Mass Extinction?

After reading the arguments for and against the idea that we are living in a time of yet another mass extinction, I'd have to say I don't believe we are. The jurassic period and other periods show great changes in the climate and environment. Whereas, although we are experiencing signs of global warming, at this point i'd have to say it isn't to the degree of the aforementioned periods. We are experiencing changes but not to the degree of total annhilation of the populations, clearly. We should not dismiss this though. As with other important issues, we as humans can begin to change our way of living to preserve our environment and our animal friends as well. If survival is important to us, we's better begin to see extinction as imminent if we turn a blind eye to it now.

A theory on theories

After looking over our lab for last monday and again in lecture just now, the thought came to mind that theories do not have to be threatening. The theory of Evolution, for example, is so complex that over the decades and centurys even, there have been many questions raised. Scientists and Theologists continue to battle for answers. Was it the "Big Bang" or "God?" But on the level of Natural selection and survival of the fitness, we know them to be proven theories. Even as a self-proclaimed Christian, I know this to be true. So, to answer the blog question I don't think that the concept of the theory of Evolution should be dismissed so easily by people just because of our limited understanding. There are theories I do not agree with but the frame of my lens is expanding a bit..Learning more about what we don't understand can be fun and challenging too. Instead of acting like apes, let's just talk about it.

That's not fluffy...

After reading the article on Pet cloning I took a minute to think about what I hope I would do in the scenario with the couple and their beloved cat. Although I am not a pet owner I came to the conclusion that I do not like the idea of cloning. Not in people nor in animals. There is a natural order to life and when disturbed it can wreak havoc on the people involved, emotionally and spiritually. We are born and we die, simply put. As for the companies developing this technology, I know it an obvious interest of theirs, however, financial gain is their priority. How do they get the money to develop these endeavors? From the families, of course. They need "backing" and so they prey on families who are in mourning. Maybe i am a cynic, but making money off of someone's vulnerability is ethically wrong. Lastly, the companies can NOT bring back the same pet that passed on. For someone who loved/loves their pet and would like to have them live on in the form of an almost identical one, to that I say, " mourn, go to the SPCA, and adopt a new one!" I'm sure if fluffy were still here, that is what she/he would have wanted.

Insurance claims and qualms

Within the issue of Insurance companies knowing our medical status, the question arises, "should they have access to our genetic make-up?" In my opinion, if my insurance is affected by what could be a possible health defect or weakness, of course I'd say no. Since, however, they already know medical history and other information, and it does affect our policies, I don't really know what can be done to pursuade them otherwise. It doesn't seem fair that people who may need the insurance sooner are often denied it and that people who are considered healthier have higher access to it. Unfortunately that is the paradox within the insurance industry...

Embryo Testing

This week's blog topic challenged me a lot. In terms of testing Embryo's for certain diseases I do believe that it depends on the fatality percentage of the unborn child. The question is: Is it worth discarding a human life in the early stages of development if the chances are slim for certain diseases? I think the use of this technology could be a positive if it will either save the mother or the baby. On the other hand, I think it is completely superficial to use it to choose eye color and other characteristics. My belief is that life starts at conception so destroying embryos is not an option for me. I would hope that if my unborn baby had a chance of surviving, I would give it that chance. In my belief, we should not be playing God.

Cellular Respiration and ATP

It's about that time again for yet another blog. As you are all aware of, this week we're talking about the process of Cellular Respiration and the production of ATP. There are two major types of Respiration: Aerobic and Anaerobic. The amount that Aerobic respiration yields is 36 ATP and the amount that Anaerobic respiration yields (in the combined efforts of Lactic acid and Ethanol fermentation) is a total of 4 ATP. Clearly, in the absence of oxygen there is less ATP produced. As humans require oxygen, we would not survive on Anearobic alone; we must have Aerobic respiration to live. Although we require O2 to live, some human muscle cells can still produce ATP under conditions that are Anaerobic. With that in mind though, because there is so little ATP produced, those muscle cells would run out quite easily and can therefore lead to Lactic acid buildup. Thus, we need Aerobic Respiration to fuel more ATP production. I would think that "warm-blooded " animals would produce more ATP than "cold-blooded" animals in order to heat their blood to a higher temperature. What are your ideas on this?

Problems with Deforestation

This weeks topic of Photosynthesis and Global warming are indeed apart of one another. In our Biology book researchers found that the nutrients in certain ecosystems are gained through the plants. When plants and trees aren't present, the whole ecosystem suffers. Not only does the ecosystem suffer, but the earth as a whole suffers. Since less trees are using up CO2, it is concentrating in our atmosphere. This is dangerous because the CO2 absorbs heat radiation and bounces it back towards the Earth and thus is a prime contributer to Global warming. Outside of burning fossil fuels, deforestation is the greatest source of Global warming.