Abstract This paper explains that the fossil records tell us that, through out the geological history of earth, mass extinctions have been the norm rather than the exception. This paper states that a better understanding of the role extinction plays in evolution is essential. The author concludes that human beings are uniquely adaptable; they invent procedures as medicine that give them extended control over their environments.
From the Paper "Of course, the most famous extinction event is that of the dinosaurs, about 65 million years ago. Such events appear in the fossil record as far back as Precambrian time when it is believed that life first began. Ideas of mass extinction has been an issue of controversy between many geologists towards the idea that it is related to intermittent catastrophes such as the striking of the earth's surface by a large asteroid or comet. Many paleontologists and evolutionary theorists reject such ideas and believe them to be unjustified."
Abstract The papers gives a brief history of the illness and presents its symptoms. It then presents a variety factors that are responsible for causing the illness such as an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, structural brain abnormalities, or abnormalities in the prenatal environment. The paper then explains that schizophrenia is also a biological disease caused by genetic factors. The paper explores the different theories behind this assertion. It then discusses the reasons behind the high prevalence of schizophrenia among blacks in Britain concluding that the cause may be social rather than genetic.
From the Paper "Research has shown that inheritance of genes is the number one factor in determining one's risk of developing schizophrenia (Mueser, para on ?Genetic factors.?) Studies of family histories show that the more closely one is related to someone with schizophrenia, the greater the risk one has of developing the illness. For example, the children of one parent with schizophrenia have about a 13 percent chance of developing the illness, and children of both parents with schizophrenia have about a 46 percent chance of developing the illness. (Ibid.)"
Abstract This paper describes various types of ecosystems. The paper defines an ecosystem as all of the organisms and their physical environment that exist within a certain, specific area, including all plants, animals, water, dirt, rocks, and the surrounding air. The paper includes a discussion of a complex mature forest ecosystem.
From the Paper "The word "ecosystem" is used frequently in the popular media, and yet most people do not have a clear, working definition of an ecosystem. An ecosystem simply refers to all of the organisms and their physical environment that exist within a certain, specific area. This includes all plants, animals, and their environment, which can include water, dirt, rocks, and the air that surrounds them. For example, all of the organisms that live in a New England tide pool, plus their physical environment would make up an ecosystem. In addition, a deciduous forest and a salt pond marsh are also ecosystems."
Abstract A paper which details how theories from Charles Darwin's "Origin of the Species" conveys themes discussed within the lives of the main characters in the novel, "The French Lieutenant's Woman" by John Fowles. The paper explores Darwinism and how it pertains to Charles, Sarah and the narrator. It also demonstrates societal evolution within the context of Darwinism.
From the Paper "The narrator discusses Darwin and relates his ideas to the condition of the characters. Fowles suggests that despite evolution, every species struggles and often loses the same kinds of fights fought and lost centuries before. To Fowles, evolution, in essence, means both change and no change. In the novel, the narrator says himself: "Darwinism, as its shrewder opponents realized, led open the floodgates to something far more serious than the undermining of the Biblical account of the origins of man; its deepest implications lay in the direction of determinism and behaviorism" (pg. 120)."
Abstract The paper's thesis states that preservation and efficient management of the rain forest's botanical, cultural and therapeutic resources is the key to a healthier life and a better world. On this basis, the paper reviews the book "Tale of a Shaman's Apprentice" by Mark J. Plotkin, in which he demonstrates the urgent need to cease the rapid environmental destruction increasing at an alarming pace. The paper shows that by describing the reactions of medicinal plants of the rain forests on the human body and outlining the various classifications of forest plants, Plotkin has successfully managed to accomplish his aim of spreading the much-needed awareness regarding the protection, preservation and management of the rain forests spread world wide and the need to take care of and conduct research of the fragile cultures that inhabit these forests. The paper discusses how this captivating book highlights the importance of the Amazonian forests by describing in detail their diverse and unique botanical power and the availability of the majority of the insects and other animals in various regions of the Amazon jungles. It shows, too, how Plotkin also puts emphasis on the botanical wisdom of the shamans of the Amazonian forests.
From the Paper "Examining and exploring the characteristics, distribution, origins and classification of the plant life of a region is the primary concern of an ethno botanist. Since Plotkin was the principal ethno botanist, his job status demanded exploration of rain forests for the betterment of human kind. Hence, to hunt down shamans who are well aware of medical treatments done though the plants, were the basic requirements of his work. However, this was not the only reason as the author suggests in his book. He was intrigued by plant life and it all started on a September night lecture in 1974 at Harvard University (Plotkin: 2) that ignited a spark in the thirsty soul and made him discover the wonders of the Amazonian ever developing plant life and the cures that the medicine experts in the rain forests of the Amazon exposed (Plotkin: 3). For the same reason, he chose the particular plant life of the Amazon areas to study and learn, how to ameliorate the contemporary world and the ensuing deadly ailments with the advancement of industry and science."
Abstract The paper investigates a unique characteristic found within the development of male orangutans whereby the reaching of complete maturity and adulthood among a portion of orangutan males, both in the wild and captivity, is held off and slowed down by natural means. The paper explains how developmentally arrested orangutans remain subadults, smaller and less physically mature than their fully grown adult male counterparts. It explores a number of studies which have been conducted to attempt to determine the reasons and causes for what is often called bimaturism. The paper shows that because of the lower status of subadult males, female orangutans prefer to copulate with dominant, fully mature males. Often, in order to receive sexual gratification, subadult orangutans force unwilling females to have sex and the act of rape is extremely common among orangutans. The paper shows how a number of studies have been conducted in order to better understand the reasons for bimaturism and the effects of the trait on orangutan populations and the species as a whole.
From the Paper "Because of their solitary, illusive nature, it is often difficult to observe orangutans in the wild. It was previously believed that orangutan males reached puberty sometime between the ages of seven and nine. Researchers thought that developing males would spend a few years in an intermediate stage, before becoming a full grown adult sometime between twelve and fourteen. However, after populations were established in zoos, scientists noted that subadults would remain in the arrested development stage as long as a dominant male was present. When the fully mature male was removed, the subadult males would physically develop the traits of dominant males, most notably the wide cheek pads, and long, brightly colored hair."
Abstract This paper analyzes St. Johns Wort (SJW), a common herbal treatment. It offers an insight into how its constituents affect us neurologically with its primary ingredients of hypericin, hyperflorin and various flavanoids and describes how, although SJW can be used for various treatments, the main condition that it is used for is depression. It provides a comparative study of conventional anti-depressive agents and their relative side effects and shows how the demand for herbal medicines today is rising at exponential rates, with an obvious advantage such as reductions in the number of side effects. It evaluates whether herbal medicines all that they claim to be and if they contain any profound pharmacological constituents or whether they give just a placebo effect.
From the Paper "Herbal medicines are clearly mixtures of more than one active ingredient and in many instances, we are not sure which or how many constituents are pharmacologically important. Furthermore, in trying to acquire the mechanisms of action of plant extracts is often complicated even if we know the active ingredient because such extracts contain a wide range of pharmacologically active constituents that might work together to contribute to the pharmacological activity. [1] Our understanding is further dinted if the molecular basis of the disease under investigation is not well understood."
From the Paper " We have become a population of specialists, with each person so deep in his chosen field that he scarcely realizes the existence of other fields. Perhaps biology is ignored more than most other fields because of its stereotypical image. When people think of biology, they picture a scientist wearing a white lab coat (complete with pocket protectors), carrying numerous volumes of big, pictureless books, and muttering confusing, multisyllabic words. Although this is one type of biologist, most scientists do not fit this description. Regardless of their appearance, these scientists' labors cannot be ignored-especially in the field of genetics--because they affect everyone: philosophers, lawyers, priests, and laypersons. Geneticists, specifically genetic engineers, propose to alter the genetic (...)"
From the Paper " When a human infant is born its nervous system is still developing, it has not yet formed all of its neural connections nor have the neurons reached complete physical maturation. Because of this, the newborn lives in a very different world than the adult human. To be more specific, the visual world of the infant is considerably different from the visual world of the adult. The visual system of the newborn is very immature compared to that of even a 4 month old; therefore, the newborn does not perceive much of the (or at least the same) stimuli as would an adult or 4 month old. The consequences of an immature visual system are extensive. The newborn sees the world as a fuzzy, somewhat drab place.
The human nervous system at full.term birth (i.e., a 9 month (...)"
This paper focuses on the issue of using animals in experimentation: Ethics, protests, benefitsand drawbacks, scientfic views, toxicity testing, quality control and laws.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 3 sources, 1990, $ 71.95
From the Paper "Using animals for laboratory research is not new: European researchers first began large scale animal experimentation in the nineteenth century. Today, the use of animals in experiments is so widespread and so uncontrolled that no one is certain of the exact number of animals being used. Estimates range from between 30 million animals per year to 100 million. What is known for certain is that animals are suffering a great deal of pain and premature death during the experiments. Sometimes, the tests themselves are suspect, meaning that animals are being sacrificed for no apparent reason. Companies have arisen specifically for the purpose of providing animals for research purposes, bringing with them questionable business practices and leaving behind the welfare of the animals in question. This paper focuses on the issue of using animals in experimentation, ... "
From the Paper "Weighing less than sixteen hundred grams (three pounds), the brain is the center of the human's being. It can store more information than all the libraries in the world and is responsible for the human's most primitive urges, his ideals, his thinking and his actions. Growing right along with the rest of the body, the brain, like everything else animate, goes through an aging process. The purpose of this paper will be to discuss the normal aging process and the physical changes that take place within the organ. In addition, the research will relate these changes to what is known of the behavioral and cognitive effects of aging.
A definition of the brain follows:
The portion of the vertebrate central nervous system that constitutes the organ of thought and neural coordination, ... "
Thomas defines algae as:
Plants belonging to the subphylum Algae of the phylum Thallophyta, the lowest division of the plant kingdom.
They are nonparasitic plants without roots, stems, or leaves; they contain chlorophyll and vary in size from microscopic forms to massive seaweeds. They live in fresh or salt water or in moist places. Some serve as food or as sources of medicinal products (9:56-57).
Alexander and Alexander (1) report that algae is one of the two distinct types of Thallophyta, or those plants without the specialized organs (i.e., leaves, stems, roots) that are characteristic in higher-order plants. There are several..."
"The problem of defining Homo erectus is that it is viewed at present as a grade of human evolution intermediate between the small-brained early Pleistocene hominids and the large-brained Homo sapiens" (3:102). This theory of human evolution from the Natural History British Museum in London defines the controversy in the anthropological world. The evolution of man does not follow an easily marked road map. Exactly when Homo first emerged is not definitively clear. With the discovery of Homo erectus remains in 1891 in Central Java, fossils have since been found in Africa, China and Europe. It is generally accepted that the species evolved in Africa about 1.6 million years ago (3). However, some anthropologists argue that the emergence of the species is at least 2.5 million years old. (2) They base their ..."
The physical attributes differ significantly between males and females during the pubertal process, with no single, sudden event being accountable for such differences. That is, puberty entails a process that slowly unfolds beginning with conception through adulthood; thus, the onset and termination of this process is difficult to delineate. For this reason, there is difficulty in delineating the pubertal sequence, with individual variation being common. Moreover, there are age differences for the average male and female pubertal. Note that the pubertal sequence may begin at age 10 or as late as age 14 for males, with accelerated growth in the testicles (Petersen, 1979) and/or pubic hair (Tanner, 1970); while it may be at age 10 or as late as age ..."
From the Paper "CLASSIFICATION OF CORALS AND CORAL REEFS
Renston (6) reports that coral reefs consist of compacted and cemented assemblages of skeletons and skeletal sediment made up of sedentary organisms that reside in warm marine waters. The depths of water in which coral reefs grow require strong illumination. "Coral reefs are constructional physiographic features of tropical seas, and they primarily consist of a rigid calcareous framework made of encrusted skeletons of reef-building (hermatypic) corals and crustose coralline algae" (122).
Levine and Rotman (1) report that coral reefs consist of two classifications: hard and soft corals. The reefs consisting of hard corals are those which possess skeletons composed of calcium carbonate, while the soft corals are those which either lack ..."
