Negative Feedback Loops

Negative feedback loop is almost another name for the way in which are bodies maintain homeostasis. Examples of this are like our body temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. The blog about the blood sugar is an example of how negative feedback loops work. When something occurs in the body, like an intake of sugar, it rises, then the body works to bring the levels back down to normal. 

This picture is an example of a negative feedback loop.

Mitochondrial Eve

In class we have been discussing Mitochondrial Eve. Mitochondria is the DNA that everyone has that looks exactly like theirs mothers. The only time our Mito. DNA doesn't match our moms is if there has been some sort of genetic mutation. The idea of Mitochondrial Eve, is that if we trace back our Mit. DNA we will all be linked back to one specific woman. This shows that as humans we are all somehow linked to one another. Also, many believe that the reason we are all spread out and look different is because at one point in time groups of people left and moved in different directions across the globe. Once this occurred, people began to develop traits that help them live in their environment better. Some people developed darker skin because they needed it to protect them from the suns intense rays. Others loss this skin function because they no longer needed it where they live. 

This is a map of where different people have have left.

This picture is supposed to represent Mitochondrial Eve.

Russian Woman

Irish Woman

Chinese Woman

Burgess Shale

In class we watched a video about the Burgess Shale. This is the name of the fossil field in Canada that was discovered in the early 1900's. When first discovered the fossils were mistaken for animals that exist in our world today. However, after more research they found that these fossils were not anything like the species found today. Also, the animals were non-vertebrates. This is find is rare because it's usually the bone imprints that scientists use to determine the animals. Also, the animals image is pressed into the earth, so somehow the animals were slowly preserved into the land, leaving there spineless image. Finding this field allows scientists to look back at the ways species have evolved over time. 

Video of the animals found at the Shale.

Bioethanol Fuel

 In class we discussed the issue of fuel sources. The problem is that the US and the world are dependent upon products the we cannot renew, such as petroleum. While many ideas concerning a new source, bioethanol, is made up of food such as corn. We talked about the ramifications that can occur if we switch to this method. Using corn as an example as an alternative fuel source, we discussed how prices of corn would soar because it becomes extremely valuable. Anything made of corn would increase in price, which is almost all of our products. Also, farmers who grow other foods could possibly switch to making corn because of its high profit. The amount of people already starving from lack of access to food would increase greatly.

Although we talked about these different possibilities, none of which sound like they have a good end, I think it's important that people start to focus on how we can start to reduce our dependance on fuels in general. I feel that many people forget that we can carpool, or start to implement more realistic forms of public transportation. All across Europe they have mass train, and sub systems that help transport people all over the continent. If we began to use these methods in the US we could use less fuel, which can help the environment and our wallets. 

http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/02-03/biofuels/what_bioethanol.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum