Kayla's Blog

self evaluation

2008-05-12T23:51:00.000-07:00

REGARDING YOUR OWN PERFORMANCE
1. What were the three aspects of the assignments I've submitted that I am most proud of?
I enjoyed the big lab about what i encounter each day. I felt strongly opinionated in my essay. And i also enjoyed doing the population lab.
2. What two aspects of my submitted assignments do I believe could have used some improvement?
I actually felt very strongly this time in everything...but i bet everything could use something to make it better...whether it be better wording, more pictures, etc.
3. What do I believe my overall grade should be for this unit?
I feel i did quite well, mostly compared to when we first started. I would hope for a B at least.
4. How could I perform better in the next unit?
There are no more *gasp!*

REGARDING THE UNIT (adapted from Stephen Brookfield, University of St. Thomas "Critical Incident Questionnaire")
At what moment during this unit did you feel most engaged with the course?
I think when learning about the developing fetus...mostly because i have a friend who is due in July and i why was trying to imagine what was going on inside of her!!

At what moment unit did you feel most distanced from the course?
Probably when learning about evolution...it jsut doesn't catch my interest the way the human body itself does
What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit that find most affirming and helpful?
Again, i always always always appreciate the emails pushing us along.

What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit did you find most puzzling or confusing?
Nothing that i can recall.

What about this unit surprised you the most? (This could be something about your own reactions to the course, something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)
I think how much i enjoyed it suprised me. I guess my interest in anatomy and how the body works and the fact that my friend is pregant made a lot of this unit more at home and interesting to me than all the others. I think this unit was my favorite!

overpopulation---i am opinionated---i apologize.

2008-05-12T23:40:00.000-07:00

I have always heard that we were overpopulated, not only as a country, but in the world. And while I may be joking, I part of me is always serious when I say “people need to stop having so many babies.” Yes it might sound a little bit Hitler-ish, but if people in other countries, and our own, are starving, why would we want even more people to add to this problem?
I think one of the biggest problems regarding overpopulation is that people in underdeveloped countries are at a disadvantage. They do not always know about contraceptives and how to prevent pregnancy, and each birth in some of these countries just means another hungry human had to suffer. And I am not trying to put any blame on these people for what they do not know, I just feel others that are educated have a duty to teach what they know.
Regarding the United States and other developed, overpopulated countries…I do lay some blame. Why do we have to have so many children? Why are we not using contraceptive? And if they are something someone is against because of their religion, why are we not being more careful? I do feel it is a blessing to have a child, but think of all the children in the world that need homes. Why don’t we help them before fulfilling our “need” to give birth to our “own” child? It is something I will never understand, but I feel very strongly about. Mostly in the cases of people who cannot have children. I understand we have the technology to make pregnancy possible, but why is it necessary? A child that isn’t living in such an overpopulated world that they cannot eat, cannot get a job, cannot do all of the things that you or your parents may have done, is not necessarily going to be the happiest adult….just an opinion but one I feel strongly about.
I just feel that if we can educate other countries and ourselves on the issues of contraceptives, overpopulation, etc, we may finally see less of an increase each year. Too many people are suffering from this problem.

population lab

2008-05-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

1)What was your high fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?

My high fertility rate country was China with a fertility rate of 2.37 children. The population in 2050 is at a horrible high 1,759,855,000 people. All i ever hear about is how crowded china is, therefore, i thought it would be perfect for my high population.

2)What was your low fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?

My low fertility rate country was Luxembourg with a fertility rate of 1.59 children. The population in 2050 is at 516,053 people. I actually chose Luxembourg because my maternal grandfather has family still in Luxembourg at this day in time. I heard it's beautiful and I assumed it's because it's not a very big country.

3)The initial demographic "shape" of your high fertility rate country should have been a pyramid, with high population in young age groups. Explain why high fertility rate results in a high percentage of young people in the population. How does this affect future population growth?

Though China is in a pyramid shape, the pyramid is not very drastic. There are probably more opportunities at birth and in childhood for people to keep themselves healthy, therefore, i think that would keep them living longer. China though is a very booming country and i think that because of what kind of health care is available now in developed countries, such as cancer treatments, that would explain why the pyramid still is wide at the top because more people are living to be older.

4)Your low fertility rate country might have had a more oval-shaped curve with high population in middle age groups. This is especially exaggerated if the fertility rate is below 2.00. Explain why low fertility rate leads to lots of middle-aged people.

I think that the fertility rate is lower simply because people wait to have children. In general, the population is so much smaller than china it's hard to compare. But if people are waiting, this would explain why there are more of one age than any other.

5)Write ten adjectives or descriptive phrases for what you might expect life, people's attitudes, conditions on the streets, etc. will be like in each of those situations. Imagine a situation with lots of middle-aged and older people in the population and write ten quick "brain-storm" descriptors for you think it would be like (Prescott, Arizona?). Then do the same for a situation with lots of children in the population.

Middle Aged:

Educated, Independent, Responsible, Successful, Having fun, Working, Mature, Living life, Less violence, Happiness

Lots of Children:

More crime, Less Education, "bored" fun, Not enough jobs, Less income, More broken homes, More wild fun, Disobeidience, Working instead of school, Older/less taken care of communities

I have concluded that because Luxembourg is smaller and less busy, the population will always remain at a more managable rate. It seems that it is one of those countries that is in no need to expand uncontrollably. This makes it seem like it would be a safer place to live and a better experience all around...that is unless you love a big crowd all the time.

fetal development.

2008-05-12T22:26:00.000-07:00

The ten significant developments that I chose are listed below. I honestly had a hard time choosing just ten, so it does jump a lot, but I feel there was really no wrong stage to list.

1) One day post ovulation.
*I feel this is the most important day of the development because it is the time of the fertilization. Skip this step and we’ve hit a dead end. It takes about 24 hours for the whole process to take place, but once it does, the development begins.
2) Seven to ten days post ovulation.
*This is the time period in which the implantation of the fertilized egg is complete. After this happens, the egg can begin the growing process.

3) Thirteen days post ovulation.
*This is when the placenta forms. This is very important because during the nine months of pregnancy, the placenta feeds and nourishes the fetus while also getting rid of toxins.
4) Twenty one to twenty three days post ovulation.
*This is when the neural and heart folds begin to fuse. This is obviously important in the further development later on of the heart, brain, etc.

5) Twenty six to thirty days post ovulation.
*This is when the skin starts to form. While it is only a thin layer, it is already working to protect the body. The limbs have slowly started to bud, so development happens quite quickly. This stage is very important to protect the body during this development.
6) Basic brain structure is in place.
*There is a massive increase in the brain structure. The teeth are beginning to form. The intestines are now in the abdomen. The thyroid is now producing insulin.
7) Fourteen weeks post fertilization.
*The sex of the baby is now visible. The muscles are straightening and the body is growing. The heart is pumping a little faster.

8) Twenty weeks post fertilization.
*The bone marrow starts making blood cells. Now the heart is beginning to beat stronger and faster. The limbs are most likely done growing. The fetus is starting to take in small amounts of sugar.
9) Twenty four weeks post fertilization.
*This is when sensory brain waves activate. The eyes and ears begin to respond to stimulation now. The baby’s fingers/toes are still continuously growing. The spine is beginning to become more supportive.

10) Forty weeks post fertilization.
*The fetus is at full term. The organs should all be developed and working properly. The nervous system should be working. Everything that will keep the baby healthy should be ready to go. The baby is turned upside down and ready to be born.

species interactions

2008-05-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

Common name: My boyfriend....i have a real one...this one is imaginary :)
Scientific name: Homo Sapiens
Ecological principles: Symbiotic. Domesticated. Human beings interact with one another every day. We basically need each other for survival.

Common name: Harley, English Bulldog
Scientific name: canis Lupus Familiaris
Ecological principles: Symbiotic, domesticated. Now have become pets over evolutionary time.

Common name: Broccoli
Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Ecological principles: Commensal. Domesticated. We use it as food.

Common name: Grass
Scientific name: Setaria viridis
Ecological principles: Commensal. A type of domesticated plant.

Common name: Milk—from a dairy cow
Scientific name: Bos Taurus
Ecological principles: Commensal. Domesticated because we use it as food.

Common name: Soy milk
Scientific name: Glycine Max
Ecological principles: Commensal and domesticated because we use it as food.

Common name: Duck
Scientific name: Anas rubripes
Ecological principles: Commensal and non domesticated because we do not usually have ducks as pets.

Common name: Pigeons
Scientific name: Colomba ssp.
Ecological principles: Commensal and non domesticated. We do not usually have pigeons as pets.

Common name: Fleas
Scientific name: Ctenocephalides canis
Ecological principles: Non domesticated. We do not want them around!

Common name: Butter
Scientific name: anhydrous stannic chloride
Ecological principles: Commensal and domesticated because we use it for food.

Common name: Banana
Scientific name: Musa X paradisiaca L.
Ecological principle: Commensal. Domesticated. We use it for food.

Common name: Intestinal Bacteria
Scientific name: Shigella
Ecological principles: Non domesticated. We do not use it voluntarily...or want it.

Common name: Tea
Scientific name: Camellia sinensis
Ecological principles: Commensal. This is considered a domesticated species because we use it for food/ drink.

Common name: Bluebonnets
Scientific name: Lupinus texensis
Ecological principles: Commensal. A type of domesticated plant.

Common name: Mosquitoes
Scientific name: Anopheles
Ecological principles: Non domesticated because we do not use them/want them.

Common name: Fish (minnow)
Scientific name: Pimephales notatus
Ecological principles: Commensal and non domesticated because they are not usually pets or food. Other fish may be domesticated because they are used for food.

Common name: Crow
Scientific name: Corvus brachyrhynchos
Ecological principles: Non domesticated. Commensal. We do not usually have a crow for pets.

Common name: Water Spider
Scientific name: Argyroneta aquatica.
Ecological principles: Commensal and non domesticated because these are not used as pets.

Common name: Skunk
Scientific name: mephitis mephitis
Ecological principles: Non domisticated, commesal. People usually do not own them as pets.

Common name: facial bacteria
Scientific name: Hafnia
Ecological principles: non domesticated, we do not use them voluntarily or want them.

chapters 16, 17, 22-24 compendium reviews

2008-05-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Chapter 16
Human Life Cycle
*2 types of cell divisions
*Mitosis:
*Growth and repair of the tissues
*Meiosis:
*Gamete production
The Reproductive Systems
Male:
*Penis-organ of sexual intercourse
*Scrotum-contains the testes
*Spermatogenesis-occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes-produces sperm.
*Mature sperm are stored in the epididymides.
*Sperm pass from the vasa deferentia to the urethra.
*The seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and the bulbourethral glands add fluids to sperm.
*Sperm and secretions are called semen or seminal fluid.
*Orgasm in males results in ejaculation of semen from the penis.
Hormonal regulation in males
*Hormonal regulation, involving secretions from the hypothalamus, the anterior pituitary, and the testes, maintains a fairly constant level of testosterone.
*FSH from the anterior pituitary promotes spermatogenesis
*LH from the anterior pituitary promotes testosterone production by the interstitial cells
Female:
*Oogenesis occurring within the ovaries typically produces one mature follicle each month
*This follicle balloons out of the ovary and bursts, releasing an egg that enters an oviduct.
*The oviducts lead to the uterus, where implantation and development occur
*The female external genital area includes the vaginal opening, the clitoris, the labia minora, and the labia majora.
*The vagina is the organ of sexual intercourse and the birth canal in the female.
*Orgasm in females culminates in uterine and oviduct contrations
Female Hormone Levels
Ovarian Cycle: Nonpregnant
*The ovarian cycle is under the hormonal control of the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary.
*During the cycle’s first half, FSH from the anterior pituitary causes maturation of a follicle that secretes estrogen and some progesterone.
*After ovulation and during the cycle’s second half, LH from the anterior pituitary converts the follicle into the corpus luteum.
*The corpus luteum secretes progesterone and some estrogen.
Uterine Cycle: Nonpregnant
*Estrogen and progesterone regulate the uterine cycle
*Estrogen causes the endometrium to rebuild
*Ovulation usually occurs day 14 of a 28 day cycle
*Progesterone produced by the corpus luteum causes the endometrium to thicken and become secretory.
*A low level of hormones causes the endometrium to break down as menstruation occurs.
Fertilization and pregnancy
*If fertilization takes place, the embryo implants itself in the thickened endometrium.
*The corpus luteum is maintained because of HCG production by the placenta, and therefore, progesterone production does not cease.
*Menstruation usually does not occur during pregnancy.
Control of Reproduction
*Numerous birth control methods and devices are available
*A few of these are birth control pills, diaphragm, and condom
*Effectiveness varies
*Assisted reproductive technologies help infertile couples have children
*Artificial insemination by a donor.
*In vitro fertilization
*Gamete intrafallopian transfer
*Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
*STDs are caused by viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, and animals.
STDs caused by viruses
*AIDS is caused by HIV
*Genital warts are caused by the human papillomaviruses. These viruses cause warts or lesions on genitals and are associated with certain cancers.
*Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus type 2. It causes blisters on genitals.
*Hepititis is caused by hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, E, and G. A and E are usually acquired from contaminated water. B and C are from bloodborne transmission. B, D, and G are sexually transmitted.
STDs caused by bacteria
*Chlamydia is caused by Chlamydia trachomtis; PID can result.
*Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoea; PID can result.
*Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum; It has three stages, with the third resulting in death.
Two other infections
*Bacterial vaginosis is caused by Gardnerella vaginalis.
*Trichomoniasis is an overgrowth of Candida albicans.

Chapter 17
Fertilization
*The acrosome of a sperm releases enzymes that digest a pathway for the sperm through the zona pellucida. The sperm nucleus enters the egg and fuses with the egg nucleus.
Pre-Embryonic and Embryonic Development
*Cleavage, growth, morphogenesis, and differentiation are the processes of development.
*The extraembryonic membranes (chorion, allantois, yolk sac, and amnion), function in internal development.
Fetal Development
*At the end of the embryonic period, all organ systems are established, and there is a mature and functioning placenta.
*The umbilical arteries and umbilical vein take blood to and from the placenta, where exchanges take place.
*Exchanges supply the fetus with oxygen and nutrients and rid the fetus of carbon dioxide and wastes.
*The venous duct joins the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava.
*The oval duct and the arterial duct allow the blood to pass through the heart without going to the lungs.
*Fetal development extends from the third through the ninth months.
*During the third and fourth months, the skeleton is becoming ossified.
*The sex of the fetus becomes distinguishable. If an SRY gene is present, testes and male genitals develop. Otherwise, ovaries and female genitals develop.
*During the fifth through the ninth months, the fetus continues to grow and gain weight.
Pregnancy and Birth
*Major changes take place in the mother’s body during pregnancy
*Weight gain occurs as the uterus occupies most of the abdominal cavity.
*Many complains, such as constipation, heartburn, darkening of certain skin areas, and pregnancy induced diabetes, are due to the presence of placental hormones.
Birth
*A positive feedback mechanism that involves uterine contractions and oxytocin explains the onset and continuation of labor.
*During stage 1 of parturition (birth), the cervix dialates
*Stage 2-child is born
*Stage 3-afterbirth is expelled
Development After Birth
*Development after brith consists of infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood
*Aging encompasses progressive changes from about age 20 on that contribute to an increased risk of infirmity, disease, and death.
Hypothesis of Aging
*May have a genetic basis
*May be due to changes that affect the whole body
*May be due to extrinsic factors
Effect of age on Body Systems
*Deterioration of organ systems can possibly be prevented or reduced in part by utilizing good health habits.

Chapter 22
Origin of Life
*Chemical evolution could have produced the protocell
*Using an outside energy source, small organic molecules were produced by reactions between early Earth’s atmospheric gases.
*Macromolecules evolved and interacted
*The RNA first hypothesis-only macromolecule RNA was needed for the first cells
*The protein first hypothesis-amino acids join to form polypeptides when exposed to dry heat
*The protocell, a heterotrophic fermenter, lived on preformed organic molecules in the ocean.
*The protocell eventually became a true cell once it had genes composed of DNA and could reproduce.
Biological Evolution
*Biological evolution explains both the unity and diversity of life
*Descent from a common ancestor explains the unity of living things
*Adaptation to different environments explains the great diversity of living things
*Fossil evidence supports evolution---the fossil record gives us the history of life in general and allows us to trace the descent of a particular group
*Darwin discovered much evidence for common descent
*Biogeographical evidence---the distribution of organisms on Earth is explainable by assuming that organisms evolved in one locale
*Anatomical evidence---the common anatomies and development of a group of organisms are explainable by descent from a common ancestor
*Biochemical evidence---all organisms have similar biochemical molecules
*Darwin development a mechanism for adaptation known as natural selection
*The result of natural selection is a population adapted to its local environment
Classification of Humans
*The classification of humans can be used to trace their ancestry
*Humans are primates
*A primate evolutionary tree shows that humans share a common ancestor with African apes
Evolution of Hominids
*The first hominid most likely lived about 6-7mya
*Certain features identify fossil hominids
*Ardipithecines were most likely hominids
Evolution of Australopithecines
*The evolutionary tree of hominids resembles a brush
*Australopithecines lived about 3mya
*They could walk, erect, but they had a small brain
*This testifies to a mosaic evolution for humans
Evolution of Humans
*Fossils are classified as Homo with regard to brain size (over 600cm^3), jaws and teeth, and evidence of tool use.
*H. habilis made and used tools
*H. erectus was the first Homo to have a brain size of more than 1000cm^3
*H. erectus migrated from Africa into Europe and Asia
*H. erectus used fire and may have been big-game hunters.
Evolution of Modern Humans
*Two hypotheses of modern human evolution are being tested
*The multiregional continuity hypothesis suggests that modern humans evolved separately in Europe, Africa, and Asia
*The out of Africa hypothesis says that H. sapiens evolved in Africa but then migrated to Asia and Europe
Neandertals and Cro-Magnons
*The Neandertals were already living in Europe and Asia before modern humans arrived
*They had a culture, but did not have the physical traits of modern humans
*Cro-Magnons are the oldest fossil to be designated H. sapiens. Their tools were sophisticated, and they had a culture.

Chapter 23
The Nature of Ecosystems
*Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms with each other and wit the physical environment
*Organisms interact with the physical and chemical environment, and the result is an ecosystem
*Terrestrial ecosystems are forests (tropical rain forests, coniferous, temperate deciduous), grasslands (savanna and prairie), and deserts, which includes the tundra
*Aquatic ecosystems are either salt water or freshwater
Biotic Components of an Ecosystem
*In a community, each population has a habitat (residence) and a niche (role in the environment)
*Autotrophs produce organic nutrients for themselves and others from inorganic nutrients and outside energy sources
*Heterotrophs consume organic nutrients
*Consumers are herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores
*Decomposers feed on detritus, releasing inorganic substances back into the ecosystem
Energy Flow and Chemical Cycling
*Ecosystems are characterized by energy flow and chemical cycling
*Energy flows through the populations of an ecosystem
*Chemicals cycle within and among ecosystems
Energy Flow
*Various interconnecting paths of energy flow are called a food web
*A food web is a diagram showing how various organisms are connected by eating relationships
*Grazing food webs begin with vegetation eaten by a herbivore that becomes food for a carnivore
*Detrital food webs begin with detritus food for decomposers and for detritivores
*Members of detrital food webs can be eaten by aboveground carnivores, joining the two food webs
Trophic Levels
*A trophic level is all the organisms that feed at a particular link in a food chain
*Ecological pyramids illustrate that biomass and energy content decrease from one trophic level to the next because of energy loss.
Global Biogeochemical Cycles
*Chemicals circulate through ecosystems via biogeochemical cycles, pathways involving both biotic and geological components.
*can be gaseous or sedimentary
*have reservoirs that contain inorganic nutrients available to living things on a limited basis
*Exchange pools are sources of inorganic nutrients
*Nutrients cycle among the biotic communities of an ecosystem
The water cycle
*The reservoir of the water cycle is freshwater that evaporates from the ocean
*Water that falls on land enters the ground, surface waters, or aquifers, and evaporates again
*All water returns to the ocean
The carbon cycle
*The reservoirs of the carbon cycle are organic matter, limestone, and the ocean
*The exchange pool is the atmosphere
*Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
*Respiration and combustion add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
The nitrogen cycle
*The reservoir of the nitrogen cycle is the atmosphere
*Nitrogen gas must be converted to a form usable by plants
*Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas to ammonium
*Nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium to nitrate
*Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate back to nitrogen gas
The phosphorus cycle
*The reservoir of the phosphorus cycle is ocean sediments
*Phosphate in ocean sediments become available through geological upheaval, which exposes sedimentary rocks to weathering
*Weathering slowly makes phosphate available to the biotic community
*Phosphate is a limited nutrient in ecosystems

Chapter 24
Human Population Growth
*Populations have a biotic potential for increase in size
*Biotic potential is normally held in check by environmental resistance
*Population size usually levels off at carrying capacity
The MCDs vs the LDCs
*The MCDs have a .1% growth rate since 1950
*The LDC Growth rate is presently at 1.6% after peaking at 2.5% in the 1960s
*Age structural diagrams can be used to predict population growth
*MCDs are approaching a stable population size
*LDC populations will continue to increase in their size
Human Use of Resources and Pollution
*Five resources are maximally used by humans
*They are either renewable or nonrenewable
*Nonrenewable resources are not replenished and are limited in quantity
*Renewable resources are replenished but still are limited in quantity
Land
*Human activities, such as habitation, farming, and mining, contribute to erosion, pollution, desertification, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity
Water
*Industry and agriculture use most of the freshwater supply. Water supplies are increased by damming river and drawing from aquifers.
Food
*Food comes from growing crops, raising animals, and fishing
*Modern farming methods increase the food supply but some methods harm the land, pollute the water, and consume excessive fossil fuels
*Genetically engineered plants increase the food supply and reduce the need for chemicals
*Raising livestock contributes to water pollution and uses fossil fuel energy
*The increased number and high efficiency of fishing boats have caused the world fish catch to decline
Energy
*Fossil fuels are nonrenewable sources.
*Greenhouse gases include CO2 and other gases. Greenhouse gases cause global warming because solar radiation can pass through, but infrared heat cannot escape back into space
*Renewable resources include hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar powers
Minerals
*Minerals are nonrenewable resources that can be mined
*Include sand, gravel, phosphate, and metals
*Mining causes destruction of the land by erosion, loss of vegetation, and toxic runoff into bodies of water.
*Hazardous wastes are discarded on land and water in the billions
*Heavy metals
*Synthetic organic chemicals include chlorofluorocarbons, which are involved in the production of plastics, pesticides, herbicides, and other products
*Ozone shield destruction is associated with CFCs
*Other synthetic organic chemicals enter the aquatic food chain, where the toxins become more concentrated
Biodiversity
*variety of life on Earth
*five major causes of biodiversity loss and extinction
*Habitat loss
*Introduction of alien species
*pollution
*Overexploitation of plants and animals
*disease
Direct Value of Biodiversity
*medicinal value
*agricultural value
*consumptive use values
Indirect Value of Biodiversity
*contributes to waste disposal
*freshwater provision through the water biogeochemical cycle
*prevention of soil erosion, which occurs naturally in intact ecosystems
*function of biogeochemical cycles
*climate regulation
*ecotourism
Working Toward a Sustainable Society
*A sustainable society would use only renewable energy resources

no worries

2008-05-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

everything will be posted tomorrow when i get off of work!! I really enjoyed these chapters!

healthy lifestyle essay

2008-04-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

These days it seems like all anybody talks about is food, weight, exercise…all of the health issues that are taking tolls on people’s lives day in and day out. We can sit here and blame the environment for obesity, blame the fact that there are fast food restaurants everywhere or that gyms are too expensive, but really it all comes down to the fact that we have really just lost a sense of self control. I’m not saying everybody has, but I think we are all a little bit guilty of some food or exercise related problem.
Children these days have become more obese than when I was in elementary school and middle school. I really do not remember too many “fat kids” when I was young. Maybe it was because PE was one of the most fun classes for all of us. Do kids not have PE regularly anymore? Or do they not have to do anything overly physical? I honestly don’t know, but being fit was fun for me as a child. Also, video games, television, all of the things keeping kids inside. Parents need to make these things a treat, not a regular daily activity. Kids need to be outside riding bikes, playing kickball, playing tag. They just need to move and eat mostly healthy foods!!! And parents are responsible for this, not the child. They do not know better at young ages.
As adults, we know what we are supposed to do to stay healthy. While it’s not easy to start and exercise regimen, we are all very capable of doing so. All it takes is winning the argument with yourself to do so. It really does not take too long to get this into your everyday life. I know from personal experience. It’s never easy to start something new, but once you are doing it, it becomes hard to stop without feeling like this thing you do is missing from your day. It’s like a good, healthy obsession to exercise, within reason of course.
Also, I, like everybody else, am guilty of eating those deliciously bad foods. That’s fine to do so, but in reason. Never allowing yourself to eat something is not the way to make yourself healthy, you just have to change your life in general to a healthier way of life. Let yourself eat things you enjoy, but know you don’t have to eat it right now…it will still be around tomorrow. You can survive a day without a blizzard from DQ or a Big Mac.
Our society just needs to realize we need to make ourselves healthier. It’s not hard, and we’ll all feel better if we do.

leeches

2008-04-13T19:27:00.000-07:00

QUESTIONS ABOUT LEECH NEUROPHYSIOLOGY LAB:(Answer these questions to get full exemplary lab credit (A-level, 18-20 points)

1. What is the electrode measuring?
It is a type of nerve impulse.2. Why use leeches in neurophysiology experiments?
Leeches have a simple nervous system so they are used to help us gain an easier understanding of how the nervous system works.3. What is the difference between a sensory and a motor neuron?
A sensory neuron is a nerve cell that transmits nerve impulses to the central nervous system after a sensory receptor has been stimulated.
A motor neuron is a nerve cell that that conducts nerve impulses away from the central nervous system and innervates effectors.4. Do you think a leech experiences pain? What is pain?
Yes I do because pain is a nervous system response and the leech has a nervous system.
5. What were the two most interesting things about doing this lab?
“Dissecting” the leech was interesting, it made me want to really dissect one J
Also actually finding out why leeches are actually used in experiments was interesting.
6. Anything you found confusing or didn't like about the lab?
I thought it was a little confusing trying to identify which kind of cell I was finding after cutting open and gutting the leech.

muscle fatigue...ahhh ouch

2008-04-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

Effect of Temperature on Muscle Action

1. Count the number of times you can make a fist in 20 seconds. Start with
your hand completely outstretched and make a tight fist each time. Do it
as rapidly as you can. Record the count in Figure 1.

2. Now submerge your hand in a dishpan of water to which has been added
snow or ice so that the temperature is near the freezing point. Leave your
hand in the water for one full minute.

3. Remove your hand and immediately count how many forceful fists you can
make in 20 seconds. Record in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Effect of Temperature on Muscle Action

Number of Fists
Normal
42
Ice Water
31

Effect of Fatigue on Muscle Action

1. Count how many times you can tightly squeeze a rubber ball in your hand
in 20 seconds. Record in Figure 2.

2. Repeat the squeezing nine more times and record results. Do not rest
between trials.

(An alternative procedure which works well is to open and close a
clothespin with the thumb and index finger while the other fingers are held
out straight.)

Figure 2: Effect of Fatigue on muscle action

Trial
# of Squeezes in 20 seconds
1
---------------17-------------------------
2
----------------19------------------------
3
------------------17---------------------
4
-------------------16---------------------
5
---------------15-------------------------
6
-----------------16-----------------------
7
------------------15----------------------
8
----------------13------------------------
9
------------------11----------------------
10
-------------------11---------------------

ANALYSIS OF DATA:

1. What are the three changes you observed in a muscle while it is working (contracted)?
The muscle begins to feel hard and tight. The muscle also appears larger. And lastly the muscle starts to ache.

2. What effect did the cold temperature have on the action of your hand muscles? Explain. My muscles felt weaker. I could not make them move as fast as before…and I was not even moving them very fast to begin with.

3. In Figure 3, make a line graph of your results of the fatigue experiment. Be sure to fill in the values on the vertical axis.

Figure 3: Graph of Effect of Fatigue on Muscle Action

4. What effect did fatigue have on the action of your hand muscles? Explain.
It got harder and harder to squeeze the clothes pin I was using. The only reason I managed to keep the numbers up as “high” as I did was because I tried as hard as I could to squeeze as many times as I could. It was not easy at all!!!

how i feel about me.

2008-03-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

REGARDING YOUR OWN PERFORMANCE
1. What were the three aspects of the assignments I've submitted that I am most proud of?
i liked my essay, probably because i felt at home writing it.
i liked doing the calories because i actually am a calorie counter much of the time, so again, i felt right at home.
i also liked that i started ahead of time, but in the next question we'll see the problems i still had with that.
2. What two aspects of my submitted assignments do I believe could have used some improvement?
even though i started earlier, unlike last time (yikes!), i didn't chose to blog anything ahead of time because in my head i "might add on", which i really didn't do. This caused me to become very frustrated when things would not post correctly for me!!! i finally got things to go in the order i want, but i still dont like how my blog looks! i also, but not blogging as i finish things, feel like i might leave things out.
3. What do I believe my overall grade should be for this unit?
i honestly don't know, but hopefully a vast improvement from last time! i feel so much more organized and secure in what i accomplished.
4. How could I perform better in the next unit?
post as i finish!!! that way if something goes wrong, i still have days to fix it.

REGARDING THE UNIT (adapted from Stephen Brookfield, University of St. Thomas "Critical Incident Questionnaire")
At what moment during this unit did you feel most engaged with the course?
i enjoyed this whole section. ihave taken food and nutrition classes before, and for some reason i am always interested in what it's all about.

At what moment unit did you feel most distanced from the course?
probably when reading about blood. For some reason i sometims have a difficult time grasping how the veins really work.

What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit that find most affirming and helpful?
again, receiving reminder emails!

What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit did you find most puzzling or confusing?
not as many reminder emails hahaha.

What about this unit surprised you the most? (This could be something about your own reactions to the course, something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)
i realized that i didnt take pictures of myself in my workout clothes. this isn't puzzling. this is actually another area i need to improve in....READ EVERYTHING MORE THAN ONCE!!

no fast food!!

2008-03-24T23:41:00.000-07:00

In our society, I have personally seen how much people have let themselves lean away from the foods that are good for us and towards the quick and easy meals. In my neighborhood alone, I can think of at least seven fast food restaurants that are within five minutes of my apartment. Ironically, there is also a health food store next door. I actually worked there for over a year. This is actually where I saw a lot of these issues come into play.
While working at a health food store, you would think everything in it would be healthy. Wrong. We had a bakery, and like all bakeries, everything was bad for you. Yet our pastries sold out like crazy every single day. Granted, because of the environment I was in, we did also sell veggies and fruits like crazy. And they were from local farmers. But still everyday I was surprised that people would come into the store solely for the pasties when there were so many other options.
I’m human, I enjoy my junk food, but over the past year and a half I have really tried to start cutting things out of my diet. I would say about 2% of the meals I eat are fried, which in itself is a big step. You have no idea how much that makes you have to pay attention to what you eat. I also cut out all meat except chicken, and I’m slowly trying to let that go too. I just feel like these are unnecessary toxins for my body.
There are fast food stores everywhere, and they all have one thing in common…the smell of greasy food when you walk in. Who cares how cheap it is? If this is something you are eating everyday, I really feel that it is going to be a detriment to your health in the long run. I’m not saying don’t indulge on occasion, but just take a step back. We need to focus on all of the farmers that are growing these beautiful vegetables and fruits and start throwing more support towards them and less to the ever growing fast food world, no pun intended. Also, I think everyone needs to focus on themselves and what they are worth on the inside. We are damaging our bodies when we eat the way we do. Our country is obese, we become the group of people to make fat jokes about. We need to regain our pride by taking over our health and get our lives back on the healthy track!

pulse--i had trouble posting this!!!

2008-03-24T17:54:00.000-07:00

Introduction:

I decided to chose three activities that i regularly participate in to measure all of these rates. One of the reasons i chose to use these activities is so that i will know if i'm actually getting anything out of my daily workouts.

Hypothesis:

i made very wild guesses at what i thought my heart rate was going to be during my three chosen activities because after comparing my resting pulse to a friend's on the first day, i realized mine is actually a lot slower.

Materials/Method:

I just went about my daily life, but i had one of my friends actually help with taking my pulse to make sure i was doing it correctly. I also borrowed a blood pressure monitor from one of my work friends that is attending a health school in my area.

Results: (pulse)

(resp) (s)

(d)

nutrition chart

2008-03-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

breakfast
-sbux cranberry orange scone
-sbux coffee
lunch
-chicken sandwich
-ice cream
dinner
-bbq chicken
snack
-peanut butter sandwich

1) I do not think i have the healthiest diet, but i do actually usually know how many calories i'm intaking. And i don't actually eat a ton of food tlhat's bad for me. My problem is that i snack a lot. I also do not eat enough fruits and veggies. I could work on that and i'd probably snack less.

2)If i changed anything about how i eat, it would be less snacking and more fruits and veggies. And maybe never eating a pastry again :)

3)I do find this helpful. I actually watch my calories most of the time, or at least stay aware of them. For a few years now i have always tried to figure out how many calories i'm taking in because sometimes things will really suprise you in how bad for you they are.

compendium review

2008-03-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Chapter 5

Cardiovascular System
Consists of the heart and blood vessels
The heart pumps blood
Blood vessels take blood to and from the capillaries, where exchanges of nutrients for wastes occur with tissue cells.
Blood refreshes:
At the lungs, where gas exchange occurs.
At the digestive track, where nutrients enter the blood,
At the kidneys, where wastes are removed from the blood.
Lymphatic system
Organ system consisting of the lymphatic vessels and lymphatic organs that transport lymph and lipids and aids the immune system
Types of blood vessels
Arteries
Take blood way from the heart.
Have the thickest walls, therefore they can withstand blood pressure
Arterial wall has three layers
Arterioles
Small arteries just visible to the naked eye
Branch into capillaries
Capillaries
Where exchange of substance occurs
Veins
Take blood to the heart.
Relatively week walls with valves that keep the blood flowing in one direction.
Venules
Small veins that drain blood from the capillaries and join to form a vein
Valves
Allow blood to flow only toward the heart when open and prevent the backward flow of blood when closed
The heart as a double pump
Heart
Cone-shaped muscular organ located between the lungs, directly behind the sternum
Major part of the heart is the myocardium, consisting of mostly cardiac muscle tissue
Surrounded by pericardium, thick, membranous sac that supports and protects the heart
Each side of the heart has an atrium and a ventricle.
The valve keeps the blood moving in the right direction.
Passage of blood through the heart
The atrium receives O2 poor blood from the body, and the ventricle pumps it into the pulmonary circuit (to the lungs).
The atrium receives O2 rich blood from the lungs, and a ventricle pumps it into the systemic circuit.
The heartbeat is controlled
During the cardiac cycle, the SA node (pacemaker) initiates the heartbeat by causing the atria to contract. The AV node conveys the stimulus to the ventricles, causing them to contract.
Ecg—electrocardiogram
Recording of the electrical changes that occur in mydocardium during a cardiac cycle
Features of the cardiovascular system
Pulse
The heartbeat rate
Blood pressure moves blood in arteries
Blood pressure caused by the beating of the heart accounts for the flow of blood in the arteries
Systolic pressure
Reached during ejection of the blood from the heart
Diastolic pressure
Lowest arterial pressure
Blood flow is slow in the capillaries
The reduced velocity of blood flow in capillaries facilitates exchange of nutrients and wastes in the tissues
Blood flow in veins returns blood to the heart
Blood flow in veins is caused by the skeletal muscle contraction, the presence of valves, and respiratory movements
The cardiovascular pathways
The cardiovascular system is divided into the pulmonary circuit and the systemic circuit
Pulmonary circuit:
Blood travels to and from the lungs
Systematic circuit
The aorta divides into blood vessels that serve the body’s organs and the cells. Venae cavae return O2 poor blood to the heart
Exchange at the capillaries
At the arterial end of the cardiovascular capillary, blood pressure is greater than osmotic pressure
Water leaves the capillary
At the midsection, oxygen and nutrients diffuse out of the capillary, while carbon dioxide and other wastes diffuse into the capillary
At the venous end, osmotic pressure created by the presence of proteins exceeds blood pressure
Water enters the capillary
Lymph is tissue fluid contained within lymphatic vessels.
Lymphatic system is a one way system, and the fluid is returned to blood by way of the cardiovascular vein.
Cardiovascular disorders
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the western countries
Hypertension and atherosclerosis can lead to
Stroke
Small cranial arteriole bursts or is blocked by an embolus
Causes lack of oxygen to portion of the brain and causes that portion to die
Heart attack
Occurs when a portion of the heart muscle dies due to a lack of oxygen
Blood clots

Chapter 6

Blood
Functions-----all help maintain homeostasis
Transports hormones, oxygen, and nutrients to cells
Transports carbon dioxide and other wastes from the cells
Fights infections and has various regulatory functions
Maintains blood pressure
Regulates body temperature
Keeps the pH of body fluids within normal limits
Formed elements of blood
Red and white blood cells, platelets.
Plasma
91% of it is water
Plasma proteins
Most abundant organic molecule in blood
Proteins mostly produced by the liver
Maintain osmotic pressure, help regulate pH, and transport molecules
Functions of proteins
Transport, immunity, and blood clotting
Red blood cells and transport of oxygen
Red blood cells lack a nucleus
Contain hemoglobin
Combines with oxygen and transports it to the tissues
Production is controlled by the oxygen concentration of the blood.
When concentration decreases, the kidneys increase their production of the erythroprotein, and more red blood cells are produced.
Disorders
Anemia
hemolyis
White blood cells and disease defense
Larger than red blood cells
Have a nucleus
Translucent
Granular leukocytes
Eosinophils
Basophils
Neutrophils
Abundant and respond first to infections
Agranular leukocytes
Monocytes
Largest white blood cell
Lymphocytes (b and t cells)
Responsible for specific immunity
Diseases
Leukemia
Infectious mononucleosis
Platelets and blood clotting
Result from fragmentation of megakaryocytes in the red bone marrow
Blood clotting
Platelets and two plasma proteins, prothrombin and fibrinogen, function in clotting
Results in fibrin threads, which trap red blood cells.
Blood typing and transfusions
Usually involves determining the ABO blood group and whether the person is Rh- or Rh+
Determining the blood type is necessary for transfusion so that agglutination of the red blood cells does not occur.
ABO blood groups
Type A blood
Surface antigens, plasma has anti-b antibodies.
Type B blood
Surface antigens, plasma has anti-a antibodies
Type AB blood
Both A and B surface antigens, universal donor
Type O blood
Neither type A or B surface antigens, plasma has both anti-a and anti-b antibodies, universal donor
Agglutination
Occurs if the corresponding antigen and antibody are put together
Rh blood groups
Antigen must also be considered when transfusing blood, and it is very important during pregnancy because an Rh- mother may form antibodies to the Rh antigen while carrying or after the birth of an Rh+ child
Homeostasis
Depends upon the cardiovascular syster because it serves the needs of the cells
Also critical
Digestive system supplies nutrients
Respiratory system supplies oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the blood
Nervous and endocrine systems are involved in marinating blood pressure
Lymphatic system returns tissue fluid to the veins
Skeletal muscle contraction and breathing movements propel blood in the veins

Chapter 7
Microbes and pathogens
While performing valuable services, microbes also cause disease
Bacteria
Single celled
Do not have a nucleus
Prokaryotic cells that live and reproduce and independently of host cells
Cause disease by multiplying in the hosts and also by producing toxins
Viruses
Noncellular particles consisting of a protein coat and a nucleic acid core
Take over the machinery of the host in order to reproduce
Can emerge and cause new diseases the human body had difficulty combating
Prions
Proteinaceous infections particles, cause a group of degenerative diseases of the nervous system
Also called wasting diseases
Lymphatic system
Primary lymphatic organs
Red bone marrow, where all the blood cells are made and the B lymphocytes mature
Thymus gland, where the T lymphocytes mature
Secondary lymphatic organs
Spleen, lymphnodes, and other organs such as the tonsils, appendix.
Blood is cleansed of pathogens and debris in the spleen
Lymph is cleansed of pathogens and debris in the nodes
Nonspecific defenses
Barriers to entry
Skin and mucous membranes
Chemical barriers
Inflammatory reaction,
Involve the phagocytic neutrophils and macrophages
Histamine
Chemical mediators release by damaged tissue cells and mast cells, cause the capillaries to dilate and become more permeable

Protective proteins
Complement system
Composed of a number of blood plasma proteins
Specific defenses
Require B cells and T cells, also called B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes
B cells and antibody mediated immunity
Activated B cells undergo clonal selection with production of plasma cells and memory B cells, after their B cell receptor combines with a specific antigen
Plasma cells secrete antibodies and eventually undergo apoptosis.
Responsible for antibody mediated immunity
An antibody is usually y shaped and has two binding sites for a specific antigen
Memory b cells remain in the body and produce antibodies if the same antigen enters the body at a later date
T cells and cell mediated immunity
For the T cell to recognize an antigen, the antigen must be presented by an antigen-presenting macrophage, along with an HLA
Activated T cells undergo clonal expansion until the illness has been stemmed.
Two main types of T cells
Cytotoxic
Kills virus infected cells or cancer cells on contact
Helper
Produce cytokines and stimulate other immune cells
Acquired immunity
Active immunity can be induced by vaccines when a person is well and in not immediate danger of getting the disease
Passive immunity is needed when a person is in immediate danger of succumbing to an infections disease
Short lived because the antibodies are administered
Monoclonal antibodies can detect infection and help treat cancer
Cytokines (passive) are used to treat AIDS and to promote the body’s ability to recover from cancer
Hypersensitivity reactions
Allergic responses occur when the immune system reacts vigorously to substances not normally recognized and foreign
Immediate responses are due to lack of antibodies
Delayed responses are due to the activity of T cells
Tissue rejection occurs when the immune system recognizes a tissue as foreign
Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system reacts to tissues/organs of the individual as if they were foreign
Myasthenia gravis
Antibodies attach to and interfere with the functioning of neuromuscular junctions and muscular weakness occurs
Multiple sclerosis
T cells attack the myelin sheath of the nerve fibers and this causes various neuromuscular symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis
The joints are affected

Chapter 8

Digestion

Organs located within the GI tract
Process requires
Ingestion
Mouth takes in food
Digestion
Mechanical
When food is divided into pieces that can be acted on by the digestive enzymes
Chemical
Begins in the mouth, not completed until the food reaches the small intestine
Movement
Food passes from one organ to the next, and the indigestible remains must be expelled
Absorption
Occurs as unit molecules produced by digestion cross the wall of the GI tract and enter the cells lining the tract
Elimination
Molecules that cannot be digested need to be eliminated by the body
Parts of the tract have four layers
Mucosa
Produces mucus which protects the wall from the digestive enzymes inside the lumen
Submucosa
Broad band of loose connective tissue that contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves
Muscularis
Contains two layers of smooth muscle
Serosa
Secrete a serous fluid.
First part of tract
In the mouth
Teeth chew the food, saliva contains salivary amylase for digesting starch, and the tongue forms a bolus for swallowing
Air passage and the food passages cross in the pharynx
When swallowing, the air passage is blocked off by the soft palate and epiglottis
Food enters esophagus and peristalsis occurs
Esophagus moves food to the stomach
Stomach and small intestine
Stomach expands and stores food and also churns, mixing food with the acidic gastric juices
Juices contain pepsin---enzyme that digests protein
The duodenum of small intestine receives bile from the liver and pancreatic juice from the pancreas
Bile emulsifies fat and readies it for digestion by lipase
Pancreas produces enzymes that digest starch, protein, and fat
Finishes the process of chemical digestion
Small nutrient molecules are absorbed at the villi in the walls of the small intestine
Three accessory organs and regulation of secretions
Pancreas
Produces pancreatic juice, which contains digestive enzymes for carbohydrate, protein, and fat
Liver
Produces bile, destroys old blood cells, detoxifies blood, stores iron, makes plasma proteins, stores glucose as glycogen, breaks down glycogen to glucose, produces urea, and helps regulate blood cholesterol levels
Gallbladder
Stores bile
Secretions of digestive juices are controlled by the nervous system and by hormones
Gastrin
Produced by the lower part of the stomach stimulates via the bloodstream the upper part of the stomach to secrete pepsin
Secretion and CCK produced by the duodenal wall stimulate the pancreas to secrete its juices and the gallbladder to release bile
Large intestine/defecation
Consists of the cecum, the colon, and the rectum, ending at the anus
Absorbs water, salts, and some vitamins
Forms feces and carries out defecation
Disorders
Diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps, and cancer
Nutrition and weight control
Nutrients released should provide energy, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals
Obesity is on the increase because of poor nutrition
Associated with illness such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Body mass index
Healthy
19.1-26.4
Overweight
26.5-31.1
Obese
32.3-39.9
Morbidly obese
40 or more
Carbs are necessary but simple sugars and refined starches cause a rapid release of insulin
Proteins supply essential amino acids
Unsaturated fatty acids are protective against cardiovascular disease
Saturated fatty acids lead to plaque, which occludes blood vessels
Vitamins and minerals are also required by the body in certain amounts
Eating disorders
Anorexia
Do not eat
Bulimia
Binging and purging

my performance....

2008-02-18T23:37:00.000-08:00

1. What were the three aspects of the assignments I've submitted that I am most proud of?
I was proud of my unit one outline, except when i copied it to my blog, it looked like a straight list, not an outline.

2. What two aspects of my submitted assignments do I believe could have used some improvement?
I think everything could have used improvement, i just need to be able to spread out what i'm doing, instead of trying to get a lot done at one time.

3. What do I believe my overall grade should be for this unit?
I think i really only deserve a C, I am much more capable of doing better work than i did for this.

4. How could I perform better in the next unit?
I'm going to start earlier and spread things out when i do them so i dont feel like i'm doing a terrible job!!

REGARDING THE UNIT (adapted from Stephen Brookfield, University of St. Thomas "Critical Incident Questionnaire")

At what moment during this unit did you feel most engaged with the course?
Doing the outline and actually while taking the quizzes.

At what moment unit did you feel most distanced from the course?
Actually, i also felt most distanced while doing the outline at the same time, because I would begin to feel overwhelmed.

What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit that find most affirming and helpful?
The emails that were being sent reminding us to do our work!!

What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit did you find most puzzling or confusing?
nothing in particular...

What about this unit surprised you the most? (This could be something about your own reactions to the course, something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)
I was actually suprised by how much of this i remembered from high school, but it's great relearning it because there is new information and i feel like i'm learning a lot more than i knew before.

ethical essay

2008-02-18T23:33:00.001-08:00

Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of something to create new cells, new DNA fragments, or new organisms. While some aspects of cloning can seem very positive, there are very controversial issues that come hand in hand with the positive. There are actually three types of cloning, DNA cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning.
Reproductive cloning is used to create a copy of something that has the same nuclear DNA as the original source. An example is Dolly the sheep. I always assumed that Dolly was 100% the same as her original sheep, but actually, only the nuclear DNA is the exact same. Animal cloning could be very useful to help keep animals that are at high risk for extinction from becoming extinct, but it makes me wonder, what would happen down the line? Would science begin to over clone? Or would animals stop being able to reproduce naturally if it is being done for them by science? I can see both sides to this type of cloning.
Therapeutic cloning is used to create new, healthy organs for people that are suffering from diseases, failing organs, etc. While many people disagree with the most popular/quickest way which is by using human embryos, it can be very useful in hospitals, surgery, etc. This can help end a lot of suffering in many people over the years.
One thing I will never agree with is human cloning. I think it is completely unnatural. I do not see a purpose to it either. I feel that we are already overpopulated as it is, there would be no real reason to clone a human. And I’m really not sure if it is something that is safe to try.
I do see cloning to be very useful and important in our future. Mainly, it gives me hope that we can maybe help animals to not become extinct. And, I think it would be so wonderful to find ways to cure people from devastating illness. But, I do believe that cloning will always be controversial and if it is taken too far, we could see negative repercussions.

compendium review

2008-02-18T22:44:00.000-08:00

Cells as a Fundamental Unit of Life

Table of Contents
1)the basic characteristics of life
2)molecules of life
3)cell structure and function
4)cell organelle and metabolism
5)tissue types

Cells as a fundamental unit of life
1) The Basic Characteristics of Life
a) Organization
i) Atom
(1) Smallest particle of an element
(2) Join together to form molecules
ii) Cell
(1) The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism
(2) Human beings are mulitcellular
iii) Tissue
(1) Group of similar cells that perform a particular function
iv) Organ
(1) Several types of tissue
(2) Each organ belongs to an organ system
(a) Organ systems work together to accomplish a common purpose
(3) Collection of organ systems is an organism
v) Species
(1) Group of interbreeding organisms
(2) Belong to a population
vi) Community
(1) The populations of various species
vii) Ecosystem
(1) Community of populations that interact with the physical environment
viii) Biosphere
(1) Made up of the earth’s ecosystems
b) Acquiring materials and energy
i) Humans and other species acquire energy through food
(1) Food contains nutrient molecules
c) Reproducing
i) Fundamental characteristic of life
ii) Creating a copy of oneself to ensure the continuance of one’s own kind
iii) DNA
(1) Contains the hereditary information that directs the structure of the cell and its metabolism (chemical reactions in the cell)
iv) Genes
(1) Direct development so that the organism resembles the parents
d) Growing and developing
i) growth
(1) Increase in size and number of cells
ii) development
(1) All the changes the occur from fertilization until death
e) Being homeostatic
i) An internal environment for cells that usually varies only within certain limits
f) responding to stimuli
i) all living things respond and react to things in their environment
(1) this makes homeostasis possible
g) evolution
i) descent of organisms from common ancestors with the development of genetic and phenotypic changes over time that make them more suited to the environment
2) Molecules of Life
a) Carbohydrates
i) Function as quick and short term energy storage in all organisms
ii) Simple carbohydrates
(1) Monosaccharide
(a) Low number of carbon atoms
(i) glucose
(2) Disaccharide
(a) Made by combining two monosaccharide
iii) Complex carbohydrates
(1) Polysaccharides
(a) Many glucose units
(i) Starch, glycogen, cellulose
b) Lipids
i) Contain more energy per gram than other biological molecules
ii) Diverse in structure and function
(1) Common characteristic
(a) Do not dissolve in water
(i) Absence of polar groups
(ii) Little oxygen, mostly carbon and hydrogen
iii) Fats
(1) Solid at room temperature
(2) Usually of animal origin
iv) Oils
(1) Liquid at room temperature
(2) Usually of plant origin
v) Fatty acid
(1) Carbon hydrogen chain
(2) Saturated fatty acid
(a) No double bonds between the carbon atoms
(3) Unsaturated fatty acid
(a) Have double bonds in the carbon chain wherever the number of hydrogens is less than two per carbon
vi) Phospholipids
(1) Lipids that also have a phosphate group
(2) Are not electrically neutral like fats because the phosphate and nitrogen containing groups are ionized
c) Proteins
i) Functions
(1) Support
(a) Structural proteins
(2) Enzymes
(a) Bring reactants together and speed up chemical reactions
(3) Transport
(a) Channel and carrier proteins in the plasma membrane allow substances to enter and exit cells
(4) Defense
(a) Antibodies
(i) Prevent antigens from destroying cells and upsetting homeostasis
(5) Hormones
(a) Regulatory proteins
(6) Motion
(a) Muscle contractions
ii) Amino acids
iii) peptides
d) Nucleic acids
i) DNA
(1) Produced from covalent bonding of nucleotide monomers that contain the sugar deoxyribose
(2) Genetic material of nearly all organisms
ii) RNA
(1) Produced from covalent bonding of nucleotide monomers that contain the sugar ribose
(2) Occurs in three forms
(a) mRNA
(i) formed from a DNA template that bears coded information for the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide
(b) rRNA
(i) found in ribosomes where protein synthesis occurs
(c) tRNA
(i) transfers a particular amino acid to a ribosome during protein synthesis
3) Cell Structure and Function
a) Cell
i) Smallest unit that displays the properties of life
ii) Always contains cytoplasm surrounded by a plasma membrane
iii) Structure
iv) Function
4) Cell Organelles and Metabolism
a) Organelles
i) Nucleus
ii) Nucleolus
iii) Ribosomes
iv) Endoplasmic reticulum
(1) Rough
(2) Smooth
v) Golgi apparatus
vi) Lysosomes
vii) Centrioles
viii) Mitochondria
b) Metabolism
i) All the chemical reactions that occur in a cell
5) Tissue Types
a) Connective
i) Binds and supports body parts
(1) Loose fibrous (areolar)
(a) Supports epithelium and many internal organs
(2) Adipose
(a) Found beneath the skin, around the kidneys, and on the surface of the heart
(3) Dense fibrous
(a) Found in tendons and ligaments
(4) Bone
(5) Cartilage
(a) Hyaline
(b) Elastic
(c) Fibrocartilage
(6) Blood
(a) Red blood cells
(b) White blood cells
(c) Platelets
(7) lymph
b) Muscular
i) Moves the body and its parts
(1) Skeletal
(a) Attached by tendons to the bones of the skeleton
(b) Striated
(2) Smooth
(a) Found in the walls of viscera
(3) Cardiac
(a) Found online in the walls of the heart
c) Nervous
i) Receives stimuli and conducts nerve impulses
d) Epithelial
i) Covers body surfaces and lines body cavities

Mader, Sylvia S. Human Biology (2008), 1-59.

punnett square

2008-02-18T21:31:00.001-08:00

Punnett squares are used to calculate the expected results of simple genetic crosses. They are a small, gridlike device that are very easy to set up. An example of what they do is determine how I got phenotypes such as blonde hair and blue eyes when both of my parents have brown hair and brownish eyes. At first it may sound complicated, but in reality once one understand them, they can be very simple.

Genotype:
Genes of an individual for a particular trait or traits; often designated by letters, such as BB or Bb or bb.
Phenotype:
Visible expression of a genotype, basically, what a person/thing looks like. Blue eyes, blonde hair, etc.
Allele:
Alternative form of a gene having the same position on a pair of chromosomes and affecting the same trait.
Dominant :
A gene that masks the expression of another gene.
Recessive
The gene that is being masked by the dominant gene. It is the more rare trait.

In this scenario, one parent is dominant homozygous (LL) and the other is recessive homozygous(ll). Therefore all of the offspring end up being heterozygous (Ll).

microscopes

2008-02-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

Stage:
This is where you place your slides. The slides are held in place by stage clips.

Focus Knobs:
(2 parts)
Coarse Adjustment Knob
This (large) knob is on the side of the microscope. It is used to move the stage either up or down to better focus on the slide.
Fine Adjustment Knob
This (small) knob is also on the side of the microscope. After using the coarse adjustment to higher or lower the stage, this knob helps to more finely focus on the slide.

Iris:
The iris is made up of different sized holes which are used to give you different intensity and amount of light that is projected upward into the slide. It does not matter which size you use to view the slide. The setting depends on what the specimen on the slide is because certain specimens are more difficult to see with a larger hole while others are harder to see through a smaller one, because of the amount of light that is being let in.

Ocular:
Also known as the eyepiece. This is where you look into to view the specimen. It is located at the top of the microscope and is usually at a magnification of 10x or 15x.

Objective:
There are usually around four objectives on a microscope. These are located above the stage and you can adjust them to view the specimen at higher or lower magnifications. The smallest of the four is usually 4x, and then 10x, 40x, and 100x. Which you chose to use depends on the specimen, because sometimes the more power you have, the blurrier the specimen will appear, while other times you need the full power. You should also always be careful when adjusting because when you get to the longer objective, it is very easy to hit the slide if you have the stage up all the way.

so tired from work

2008-02-17T21:23:00.000-08:00

tomorrow after i get off work i'll be copying my homework from my computer onto this blog...didnt want anyone to think i forgot about this class!!

My "register for the class" post

2008-01-29T20:36:00.000-08:00

My name: Kayla Gale Phillips
My favorite artist: Are we talking about music artist?? I don't have one favorite, but i do love love love Fleetwood Mack.
Why i'm taking this class: I actually have my degree in psychology as of May 2007, but I want a masters or doctorate in physical therapy. I didn't realize i wanted to do this until January 2007, so i don't have all the prerequistes to apply to a PT program...so now i'm all about the science classes.
What i hope to achieve: I hope that i gain a huge understanding of biology and that i really enjoy it, because it is the root of the other science classes i need to take before applying to PT programs!
Three intersting things about me: 1)I love ballet, i was in ballet for at 15 years, 2)I have three tattoos and i want a couple more, and 3)Sea world is my favorite place to be!!

the end

My first blog

2008-01-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not much of a blogger, but here it goes. I did absolutely nothing all day except my daily run. And I went to the post office, and then i started my online classes.
I think i'm going to like these better than i thought. I hope so.
I really don't ever know what to write in these....my bulldog is snoring next to me, he always sleeps. I think i'm going to go watch tv now...