 16 finale, fans are now left wondering what's in store for the next season of Grey's Anatomy. Commenting on what's to come for season 17 of the show, Grey's showrunner Krista Vernoff made sure to tease that the writers are already brainstorming lots for the next upcoming episodes.

"I have a feeling that their stories are going to change some, from what we had planned, and that well repurpose some of what we had written and use it in the early episodes of Season 17," she said in an interview with Deadline.

Well, while we count the days until the next episode of Grey's, I guess we still have a lot to recover from especially with that sweet George O'Malley throwback, which we'll definitely be crying over for at least the next few weeks (if not months)!

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'Grey's Anatomy Fans Are so Emotional About This Callback to George OMalley in the Season Finale - GoodHousekeeping.com

Anatomy

X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Emma Frost’s Body, Explained – CBR – Comic Book Resources

April 16, 2020 medical

Since the X-Men's introduction to the Marvel Universe, mutants -- also known as homo superior -- have been discriminated against because their genetics make them anatomically different from non-mutants. Each homo superior's mutation variesand some mutants take on second mutations later in life. Emma Frost'sphysiology is one of the most impressive, with her mutation affecting both her body and mind.

Here are the five weirdest things about Emma Frost's body, explained.

RELATED: Emma Frost & Jean Grey Would Be the Ultimate Power Couple

Emma first debuted mid-Dark Phoenix Saga inUncanny X-Men #129, written by Chris Claremont with art by John Byrne. Her introduction established her as a huge threat to the X-Men because she was able to telepathicallytake out Colossus, Storm and Wolverine in one go. As an Omega Level telepath,her powers can reach a global scale.

Her abilities include broadcasting thoughts, mind control, psionic blasts, astral projections, mind reading and much more. She's used these telepathic abilities foracts of torture -- like in Astonishing X-Menwhen she implantedatrigger word (parsley) into an enemy's mind that would force him to vomit for 48 hours straight whenever he heard it -- as well as acts of peace, like when she ended a hate rally by placing the protesters' minds in a state of euphoria.

RELATED: X-Men: Does Krakoa Fit Into Marvel's 2099 Future?

There are two ways Emma can alter her body and one of those is by transposing her mind into someone else's head. Early on in her comichistory, Emma was able to use her psychic abilities to swap bodies with Storm in Uncanny X-Men#152. While Storm eventually broke free, this power makes Emma an incredibly dangerous mutant.

The other way she can alter her body is through mental projections. As seen in X-Men: First Class, Emma can make others see and feel something or someone who isn't there, including herself. Along with creatingbelievable projections of herself, she can also alter how people see her body as well as the bodies of others around her.

RELATED: X-Men May Be Marvel's Latest 'Secret Invasion' - But WAY More Horrifying

In writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely'sNew X-Men #114, the concept of a second mutation is introduced. Severalmutants who have this secondaryabilityinclude Iceman, Gambit, Jean Grey, Archangel and Emma. While some mutants can pass for human prior to taking on a second mutation,new powers can alter how they look entirely.

Where Iceman can alter his physical form to be made of ice, Emma can change her body to be made of organic diamond. In this form, every inch of her crystalizes and has the physical benefits of the gem stone. It also grants her a few bonus strengths, which furtherenhance her body and mind.

Related:X-Men: The Next Generation of X-Villains Is Here

Outside of her diamond form, Emma's physical body is similar to that of a non-mutant's, aside from the obvious X-Gene on her 23rd chromosome. However, in her diamond form,her body changes and affects her physicality entirely.

Diamonds are some of the strongest organicmaterials on Earth, so having a body made ofthis gem makes Emma incredibly durable and hard to damage. Along with being harder to injure, her new form grants Emma increased stamina and strength,allowing her to lift up two tons according to1000 Facts About Comic Book Characters Vol. 3by James Egan.

Related:X-Men: How House of M's Hero DESTROYED Marvel's Mutant Future

Along with physical benefits, Emma's diamond form grants her mental protections as well. X-Men: First Classstates that in her diamond form, Emma can resist telepathic attacks, even from Professor X -- another Omega Level mutant.

This wasn't always the case, though. In Morrison and artist Phil Jimenez'sNew X-Men #139, Jean Grey confronts Emma abouther affair with Scott Summers, digging through Emma's head and exposing some of her guiltiest memories, including the deaths of her students andher love for Scott. Jean does such a number on her that Emma shatters into diamond pieces.

These aspects of Emma's body make her one of strongest mutants physically and mentally. Whether she is on the side of good, evil or somewhere in between, her mutations as well as her natural talent and brilliant mind make her one of Marvel's stand out femme fatales.

KEEP READING: X-Men and Star Trek: Picard Are Setting Up the Same Endgame

Justice League Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Hawkman's Body

After moving to New York, Caitlin Sinclair Chappell got a job at Forbidden Planet, a science fiction and comic book mega store, working as a sales associate and a writer for their newsletter, the Weekly Planet. Prior to moving across country, Caitlin was a honors student at Lewis & Clark College, where she was an editorial intern at Dark Horse Comics, a director on several short films, and a writer for the Odyssey and the Piolog - her articles focusing on comics, film, and theatre. With several friends from Portland, Caitlin co-started the Comic Book Buds podcast, which she still co-hosts to this day. In her free time, Caitlin volunteers for festivals and conventions like NewFest, Screamfest, and Wizard World. Shes currently working on a handful of creative projects, including her first comic and a two act play.

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X-Men Anatomy: The 5 Weirdest Things About Emma Frost's Body, Explained - CBR - Comic Book Resources

Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy season 16: Was Dr Alex Karev going to be killed off in Grey’s Anatomy? – Express

April 16, 2020 medical

Grey's Anatomy aired its final episode of season 16 called Put On A Happy Face on ABC on Thursday, April 9. The medical drama was meant to have a few more episodes left but as filming could no longer take place, the makers of Grey's Anatomy had to make episode 21 the last one. But fans shouldn't be worried about the show's future as Grey's Anatomy has already been renewed for a 17th season.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Grey's Anatomy season 16,

Actor Justin Chambers who has played Dr Alex Karev since Grey's Anatomy first began 15 years ago, announced in 2019 that he would be leaving the show for good.In a statement, he said: Theres no good time to say goodbye to a show and character thats defined so much of my life for the past 15 years.For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices."And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.The big question which remained following the news was how he was going to leave the series.

READ MORE:Greys Anatomy season 17 release date: Will there be another series?

Chambers' last ever episode was actually shown back in November and sadly for fans, he did not appear again.Many questioned where he had gone but in episode 16 Leave A Light On, things made a lot clearer.His wife Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) had already told colleagues her and Alex's marriage was over but no real explanation was given as to why.He had told everyone he was going to visit his sick mother but the real reason for his exit was far more shocking.

After Dr Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) got in trouble for insurance fraud, Alex thought this was a good excuse to get back in touch with his ex-wife Dr Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heig), who left Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital in season six.When Izzie and Alex were still together and she had Stage IV cancer, she froze her embryos just in case she could no longer have children naturally.So when she left the series, Izzie used the embryos to have her and Alex's twins who were now five-years-old.He didn't have any knowledge of this but when he found out, he wrote several letters, including to Jo and Meredith, explaining what had happened and how he had decided he would stay with Izzie and the children on a farm in Kansas.Since the episode aired, showrunner Kirsta Vernoff has opened up about writing Alex out of the series and if there was ever a chance of Alex being killed off.

DON'T MISS...Grey's Anatomy season 17: Will Jackson Avery leave for Station 19?[CAST]Grey's Anatomy spin-off: Will there be another spin-off show?[EXPLAINER]Greys Anatomy season 16 spoilers: Will Richard Webber die?[SPOILER]

Speaking to TVLine, Vernoff confirmed there was never any intention to have Alex killed off.She said: "At the end of the day, there were three choices.Kill Alex off camera; have Alex be alive and in Seattle and still married to Jo and we just never see him; or [reunite him] with Izzie.Vernoff insisted killing Alex would have been cruel to everyone particularly Meredith and Jo".She continued: There was no way to not put those characters through gut-wrenching, ongoing grief if we had killed Alex off camera.Some fans were upset, particularly the Jolex shippers, that [Alex left Jo to be with Izzie] and I understand why.

"But I would fight real hard anyone who tried to tell me that fans would not have been equally or more upset if I had killed Alex Karev off camera.Vernoff also added how there wasn't "even a debate in the writers' room" about reuniting him with Izzie off-screen when the idea was brought up.But fans will just have to wait and see if either Alex and or Izzie will ever make another appearance in Grey's Anatomy in the future.Grey's Anatomy season 16 is available to watch on ABC.

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Grey's Anatomy season 16: Was Dr Alex Karev going to be killed off in Grey's Anatomy? - Express

Genetics

My Gene Counsel Partners with UConn Health to Provide Expanded Genetic Counseling Services – Yahoo Finance

April 16, 2020 medical

Easy-to-understand genetic counseling reports will lead to more appropriate follow-up and better health outcomes

NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- My Gene Counsel, a digital health company that provides innovative genetic counseling solutions, today announced it is teaming up with UConn Health's Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center's Hereditary Cancer Program to ensure that UConn's patients who have undergone genetic testing for cancer predisposition have access to timely and accurate genetic counseling information through the online delivery of My Gene Counsel's Living Lab Reports. Together, My Gene Counsel and UConn Health will use state-of-the-art digital tools to efficiently communicate up-to-date genomic information that will drive an improved standard of care.

By supplementing its current genetic counseling services with My Gene Counsel's digital counseling tools, UConn Health will serve as a leader in this space with the ability to better support patients over time in the post-test period. Each incoming patient will receive an electronic Living Lab Report sponsored by UConn Health and the Linda Clemens Breast Cancer Foundation that is personalized to the individual's genetic test results and outlines the most frequently asked questions and answers on topics related to disease risk, medical management options, relevance to family, emotional support, and available resources. This information is supported by tools to enhance understanding, such as hover dictionary and graphics.

"Genetics can be overwhelming and confusing, so when a patient leaves my office, I worry about how much information they have retained," said Connor Linehan, MS, LGC, a board-certified genetic counselor for the Hereditary Cancer Program at UConn Health. "Our goal, in partnering with My Gene Counsel, is to increase patient understanding in the hopes that better comprehension equals appropriate medical follow-up and better health outcomes. The addition of a user-friendly genetic counseling report that patients can review before and after their appointment and over time will be invaluable to empower them to make informed decisions about their healthcare."

The Living Lab Reports are written and continuously updated by a network of top certified genetic counselors and medical experts and are vetted by patient advocates. In addition to delivering complex genomic information in a way that patients can understand, the reports will update and notify patients automatically by text and/or email as My Gene Counsel adds new information to reflect changes in disease risk, medical management options, variant reclassification, and relevant clinical trials.

"I encourage patients to contact us over the years as information about hereditary cancer changes over time," said Jennifer Stroop, MS, CGC, LGC, a board-certified genetic counselor for the Hereditary Cancer Program at UConn Health. "However, this is not always easy. We are very excited to now be able to offer our patients a reference tool with continuing updates and notifications. With these continued touchpoints for engagement and retention, we will be able to meet the expressed need to help our patients feel more connected and supported in the long term."

My Gene Counsel's wraparound solution, available at UConn in May 2020, will enable the responsible return of results, engage and update patients, and integrate data into UConn's health care system. Living Lab Reports will be personalized by gene and variant and provided for all results, whether testing is negative or identifies a variant of clinical or uncertain significance.

"We are excited to partner with UConn Health, a forward-thinking health system on the cutting-edge of hereditary cancer and precision medicine," said Ellen Matloff, MS, CGC, president and CEO of My Gene Counsel. "Their dedication to improving health through education, innovation, and patient-centered clinical care beyond the initial genetic test aligns seamlessly with our own ideals."

More than 600 people undergo genetic counseling and testing each year as part of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center's Hereditary Cancer Program, which is staffed by two genetic counselors. The expanding volume of patients and limited bandwidth led the team to proactively seek out a technical solution that could help solve the challenge of monitoring critical clinical updates and research and recontacting patients.

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"It is essential for UConn Health, as a major university center, to keep pace with the growing demand for up-to-date genomic information," said Susan Tanenbaum, MD, medical director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. "The integration with My Gene Counsel is a giant step towards UConn Health assuming a position of global leadership in genomics and personalized medicine."

About My Gene Counsel: My Gene Counsel bridges the gap between genetic testing and precision medicine by addressing one of the most critical pain points in the industry lack of accurate and timely genetic counseling information for patients and providers. Their Living Lab Reports deliver genetic counseling information that updates as new clinical information emerges, guidelines evolve, and genetic variants are reclassified. Founded by certified genetic counselors with 30+ years of clinical experience, My Gene Counsel empowers partners to efficiently deliver on the promise of precision medicine. For more information, visit http://www.mygenecounsel.com.

About UConn Health: UConn Health is Connecticut's only public academic medical center. Based on a 206-acre campus in Farmington, UConn Health has a three-part mission: research, teaching and patient care. Home to the UConn School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine and UConn John Dempsey Hospital with nearly 5,000 employees supporting nearly 1,000 students, over 800,000 annual patient visits, and innovative scientific research contributing to the advancement of medicine. For more information, visit http://www.health.uconn.edu.

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My Gene Counsel Partners with UConn Health to Provide Expanded Genetic Counseling Services - Yahoo Finance

Genetics

Video: The evolution, genetics and virulence of coronaviruses – Genetic Literacy Project

April 16, 2020 medical

It is easier than ever for advocacy groups to spread disinformation on pressing science issues, such as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. No, vaccines are not harmful. Yes, the use of biotechnology, GMOs or gene editing to develop antigens for treatments including vaccines are part of the solution. To inform the public about whats really going on, we present the facts and challenge those who don't. We cant do this work without your help. Please support us a donation of as little as $10 a month helps support our vital myth-busting efforts.

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Video: The evolution, genetics and virulence of coronaviruses - Genetic Literacy Project

Genetics

One in a million: Rare genetic disorder means this toddler smiles with her eyes – TheChronicleHerald.ca

April 16, 2020 medical

This week, we're profiling five very special Maritime families who have children with rare genetic disorders. This is the fourth article.Read more about the series by Lifestyles editor Jen Taplinhere

Ivy Stewart cant move her face, but she smiles with her eyes.

The adorable blond, wispy-haired two-year-old has big blue eyes, pink toddler cheeks and a tiny little mouth. She also has Moebius syndrome, which means theres no movement in the muscles in her face.

She doesnt blink. Instead, her eyes roll up and back every few minutes.

She loves everything, says her mom, Emily.

Even with not having expression, she finds other ways to express herself. With Moebius syndrome they say smile with your heart, and we say she smiles with her heart or her eyes.

Its a busy morning at Ronald McDonald House in Halifax as the Stewart family Emily, Craig and their three kids: Olive, 5; Ivy, 2; and Levi, 11 months preparesfor the long drive back to their hometown of Woodstock, N.B.

Ivy is sitting in a high chair, draining a package of apple sauce while her baby brother cuddles mom and big sister attacks a colouring page.

Its a five-hour drive but a 45-minute air ambulance ride from their home to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax. They should know, theyve had to take Ivy by air ambulance three times in her short life.

One airlift when she was little, they had to do an IV from her head because her veins were so small. They had to poke her quite a few times because her veins kept blowing, said Emily.

Airlifts are always emotional, she adds.

The last one was in January because of a breathing problem. Ivy has small airways and a respiratory infection can turn dangerous fast. They were back in Halifax in February for a tonsillectomy so that the next time she has swelling in her throat, there will be more room.

Making the trip to Halifax is something theyve grown used to since their second child was born. It was at the 20-week ultrasound when their doctor in New Brunswick told them their baby had club feet, was very small and had a lemon-shaped skull.

Ivy didnt cry when she was born. She wasnt breathing much either because she couldnt open her mouth.

Emily and Craig didnt have the time to process the situation in those first few days.

It was Day 4 and I got discharged (from the hospital) but she was still in, says Emily.

Someone came behind me with their baby and I just remember that moment I broke down and cried because that was the moment we realized we were leaving without our baby.

For Craig, that breakdown came after weeks of daily hospital visits.

Thats when I was able to comprehend everything and get it through my brain, he says.

As their baby grew, they noticed when she cried there was no expression on her face. When Ivy was two months old, they had an appointment with the genetics clinic, where they started the process of testing and waiting months for the results to come back.

Then at six months she got respiratory syncytial virus, a serious respiratory illness.

She was in the hospital in Fredericton, struggling to breathe while having undiagnosed seizures. She was airlifted to the IWK, where she saw specialists who ended up diagnosing Ivy with Moebius syndrome, a rare genetic disorder.

To see the little blessings in things like that is how we have to take it with ourselves. Even though its an emotional experience to look back on it, the blessing from it is we came out with all the new doctors that she needed, Emily said.

It was just a relief, that feeling to just have an answer. And then when we had an answer, we had a path to move ahead.

Having a diagnosis meant getting Ivy on seizure medications that made a big difference (she hasnt had a big seizure since July), and setting up a care regimen that involves eye drops once an hour and ointment three times a day. Shes eating now, but she was mostly fed through a gastrostomy tube until she was 18 months old.

Doctors at Toronto Sick Kids have developed a smile surgery for kids with Moebius when theyre four or five years old, and Ivy is considered a good candidate. Surgeons will take a muscle from her thigh and attach it to her jaw. Through physiotherapy, shell learn to activate it.

Until then, weve been showing her how to push her fingers up and make a smile, which is something we learned from other parents, Emily says.

Connecting with parents of children with Moebius syndrome or other rare genetic disorders makes a big difference.

Its huge because you dont know what to expect, and in general people can sympathize but they dont really understand the extent of everything, Craig says.

It was actually really nice to meet some other families and talk to other people that either had similar experiences or very close to being the same.

Adds Emily: Even if youre not going through the same thing, everyone can relate to the hospital life.