User:Praisides/sandbox

= Lead Section = Isis hippuris, also known as Sea Bamboo, is a species of bamboo coral found in the Western Pacific Ocean, commonly near the coasts of Indonesia. The coral, I. hippuris reproduce asexually, and abundant throughout their habitats in Indonesia. For centuries, I. hippuris has been identified by it's bamboo or bony-looking structure. Additionally, it is notable for producing Hippuristanol, a molecule that could potentially have anti-cancer applications. While no actual conclusion regarding Hippuristanol in I. hippuris has been published, scientists and marine biologists continue to study how the molecule could be used in cancer research and recovery. Although only found in the Western Pacific Ocean, I. hippuris is highly sought after across the globe, and is seen as a symbol of beauty.

= Brief Historical Context = Due to its unique structure, the I. hippuris coral was widely sought after, and desired throughout Indonesia. The species was named after the Egyptian Goddess, Isis, and used as decoration to represent a symbol of beauty and wealth. The Egyptian Goddess, Isis, was an ancient symbol of motherhood and healing. Furthermore, Isis was looked up to and highly admired across Egypt, for her positive impact on the environment around her, and her beauty, similarly to the I. hippuris coral. As mentioned above, the molecule Hippuristanol may be utilized in the cancer healing realm, and come full circle by living out the origin of the name Isis. The more in demand I. hippurisbecame over time, the more rare and desired it became. Eventually, the Indonesian government placed a protective ban on the collection of I. hippuris, in attempts to let the species re-flourish.

= Description = I. hippuris is a soft coral identified by its yellow-green coloration and thick stalks with a fuzzy appearance. Colonies of I. hippuris commonly grow to a height of 30-40 cm and a width of 10-20 cm, but colonies have been recorded growing to 100 cm in either dimension. The physical structure of I. hippuris is composed of nodes and internodes, essentially "stacked" on top of each other, giving it the nickname Sea Bamboo. Together, the nodes and internodes can create either a skinny or thick structure, and often times look similar to many organism's spine. With this, the I. hippuris coral have also been referred to as "the stony horse-tail", as their structure is their main distinguished identifying characteristic.

A 2015 study on the nodes and internodes in I. hippuris showed that it may display multiple phenotypes depending on its environment. The study compared groups of I. hippuris located at two different ridges with Wakatobi Marine National Park (WMNP), Indonesia. The ridges differed in sediment thickness, height, and color. One phenotype displayed shorter, stockier branches, while the other had longer, thinner branches. It is not entirely clear if these differences indicate differing phenotypes, or if the two ridges contain distinct species.

= Taxonomy = I. hippuris was first identified by Linnaeus, C. in 1758, added to the World Register of Marine Species by van der Land, J. in 2008, and confirmed by van Ofwegen, L. in 2010. The coral I. hippuris is in the Kingdom 'Animalia', Phylum 'Cnidaria', Class 'Anthozoa', Order 'Alcyonacea', Family 'Isididae', Genus, 'Isis', and Species 'Isis hippuris'.

= Distribution and Habitat = I. hippuris is found in tropical coral reefs within the Indo-Pacific region of the Pacific Ocean, particularly off the coasts of Indonesia and India. I. hippuris may be adaptable to its environment, as factors such as sediment thickness, turbidity, and light availability may be linked to phenotypic differences.

= Reproduction = Like other members of the class Anthozoa, I. hippuris is able to reproduce asexually, spawning small larva which go through metamorphosis quickly and take root in sediment to grow into an adult.

= Uses =

The molecule Hippuristanol present in I. hippuris continues to be studied as a hypothetical approach to leukemia treatment. Hippuristanol is polyoxygenated, and is able to target and diminish the spread and presence of T-cell leukemia in organisms. Researchers have broken down the chemical makeup and studied the functions of Isis hippuris in order to truly determine if there is a correlation between the steroid hippuristanol, and the reduced number of leukemia cells in an organism exposed to hippuristanol. Continuing to research the rate at which hippuristanol is able to eliminate leukemia, and the effectiveness, may ultimately result in a major medical breakthrough. = References =