Have you ever wondered if people you knew in high school as the “Drinkers” turned out? A study conducted on rats may show an ugly truth of a life of stupidity.
In a recent study carried out by scientists and podcasted Karen Hopkin, it has shown that adolescent rats, exposed to alcohol, are more likely to make high-risk decisions in their later life. This study has opened our eyes to the possible likelihood of this happening to humans that drink in their teen years conforming to stupidity because of their young hearted decisions.
I believe this could be true in cases for people who are already predisposed to stupidity are going to be the people that drink in high school, so this cant be proven in humans. I would compare this statistic to giving someone with a genetic predisposition to encountering Schizophrenia in their life marijuana, which has been thought to increase likelihood of getting Schizophrenia in people with certain genetics, and saying it causes Schizophrenia. It is truly invalid.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Megachickens?! Selective Breeding Vs. Genetic Modifications
Many people are concerned about the capabilities of scientists and Breeders to make super strong animals and plants. There are Many concerns and benefits of Genetic Modifications and Selective breeding which I will adress in this blog
In selective breeding, they choose the animals that display the trait they are looking for. they then continually breed brackets of different animals having this trait until they naturally have a super animal. a concern of selective breeding is certainly the living conditions of these animals. They are often kept in very close quarters and only kept for their genetic traits. Benefits include more meat, more fruit and other such obvious benefits.
Genetic Modification is defined as the direct manipulation of an organism's genes. This means they modify the set of directions in an animal to make it non average comparatively to a normal one. Sometimes these are good for the animal such as resistance to disease. Concerns raised about Genetic Modification are the power scientists actually have and they could do so much that is ethically wrong.
A scientist born in 1822 named Gregor Mendel was the first to notice heredity by studying generations of peas and their color. He discovered the role each parent plays is different per case and led scientists in the future to discovering all of genetics. I believe he would think the modification to genes of animals was brilliant, but ethics would be questioned in some cases. I also didn't know him as a person I have only studied his scientific discoveries.
I believe that the most threatening of these two techniques is definitely Genetic Modification. This one concerns me the most because of the things they do not do but could easily do. The only reason they dont is because people would question their ethics. Something could also go terribly wrong with using science freely and destroy and raise havoc in the area of its creation. Genetic Modification is surely not the answers to all our problems and should be used with caution.
This Rabbit has been genetically modified to make it glow in the dark using a gene from a jelly fish
In selective breeding, they choose the animals that display the trait they are looking for. they then continually breed brackets of different animals having this trait until they naturally have a super animal. a concern of selective breeding is certainly the living conditions of these animals. They are often kept in very close quarters and only kept for their genetic traits. Benefits include more meat, more fruit and other such obvious benefits.
Genetic Modification is defined as the direct manipulation of an organism's genes. This means they modify the set of directions in an animal to make it non average comparatively to a normal one. Sometimes these are good for the animal such as resistance to disease. Concerns raised about Genetic Modification are the power scientists actually have and they could do so much that is ethically wrong.
A scientist born in 1822 named Gregor Mendel was the first to notice heredity by studying generations of peas and their color. He discovered the role each parent plays is different per case and led scientists in the future to discovering all of genetics. I believe he would think the modification to genes of animals was brilliant, but ethics would be questioned in some cases. I also didn't know him as a person I have only studied his scientific discoveries.
I believe that the most threatening of these two techniques is definitely Genetic Modification. This one concerns me the most because of the things they do not do but could easily do. The only reason they dont is because people would question their ethics. Something could also go terribly wrong with using science freely and destroy and raise havoc in the area of its creation. Genetic Modification is surely not the answers to all our problems and should be used with caution.
This is a selectively bred Belgian Blue Cow
This Rabbit has been genetically modified to make it glow in the dark using a gene from a jelly fish
Sunday, January 23, 2011
What is the cost of "Ecosystem Services"?
Ecosystem services are sometime taken for granted in many places but they are worth a lot more than they seem. I have recently listened to a podcast explaining what these services actually mean and do titled, "Why Ecosystem Services Matter" by 60 Second Earth.
An ecosystem service is a naturally occurring circumstance that protects or betters an ecosystem in some way. An Example would bestorm protection offered by wetlands that was destroyed and caused New Orleans to be devastated by hurricane Katrina.
Determining a cost for these services would be very difficult but they are definitely worth a fortune for what they provide for people
An ecosystem service is a naturally occurring circumstance that protects or betters an ecosystem in some way. An Example would bestorm protection offered by wetlands that was destroyed and caused New Orleans to be devastated by hurricane Katrina.
Determining a cost for these services would be very difficult but they are definitely worth a fortune for what they provide for people
Contemplating the Eradication of Mosquitos
Many may find themselves wondering if the world would truly be better off without the large population of disease spreading mosquitos. In a recent Biology assignment, my class and I have read an article, "A World Without Mosquitos" by Janet Fang which weighs the pros and cons of extirpating mosquitos from many different perspectives.
With over 3500 species of mosquitos defined, it is difficult to fathom exterminating every single one of them. There are actually some positive things that come of mosquitos and they contribute in many ways to the environment. One plus to mosquitos is their role in pollination of some plants. Another; Mosquitos spread deadly diseases which may kill good people, but they are much needed in population control of our vastly growing human population.
I believe it is impossible to completely do away with every species of mosquitos due to the ridiculous amount of them. I am not one to say whether it would benefit the globe or not because I have not studied in depth the impact in erasing these creatures but if I had to say now, I would keep them because of the accelerating human population growth. The Mosquitos supply a natural way to balance our population.
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