Understanding Bone Growth Disorders
In Understanding Bone Growth Disorders, learn about a rare genetic condition that causes bones to grow abnormally dense. Follow Tim, a man with sclerosteosis, whose bones are 1.5 times denser than granite, which has both advantages and serious medical challenges. His experience with the condition provides insight into how our bones grow and what happens when that growth is excessive. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The World’s Most Extraordinary People, a documentary series revealing how rare medical conditions inspire groundbreaking scientific discoveries.
Lesson Express
Q: How does sclerosteosis affect the growth of bones in people who have it?
A: Sclerosteosis causes bones to grow excessively dense, which can lead to complications like the crushing of nearby tissues and organs.
Q: What impact does having denser bones have on Tim’s daily life and health?
A: Tim’s denser bones led to surgeries to relieve pressure on his brain and complications such as facial paralysis.
Q: Why is sclerosteosis considered such a rare condition, and how does that affect how we study it?
A: Sclerosteosis is extremely rare, affecting only about 50 people worldwide, making it difficult to study and develop treatments for.