SELF/UNIT EVALUATION

REGARDING MY PERFORMANCE
1. What were the three aspects of the assignments I've submitted that I am most proud of?
A. I really enjoyed the reproduction unit. I found if very interesting how we keep making babies.
B. The detail that Larry expects of us is a lot and now that I see what is expected I feel that I will be getting a good education.
C. I am proud that I have finished the class.
2. What two aspects of my submitted assignments do I believe could have used some improvement?
A. Once again I wasn’t able to get all out of the internet links.
B. The demographics lab was not that easy for me and didn’t enjoy it.
3. What do I believe my overall grade should be for this unit?
A. My overall grade is up to Larry, but I would like to see a B.
4. How could I perform better in the next unit?
A. I’ll will manage my time better, working full time is tuff but I need to finish this class.
REGARDING THE UNIT

At what moment during this unit did you feel most engaged with the course?
A. I was most engaged writing the compendiums, and the major unit lab.
At what moment unit did you feel most distanced from the course?
A. When I have been moving my home. Packing up during school doesn’t help with the studying.
What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit that find most affirming and helpful?
A. All of the effort the Larry has put into his home page. I just saw a lot of work put into my education.
What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit did you find most puzzling or confusing?
A. Trying to communicate is the toughest part of the class. I have questions and didn’t know how I was doing.
What about this unit surprised you the most?
A. I was really surprised with the amount of time we have spent in this class. And we are done, great job everyone.

ETHICAL ISSUE FOR UNIT IV

Who should reproduce? These guys.....

After this Unit I still fill incomplete about the population effect on the plant and our countries. I still am of the feeling that the biggest issues in our future are based around three things. Those factors are population, food sources, and disease. This is what I have come to believe.
The fact that our population on this planet is reaching the billions it is, many problems are going to come from it. When you have growth at exponential rates all planetary life is affected. The resources it takes to sustain these numbers the planet can’t afford to produce any more. With the trend in a greener more efficient life style in place we should start looking way ahead to secure supplies for us that don’t kill our big home, planet earth.
To feed the numbers of this planet you have to do some major figuring just to get an idea. The top producing countries still feed all of the poor ones. Yet the poor one has the high birth rates and is continuing to grow. What should we do cut them off in an in human way and let them fend for there selves. No, but it might come down to that in the future. Food is going to be a big issue, when do we just take care of our own.
With the huge populations there has to be some kind of bug that is going to come along and get us. The cultures are designed perfect for passing it on to one and other. Just think of how many people you come in contact with. Not only is that but the world still very small with all of the international travel. We have no way of controlling it. Maybe that is Mother Natures plan for species control. If it gets out of hand, boom there a disease and most of you’re going to die.
This unit was fun and interesting because it made you thinks of how we live and interact with the e environment we live in. Also what we do to affect it. I think that the population is going to get too big for the planet and food will either run out or a disease will come along and kill off most of the populations. Will see; hope it not in our life time.

Lab Project Unit 4- Species interactions

Humans-
homo sapiens- Parasites because we are taking more then we need. Yes domesticated

Dog-
canis lupos familiarias- Mutualism because we both benefit

Horse-
equus caballus- Mutualism for humans, horse provide labor uses and relaxation to humans

Cows-
bos primigenius primigenius- mutualistic because we eat them and use them for work. Yes domesticated.

Chicken-
gallus domesticus- Symbiotic because we get eggs and meat. . Yes domesticated.

Tuna-
Scombridae- Commensal we use them as food. Not domesticated

Bull or Gopher Snake-
pituophis melancoleucus- Mutualistic. Yes domesticated and

Western Honey Bee-
apis mellifera- Mutualistic. Not domesticated

House fly-
musca domestica- Commensal because fly help to decompose organics, but they can make us ill.

Moth-
catocala neogama- Commensal. Yes domesticated and

Humming Bird-
selasphorus sasin- Symbiotic. Not domesticated

Daddy Long Legs Spider-
pholcus phalangioides- Symbiotic. Not Domesticated

Spiders-
nephila clavipes- mutualisitc because spiders are fine with out us

Tarantula-
aphonopelma chalcoddes- Symbiotic. Not Domesticated

Mosquito-
anopheles- Commensal because mosquito gets the nourishment from our blood, they can transmit disease. Not domesticated.

Grass-
miscanthus sinensis- symbiotic because we enjoying the grass. Yes domesticated.

Desert Willow-
chilopsis linearis- Commensal- Yes domesticated

Juniper Tree-
juniperus communis- Symbiotic. Yes domesticated

Potato-
solanum tuberosum- Commensal we use them as foods. Yes domesticated

Onions-
allium- Mutualistic. Yes domesticated.

Corn-
zea mays- Commensal we use them as foods. Yes domesticated

Wheat-
triticum- commensal because it is grown natural or artificially. Yes domesticated.

Cotton plant-
Gossypium- Commensal. Yes domesticated

Sunflower Seeds-
elianthus annuus- Commensal. Yes domesticated

Tobacco-
nicotiana- Commensal. Yes domesticated.

Mold-
penicillium camemberti- commensal grows and surives off of things. Yes domesticated

Gingivitis-
Parasitic because it inflames our gums. Not domesticated.

Skin Bactieria-
staphylococcus aurreus- Symbiotic. Unknown if domesticatd.

Human Landscapes Compendium 8

Table of Content

Human Landscapes
Evolutionary history
Evolutionary evidence
Humans and Primates

Natural selection
Evolutions Reality Show

Ecology
Physical landscape
Water Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle

Biological landscape
Sustainable society
Bio-diversity
Alien species
Pollution
Medicinal value
Agricultural value
Human Landscapes

Evolutionary history-
The concept of time, a lot of time some 4 billion years
Over that deep time molecule formed and started creating life at cellular level

Evolutionary evidence-
Fossil record
Anatomical similarities
Common embryological features
Common Shared biochemical and genetic features

Humans and Primates-
Human’s closest relatives are monkeys and apes
We share a common deep time ancestral with all species
The fossil record shows many different human and human-like species living at one time
Homo sapiens evidence
Ability to interbreed
Little anatomical difference among populations
Little biochemical difference among populations
DNA and protein analysis show recent single common ancestor

Natural selection
Evolutions Reality Show-
The most adaptable and strongest past on genetics to off spring
Environments and culture play major roles in evolution
Humans dominate planet altering evolution by artificial selection

Ecology
Physical landscape
Water Cycle-
Water transfer rate between ecosystem components
Carbon Cycle-
Exchange rate of Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere to ecosystems
Nitrogen Cycle-
Conversion of Nitrogen gas to ammonium
Phosphorus Cycle-
Ocean sediments containing Phosphorus moving to land masses

Biological landscape

Biodiversity-
Variety of life on earth, described in terms of the number of different species.
Types-
Symbiotic: mutually beneficial, both species benefit
Parasitic: one species benefits (“parasite”) and the other is harmed (“host”)
Commensal: One species benefits, the other is unharmed
Mutualism: both species benefit, like symbiosis, but it may appear one species has the advantage, but evolutionarily, over the long-term, both benefit
Predation: Usually considered parasitic, where the predator is the parasite, but can also be seen as mutualistic
A sustainable society would not become Parasitic as we have become in recent years

Alien species-
Exotics are non native members of an ecosystem.
A sustainable society would control these species movement

Pollution-
Environmental change that adversely affects the lives and health of living things.
A sustainable society would use recycling and composting, multi use agriculture

Medicinal value-
Medicine that has originally derived from living organisms.
A sustainable society would use organisms for the better of the planet

Agricultural value-
Wild plants that have been modified to become high producers.
A sustainable society would lower artificial productions

Human Population Demographics Online Lab

1. What was your high fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?
Somalia, with a fertility rate of 7.11
2. What was your low fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?
Canada, with a fertility rate of 1.73. The initial demographic "shape" of your high fertility rate country should have been a pyramid, with high population in young age groups. Explain why high fertility rate results in a high percentage of young people in the population. How does this affect future population growth?

The reasons for high fertility rates in this country derive from the poor economy. During tough times or in area of lower standards of life the population tends to increase. The possible reasons for that is people have nothing better to do then to just have children, it a fun past time. The lack of resources has no determinant on these life styles. The ultimate effect is there will be an exponential increase in population and the starvation and disease will kill of the weak or poor.4. Your low fertility rate country might have had a more oval-shaped curve with high population in middle age groups. This is especially exaggerated if the fertility rate is below 2.00. Explain why low fertility rate leads to lots of middle-aged people.
The possible reasons for this lower fertility rates have to cultural pressure. The Ideas of not being able to provide for you off spring and the strong family values puts the breeding in control. Also the drive to enjoy other fun entertaining parts about life has held back the growth in population.
5. Write ten adjectives or descriptive phrases for what you might expect life, people's attitudes, conditions on the streets, etc. will be like in each of those situations. Imagine a situation with lots of middle-aged and older people in the population and write ten quick "brain-storm" descriptors for you think it would be like (Prescott, Arizona?). Then do the same for a situation with lots of children in the population.

High fertilization rates-
Lazy, non driven, scared people that have no education, strong instincts to the desire of intercourse, nothing to look for in values because they have had no parenting growing up.
Low fertilization rates-
Motivated, educated people that like to enjoy their past times, have been raised to be considerate to the culture they live in and the planet. They have jobs and are focused more on them selves.
Older Group-
Slow to change if at all, set in their ways, no visions for the future never had to think about it, well mannered, good ethics and morals.
Younger Group-
Just don’t care about much, lazy and un motivated, no work ethics, no common sense, but sure can play with technology and focus on how to get away with not doing much.

Reproduction Compendium 7

Table of Content

Human Life Cycle

Meiosis
Fertilization
Fetal Development
Birth
Childhood/Adolescence
Adulthood (Meiosis)
Aging
Death

Reproduction

Mitosis
Meiosis
Fertilization
Pre- Embryonic/Embryonic development
Fetal Development
Eggs
Sperm
Male reproductive organs
Female reproductive organs

Fetal Development and Birth

Fetus development by Month
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Birth




Human Life Cycle

Meiosis-
Meiosis occurs in ovaries
Phase I occurs in fetal ovary
Phase II of meiosis occurs the moment the egg is fertilized

Fertilization-
The sperm enters the egg to form a zygote. The first cell created

Fetal Development-
Uterus continues to grow since the fetus need to be supported, continues till birth

Birth-
Stage 1- Cervix dilation
Stage 2- Child is born
Stage 3- Placenta is delivered
Childhood/Adolescence-
Adulthood-
Aging-
Many factor causing body to age, Diet, environment, heredity
Death-

Reproduction

Mitosis-
Cell division producing 2 daughter cells that contain the same number and kind of chromosomes as the original cell.

Meiosis-
2 divisions, 4 gametes produced

Fertilization-
The sperm enters the egg to form a zygote. The first cell created

Pre-Embryonic-
First week of embryonic development

Embryonic Development-
2nd week of development lasting until second month of development.

Fetal Development-
Uterus continues to grow since the fetus need to be supported, continues till birth

Female reproductive organs
Eggs-
Produced by the ovaries, lives 6-24 hrs unless fertilization occurs.

Male reproductive organs
Sperm-
Produced in testes, and transported by semen secreted by the prostate and seminal gland during ejaculation

Fetal Development and Birth

Fetus development by Month
Month 3-
Organ systems and gender established and functioning
Month 4-
Skeletal structure
Month 5 –
Monitoring of heart rate
Month 6-
Starts looking human
Month 7 – 9-
Fetus continues to grow and gain weight, eye open, prepares for birth
Birth-
Uterine contractions, hormones start labor for delivery

Reproduction Online Lab

Stages of Fetal development I found Important.

Week 1 and 2-
Fertilization is occurring
Week 3-
Implantation of the placenta in uterus
Week 6-
Nervous system developing, Heart function and beats detected
Week 12-
Fingers and Toes form
Week 17 –
Mother will start feeling fetus
Week 24-
Fetus Visible during check ups
Week 26-
Lungs start to expand and develop
Week 32 –
All major Organs start maturing for birth
Week 37-
Lungs 99% developed
Week 40-
Fetus is ready to come out of the oven, start breathing in air

COURSE EVALUATION

SEE COURSE EVALUATION IN BIO 156 FORUM

THANKS FOR THE GREAT LESSONS!

ETHICAL ISSUE FOR UNIT III

With the cultural trend that we have in present day America the health of the people has been fall drastically. The lazy and easiest ways to get something done is what the people like and it is starting to show in their appearance. The only healthy people are the one that either care about their health or about their appearance. The poor health in our schools and career working class is horrible compare to other parts of the world. Why it is the land of opportunity has no desire to stay in shape. I feel that there are many reasons but the two that stick out to me are simple. The is not enough time to take care of your health when your chasing after the almighty dollar. People just have not come to like the feel of a good burn in their muscles and with out seeing results they give up.
The burden of making a living in today’s economy has got people working to the bone, they long work days behind a desk can wear on the body, but no one is fixing it. People like the easy way to go about things and getting some good exercise in just doesn’t fit into their schedule. The diet part of the picture is the same way. It is a lot easier to grab a quick bite to eat at the fast food joint then to plan a couple of meals for the day. It takes some time to go to the store and shop for food, and it is less of hassles to have someone else prepare it for you to. The chances of getting to the gym or going for a work after a long day in the office are slim to none. Most people are just too tired or unmotivated to go get some exercise. Not only that but there are other interest that people have that pay more to their happiness then pumping iron or running. Gee x box or a two mile walk. Let go with the fantasy world were I can be a hero and hard body.
The second fact is when people do go out and get some exercise; it just doesn’t happen over night. It takes time and effort to drop those pounds and when you’re not seeing results that you like you get discouraged. The fact that to build muscle you have to break it down, which is painful and uncomfortable is a big deterrent. I only know a few that get a kick out of the constant pain of building up sore muscles. There are a lot of people that try to walk or go to the gym but it always seems to turn into a social experience. It is more fun to talk to someone about how you’re getting in shape than to actually do it. All in all the mind set is not to work for something like good health but to hope it gets handed to you.
The health of the country is down and the easy life style is up. People like to have the lazy way of doing thing at their finger tips. If you can go out and make money then you focus on that instead of your health. I feel that there is going to be a change in the future of health, but it will take work and that might not be something people want to put the effort into. It is a shame that more people don’t get exercise but then again when it comes down to the survival of the fittest they won’t make it. It’s probably better that way.

Lab Project Unit 3 - Model of Human Limb

For this lab on building a working limb, I used house hold items that fit into my budget. The objective of this lab is to show the viewers how the human muscles work to move the body. This lab will explain the tissues, cells and nervous system of the human arm muscles and what goes on to make them move.

The limb that I constructed is the human arm. The arm is to scale of an adult and consist of a one upper and lower skeletal bone and two muscles that will move it. The bones are made of extensions tubes off of a shop vacuum, and the muscles are rubber bands from my home gym. I used white tape to show how the muscle tissues are connected to the bones with tendons. The elbow joint is the end of a rubber hammer that was placed together with a vacuum tip, making a perfect hinge joint. The Red rubber band represents the bicep muscle and the green band represents the triceps muscle. When the red band is contracted the arm bends together. With the green band contracting and the red band relaxing the arm straightens out again. The hinge joint makes for a smooth movement and supports the two bones represented by the vacuum tubes.

At the cellular level I have made the basics of the muscle fiber and how the muscle contracts. I also show how the nerve impulses travel and how the signal is sent to the muscle cell using action potential. To start off I made two slides of sacomeres, one in a relaxed state and another in a contracted state of position. Continuing to get smaller in scale I show the muscle fiber and how the Axon connects to the fiber so impulses can be sent. The impulses are sent by way of the neurons down to the muscle fibers, so I made actual neurons and its working parts. The impulse travel at high rates of speed to create responses and for the neurons to do this they use action Potential. I used my neurons to show its axon and how action potential travels so fast. Using the body’s sodium, potassium pump the positive and negative charges of the axon are change and the impulse travel by skipping over the myelin sheath which is called the salutatory propagation of action potential. Finally I made a slide and all of the part of the synaptic cleft of the muscle fibers. In this slide it shows how acetylcholine is used to pass the impulse at the synapse of the muscle fibers.

In summary the models I have created show from the cellular level to the actual action of the human muscles contracting and relaxing. The over all lab was fun and made me understand the concept of our bodies movement from the cellular level up to the actual muscle tissue.

Movement - Compendium 6

Table of Content

Muscle
Muscle tissue types
Skeletal muscles

Skeletal Muscles in detail.
Layers
Cellular anatomy
Myofilaments

Contraction of the Muscle
Neuromuscular junction
Synaptic knob

Action Potential Sequence
Release of ACh
Binding of ACh
Conduction of action potentials

Bone Types
Osseous tissue
Calcium phosphate
Osteocytes
Osteclasts
Osteoblasts

Bone Growth & Repair
Remodeling
Calcium
Fracture repair


Muscles
Types of muscle tissue:
Skeletal- Muscles attaching to bones directly or indirectly, and are used to produce voluntary skeletal movement.
Cardiac- Involuntary muscle and only found in the heart.
Smooth muscle- Involuntary muscle and found in walls of organs.

Skeletal Muscles in detail.
Muscle layers consist of endomysium covering fibers.
Perimysium is the sheathing of the muscle.
Epimysium covers or is outer layer of muscle.
At the end of the muscle is a tendon connecting to bones.
Muscle cells have a sarcolemma which form T tubules and touch the sarcoplasmic reticulum which store calcium ions.
Myofilaments make up the contracting parts of the muscle fiber.
The thin filament (actin) and a thick filament (myosin).

Contraction of the Muscle
Neuromuscular Junction are were the impulses link between electrical activity in the sarcolemma and the initiation of a contraction of the muscle units.
Synaptic knob, synaptic cleft, and motor end plate are part of this junction.
Action Potential Sequence
Impulses at synaptic knob release ACh into synaptic cleft. The ACh binds at the motor plate. The permeability of the membrane is changed to sodium ions.
This conduction of action potentials by the sacrolemma: This triggers a sudden release of calcium ions causing a contraction.

Bones Types
Osseous -Supports connective tissue contains specialized cells, extra cellular fibers, and ground substances.
Calcium Phosphate accounts for majority of bone weight
Osteocytes -Mature bone cells that recycle calcium and assists with bone repairs.
Osteoclasts- Giant cells; helps regulate calcium and phosphate concentrations in the body’s fluid.
Osteblasts- Cells responsible for the production of new bone.

Bone Growth & Repair
Organic and mineral components of bone are continuously recycled and renewed.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. 99% is located in the skeleton, which acts as a calcium reserve for the body.
Fracture repair involves the formation of a fracture hematoma, and then slow calcium build up and bone growth.
Aging factors of the skeleton can include osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Muscle Function: Online Lab

The first part of the muscle function lab I had to what effects Ice cold H2O had on my muscles. To do this I made an ice bath in a bucket of water. The first set of fists that I made was at normal room temperature. I then submerge my hand in to the bucket of ice and let it sit for one minute. The results were a little different then I thought.

Room temperature- 47
One minute in Ice Bath- 32

The second part of the lab was making the same fist but I recorded what my fatigue was over ten sets. This time I was more on with my hypothesis. I knew that I would get fatigued and felt that amount to times I could make a fist would get smaller with each set.

1. 46

2. 54

3. 48

4. 40

5. 38

6. 35

7. 33

8. 37

9. 28

10. 23

What are the three changes you observed in a muscle while it is working (contracted)?

1- My muscles became weaker and fatigued with each set.
2- I noticed my veins getting larger and bulging.
3- I also felt tightness in my joints slowing down the squeezing.

What effect did the cold temperature have on the action of your hand muscles? Explain.

The Ice bath had an effect of slowing down the cellular metabolism and thus my fist became weak and slow. With the vasoconstriction from the cold along with the tightness of my joints it was very hard and I had to push myself. I think a lot of this lab has to do with your mind set, and you can overcome the fatigue and weakness to a point.

Nervous Function - Compendium 5

Table of Content

Nervous System
Nervous system X 2
Nervous system functions

Neuron Body
Neurons
Axon
Dendrites

Types of neurons
Sensory
Motor

Impulse
Action Potential picture of nervous system
Resting Potential
Synapse

CNS
Spinal cord
Brain

PNS
Somatic system
Autonomic system

Sensation Response
Sensory receptors
Senses
Nervous System
Central Nervous System (CNS) - The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - The nerves connecting tissues to CNS, Impulse relay.
Neurons and Neuralgia make up nervous tissue.
Neurons transmit impulses
Neuralgia support neurons

Neuron Body
Neurons- Nervous system cells that transmit impulses between one and other.
Axon- Conducts nerve impulses within Myelin Sheath, or nerve fiber. Dendrites- Extensions connecting to other cells, either neurons or tissue cells. Send signals between CNS and tissues.

Types of Neurons
Sensory Neurons- Relay impulses from sensory receptor to the CNS.
Motor Neurons- Relay impulses away from CNS to tissues or glands creating a response.

Impulses
Action Potential- Na and K pump change in polarity across an axonal membrane as the nerve impulse occurs, in an "all or none" manner.
Resting Potential- the Axon is not using Na and K pump to conducting an impulse. The inside of the neuron is more negative (polarity) than the outside of the neuron.
Synapse- the Dendrite terminal or cell body of a neuron conducts at this point. This point of communication between the two neurons uses neurotransmitters that are stored in the synaptic vesicles.

CNS
Spinal cord- Center of spinal column and serves as a "highway" for all communications.
Brain- Computes impulses and determines the response send back information for response.

PNS
Somatic system- Skin tissue, skeletal tissue, and tendons that receive information from an external sensory receptor. The information is transmitted to the CNS.
Autonomic system- Automatically controls cardiac, smooth muscles, and glands. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system

Sensation Response
Sensory receptors respond to our environment
Sensory receptor cells trigger action potential
Using taste, smell, vision, hearing, and equilibrium sensory receptors transmit impulses to CNS.

Leech Neurons Online Lab

What is the electrode measuring?
The electrode is measuring the membrane potential.

Why use leeches in neurophysiology experiments?
Leeches have large neurons that are easier to work with and they are just leeches.

What is the difference between a sensory and a motor neuron?
Motor Neurons receive impulses from CNS, and Sensory Neurons send impulses to the CNS.

Do you think a leech experiences pain? What is pain?
They should feel a sensation of some kind, but it is unknown at what level. Pain can be felt only with a conscious mind I feel.

What were the two most interesting things about doing this lab?
The level of science that we have gone to with regards to how it builds on one experiment after another, second the electrical stimulation of chemicals in the neurons is pretty cool.

Anything you found confusing or didn't like about the lab?
There wasn’t anything confusing just how different it might be in real life, not in the digital world.