Thursday, May 1, 2008

Darwin's Theory of Evolution

In a recent class we were able to apply our knowledge and try to become analytical with it. Professor Jimenez brought 8 turtles (one probably weighing over 15 lbs). The catch was that we had to distinguish between these which were real turtles and which tortoises. It was very interesting to hold these turtles and recognize features in them that distinguished them from others. Some had long nails which meant that they were at digging, others had long tails, while some barely had one. If they had a sharp mouth this meant they good at cutting their prey and different things. For me the most interesting one was the box turtle. The most entertaining feature was the ability it had to hide its head inside the shell. The shell could completely close so it could stay safe from any threats. For this reason its name. The project was to understand how most of these species lived in different areas. Some had to live in forests, other near water and some in the mud. However they were all turtles.

This is where Darwin inspired his theory, in the Galapagos Islands. He noticed how different turtles required different features and abilities in order to survive. The following is a key description of Darwin’s main points on evolution and his idea of natural selection:

• A species is a population of organisms that interbreeds and has fertile offspring.

• Living organisms have descended with modifications from species that lived before them.

• Natural selection explains how this evolution has happened:

— More organisms are produced than can survive because of limited resources.

— Organisms struggle for the necessities of life; there is competition for resources.

— Individuals within a population vary in their traits; some of these traits are heritable -- passed on to offspring.

— Some variants are better adapted to survive and reproduce under local conditions than others.

— Better-adapted individuals (the "fit enough") are more likely to survive and reproduce, thereby passing on copies of their genes to the next generation.

— Species whose individuals are best adapted survive; others become extinct.

Work cited:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/educators/course/session2/explain_c_pop2.html

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Passing Handouts (4/26/08)



Tuesday, April 29, 2008



Thursday, April 17, 2008

The Galapagos Islands


The Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, are where Charles Darwin received the inspiration for the theory of evolution. In observing the islands' ecosystem and how its bird and reptile inhabitants compared to similar South American cousins, Darwin assembled what has become the driving philosophy of science.

Written by Dr. Ray Bohlin and Sue Bohlin
(Picture credit,
Dr. Ray Bohlin and Sue Bohlin)

If you are interested in visiting or simply learning a little about the beautiful Galapagos Islands and the natural beauty these islands have please follow the following link:
http://www.probe.org/faith-and-science/origins/the-galapagos-islands-the-bohlins-visit.html

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Genetically Altered Grocery List

The following information has been retrieved from http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/genetic_engineering/engineered-foods-allowed-on-the-market.html
Please feel free to visit the website to review any additional information you would like to have about the foods you eat and if they are genetically altered in any way.

Genetically Engineered Food and Feed Allowed on the Market


Product Institution(s) Engineered Trait(s) Sources of New Genes Name
Date Allowed on Market
Alfalfa Monsanto Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus Roundup Ready
2005
Canola Bayer Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus LibertyLink 2000
Canola Monsanto Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds Arabidopsis, bacteria, virus

Roundup Ready
1999

Canola Monsanto Altered oil (high lauric acid) for soap and food products Calif bay, turnip rape, bacteria, virus Laurical
1995
Canola Bayer Male sterile to facilitate hybridization; resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria SeedLink
2000
Chicory (radicchio) Bejo Zaden Male sterile to facilitate hybridization Bacteria SeedLink
1997
Corn Bayer Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds/male sterile to facilitate hybridization Bacteria, virus SeedLink
Date unknown
Corn Bayer Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus LibertyLink
Date unknown
Corn Bayer Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds/Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Bacteria, virus StarLink
1998 (approved only for animal feed)
Corn Dow/Mycogen Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Corn, bacteria, virus NatureGard
1995

Corn

Dow/Mycogen

Bt toxin to control insect pests (corn rootworm)/Resist glufosinate herbicide

Bacteria, virus

Herculex Rootworm 2005

Corn Dow/Mycogen
DuPont/Pioneer
Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds/Bt toxin to control insect pests (Lepidopteran) Corn, bacteria, virus Herculex I
2001
Corn DuPont/Pioneer Male sterile to facilitate hybridization Potato, corn, bacteria, virus Name unknown
1998
Corn Monsanto/
DeKalb
Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Bacteria Bt-Xtra
1997
Corn Monsanto/
DeKalb
Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus Name, date unknown
Corn Monsanto Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Bacteria YieldGard
1996
Corn Monsanto Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds/Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Arabidopsis, bacteria, virus Name unknown
1998

Corn

Monsanto

Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds/Bt toxin to control insect pests (corn rootworm)

Bacteria

Name unknown 2006

Corn Monsanto Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds Arabidopsis, bacteria, virus Roundup Ready
1998

Corn

Renessen (Monsanto and Cargill)

Higher levels of lysine to enhance animal feed

Bacteria

Mavera High Value Corn with Lysine
2006

Corn

Syngenta Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Bacteria Bt11
1996
Corn Syngenta Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Corn, bacteria, virus Knock Out
1995

Corn

Syngenta

Bt toxin to control insect pests (corn rootworm)

Bacteria

Name unknown 2007

Corn (pop) Syngenta Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Corn, bacteria, virus Knock Out
1998
Corn (sweet) Syngenta Bt toxin to control insect pests (European corn borer) Bacteria Bt11
1998

Cotton

Bayer/Aventis

Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds

Virus

Name unknown 2003

Cotton Monsanto/
Bayer
Resist bromoxynil herbicide to control weeds/Bt toxin to control insect pests (cotton bollworms and tobacco budworm) Bacteria Name unknown
1998
Cotton Monsanto/
Bayer
Resist bromoxynil herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus BXN Cotton
1995
Cotton Monsanto Bt toxin to control insect pests (cotton bollworms and tobacco budworm) Bacteria Bollgard
1995
Cotton Monsanto Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds Arabidopsis, bacteria, virus Roundup Ready
1996

Cotton

Mycogen/Dow

Bt toxin to control insect pests/Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds

Bacteria, virus

Bollgard II 2002

Cotton

Mycogen/Dow

Bt toxin to control insect pests/Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds

Bacteria, virus

HerculexT I 2001

Flax Univ Saskatchewan Resist sulfonylurea herbicide to grow in soils with herbicide residues Arabidopsis, bacteria CDC Triffid
1999
Papaya Cornell Univ/
Univ Hawaii
Resist papaya ringspot virus Bacteria, virus Sunup, Rainbow
1997
Potato Monsanto Bt toxin to control insect pests (Colorado potato beetle) Bacteria NewLeaf
1995
Potato Monsanto Bt toxin to control insect pests (Colorado potato beetle)/resist potato virus Y Bacteria, virus NewLeaf Y
1999
Potato Monsanto Bt toxin to control insect pests (Colorado potato beetle)/resist potato leafroll virus Bacteria, virus

NewLeaf Plus
1998

Rice

Bayer

Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds

Bacteria, virus

LibertyLink
2004

Soybean

Bayer Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus Name unknown
1998
Soybean DuPont Altered oil (high oleic acid) to increase stability, reduce polyunsaturated fatty acids Soybean, bean, bacteria, virus Name unknown
1997
Soybean Monsanto Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds Petunia, soybean, bacteria, virus Roundup Ready
1995
Squash Seminis
Vegetable Seed
Resist watermelon mosaic 2 and zucchini yellow mosaic viruses Bacteria, virus Freedom II
1995
Squash Seminis
Vegetable Seed
Resist watermelon mosaic 2, zucchini yellow mosaic, cucumber mosaic viruses Bacteria, virus Name unknown
1997
Sugarbeet Bayer Resist glufosinate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus Name unknown
2000
Sugarbeet Monsanto/
Syngenta
Resist glyphosate herbicide to control weeds Bacteria, virus Name unknown
1999
Tomato (cherry) Agritope Altered ripening to enhance fresh market value Bacteria Name unknown
1996
Tomato DNA Plant Technology Altered ripening to enhance fresh market value Tomato, bacteria, virus Endless Summer
1995
Tomato Monsanto/
Calgene
Altered ripening to enhance fresh market value Tomato, bacteria, virus FlavrSavr
1994
Tomato Monsanto Altered ripening to enhance fresh market value Bacteria Name unknown
1995
Tomato Zeneca/
PetoSeed
Thicker skin and altered pectin to enhance processing value Tomato, bacteria, virus Name unknown
1995

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Trip to Bahamas
















Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Endangered Species

Within a radius of 100 miles from my house the only endangered specie is the Sea Turtle.
However I will list ALL endangered species located in the state of Florida:

Animals 56


Listing

Alligator, American ( Alligator mississippiensis)

Bankclimber, purple ( Elliptoideus sloatianus)

Bat, gray ( Myotis grisescens)

Butterfly, Schaus swallowtail ( Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus)

Caracara, Audubon's crested (FL pop.) ( Polyborus plancus audubonii)

Crane, whooping [XN] ( Grus americana)

Crocodile, American ( Crocodylus acutus)

Darter, Okaloosa ( Etheostoma okaloosae)

Deer, Key ( Odocoileus virginianus clavium)

Eagle, bald (lower 48 States) ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Jay, Florida scrub ( Aphelocoma coerulescens)

Kite, Everglade snail (FL pop.) ( Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)

Manatee, West Indian ( Trichechus manatus)

Moccasinshell, Gulf ( Medionidus penicillatus)

Moccasinshell, Ochlockonee ( Medionidus simpsonianus)

Mouse, Anastasia Island beach ( Peromyscus polionotus phasma)

Mouse, Choctawhatchee beach ( Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)

Mouse, Key Largo cotton ( Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola)

Mouse, Perdido Key beach ( Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)

Mouse, southeastern beach ( Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris)

Mouse, St. Andrew beach ( Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)

Panther, Florida ( Puma concolor coryi)

Pigtoe, oval ( Pleurobema pyriforme)

Plover, piping (except Great Lakes watershed) ( Charadrius melodus)

Pocketbook, shinyrayed ( Lampsilis subangulata)

Puma (FL) ( Puma concolor)

Rabbit, Lower Keys marsh ( Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)

Rice rat (lower FL Keys) ( Oryzomys palustris natator)

Salamander, flatwoods ( Ambystoma cingulatum)

Sea turtle, green (FL, Mexico nesting pops.) ( Chelonia mydas)

Sea turtle, green (except where endangered) ( Chelonia mydas)

Sea turtle, hawksbill ( Eretmochelys imbricata)

Sea turtle, Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii)

Sea turtle, leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea)

Sea turtle, loggerhead ( Caretta caretta)

Seal, Caribbean monk ( Monachus tropicalis)

Shrimp, Squirrel Chimney Cave ( Palaemonetes cummingi)

Skink, bluetail mole ( Eumeces egregius lividus)

Skink, sand ( Neoseps reynoldsi)

Slabshell, Chipola ( Elliptio chipolaensis)

Snail, Stock Island tree ( Orthalicus reses)

Snake, Atlantic salt marsh ( Nerodia clarkii taeniata)

Snake, eastern indigo ( Drymarchon corais couperi)

Sparrow, Cape Sable seaside ( Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)

Sparrow, Florida grasshopper ( Ammodramus savannarum floridanus)

Stork, wood (AL, FL, GA, SC) ( Mycteria americana)

Sturgeon, Gulf ( Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi)

Sturgeon, shortnose ( Acipenser brevirostrum)

Tern, roseate (Western Hemisphere except NE U.S.) ( Sterna dougallii dougallii)

Three-ridge, fat ( Amblema neislerii)

Vole, Florida salt marsh ( Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli)

Whale, finback ( Balaenoptera physalus)

Whale, humpback ( Megaptera novaeangliae)

Whale, right ( Balaena glacialis)

Woodpecker, red-cockaded ( Picoides borealis)

Woodrat, Key Largo ( Neotoma floridana smalli)

PLANTS 55

Listing

Lead-plant, Crenulate ( Amorpha crenulata)

Pawpaw, four-petal ( Asimina tetramera)

Bonamia, Florida ( Bonamia grandiflora)

Bellflower, Brooksville ( Campanula robinsiae)

Prickly-apple, fragrant ( Cereus eriophorus fragrans)

Spurge, deltoid ( Chamaesyce deltoidea deltoidea)

Spurge, Garber's ( Chamaesyce garberi)

Fringe-tree, pygmy ( Chionanthus pygmaeus)

Aster, Florida golden ( Chrysopsis floridana)

Cladonia, Florida perforate ( Cladonia perforata)

Pigeon wings ( Clitoria fragrans)

Rosemary, short-leaved ( Conradina brevifolia)

Rosemary, Etonia ( Conradina etonia)

Rosemary, Apalachicola ( Conradina glabra)

Harebells, Avon Park ( Crotalaria avonensis)

Gourd, Okeechobee ( Cucurbita okeechobeensis okeechobeensis)

Pawpaw, beautiful ( Deeringothamnus pulchellus)

Pawpaw, Rugel's ( Deeringothamnus rugelii)

Mint, Garrett's ( Dicerandra christmanii)

Mint, longspurred ( Dicerandra cornutissima)

Mint, scrub ( Dicerandra frutescens)

Mint, Lakela's ( Dicerandra immaculata)

Buckwheat, scrub ( Eriogonum longifolium gnaphalifolium)

Snakeroot ( Eryngium cuneifolium)

Spurge, telephus ( Euphorbia telephioides)

Milkpea, Small's ( Galactia smallii)

Seagrass, Johnson's ( Halophila johnsonii)

Beauty, Harper's ( Harperocallis flava)

Hypericum, highlands scrub ( Hypericum cumulicola)

Jacquemontia, beach ( Jacquemontia reclinata)

Water-willow, Cooley's ( Justicia cooleyi)

Blazingstar, scrub ( Liatris ohlingerae)

Pondberry ( Lindera melissifolia)

Lupine, scrub ( Lupinus aridorum)

Birds-in-a-nest, white ( Macbridea alba)

Beargrass, Britton's ( Nolina brittoniana)

Whitlow-wort, papery ( Paronychia chartacea)

Cactus, Key tree ( Pilosocereus robinii)

Butterwort, Godfrey's ( Pinguicula ionantha)

Polygala, Lewton's ( Polygala lewtonii)

Polygala, tiny ( Polygala smallii)

Wireweed ( Polygonella basiramia)

Sandlace ( Polygonella myriophylla)

Plum, scrub ( Prunus geniculata)

Rhododendron, Chapman ( Rhododendron chapmanii)

Gooseberry, Miccosukee ( Ribes echinellum)

Chaffseed, American ( Schwalbea americana)

Skullcap, Florida ( Scutellaria floridana)

Campion, fringed ( Silene polypetala)

Pinkroot, gentian ( Spigelia gentianoides)

Meadowrue, Cooley's ( Thalictrum cooleyi)

Torreya, Florida ( Torreya taxifolia)

Warea, wide-leaf ( Warea amplexifolia)

Mustard, Carter's ( Warea carteri)

Ziziphus, Florida ( Ziziphus celata)

Source: http://www.endangeredspecie.com/states/fl.htm