Nature of Life

How would you distinguish between living and non-living systems?

In a living system, components change continually, versus a non-living system there are components that have been put together and are fixed.  A manufacturer puts together parts that have been designed, manufactured and formed. A living system synthesizes and dissolves structures, and eliminates waste products. Living systems are constantly changing to explore mass and exchange energy. Living systems have cells and organs that require food, while non living systems do not. 

"DNA doesn't determine race. Society does" Would you agree?

I would agree with this statement.  Genes reflect geography versus race, and that race is socially constructed.  I think this makes sense, because we're very visual.  When people look different to us, we just assume that they're different, since we see with our eyes. However, there is a significant number of different chimpanzee populations compared to humans, which I find interesting.  To us, they look very similar. Race is a very tricky and sensitive topic, because those who feel superior act that way to those that they feel are inferior to them.  I think it's become part of the human mindset to act individually versus collectively. Unfortunately, I don't think all humans (at least a small group) will give up race.  It's been too engrained in their head and for whatever reason, they find it an excuse to act superior. 

Complexity of Life

How might the news of a “New species of early human discovered” affect your view of our own evolution?

Just when we think that we know our own evolution, we discover more that seems to throw us in for a loop. It's exciting that there is a new species of early human that's been discovered.  It makes sense that there were several hominids living in East Africa 3.5 million years ago, but the fact that there's an entire new species is exciting and this discovery will just give further insight into evolution.  As for my views on our own evolution, I don't have any strong ones or beliefs. I just enjoy learning about new discoveries.

Do you vote for the chicken or the egg?

I voted for the egg! The reason being that how could a chicken just appear, when there were no chickens around? It makes more sense that two non-chicken parents got together and through a genetic mutation, hatched a chicken.

Pattern of Life

Post your thoughts on how we view animal intelligence?

I think it's hard for humans to acknowledge that animals are intelligent, just because we view ourselves as the top of the food chain. When there are tests formulated to measure animal intelligence, we assume that the way we think of things is how animals would think of them. When they fail to do the tests the "correct way," we conclude that there is less intelligence. However, there have been new studies that show animals just think differently, which of course makes sense. I think the difficulty in measuring human intelligence is HOW.  In the article "The Brains of the Animal Kingdom" it discusses how animals have been underestimated. Elephants were viewed as incapable of using tools because they would not use a long stick to retrieve food outside their reach. However, it wasn't until recently that the test was viewed from the animal's perspective - as soon as the elephant picks up a stick, it loses its main sense organ, it's nose. I hope that with further tests, animals are not underestimated, and that researchers think outside of the box on how they would respond.

Stem Cell and Genetic Evolution

The topic of stem cells and genetic evolution is one that I'm not too familiar with, but I thought that the class gave a lot of insight and I liked how we saw different perspectives of the topic.  The one topic that I found interesting was the female woolly mammoth.  It's mind boggling that there could be a possibility of "resurrecting" them back to life.  However, I think it's opening Pandora's box because there is so much unkown.  Would they be able to live in today's environment? What would they eat? How would the surrogate mother (elephant) feel about it's non elephant baby and vice versa? What if all of this effort was put into bringing the mammoth back and it just died after a year? While I have no doubt that scientists will eventually do this, I'm still wary about the whole process.

1. D
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. D
6. D


I thought the tutorial was simple and was a good refresher on cells.