White+Blood+Cells+-+KM

=**Introduction**=

Imagine that you are a police officer on patrol. Suddenly the dispatcher warns you of a Burglary-In-Progress. You turn on your lights and siren and head to the scene of the crime. The dispatcher also tells other officers about the burglary and they head to it as well. When you and the other cops arrive at the scene, the burglar is caught and arrested. This is a lot like how White Blood Cells work because they help to defend the body against viruses. Like there are different types of officers who work together to arrest the criminal, there are also different types of White Blood Cells that defend your body.

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=**What is the Function of Your Cell?**=

The function of White Blood Cells is to find viruses and destroy them.There are 5 different types of White Blood Cells. There are **Monocytes**, which break down the virus. There are **Lymphocytes**, which make **Antibodies** to fight the virus. There are **Neutrophils**, which absorb the virus. There are **Basophils**, which tell the immune system that there is a virus in your body. And there are **Eosinophils**, which attack and kill the virus.

=**What Parts of Your Cell Help to Perform These Functions?**=



=**How do White Blood Cells Fight Viruses?**=

First, the cells realize that there is a virus in the body and then warn each other. Then, the **Pseudopods** catch the virus. Next, **Monocytes** break down the virus and shows one of the pieces to the cells around them to warn them. After that, **Lymphocytes** make **Antibodies**, which will attack and kill the virus. Before the **Antibodies** do so, they must first get their information on how to kill the virus from the **Nucleus**. The **Nucleus** then creates **Messenger RNA**, which tells the **Antibodies** what to do to kill the virus. The **Antibodies** also need to get surrounded by **cell membrane material** from the **Golgi Apparatus** and also gets directions to the virus from the **antigens**. Finally, the virus is destroyed.

=**How is Your Cell Formed?**=

White Blood Cells are formed in the **bone marrow** and created by **stem cells**. When new blood cells are created, it is called **Hematopoiesis**, In order for **Hematopoiesis** to happen, the **G-CSF** (short for Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor) must start the process by alerting the **stem cells** that the body is in need of more White Blood Cells. As a result, the **Hematopoiesis** begins. This takes about 6-10 days.

=**What Diseases/Disorders Can Your Cell Cause?**=

Diseases and disorders that White Blood Cells can develop are called **autoimmune diseases**. An **autoimmune disease** that you can get is called **Leukemia**. **Leukemia** is when there is too much **G-CSF** and the **stem cells** produce too many White Blood Cells. The White Blood Cells that are crowding the **bone marrow** don’t work and are unable to fight diseases like they are supposed to do.

Another **autoimmune disease** that you can get is called **Leukopenia**. **Unlike Leukemia**, as we saw earlier, **Leukopenia** is actually when there __aren't__ enough White Blood Cells because the **G-CSF** isn't working, so the stem cells are unable to produce any White Blood Cells.

= = =**Conclusion**=

White Blood cells are the police officers of your body. They help to keep you safe from viruses by fighting them off. Just like there are different types of police officers, there are also different types of White Blood Cells to work together to protect your body. Protecting your body is a very important job, so without White Blood Cells, you would be dead in an instant the moment a virus or bad germ enters your body. So as long as you do your part to keep your body healthy, White Blood Cells will do the same.

=**References**=

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