A Study Of Inheritable Traits In Fruit Flies Essay -- fruit fly geneti

A Study Of Inheritable Traits in Fruit Flies INTRODUCTION The Drosophila melanogaster, more commonly known as the fruit fly, is a popular species used in genetic experiments. In fact, Thomas Hunt Morgan began using Drosophila in the early 1900’s to study genes and their relation to certain chromosomes(Biology 263). Scientists have located over 500 genes on the four chromosomes in the fly. There are many advantages in using Drosophila for these types of studies. Drosophila melanogaster can lay hundreds of eggs after just one mating, and have a generation time of two weeks at 21Â °C(Genetics: Drosophila Crosses 9). Another reason for using fruit flies is that they mature rather quickly and don’t require very much space. Drosophila melanogaster has a life cycle of four specific stages. The first stage is the egg, which is about . 5mm long. In the 24 hours when the fly is in the egg stage, numerous cleavage nuclei form. Next, the egg hatches to reveal the larva. During this stage, growth and molting occur. Once growth is complete, the Drosophila enter the pupal stage, where it develops into an adult through metamorphosis. Upon reaching adulthood, the flies are ready to mate and produce the next generation of Drosophila melanogaster. During this experiment, monohybrid and dihybrid crosses were conducted with Drosophila melanogaster. Our objective was to examine the inheritance from one generation to the next. We collected the data from the crosses and analyzed them in relation to the expected results. MATERIALS AND METHODS For the monohybrid cross in this experiment, we used an F1 generation, which resulted from the mating of a male homozygous wild-type eyed fly with a female homozygous sepia eyed fly. Males and females are distinguished by differences in body shape and size. Males have a darker and rounder abdomen in comparison to females, which are more pointed. Another difference occurs on the forelegs of the flies—males have a small bump called sex combs. At week 0, after being anaesthitized by fly-nap, three males and three females were identified under a dissecting microscope and placed in a plastic vial with a foam stopper at the end. The vial remained on it’s side until the flies regained consciousness so that they didn’t get trapped by the culture medium at the bottom. We allowed the Drosophila to incub... ...eighed the number of males. This may imply that the X chromosome is dominant over the Y chromosome. This would cause the X chromosome to mix with another X chromosome, producing a female, more often than it would mix with the Y chromosome, which would produce a male. As a follow-up to the experiment, I would perform many more trials than each person did for this experiment. Also, more flies could be placed in each vial to ensure even more offspring to be included in the data. I would also be sure to remove the flies after just one week to reduce breeding between generations. This experiment caused Mendel’s findings to be more concrete and realistic in my mind. It made the information more than meaningless numbers. The experiment also made me realize how easily biological ideas can be proved. Our results agree with Mendel’s discoveries. The only drawback to our learning was the massacre of over 26,000 fruit flies. REFERENCES Campbell, Neil A., Biology: Fourth Edition. Menlo Park: Benjamin/Cummings, 1996. "Genetics: Drosophila Crosses." Lab Handouts, General Biology Lab, 2008. "So What’s a Monohybrid Cross Anyway?" Lab Handouts, General Biology Lab, 2008.

How does Steinbeck use characters in the novel Essay

â€Å"Of Mice and Men† is a novel about two migrant workers, George and Lennie and their travels to a ranch and their time spent there. The novel is set in Soledad during the 1930s Depression. Steinbeck presents the theme loneliness through the use of the characters. The men at the ranch are lonely because they spend the majority of their time travelling from one ranch to another therefore they don’t have time to settle and build friendships. At the time the novel was set the US was suffering from the Great Depression, this was caused by the Stock Market crash in 1929 and this crippled that nation’s economy. These economic problems aggravated a host of social problems, including, unemployment, poverty; Breakdown of families and homelessness, resulting in an increase in loneliness. George one of the novels main protagonist travels around with Lennie as his companion, George is still lonely because Lennie is mentally handicapped therefore George cannot have conversation and devotes the majority of his energy in looking after Lennie and keeping him out of trouble, â€Å"But he gets into trouble alla time because he’s so God damn dumb.†. This clearly shows George’s frustration towards Lennie for continually getting into trouble. â€Å"George fell silent. He wanted to talk. Slim neither encouraged or discouraged him.† This displays George’s desperation to talk to someone as he as gone so long without a normal conversation. Candy is an old swamper with one hand; he has an old blind dog which is his last possession and only companion. This shows that Candy was dependent on the dog for company and the dog was dependent on Candy to survive as the dog was unable to do anything for itself. Candy was already lonely and on his own and he knew that as soon as he became unable to clean the ranch he would be sacked because he would have become useless. â€Å"Jus’ as soon as I can’t swamp out no bunk houses they’ll put me on the county.† This explains what he feels will happen to him when he can no longer clean and he believes that he will be sacked and kicked out. He feels this way before his dog is killed, once his dog has been shot his whole world crashed down in front of him, and he wants to be shot just like his dog. â€Å"When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me.† He believes that he no longer has a purpose in life. I think Steinbeck included the shooting of candy’s dog in the novel because it shows how candy’s life deteriorates after the painful loss of his only companion. The shooting symbolises how people during that time became dependent on possessions such as dogs for companionship, and how when these things are taken away peoples lives are destroyed, because they have become reliant on their dogs for such a long time, due to the depression they have been unable to build friendships because of the endless travelling from job to job. And this is reflected in the novel because George and Lennie have been moving from job to job. Crooks is a black stable-buck, he is extremely lonely because he is segregated from the other workers and has no choice but to live alone in the stable. â€Å"Cause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black.† This shows his loneliness, because he is not allowed to interact with the white workers because he is black. Steinbeck has presented Crooks as a character with a crooked back. â€Å"His body was bent down to the left.† This makes him appear as if he is bowing to every one else in the play, this shows his lower status which could suggest a lower class, which increases his loneliness. At the time the novel was written black people were segregated from white members of society and could be arrested for insignificant things, also the KKK (Klu Klux Klan) were known to kill black people frequently, for no reasons at all. I believe that Steinbeck has used characters effectively to explore how migrant workers in this time were lonely and desperate for companionship. He incorporates cultural factors in the novel through the different characters to explore loneliness from different perspectives.

Christmas Carol Text Repsonse Essay

â€Å"In A Christmas Carol, Dickens delivers strong criticisms of the society in which he lives. Discuss† A Christmas Carol written by one of the most influential social reform novelists of the nineteenth century, Charles Dickens, delivers very harsh criticisms of Victorian London. Dickens presents these criticisms through the behaviour of the novella’s protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge. His character displays everything that Dickens perceives as being wrong in Victorian society. His treatment of the poor and destitute, the treatment of his employee Bob Crachit and the weak relationships he keeps with family are all indirect criticisms by the renowned author, Dickens. The poor in Victorian London were left in very poor living conditions, and were essentially ignored by the upper class. There was a huge segregation between the lower class and upper class. Dickens implies that those with excessive wealth and power had a responsibility to take care of those less fortunate than themselves. This idea is explored between the relationship of Scrooge and his clerk, Bob Crachit. Scrooge is completely ignorant of his responsibilities and duties to Crachit. When asked what donations Scrooge would like to give to the poor, he simply states â€Å"Nothing!†. This shows that Scrooge (and the upper class society) simply have no compassion or consideration for the poor living below them. The children ignorance and want are an addition by dickens to send a simple message, to help out those in want, and beware of ignorance in oneself and others. The main protagonist of the story, Ebenezer Scrooge embodies the worst qualities of Victorian society. Obsessed with accumulating wealth and with no concern for his beleaguered employee, Scrooge is an allegorical representation of the forces of capitalism driving the industrial economy at the time. The treatment of loved ones and relationships are key in A Christmas Carol. The main relationship emphasized by Dickens is the relationship between Scrooge and his nephew, Fred. Scrooge does not even slightly value his  relationship with Fred. He refuses any affection or invitations given by Fred, shows no interest in Fred’s life and does not show any remorse towards these actions. This is also a criticism by Dickens. He is implying that the excessive and overbearing need for wealth and power ruin the relationships shared between people. In Scrooge, this is not only shown through his lack of a relationship with Fred, but also with his relationship with Belle, and ultimately its downfall. The festive and face value of A Christmas Carol provides an entertaining and light-hearted story for readers. However, beneath this heart-warming transformation of a character there are strong criticisms of Victorian society delivered by Dickens. He criticizes the way that the poor are left to fend for themselves in terrible conditions, the way the poor are treated by the upper class tear of society, and through the use of weak value placed relationships with family and friends during the time. Dickens novella was intended to point out the flaws in the society in which he lived and make it’s readers aware and cautious of these near fatal traits.

Gagne’s Eight Distinctive Types of Learning

To complete this assignment, you will need to fill in the following boxes:1. In the first box you will identify one of Gagne’s Eight Distinctive Types of Learning. 2. In the next box you will provide a description of the Learning Type you identified. 3. In the last box you will discuss how this Learning Type does or does not apply to you and your learning. 4. Repeat steps until all Eight of Gagne’s Distinctive Types of Learning are identified, described, and discussed. Each description and discussion should be substantive and requires a minimum of 3 sentences per response.Save this document and type directly onto the document and into the boxes. The boxes will expand to accommodate what you write. Submit as an attachment to the appropriate drop box.Gagne’s Eight Distinctive Types of Learning Description of the Learning TypeDiscuss how this does or does not apply to you and your learning Signal learning(p.79)An individual learns to make a general, diffuse response to a signal. This is the classic conditioned response of Pavlov. Thus meaning an emotional response. (p.79) Signal learning does apply to me because I do more times than none respond in an emotional state. I respond in a way of how I am feeling at any given time. If I am upset, I would answer in a aggressive way.Stimulus-response learning (p.79)The learner acquires a precise response to a discriminated stimulus. What is learned is a connection Thorndike) or a discriminated operant (skinner), sometimes called an instrumental response (Kimble). This meaning, learning is voluntary controlled, it’s a desire. (p.79) Stimulus-response learning applies to me because I am always willing to learn. Life is all about learning new things and that’s why I am back in school because I need better in my life and the only way to get better is make choices to learn more. I  make the choices to learn.Chaining (p.79)What is acquired is a chain of two or more stimulus-response connectio ns. The conditions for such learning have been described by Skinner and others. It’s a linked sequence. (p.79) Chaining applies to my learning because you must get all the necessary information to help with the things you have learned in my life. Learning is like steps and some are linked together and others may not be. I learn the way that is best for me.Verbal association (p.79)Is the learning of chains that are verbal; Basically, the conditions resemble those for other (motor) chains. However, the presence of language in the human being makes this a special type because internal links may be selected from the individual’s previously learned repertoire of language. (p.79) Verbal association does not really pertain to me because I am more a hands on person. I like to see what I am learning instead of hearing it. I feel I learn better if I have an illustration to reference back to. Multiple discrimination (p.79)The individual learns to make different identifying respon ses to as many different stimuli, which may resemble each other in physical appearance to a greater or lesser degree. Responses to a series of similar stimuli that differ in a systematic way. (p.79) Multiple discrimination does not really apply to me because, if I’m understanding it right it would distract me with learning multiple things at the same time. I like to learn one thing then move on to the next so I don’t forget what I learned. Concept learning (p.79)The learner acquires a capability to make a common response to a class of stimuli that may differ from each other widely in physical appearance. He or she is able to make a response that identifies an entire class of objects or events. It forms the basic of the ability to generalize, classify. (p.79) Concept learning does apply to me, I am always wanting more out of learning. I feel developing and having the knowledge of many things is a great benefit  to have throughout life. Learning new skills is important . Principle learning (p.79)In simplest terms, a principle is a chain of two or more concepts. It functions to control behavior in the manner suggested by a verbalized rule of the form. â€Å"If A, then B,† which, of course, may also be learned as type 4. (p.79) Principle learning does apply to me because In my current job I just became supervisor of my shift. Principle learning allows me to know the rules are different, yet it still allows me to adapt to the all the rules and perform my job. Problem solving (p.79)Problem solving is a kind of learning that requires the internal events usually called thinking. Two or more previously acquired principles are somehow combined to produce a new capability that can be shown to depend on a â€Å"higher-order† principle. (p.79) Problem solving defiantly applies to me. I am a brain stormer and I like to have a set idea of what each situation will bring. I like to make sure each situation is resolved and taken care of in a timely manner. As a supervisor, problem solving is on my job description.

Cosmic Race Essay

The term â€Å"Cosmic Race† is also known as â€Å"La raza cosmica† which was based on the opinions of some Mexican Scholars in the 1920’s who held that since the Latin Americans held the blood of all the races, the transcended the races of the â€Å"Old World†. This term basically embodies the idea that traditional, exclusive concepts of race and nationality can be transcended in the name of humanity’s common destiny (MacLachlan, 1980). While the idea of the origins or creation of the â€Å"Cosmic Race† has been attributed to other races, there is no denying that it was the Spaniards who played a major role in this. The open-mindedness, in this case the open philosophy and attitude of Spain regarding culture and society, was influential in creating this cosmic race. Spain realized that the key to being able to build a vital and flourishing economy in the colony was to build a common denominator for acculturation by both Indian and European races (MacLachlan, 1980). Spain was able to accomplish this by establishing and expanding the colonial political and ecclesiastical institutions, the economy, society, and the role of women in the Mexica Society. Further proof of this was the policies of Spain regarding women as they encouraged the women to participate in economics and politics by providing the women during that time with extensive legal rights (MacLachlan, 1980). These factors and the methods by which Spain cultivated the Mexica Empire are brought on by the characteristic of Spain as being â€Å"open-minded†, which in turn led to the creation of the â€Å"Cosmic Race. † References: MacLachlan, C. and Rodriguez, J. (1980) The Forging of the Cosmic Race: A Reinterpretation of Colonial Mexico. University of California Press,

English Literature - High school 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

English Literature - High school 1 - Essay Example However, the latter’s love for hunting has surpassed one’s expectations. General Zaroff’s unique hunting style has made him very selfish, egotistic, and inhumane: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ Every day I hunt, and I never grow bored now, for I have a quarry with which I can match my wits.† The aforementioned internal conflicts are somehow in contrast with how General Zaroff poised himself from the beginning up to the end of the story. He showed no remorse feelings or sign of conscience with what he has been doing. Always the hunter but never the prey, the General’s character is unique of its kind. As a young boy, his selfishness and inhumanness grew day by day as he was able to hone his marksmanship, mercilessly killing all animals that come in harm’s way. By being egotistic (or narcissistic), he never valued life, much less human life. And knowing that he is a gifted hunter, he never showed importance to anyone; thus everyone and everything within his eye s ight is disposable – like his pack of dogs and his loyal servant Ivan. These internal conflicts are put to an end when, with great pride from General Zaroff, he is defeated by Rainsford: â€Å"The general made one of his deepest bows. â€Å"I see,† he said. â€Å"Splendid! One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford. . . .† Unlike General Zaroff, Sanger Rainsford shows compassion for hunting. He condones cold-blooded murder and value human life. But because he is a prisoner of General Zaroff, Rainsford became fearful, angry, and indignant. He is fearful for his life, knowing that his existence on the island is ticking day in and out. He is also angry with the hunting style of General Zaroff, as mentioned in the story: â€Å"Rainsford did not want to believe what his reason told him was true, but the truth was as evident as the sun that had by now pushed through the morning mists. The gen eral was playing with him! The general was saving him for another day's sport! The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse. Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror.† And because he never knew how it was to become the prey, Rainsford is indignant with the General’s treatment of him – being a mouse trapped in an island of terror. Through his quick wit and vast experience in hunting, Rainsford is able to resolve these internal conflicts by defeating General Zaroff: â€Å"He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.† 2. Setting provides much more than just the backdrop for the action of a story. In addition to giving the time and place, setting establishes the atmosphere/mood and influences the characters. Setting also affects readers emotions, for example, a story set in a dank and foul dungeon instantly lowers our sprits. Choose one of the short stories from the list below and analyze how the story's setting contributes to the stor y and affects the reader (be sure to indicate which story you chose). The short story â€Å"Thank You, M'am† by Langston Hughes is set late in the evening, along the dark, dimly-lit streets of an unnamed city. The streets are already quiet, with very few people and automobiles pass by. It seems that the neighborhood has been quite tired from the day’s work. It wants to rest from all the shouting and blowing of horns during its waking hours. And like its setting, the story’s main character, Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, is also tired, almost dragging herself to walk by the streets. She is carrying her purse like she was

Right to Die Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Right to Die - Essay Example They are against organizations and people who believe that everyone has an intrinsic right and autonomy to choose life or death under any circumstances especially in the face of emotional and physical suffering. People who choose to end their lives under any circumstances have a choice of being euthanized in hospital settings or seek the help of physicians to commit suicide. Euthanasia is the compassionate killing of an individual painlessly. This service is obtainable for people who have terminal, painful and debilitating diseases or handicaps with death being the only hope for them. People who choose death can choose active euthanasia, refuse life prolonging treatments or choose to be assisted to commit suicide. The governing of these services is through various legal requirements including the patient’s state of mind and reasons why they choose to die. Active euthanasia is the deliberate act by a doctor to end a person’s life by use of lethal medicines; passive eutha nasia is the withdrawal of life saving treatments and nourishment that sustains life. Euthanasia is voluntary and must be requested by the patient orally or through written requests. Immediate family members or people bestowed with power of attorneys by patients may also request for the service if the patient is mentally incapacitated, clinically brain dead, or in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). There is persecution of doctors and physicians who administer euthanasia or assist patients who have chosen death over treatment by some sections of the society even in countries that have legalized euthanasia. Some have had their licenses revoked and further punished by jail terms without the consideration that euthanasia takes place on compassionate grounds. Background People are increasingly choosing to die, when medical conditions become unmanageable and they suffer too much emotional and physical pain. Communication for this choice is through both oral and written requests when one is fully competent. Alternatively, through pre- written wills by competent people who direct that they be put to death in the event that they lose their mental faculty due to disease or accidents. People who write advance directives may give instructions on what should be done in case a disease or accident makes them incompetent. Thus, they can refuse life prolonging treatments using life support machines or request for active euthanasia when their diseases make them incompetent, incapacitated or virtually dependent on people for survival. A person may choose death driven by the hate of helplessness and dependence that makes the quality of life poor. When in this state, many people refuse treatment, food and some attempt suicide where euthanasia is not legal. Where euthanasia is legal, it is often the moral responsibility of the family and patient’s physicians to heed the patients requests, upon meeting all legal requirements in which a person has the right to choose to die. Normally, it is only the patient’s doctors and close family members who may decide if the person’s wish to die has any merit, based on medical prognosis, emotional status, mental competence and degree of physical pain. People against the right to choose death believe that causing death on compassionate