Everyone is familiar with the blue print, or book, of life. Deoxyribonucleic Acid, or DNA, for short. After all, every single cell of our trillion possesses a double-membraned blob (nucleus) just to house it. As with anyone who ever studied genetics, pilgrims to the Delphic oracle in ancient Greece always discovered something profound about them when they inquired of it-but rarely that which they assumed to have learned in the first place. The Greek king Croesus once asked the oracle if he should commence a war with a neighboring kingdom only to be told “You will destroy a great empire”. He did only his own. Likewise, DNA speaks in code with the occasional satirical message. Unlike Delphi, our oracle still speaks, and louder than ever. From …show more content…
I was truly ensnared by this nucleic acid and resultantly, decided to do my summative on genetics. Consequently, I began to read the book The Violinist’s Thumb by Sam Kean, a wondrous book devoted to recounting humanities story (genetically). The unique title is derived from the morbid story of Nicollo Paganini, a man so skilled at playing the violin, people were positive he struck a deal with the devil. So much so that his church refused to bury his body after his successful but traumatizing life came to an end. Anthropologists believe his success was predetermined in his DNA, as he had a genetic disorder which made the connective tissue in his hands intensely rubbery. In being so, he was able to stretch his fingers at grotesque angles and dominate the violin. Of course, this genetic blessing came at a price: disease. Paganini suffered many diseases one of which caused his left testicle to swell to the size of “a small pumpkin” he sobbed. While researching genetics I was taken aback by the sheer grandeur of this field. There’s no bolder topic in science, no field that holds such potential or promise to push our race forward to the same …show more content…
But why? What puts above other species? If there is anything I have learned from researching genetics it is that we refuse to accept our DNA. Have you ever gone swimming? That act, although it may seem innocent, is defying our genes. Take this moment to examine your body… feel free to comment if you have gills, nuptial pads, or dorsal fins. Point proven. Evolutionarily speaking, Homo sapiens have no reason to swim as we are land-based creatures. Genetically speaking, our DNA does not code for proteins allowing some of our cells to specialize into the aforementioned features. Simply put, we are not supposed to swim yet we do anyway. Another example is how an estimated 0.3% of the population is transgender. Although, a few animals exhibited gender discomfort they still adapted and began to behave such as their gender. Humans defy their biology and their physical being due to mental discomfort. This suggests that our being is centered in our thoughts. After all, shockingly, humans do not have more DNA than most animals. This suggests a significant unknown variable is responsible for our complexity: conscious. As Descartes infamously once said: “I think, therefore, I
Ted Bieler’s Helix of Life (1971) that is located outside the Medical Sciences building at University of Toronto is a sculpture made from a light grey concrete material. Its color appears to be plain which happens to match the exterior of the Medical Sciences building as well. Due to the age of the sculpture, it shows lighter and darker gray dents and streaks near the top and bottom and where it bends. Some of the markings have been made from the material and texture of the sculpture. The material used, which was said previously, is cast concrete. Using concrete without any smooth surface tools creates a rougher and coarse texture which is why it has dents and holes when viewing it up close. As the viewer looks at the sculpture from afar, its
In today’s modern age science is moving at a rapid pace; one of those scientific fields that has taken the largest leaps is that of genetics. When genetics first comes to mind, many of us think of it as a type of science fiction, or a mystical dream. Yet genetics is here, it is real, and has numerous ethical implications.
DNA is the blueprint of life from its creation to its development and until its death. The discovery of the structure of DNA not only revolutionized science and medicine, but it also affected many other facets of existence: evolutionary, industrial, legal, and criminal justice. Its incarnation has benefitted American families and industries and spurred scientific innovation throughout the country. Aptly stated by Francis Crick, “your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of identity and freewill, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules. As Lewis Carroll’s Alice might have phrased it: ‘you’re nothing but a pack of neurons.’ [Watson and my] discovery illustrates how that is possible.”
The book Genome by Matt Ridley tells the story of the relationship between genome and life by examining the twenty three chromosomes of the human DNA. Each chromosome literally and metaphorically becomes a chapter in the literal and metaphorical book of DNA. In this book of DNA, Ridley examines a particular aspect of the chromosomes chapter by chapter to see how it affects life and humanity’s understanding of life, humans and genetics itself. Although each chapter dives into different aspects of DNA and gathers stories as varied as the genes’ applications, Ridley connects them with important ideas about life and humanity’s understanding of life.
Francis S. Collins is a renowned geneticist who originally became Ph.D in Physical Chemistry at Yale University and later on, a Medical Doctor at University of North Carolina. As soon as he graduated he was offered a fellowship in Human Genetics at Yale University under the guidance of Sherman Weissman, currently Sterling Professor of Genetics. In the late 1980’s Collins became known in the field of Medical Genetics for his development of positional cloning, a technique that allows to locate a hereditary disease-causing gene by studying the inheritance pattern within a family. Working with his method researchers found the genes responsible for diseases like Cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, Neurofibromatosis, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type one, and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. In 1993 Dr. Collins succeeded Dr. James D. Watson as the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), overseeing the role of the United States in the mapping of the human genome. In 2009 President Obama personally recommended Collins to lead the National Institute of Health (NIH) where he works until present day. Francis S. Collins is by no means a bragging individual, bits and pieces of his accomplishments are scattered throughout the book and he makes no big deal about it; instead he j...
4- Suzuki, David, and Peter Kundtson. Genethics: the clash between the new genetics and human values. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1990.
... drawn. What makes us human? Through the examination of human evolution, both biological adaptations and cultural adaptations which are distinct to humans can be recognized. Biologically speaking, humans are unique in that they are bipedal, they have larger brain sizes, and longer leg length. When examining the cultural evolution of humans we have a complex language system, we live in communities, engage in symbolic behavior, and act through emotional impulses. While we are often considered to be superior to all other animals, it is important to recognize that while we are animals, we have very distinct characteristics and adaptations that separate us both biologically and culturally from all other animals.
The Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Opus 26 is one of the most famous violin concertos over the musical history. It is also considered to be the most renowned work by the German composer Max Bruch. I will begin with a short explanation of why I choose to analyse this piece followed by what makes this piece so remarkable. I will then present the musical context – German Romantic period – in which this piece was composed and discuss how it is representative of this period. Also, I will present briefly the biography of the composer and relate his life and style with this particular piece of music. After, I will explain the basic structure of a concerto, associate it with this violin concerto, and analyse how each movement is related. Then, I will analyse some psychoacoustic parameters of this piece (pitch, dynamics, rhythm, and texture). Finally, I will give my appreciation of this piece in term of beauty, musical expression, and mood.
In reality, many people who have not been “born” musicians or athletes have made greater accomplishments than those who were genetically endowed. In addition to that, naturally obtained genes through traditional reproduction are random, and, thus, are regarded as a gift. This randomness and the fact that even people with poor genetics can achieve success is what makes a person’s accomplishments truly authentic. Genetic modification has a potential to remove both of these factors of authenticity. In that way, Resnik and Vorhaus’s claim about authenticity of our accomplishments is not entirely
"The discovery of the structure by Crick and Watson, with all its biological implications, has been one of the major scientific events of this century." (Bragg, The Double Helix, p1) In the story of The Double Helix, James Watson tells of the road that led to the discovery of life's basic building block-DNA. This autobiography gives insight into science and the workings within a professional research laboratory that few members of society will ever be able to experience. It also gives the reader an idea of the reality of life for one scientist and how he struggled with the problem of DNA. However, the author's style is marked by his lack of objectivity and inclusion of many biased opinions and personal prejudices.
Why are we the way we are? Is it because we want to be that way or because we were made that way? The debate regarding the nature of humans is one that will never end because there is so much support for each side. It is an issue that humans have spent generations pondering. Two of those people are Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Both have made compelling arguments regarding nature versus nurture.
Gregor Mendel, born as Johann Mendel, is considered to be one of the most significant historic scientist of all time. He was an Austrian scientist and monk and is best known as the “Father of Modern Genetics.” He founded the science of genetics and discovered many things that dealt with heredity that still applies to our world today. He is remembered for paving the way for scientists and future generations to come. Unfortunately, Mendel’s work went unnoticed until 16 years after his death and 34 years after he published his research. Though Mendel lay covered in his grave, his work would eventually be uncovered. Although Mendel was not there to see it,
This view, that humans are of special moral status, is constantly attempted to be rationalized in various ways. One such defense is that we are not morally wrong to prioritize our needs before the needs of nonhuman animals for “the members of any species may legitimately give their fellows more weight than they give members of other species (or at least more weight than a neutral view would grant them). Lions, too, if they were moral agents, could not then be criticized for putting other lions first” (Nozick, 79). This argument, that we naturally prefer our own kind, is based on the same fallacy used by racists while defending their intolerant beliefs and therefore should be shown to have no logical merit.
What scientists mean when they say that all living organisms share a universal genetic code, is that a percentage of DNA in all organisms is the same. Since all organisms share a amount of the same DNA, that means they are all related, and share a universal genetic code. A universal genetic code relates to the hypothesis about the origin of life on Earth, because even though organisms can look totally different, they have to all come from the same origin to share similar genetic codes. Self-replicating molecules are essential to the most popular hypothesis about the origin of life on Earth because of self replicating molecules explain how one organism could have a similar genetic code, as another organism. For example a human and a look completely
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self-replicating molecule or material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent in chromosomes. It encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses. Simply put, DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. The discovery and use of DNA has seen many changes and made great progress over many years. James Watson was a pioneer molecular biologist who is credited, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, with discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The three won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962 for their work (Bagley, 2013). Scientist use the term “double helix” to describe DNA’s winding, two-stranded chemical structure. This shape looks much like a twisted ladder and gives the DNA the power to pass along biological instructions with great precision.