26 April 2009

PGP-10
The first ten participants in the PGP, called the "PGP-10", have volunteered to share their DNA sequences, medical records, and other personal information with the research community and the general public.
The PGP-10 site
The first 10 Public Genetic Profiles
They plan to use the information to advance medicine, human biology, and knowledge of human origins. They hope to see a day when many individuals will want to get their own genome sequenced so that they may use this information to understand such things as their individual risk profiles for disease, their physical and biological characteristics, and their personal ancestries.
This weeks entry:
- Check out the site. In a minimum of 5 sentences, reflect on how you feel about this project.
- Would you have your personal genome publicly listed?
- Would you like your genome for private viewing?
- Do you think that an individuals personal genome can be used for "good" purposes? Explain.
- Do you think that an individuals personal genome can be used for "bad" purposes? Explain.
- Link to a site that supports your response to either Q4 or Q5 and include it in that response.
...
19 April 2009
Although Cuba is usually thought of as the small communist republic once ruled by the infamous Fidel Castro, this island has proved itself environmentally-friendly since the late 1990's.With a loss of supplies from Russia and the prevention of other imports to the island in 1991, Cuba dove into a severe recession, also known as, "The Special Period of Cuba". The previously oil-reliant Cuban society's hydrocarbon energy reserve diminished, leaving its population with very little fossil fuel to use. Without the means to import oil, the island was forced to grow food for themselves, leading to a gigantic increase in urban organic agriculture. The organic growing process was more labor-intensive, yet it was much healthier for the environment and the people. Despite organic production, Cuba still had difficulty providing food for the public because the food took longer to grow and there was less of it.
All throughout Cuba, especially in Havana, small organic gardens were tended to on rooftops, backyards, and even empty parking lots. Farmer's markets were used to sell products, making them readily available to the people. Despite previous use of chemical fertilizers and degraded pieces of land, the Cubans managed to change their way of living to become a more energy-efficient society. Their influence has spread widely, even outside the country. The UK's Cuban Organic Solidarity Group is one of the organizations that this change in agriculture has influenced.
Changing an entire country's way of living is not an easy task, but in hard times, it is what must be done in order to save the people. Cuba has undergone one of the largest initiatives in the world, but it is not alone; "transition towns" are just as motivated to create an eco-friendly world. These towns have changed the way their community lives drastically. Their measures are extreme, but not unfeasible.
Totnes a transition town initiative 1
Totnes #2
Life During the Special Period:
An American town in transition
Thank you all for contributing to the last "Plastic Planet" blog. Your responses were thorough and valid. Great work! For this follow-up blog, please answer the following questions.
1. How was it like to live without your plastic item for a week? If you did not live without it for a week, tell us how you think it would be like to extract it from your daily routine. State your ideas in at least five sentences, please.
2. Reflect on the "Special Period" in Cuba. Do you think that the United States has the ability to go through similar change as Cuba? How do you think that the public would respond? Would this have an affect on our economy, standards of living, etc.?
3. How would the change in America's agriculture affect your life and the lives of the people around you? What would a typical day be like under these circumstances? Use information from the link, "Life During the Special Period". State your opinion in at least six sentences.
4. Are there other alternatives to saving our environment besides such a radical idea as this? Do you think that reforming major cities (like New York, San Francisco, or Seattle, etc.) into transition towns would be a good idea? Why? Give a link that provides another alternative, or a link that supports this idea.
12 April 2009
The Ants Come Marching Two By Two

Imagine, you are stuck in a forest fire! Certainly, you don't have a fire extinguisher, or do you? Hopefully the adrenalin rush you feel makes you run out of the forest. So now you're running around the forest, trying not to breathe the dirty air while jumping over logs until you reach a rock...In the left corner of your eye, you see an endangered baby grizzly bear crying out for his mama. In the right corner of your eye, you see a rare turtle that is stuck under a branch that you could easily lift. You want to help both of them, but you only have time to help one if you want to live. "Oh how unfortunate!" your caring, thoughtful self thinks. "Whatever should I do?" Luckily, just in time, Mother Nature rains down an ocean that puts out the fire. Phew! Now you have time to help both animals.
But that was yesterday. Today there is an economic crisis where people are trying to save money. "You better get off the computer! We're trying to save money to get you into college! Life ain't cheap, you know."
It looks like your parents are not the only ones affected by money. In fact conservationists depend greatly on money when they save endangered species. While some followers argue that conservationists are just being realistic when they choose the animals with the highest chance of progress, other people believe that conservationists should help each animal equally. One British scientists solution is to create a digital Noah's Ark.
1. Is it ethical for conservationists to consider the money cost when saving an endangered animal? In a minimum of 5 sentences, defend your position. Link to a site that supports your opinion.
2. If you were creating an ark, and had to pick any one species of animal that would benefit the planet or humankind the most, which animal would you pick? In a minimum of 5 sentences explain why you choose this animal as essential.
3. If you could pick any single animal species to save from extinction, regardless of its endangered status, which one would you save and why?
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05 April 2009
BioTourist @ Chichen Itza2. Why would you like to go there?
3. In which biome is your dream destination?
Enjoy the week !