Divorced, Beheaded, Died; Divorced Beheaded Survived

            One of the most known stories in history is of King Henry VIII and all of his wives. The story is that of Henry’s obsession to have an heir to the thrown and his desperation to the point of having 6 wives. Recent science has shed light on a few interesting points that could explain his inability to have a healthy baby boy as well as his seeming “madness” as he got older.

            Scientists have decided to take a look at Henry himself as the reason he was not able to produce healthy heirs with so many wives. For most of history it was believed that the reasons for the miscarriages and infant death was due to poor pre and post natal care or some even believe and act of God, punishing Henry for marrying his brother’s wife after his death. Henry was already believed to have suffered from diabetes, syphilis and Cushing’s syndrome. Since there are no available tissue samples for testing, researchers have to guess what might have been ailing the king.

            One idea is that Henry had a rare blood group, Kell positive. According to the article, if a Kell positive man has a child with a Kell positive woman, the first child will be healthy, but since blood is often exchanged between fetus and mother, the immune system of the mother will build up antibodies. Any following pregnancies will most likely end is death of the fetus because the body would attack it like a foreign body that it has built up immunity to.  Henry’s relationship with Anne Boleyn is an example. Her first child with Henry was healthy and survived, but after she never carried another successful pregnancy.

            Another health issue that could explain Henry’s deteroriating condition as he aged was actually a genetic disorder, which was carried on the X-Chromosome and called McLeod’s syndrome. The symptoms include paranoia, immobility, weight gain and general mental decline.

            The article also says since there is no clinical evidence and no tissues to test, it is virtually impossible to tell what was ailing King Henry VIII and why he could barely produce living heirs.

            I would find it very interesting to find out what was the issue with Henry and his wives, but it has become such a fairytale in history, it would spoil the story if it were found out. I believe this research has come out at this time because of the recent popularity of the story. Current books and television shows have romanticized the story, all while distorting the actual history. I have always found the story to be interesting and worth researching further. 

http://news.discovery.com/history/henry-viii-blood-disorder-110311.html

Cats, Cats, Cats and More Cats

            Cats were once worshipped as gods and divine creatures; they have never let humans for get that. My article for this week is on how cats can manipulate their owners, mostly female. The amusing thing is that I personally find this to be 100% true.

            In a recent study published in the journal of Behavioral Processes, researches posed an experiment where the relationships of 41 cats and owners were videotaped and later analyzed.  The results showed that the felines were more apt to interact with the female owners than their male counterparts. The study also showed how cats and their owners influenced each other. Pairs that had been together for several years used very subtle clues to express their feelings or wants. It also showed that cats remember interaction with their owners and in a sense, return the favor at a later time. It was suggested in the article that felines could soon replace dogs as man’s best friend.

            The second I finished reading the article, I immediately knew it to be true. The relationship I have with my cat, Fred, is exactly like what the article states. I adopted him in the Fall of 2006 from a local animal shelter. He was the cutest thing ever, climbing up the cage that he was in with his fellow brothers and sisters. I knew he was the one for me as soon as I picked him up he settled right into my arms and fell asleep while purring up a storm. After that, I would sneak him into my room and play with him and he would burrow under my bed sheets and sleep at my feet for hours. Fred would be the first thing I saw when I woke up, he met me at the door when I got back from school and he would snuggle up to me before I fell asleep. He was almost like my child, but at the same time we were equals, when I felt ill he would never leave my side and I always knew when he was sick. He got depressed when I left for collage and had a dramatic loss of weight. What further proved the study in the article was when I video chatted with my parents. The second he heard my voice Fred would come tearing around the corner and jumped up on the computer table and would watch the screen and listen to my voice. He does the same thing when I call home, he will rub his face all over the phone while my parents are talking. Also while I am away he sleeps in my room and all over my clothes, just to get my scent. Fred knows when I am coming home for school breaks as well, he will run to the door when he hears the car pull into our driveway. Once we are back together its like time never passed and we fall into our normal routine and our interactions don’t change from previous times.

            The article is beyond true and is proven with my relationship with my cat. Its almost eerie with the truth. It also shows how cats don’t see themselves as pets or companions to humans but as equals and sometimes they believe they are better than us.

http://news.discovery.com/animals/cats-humans-pets-relationships-110224.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1