Genome Entry 4 : Environment

In this chapter, Ridley shows that genetic inheritance is also based on the environment of the individual. Chromosome 5 holds the asthma gene. This disorder holds a direct relationship with allergies. Many theories support why asthma has been increasing. theories such as new pollution from new technologies and even excessive hygiene. While studying the asthma gene, it was found that the closest genes to the asthma causing gene are the two genes that produce immunoglobulin-E. This protein comes in different forms and it helps with the release of histamine into the body. Even though asthma has been linked to genes, the individual genes are based on ethnicity and the cause of the disease is mostly determined by the environment of the individual.

Genome Entry 3 : Fate

In this chapter Ridley begins by identifying genes by the diseases that they can cause to the different organs and even to the ways of suffering in order to show the difference between a gene and a mutation. In the Wolf-Hirschhorn gene, those who attain this gene are healthy and those who don't have the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome and those who have the mutation have Huntington's chorea. In 1970, Nancy Wexler, her father and her doctor decided to research the gene because she knew that she might carry the gene. It was finally found in 1993. The number of repetitions  of CAG signifies at what age the carrier will exhibit the symptoms. The number of repetitions increase over time especially in sperm production but not in the cerebellum. Ridley then talks about how people handle fate by testing positive for Huntington's and how it is not always the best thing to diagnose a disease that can not be cured.

Genome Entry 2 : Life

In this chapter of the Genome book, Ridley begins by speaking about the history of life. He believes that life began with RNA instead of DNA. He claims that RNA is more chemically active and automatic than DNA. Prehistoric "ribo-organisms" eventually made up DNA from a evolutionary error and trial process because it was much faster and more reliable. Next, he discusses the Last Universal Common Ancestor or LUCA. It has been believed that LUCA is a sort of bacteria living in a hot marine environment. Bacteria attain their genetic inheritance by stealing the genes from one another. Now LUCA is believed to be more of a protozoan because the bacteria would have dropped the RNA so that it could reproduce faster. Doing that it would help them in evolutionary strength. In the end, Ridley states that life is physical history and it isn't a genealogical one. The history of life can only be found in the genome.

BOW Nephron

Nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney. Its main function is to regulate the concentration of water and soluble substances by filtering the blood and reabsorbing what it needs and excreting what it doesn't need.In depth, the nephron regulates blood volume/pressure, controls the levels of electrolytes and metabolites and regulates blood pH. Its functions are regulated by hormones and the endocrine system.
There are two classes of nephrons, They are cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons. they are classified according to their length and the Loop of Henle and the location of the renal corpuscle. The Loop of Henle is a part of the nephron that leads from the proximal tubule to the distal convoluted tubule.

Loop of Henle: 

BOW 3 STARFISH

Starfish are also known as sea stars. They are echinoderms that belong to the class, Asteroidea.There are about 1,800 living species of starfish. They are among the most familiar out of the marine animals and they have mamy characteristics including regeneration and feeding on mussels. They come in many sizes and they have many different feeding methods. Starfish are opportunistic feeders meaning that they have certain feeding behaviors such as suspension feeding and specialized predation on certain prey.

Starfish have a water vascular system that aids them in locomotion. This system has many features such as tube feet in the ventral faces of the starfish's arms helping them with movement and helping them eat. The mouth of the starfish is located on the underside of their bodies and it leads to their cardiac stomach and then to the pyloric stomach. Starfish also have a very complex nervous system. The esophagus is surrounded by a central nerve ring which sends radial nerves to each arm. All of these connect to form the brain. The ring nerves and radial nerves help coordinate the balance and direction for the starfish.

picture links:

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=843&tbm=isch&tbnid=0_dbmbiE_wzO5M:&imgrefurl=http://universe-review.ca/R10-33-anatomy.htm&docid=5Z6HQJVvjv14TM&imgurl=http://universe-review.ca/I10-82-starfish.jpg&w=650&h=423&ei=B0SvT9m2NIHgiALt_tmcBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=135&sig=112205966848938297682&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=187&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:129&tx=99&ty=94

 dissection link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ7BzlZ5QW4

Genome FIRST ENTRY: SPECIES

 Around the twentieth century, it was thought that there was 24 chromosomes in the human genome. Apes and gorillas are very similar to humans, they have 24 chromosomes while we have 23. It is because the human chromosome number 2 is a slightly different version of two ape chromosomes, it is more modified. Humans have over 300 million tons of biomass and we have colonized almost every habitat possible. Humans and chimps are 98% genetically the same. At one point in the population of the chimps the population was split. One of the populations developed a genetic mutation that prevented the two populations from breeding and that formed a new species known as the human species. Eventually the human population developed different methods of adaptations and breeding, eventually seperating us from the two. The difference between species is in the genes and they do play a big part.

BLOG 5 INTELLIGENCE

Why is it important to define and debate our understanding of intelligence and its origins and how does it relate to you?


It is important to be able to define our understanding of intelligence because as human beings we are constantly learning about something new each day. Intelligence is the capacity that someone has for learning, reasoning, understanding, and other forms of mental activity. I believe that if someone doesn't understand the meaning of intelligence they are not using their brain to the full capacity. Debating on intelligence opens up our eyes and shows us how many topics are involved in intelligence making us aware of what we need to understand and learn. There are many forms of intelligence and it depends on the type of person that you are. My definition of intelligence is being able to build on your weaknesses and strengthen your strengths and learn above and beyond both. Intelligence is how far your brain can go and how much information it can attain and the connections that are made in between them.