FrankenLiver Traditional Cache
Hidden : 6/9/2006
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

We thank the Fairfax County Park Authority for permission to place this cache.



Victor Frankenstein’s creature usually is depicted as a loathsome fiend, a born murderer. In fact, Victor created a sensitive, emotional and gentle creature whose only aim was to share his life with another sentient being like himself, to love. It was only through the process of learning from mankind, through his negative experiences with other people, that he became "evil." He was taught to behave the way others expected of him, based on his hideous appearance.

But this is the classical description of what drove the creature. New evidence, however, suggests that what drove the creature to evil is the fact that Victor Frankenstein forgot to implant a liver in his creation! Considering the role of the liver, it is easy to understand the monster’s behavior.

The various functions of the liver are carried out by the liver cells or hepatocytes. The liver produces and excretes bile required for dissolving fats. Some of the bile drains directly into the duodenum, and some is stored in the gallbladder.

The liver performs several roles in carbohydrate metabolism: 1. Gluconeogenesis (the formation of glucose from certain amino acids, lactate or glycerol). 2. Glycogenolysis (the formation of glucose from glycogen). 3. Glycogenesis (the formation of glycogen from glucose). 4. The breakdown of insulin and other hormones. 5. The liver is responsible for the mainstay of protein metabolism.

The liver also performs several roles in lipid metabolism: Cholesterol synthesis, and the production of triglycerides (fats).

The liver produces coagulation factors I (fibrinogen), II (prothrombin), V, VII, IX, and XI, as well as protein C, protein S and antithrombin.

The liver breaks down hemoglobin, creating metabolites that are added to bile as pigment.

The liver breaks down toxic substances and most medicinal products in a process called drug metabolism. This sometimes results in toxication, when the metabolite is more toxic than its precursor.

The liver converts ammonia to urea.

The liver stores a multitude of substances, including glucose in the form of glycogen, vitamin B12, iron, and copper.

In the first trimester fetus, the liver is the main site of red blood cell production. By the 32nd week of gestation, the bone marrow has almost completely taken over that task.

The liver is responsible for immunological effects- the reticuloendothelial system of the liver contains many immunologically active cells, acting as a 'sieve' for antigens carried to it via the portal system.

Currently, there is no artificial organ or device capable of emulating all the functions of the liver. Some functions can be emulated by liver dialysis, an experimental treatment for liver failure.

Having said all this, it’s no surprise that Frankenstein’s creature had an attitude problem. In tribute to his valiant effort to survive in the face of such distress, Team KKW dedicates the “FrankenLiver” geocache.

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