Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochondrial Eve is essentially the mother of every human on earth.  The reason that she is named after the organelle called Mitochondria is because of this: unlike all DNA and all organelles of our bodies, mitochondria does not split when reproducing.  Mitochondria comes from the maternal side alone.  We cannot live without mitochondria.  Therefore, we conclude that Mitochondrial Eve is the mother of all.  To understand more about Mitochondrial Eve, click HERE.


Coming from Mitochondrial Eve are many different people and cultures.  The following will show five examples of how unique different people from different places are:

Josefine Oqvist is a female from Sweden.  She is the stereotypical Swedish woman.  She has blonde hair and blue eyes and generally tanner skin complexion.  To find out more about her, click HERE.

Ken Jeong is a typical looking South Korean man.  He has more yellow or golden skin, smaller eyes, and dark hair and eyes.  To understand Ken better, follow THIS LINK. 

Wyclef Jean is a Haitian male.  He represents his ethnicity through his brown skin, bigger nose and lips, and dark hair and eyes.  More about Wyclef Jean can be found HERE.

Zac Efron is a typical American male.  Although America is called the "melting pot," generally Americans tend to look like Zac: white but not pale skin, lighter eyes, and usually brown hair.  Understand more about him HERE.

Salma Hayek is a typical Mexican woman.  She has dark hair and dark eyes.  Her skin is a little tanner and almost olive, and she has big almond-shaped eyes.  Learn more about Salma Hayek HERE.

Sunflower Blog

This is the growth of my sunflower plant step by step...

This final picture above is Thursday, April 26, 2012, and no flower has bloomed, but it is pretty tall and the leaves are alive and well!  I'll probably just plant it in a garden at Mercer and try to find it in the fall!

Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochondrial Eve is known as "the maternal ancestor of all living humans."  Although she was not the only woman or being living at the time, she is said to be the most recent common ancestor of all humans.  She was said to live about 200,000 years ago.  All living humans are said to have the same mitochondrial DNA, and this DNA comes from Mitochondrial Eve, even though it is not a known fact that she was even human.  Mitochondrial Eve is said to be originally from Africa, and her "legacy" slowly passed along throughout the whole world, ending in North and South America.

  

Animal Testing

By definition, animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million used annually.  I believe that animal testing is a good thing.  However, I do not believe it is always a humane act.  The reasons I think that animal testing could be a good thing is for medical procedures that will eventually be used on humans.  Also, I think that testing new products on animals rather than humans is definitely okay.  However, when people take it so far as to torturing animals in order to achieve a futile goal, I do not believe in this process at all.  I believe that animal testing should strictly be used for the betterment of understanding in the medical field in order to help humans... and that's it!

Standard Operating Procedure

Overview:  We will teach you how to leave Mercer University in your car

Equipment/ Supplies:

Equipment: The equipment you’ll need is a safe car with all of its parts working, especially a seatbelt.

Supplies:  You will need a set of keys to a car, preferably your own car, a comfortable outfit, and a pair of close-toed shoes.

Procedures:

            Step One:  Find your car in the parking lot

            Step Two:  Unlock your car and get into your driver’s seat

            Step Three:  Close your door and put your seatbelt on

Step Four:  Stick your key into the ignition and turn your car on

Step Five:  Put your foot on the break and put your car into “reverse”

Step Six:  Check your rearview mirrors and slowly let your foot off the break in order to roll out of your spot

Step Seven:  Turn your wheel clockwise/ counterclockwise depending on where the exit is

Step Eight:  Once out of the parking spot fully, press the breaks and put the car into “drive”

Step Nine:  Turn your wheel the opposite way it was backing out, and slowly let off the breaks

Step Ten:  Once your wheel is straightened and you are headed towards the exit, let off the breaks fully and you can even press on the gas

Step Eleven:  Once at the exit of the parking lot, make sure you stop/ yield according to the signs provided

Step Twelve:  After following the signs, you are out of the parking lot and on the roads!  CONGRATS!

Quality Control:  Always make sure your car has gas and battery before you drive.  Make sure you remember where you parked so you’re never searching around for your car for too long.  Always take precautions when driving (i.e. checking surroundings and mirrors, following signs, having a plan as to where to go,…)

Precambrian Animal

What is the Precambrian Time?
     This is the Precambrian Time...

Ammonite

Ammonites are a Precambrian animal.  They are part of the class of sea animals called cephalopods.  This class of mollusks is the smartest of its kind.  The body of an ammonite is divided into chambers, one of which has an opening.  The living part of the animal lives in the chamber next to the opening.  Ammonites can differ in size starting from half an inch to about six feet.  Ammonites are essentially the ancestors of sea snails that we see today.  They truly are unique and interesting Precambrian creatures.

Learn more here: Ammonites

The Burgess Shale

We have started the book called Wonderful Life by Stephen Jay Gould.  The book first introduces its audience to a place called the Burgess Shale.  Below, I have put the links to websites about the Burgess Shale.  I have also put a picture of the Burgess Shale on Google Maps along with a description of what is in the picture.

Burgess Shale Video

Burgess Shale Website

Burgess Shale Picture 1

Burgess Shale Picture 2

The Burgess Shale:

In this picture, I have located where the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation is- it is a house and writing in green towards the bottom of the screen.  I have also put a mark on Emerald Lake (where I would probably go if I went to the Burgess Shale)- it is a boat and writing in blue towards the top of the screen.  I created a path from one to the other- the path is bright yellow.  I also put a shaded area at the end of the path to show where I would imagine a boating dock to be/ where I would love to dock while doing water spots- it is a purple shaded region.