"Mountian Gorrillas Nearly Extinct"

Key Ideas:

• Gorillas in the jungles bordering Uganda, the Congo, and Rwanda are at risk of extinction
• The way that many people want to protect the gorillas by having all three countries together
• The three countries would agree to protect the gorillas by preserving the gorillas' natural habitat
• The gorillas are a large part of the ecosystem of the habitat in all three countries
• Gorillas have brought tourism to this part of Africa

Key Conclusion:

Watching this video, I really thought about much more than gorillas. I realized however small any organism is, there is a reason for that organism. I think this is why the scientists in Africa want to save these gorillas. These gorillas are a large help to the region. They help with the erosion of the area, they are used for their genes, and even tourism. But there are some problems with the gorillas. The fact that their habitat will be protected will cause farmers to lose some of their farm land, and produce less income. This has become a problem because Africa is already a poor continent and with less farmland, problems may occur.

"Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com." CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. Web. 15 May 2010. .

"Cloned Crops Closer To Being Realized"

Key Purpose: The purpose of this article is to show people the growing possibilites of cloning crops

Key Ideas:

• With Clonal Reproduction farmers and others do not have to gamble on sexual reproduction
• Work from scientists in France and Austria has made it possible for the creation of stable new mutant crops.
• With clonal reproduction farmers can clone their most successful livestock and crops.
• This process occurs when scientists change the process of mitosis to meiosis in the organism's cells.
• The process above can also minimize the chance of genetic diversity.

Key Conclusion:

I am really interested what may be possible with the concept of cloning, something that I would like to see continued. There are two main problems. First, the Catholic Church frowns upon the concept. The church believes that we are tampering with God’s creation. I think that God gave us this gift to learn to enhance the world. By cloning plants, scientists could help millions of people with world hunger. The second problem is that we are just not there yet. It will probably take many years to be able to clone something. I feel this way about astronomy. Everything is out there but we are not technological enough to explore it, as much as I would want to. Everything that is a part of science is mystery, this is what frustrates me, but also what makes me love it.

"Cloned Crops Closer To Being Realized." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. Web. 15 May 2010. .

http://aes.missouri.edu/delta/muguide/g4452_8.jpg

"Could Pandas Be an Evolutionary Mistake—or Proof of an Intelligent Designer?"

Key Purpose: The purpose of this article is to explain the evidence of evolutionary flaws.

Key Ideas

• People believe that pandas are a sign that God created the world
• They believe that the panda is a sign from God because it does not have the “attitudes to try to survive, to diet, reproduce, etc.
• The panda unlike other bears is a vegetarian that prefers less nutrition than it needs.
• Males do not instinctively know how to reproduce

Key Conclusion:

This story seems, to me, somewhat odd, just because of the connection that was made between God and pandas. I would agree that the attitudes of the pandas are weird but it doesn’t seem all that different than some humans. I chose this story in particular because the whole God vs. Evolution battle interests me. On that matter, I believe that evolution can be an answer to how instead of why. This is definitely an interesting topic but sometimes I feel that people are desperately trying to prove the other party wrong. From this story, I feel that this is almost a desperate attempt to bring together an animal and God, showing that God is in evolution. I am not saying that the article is wrong in saying the panda’s connected to God, but it doesn’t seem like a well thought out theory. The traits of the panda are indeed not pointed toward survival, but I don’t think that God would create an animal, just to disprove evolution. These are my thoughts about this article.

"Could Pandas Be an Evolutionary Mistake—or Proof of an Intelligent Designer? | Evolution | DISCOVER Magazine." Science and Technology News, Science Articles | Discover Magazine. Web. 15 May 2010. .

http://c2.api.ning.com/files/EKrj6wlCNzqUbDu4IMYAt3-OqcLlD0YaOOwt-VjURtH2fX0eEIMKFqVp4LHAOxG0shdK2NS080A-N8BTNHBQ4sCIzuV84auM/pandas.jpg

"Embryo screening fuels debate in Britain"

Key Purpose: The purpose of this article is to alert people of the growing controversy and potential of "designer babies."

Key Ideas:

• Controversy has started in England about genetic testing for unborn babies
• These tests will be able to calculate the risk of early infancy disease and also adult disease possibilities in the child
• This certain baby girl was tested for the BRCA-1 gene: breast cancer gene
• Scientists and people in London have claimed this to be unethical because scientist are designing babies
• The same technology is being used in in vitro fertilization; scientists will inject embryos without any mutations that will allow for disease
• The procedure costs $50,000 dollars; many people will not be able to afford it

Key Conclusion:

After reading this article, I am stuck. I felt that the genetic testing would be able to help many people. But after I analyzed both sides, I feel that this could become a problem. The only reasons we are here, and the only reason we are different from primates is because of heritable variation and mutations. By removing the possibility to mutate, we are somewhat removing our possibility to grow and change as a species. Cancer is a definite threat, but I think that nature keeps everything in check and by majorly altering humans, we can cause problems. I think that many things need to be researched and decided before scientists start to alter babies to keep them healthy. I would like to see where this goes, but I fear that this may become dangerous.

Godlasky, Anne. "Embryo Screening Fuels Debate in Britain - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Web. 15 May 2010. .

http://vitaro.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/embryo.jpg

"37 Million Years Ago, an Evolutionary Oddity"

Key Purpose: The purpose of this article is to introduce a newly found species of primates.

Key Ideas:

• Scientists have found a new set of teeth belonging to an uknown primate
• Scientists have found the teeth and hopefully will find a skeleton in northern Africa
• Scientists often classify old animals from their teeth because teeth often fossilize and preserve longer than other bones
• The primate does not match any other on the tree of life
• Scientists have other species of primate to classify this one with

Key Conclusion:

Reading this article made me realize something. There is so much more to discover that will change everything we know about evolution. With this one discovery we have found a primate that may ultimately change our evolutionary line. I think that as technology becomes more advanced, we will be able to uncover more and more about where we came from. With better drills and more tools to uncover fossils there will be discoveries that will change the world. Right now, all we can do is wait and follow the discoveries made now. I really am interested to see if they find more parts of this primate and see what changes it will make.

"FOXNews.com - 37 Million Years Ago, an Evolutionary Oddity." Breaking News | Latest News | Current News - FOXNews.com. Web. 15 May 2010. .

http://www.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/Scitech/Strange%20Teeth_monster_397x224.jpg

"Genetic Testing Kit to Hit Drugstore Shelves"

Key Purpose: The purpose of the article is to inform people about the production and the controversy about a new genetic tester that will be made available to all people.

Key Ideas:

• Scientists at Pathway Geonomics have created a genetic test that anybody can buy
• This genetical analysis will show risk factors of different hereditary diseases such as alzhiemers and diabetes
• This genetic test will also be able to predict people's sensitivity to caffine, medicines, and other chemicals that can effect the body
• It can also show the possibilities of a person's offspring developing mutations or other problems before birth
• The test is a saliva sample which will cost $20-$30 dollars for the saliva sample kit and $79 - $179 dollars for the actual results
• FDA is questioning the legality of it becuase it has not been an approved test
• People say that this can cause parents to terminate a pregnancy

Key Conclusion:
I have heard about genetic tests before, but I never realized what they did. After reading this article I found out exactly what the test does. I think that this is something that everybody should do. However, I also believe in what Hank Greely said, "information is powerful, but misunderstood information can be powerfully bad." But, I feel that this is information that people would want to have to protect themselves and the ones they love. Many critics say that this can lead to the termination of a unborn baby. This is a controversial topic, but I think different situations will require a different outcome. For example, I think that if a baby will be born with a mutation that will not enable he/she to have a healthy and happy lifestyle, I am not sure if it is fair to the baby to bear it. But, because of the test you might be able to find a mutation in the baby, still have the baby but prepare yourself for the outcome. I believe overall that this test will be able to save lives and help people have a healthier lifestyle for that individual person. In conclusion, I hope to see this test on the market and help many people in the world.

"Genetic Testing Kit to Hit Drugstore Shelves - AOL News." Top News and Analysis From AOL News. Web. 12 May 2010. .

http://www.topnews.in/files/Genetic-Test.jpg

"Mosquitoes May Inherit DEET Insensitivity"

Key Purpose: The purpose of this article is to alert people that mosquitoes have developed an insensitivity to DEET.

Key Ideas:

• DEET is used in most bugs sprays because it blocks the scent of human sweat, something that mosquitos and other insects are attracted to
• Mosquito's have developed an ability to not be able to sense the DEET, therefore they are able to detect human sweat without any obstacles
• This trait mosquitos have developed has become genetic, more and more mosquitos are now able to feast on human blood
• Each generation is growing DEET insensitive faster than all scientists thought
• Scientists don't have an alternative to DEET to prevent mosquitos from biting humans

Key Conclusions:

This can be a very large problem for many people. For two specific reasons: I hate mosquitos and mosquito bites, and many people may die because of this. Mosquito bites are annoying, they are something that can ruin a camping trip, a downside to summer evenings, and something that will bother you for weeks. Now that there might not be a repellent, there will be even more mosquitos biting your legs around the campfire. But, more importantly, an absence of mosquito repellent many people will be infected with the diseases that mosquitos can carry. There could be an outbreak of malaria because of the growth of population, more people will be infected. This could be a very devastating thing because scientists have not been able to discover anything that will deter mosquitos from human blood. So hopefully there will be a discovery before all mosquitos become immune to DEET and be able to keep many people safe.

Weise, Elizabeth. "Mosquitoes May Inherit DEET Insensitivity - Science Fair: Science and Space News - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. Web. 05 May 2010. .

http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=125