Sexual living organisms have two types of
cells: somatic and genetic. Somatic mutation happens with body cells while
gametic mutation happens with sex cells and can be pass on to the next
generation such as how HIVs are passed on genetically. Mistake from the
replication of DNA or the chromosomes can cause mutation and variation in the
body. There are two majors way that causes mutation: chemical or radiation and
evolving over time to the environment according to Darwin's laws on natural
selection.
Chances of DNA failing to replicate the
exact duplicate is really low, however
once it has been synthesize wrongly, it could affect the entire individual and
lead to mutation or changes in the individual. The modification in autosomes
may lead to diseases such as Down syndrome, Edward’s syndrome or fatau's
syndrome where there is one extra chromosome (3 chromosomes instead of 2
chromosomes). Since the gene is coded inside the DNA, the disease can be pass
on to the next generation as well. In addition, if an individual is missing an
autosome, they will result in being handicapped where they might be missing an
arm or they might have a volvuli heart disease.
This article on chromosome disorders interested me because I
personally know many individual with down syndromes. I think it is pretty
amazing how small structure units such as chromosomes have the ability to
control and impact the entire living organism.
The CITES conference 2013 has been going on in Thailand this
past few week where the candidates from different countries gathered together
to discuss the issue of whether or not endangered species should be protected.
Some find its important to keep these species, while others disagree most
likely because whether or not they protect these endangered species, it would
not affect their lifestyles in anyway.
Ertmochelys Imbricata, or well known as the Hawksbill Sea
Turtle is one of the species that is considered as endangered. They are found
in warm sea water and undergoes long distance migrations despite their
environment condition. They stand out from other sea turtles with their sharp
and curving beak and their saw-like shell. Hawksbills are usually found near
coral reefs at feed on sea sponges (high toxic). It takes around 20-40 years to
mature therefore its growing and reproductive rate is considered as very
gradual.
According to scientists, the hawksbill population has
declined for over 80% during the last century.
Hawksbill Turtle is the only species that exists from its
genus; Ertnochelys, today and they are considered as a critically endangered
animal that has to be conserved due to human impacts. Human, illegally,
captures Hawksbill turtles to make jewelry and hunt for their eggs, meats and
shells. Despite the pollutions by man, and climate change triggers and destroys
their habitat. Hawksbills are very vulnerable to the coral reefs. Once that
habitat are being affected from various factors, Hawksbills are also affected
by it making them currently the world’s most endanger marine ecosystems.
As for the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), they plan to
save the hawksbill and other sea turtle species around the world by focusing on
the protection of their habitats and their community since it is almost
impossible to maintain or reduce the amount of pollution made without people’s
will. With the hand from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES), they declared that it is illegal to import or export turtle
products, or to kill, harass or hunt for any sea turtles, especially for the hawksbills
sea turtle.
In this week’s three-days weekend, up in the mountain at
Khaoyai, there are many different and weird looking insects comparing it to
Bangkok, however the organism that seems to attract me most are butterflies.
There are plentiful butterflies here but how come all of them with different
wings colour even though they fly in the same group; some are red, some are
yellow and some are even transparent. One is mainly due to the thickness of
their wings. According to my research, butterfly’s wings are covered with
thousands of tiny scales that split into two to three layers.
When different light intensity hits the different layers of
butterfly wings, different wavelength of visible lights are reflected intensely
either in one specific colour spectrum or the combination of spectrums which
creates variety of species of butterfly.
Butterfly wings are also capable of communication or
camouflage to hide from their predators despite the optical effects we see
(rather than a pigment), which allow us to see a particular colour when
reacting with light. Butterfly colour also exaplins its evolution and
development as well. If someone touches their wings, you might rub off some of
the colour on their wings because they are are really delicate and in small
scales.
Their wings also need to be at specific range of
temperature, or else they will not be able to fly. Since butterflies are
cold-blooded, the need the warmth from the sun to enable them to fly.
The flood situation in Thailand is like a nightmare for the people. Thailand’s flood in the year 2011 is the most un-expectable event happened in Thailand. From the lack of co-operation and management conflict between the government and the protest as well as the extensive amount of rains and water from the North of Thailand has brought damages to the country badly such as the death of people. However, it is not just people that are irritated and being disturbed by the water, but animals and environment as well. Most animal has to migrate from its location to other places, some died, but some also gets advantages from the flood such as increases of reproduction in mosquitoes, the mambas, and alligators. Most of all, it is like one of the best moment for mosquitoes to reproduce itself and for it to find food (mostly bloods), this is as well called ‘natural selection’, when an animal is able to became fit in a particular environment. In addition, bacteria and viruses have increases more than twice as much from the flood as well. People had been getting an eye infection which may lead them to death or into a blind mode. Doctors and scientists have mentioned that the eyes discoloration is the scariest issue at this moment. They’ve asked parents to avoid their kids from playing in flood water because it is full of bacterial dedicated to the polluted environment. Flood water contains bacteria that are harmful. In addition, bacteria will able to live longer in the polluted environment which equals to the fact that people will have a greater chance of getting those viruses such as red eye. In this case, this infection will circulate badly and quickly and will affect myriad amount of people.
As well, the flood water may cause diseases that allow bacteria to go inside the blood current. The symptom of a boy, nauseated, watery stools admitted into the hospital after playing in the flood water in his neighborhood. The boy shows sign of dehydration and white blood cells are consisted of bacteria coincidentally the same case happened to another boy. Choking may cause the water to enter the boy's body; however doctors have been watching his status closely until he was safe and went home. This is to warn parents that incase any of these symptoms show up please seek immediate medical attention, since the symptoms of nauseating, dehydration, dry lips, tired eyes or watery stool need to be treated with correct medical care.
After questioning 20 middle school kids about what the
smallest unit of life is, turns out that 18 of them said that the smallest
living unit on earth is atom and the other two said it was ants. The result
clearly shows that these kids have no idea what they are talking about.
Anyways, I gave these youngsters another chance to answer my question after
giving them a clue that “that” smallest organism is in our body. 50% of them
said it’s the bacteria while other 30% said its viruses. As a result, it turns
out that none of them know the answer to my question. As a high school-er, I
would want to give these information, especially to 9 graders and below about
cell just to prepare you for the first unit of your 10 grade biology class.
Here’s the story………….
“Everything happens for a reason”.
It was told by scientist that the Earth is about 4.6 billion
years old. During those years, there were no sign of living organism at all.
Flashing back around 3.6 billion years ago was when the
first living organism on Earth existed through evolutions. From no living
organism existed, to prokaryotic cells, to eukaryotic cells and later evolved
as animals such as insects and fishes. If evolutions and interactions doesn’t
occurred, their would not be any living organism on this planet and if here
were no cells, there wouldn’t be roses, giraffes and humans and the Earth would
be completely different from today.
Cell is consented as the smallest unit of living organism
because it obtains all functions living organism should have such as the
ability to metabolize and reproduce. Cell has very complicated features and
functions where it is hard for human to figured everything out about it despite
its incredibly small size. For example, Haemophilus, a type of bacteria has a
size of 0.2-0.5 micrometers, which is about the smallest specimen that can be
seen through a light microscope.
Cell is more fascinating than you think they are. Cell has
the ability to convert oxygen and nutrients into electricity. This electricity
travels in nanometers and has the electrical field of around 0.1volts. It also
carries genetic codes in according to their structure (genetic information in
prokaryotic cells flows in the cell itself in the other hand, it’s located
inside the nucleus. It carries out numerous amounts of functions which are determines
by which type of that cekk is specify on. Cells got differentiate during
organism’s early age. Differentiation is when each cell is assigned its
specific role in organism’s body. This allowed our body to carry different
functions towards our daily activities. In addition, instead of dying off when
it is damaged like other organism, cell has the ability to divide itself into
two, or repair itself, which benefits the organism and their health.
I believe that cells should be appreciated more among
sciences area. In my opinion, cell is like the reason to every possible aspect
created on Earth. It carries and supports significant aspect that living
organism needs in order to survive. It is almost impossible for me to imagine
what the world would be like without the evolution of the cell and how it
develops.
