As many know, there are places on this earth where conditions are too inhospitable for humans to live. There are places with skull crushing depths, boiling water and high methane concentrations, where no human could survive. Survival in such hostile conditions was thought to be impossible for any organism; until the late 1960’s when bacterial microorganisms were found living in scalding thermal environments above 70 degrees Celsius, in Yellowstone National Park (Madigan & Marrs, 1997). These microorganisms were later termed extremophiles for their “love” of environments that are too hostile for other organisms to tolerate. Therefore, the capabilities and differences among extremophiles deserves a thorough investigation compared to the most adaptable species on the planet, humans. …show more content…
Although the evolutionary tree of extremophiles includes bacteria, archaea and eukarya, very few eukaryotes are extremophiles. Table 1 shows some extremophiles that are eukaryotic but also ones that are prokaryotic. Some of the listed eukaryotic extremophiles include but are not limited to the following: insects, fungi, lichens, and nematodes. Obviously, extremophiles are organisms that thrive in and rely on extreme environments to grow. However, to have a sense of what extreme is, scientists use human environments and tolerances to set a baseline for what ‘extreme’ is. Anything outside the parameters for human normality is considered extreme (Cavicchioli & Thomas,
Homeostasis is the biological process that maintains a stable internal environment despite what occurs in the external environment. Chemicals and bodily functions are maintained in a balanced state so the body may function optimally. There are various systems in the human body that require maintenance through the processes of biochemical checks and balances so they may function properly. One of these systems includes the rise and fall of blood glucose and is under the control of the homeostatic regulation process. Homeostasis is essential in blood glucose regulation as high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) and low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) are dangerous and can affect the human body in many ways and can also lead
Linking with the idea of hydrothermal vents being a 'reactor' for RNA hydrothermal vents rely on chemical energy from geothermal vents to sustain a organisms. Swarms of bacteria thrive in this environment which acts as an interface between the high temperature vents and cold oxygenated seawater. The bacteria thrive on gases produced by the vents such as methane and use these chemicals to produce simple organic molecules to support the local ecosystem in a similar way to plants using photosynthesis. Wachtershauser has proposed that a biochemical cycle grew and assembled the first living cell.
Audesirk, Teresa, Gerald Audesirk, and Bruce E. Byers. Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2011. 268-69. Print.
I have decided to write about four conditions, three of which are detailed in “Survival of the Sickest”, a book written by Dr. Sharon Moalem about how genetic diseases may have evolved to help the human race survive in the past. The diseases which I chose are Hemochromatosis, Diabetes, Transposons, and Sickle cell anemia. I decided to write about hemochromatosis because of how it affects the body by overloading the body with iron, how it evolved in Vikings to minimize iron deficiencies, and how it spread across the population as the Vikings began inbreeding as they colonized Europe. I chose to write about diabetes because of how it may have evolved to prevent blood from freezing during the Last Ice Age, and because of the impact which it has on society. I wrote about transposons, despite the fact that these are not diseases, because of the role they play in the development of cancer, the way they are used in cancer research, and the way they have affected the evolution of life. Lastly, I decided to write about sickle cell anemia because of its interesting relationship with a disease which continues to run rampant in Africa.
Ecosystems are the basic biological units of ecology, and consist of biotic organisms and their interactions amongst other living organisms, as well as the surrounding abiotic environment (Putman and Wratten 1984). One facet of ecosystems that is less-often mentioned is the process of decomposition, as it many may view it as an unclean, unpleasant process that occurs after an organism has ceased to exist. To those with an ecological framework, however, decomposition is viewed as the opposite – an interesting, intricate process teeming with biological activity and life (Swan and Kominoski 2012). What is decomposition? Formally, decomposition is defined as the process to which complex organic matter is broken down to its basic constituents (i.e.
Each of these treatment options can help men with Low T achieve adequate levels of hormone replacement. Only your doctor can decide if testosterone replacement therapy is right for you.
...hypothesis that states they show preference to only brighter environments. Both preliminary hypothesis for pH and temperature were confirmed as A. franciscana prefer basic habitats and cannot survive in acidic ones; also they prefer high temperature ranges between 20-35 ̊ C which expands on what was originally predicted (room temperature).
If you were told to believe a side of an argument that did not have majority of evidence points on its side, would you? The theories of evolution, creation and intelligent design have been a debated controversy for years and years. These three theories have three different ideas. The theory that creationists have is to believe that concept and design require a Creator. Creationists usually tend to believe that each organism is created as a single and distinct organism. Evolutionists tend to believe that all life started from single celled organisms. They believe that these single celled organisms are part of a continuing evolution over a very long period of time and that this evolution results in the development of new varieties and different species. People who believe in intelligent design believe in the theory that the universe cannot have arisen by chance and was designed and created by some intelligent entity. Evolution is the theory that is most probable because of the fossil record, similarities in all organisms and genetic changes in a population over time.
Modern-day genetic technology has granted mankind with the opportunity to bring back extinct species from the dead. If humans have come to possess the DNA from an extinct animal population, it is possible to create an identical clone of the animal in question, effectively “bringing it back from the dead”. Many ethical dilemmas surround the practice of de-extinction, and rightfully so. Recreating an extinct species could produce groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs, generating exciting opportunities for future genetics-based research. However, there could also be monumental consequences: the newly revived, once-extinct species might destroy the ecological equilibrium of modern Earth
Darwinism, the theory of evolution, is a controversial theory that is still being contemplated today. Before the 19th century scientist were puzzled by the idea of where humans, plants, and animals originated. In the late 1700s the question was first tried by a group of scientist, but they were not successful. It was not until a young Charles Darwin found interest in the subject that the discovery was finally able to become a theory. His observations led to his theory of evolution by natural selection. Although, it was a new discovery that shocked so many, Darwin and his accomplices did not realize how significant their newfound theory was. ~~~~
“Modern man does not experience himself as a part of nature but as an outside force destined to dominate and conquer it. He even talks of a battle with nature, forgetting that if he won the battle he would find himself on the losing side” (E.F. Schumacher, 1974).
Metabolism is extremely altered during the transition period. The prepartum is marked by an accentuated fetus growth (Bauman and Bruce Currie, 1980) and the onset of lactation; however, the postpartum is marked by an increase in milk production over time and deficit on the intake of nutrients. This situation causes a negative balance of nutrients, when the intake of nutrients does not meet the requirements of the animal; more specifically about energy, it is well-known that transition cows undergo negative energy balance (NEB), and it is easily characterized by body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) loss. Bertics et al., 1992, and Hayirli et al., 2002, observed that DMI is affected during the prepartum period, showing a decrease of about 30% on the last couple weeks before parturition. After parturition, DMI increases to support mainly the demands for lactation but it is still not enough to meet the animal demands (NRC, 2001). DMI is directly related to milk yield and strategies have been developed to maximize intake in order to increase milk production, this shows its importance by the fact of an increase of about 1 kg on milk production at peak of lactation reflects about 200 kg of extra milk on the current lactation. Providing quality feed and maximizing DMI during the transition period is of high importance in minimizing NEB and its detrimental effects consequently improving milk production. Metabolic demands are increased to support lactation, and homeorhetic adaptations occur to partition nutrients to the mammary gland. A good example it is the glucose metabolism, an important metabolite used as main fuel for cells and also transformed in lactose by the mammary gland, which is affected in order of trying to meet th...
As a student, it is important to be proactive in finding ways to better ones self mentally, physically and emotionally. The ability to focus while studying, along with stress and time management are key elements to successfully adapting to the lifestyle of a student. Determining factors that will effectively enhance one’s ability to learn and to manage the way stress is relieved will make a positive impact on a student’s performance and their success. Today’s students are commonly faced with factors that limit their potential and have a negative impact on their performance, such as stress. The ideal situation is to discovery activities and techniques that enhance the ability of students and individuals to manage their time
As humans our population is increasing at a very rapid pace. Human interference with the natural wildlife is skyrocketing the rate of extinction for the animals that we coexist with. As more and more humans are born the more territory is required in order to live a comfortable life, but it seems that we are not aware of how our expansions throughout the world is affecting the lives of the native species. We jeopardize the lives of these animals when we recklessly flatten the surrounding land and drive the living animals out of their natural habitats. When we feel the need to acquire more territory in order to create a suitable place to live on, we destroy the already occupied land of the native species thus driving the rate of extinction to increase. The occupation of the animals’ native soil forces the animals to leave the area in hopes of adapting to another piece of land. For some this adaptation is simply impossible and the species begin to die off. In an article on Treehugger.com the author states, “Thanks to human development and expansion, species are now going extinct exponentially faster than ever before- they’re dying out at the frightening speed of one thousand times their natural rate (Merchant 1). As we are busting around making these “developments”, we pollute the natural landscape with petroleum products, pesticides, and other chemicals. When this happens we endanger the living species and speed up the process of extinction because of our interference with the local wildlife.
There are few animals in the world that have as medically significant biology as mosquitoes. Carrying diseases that annually kill thousands, if not millions, of people worldwide, mosquitoes and the way they interact with pathogens are topics of concern for many researchers. As invertebrates, mosquitoes possess various immune responses designed to rid themselves of pathogens. Study of these immune responses has led to a deeper understanding of the ways in which the immune cells of mosquitoes, hemocytes, function and serve the purpose of killing the invasive pathogen. In conjunction with the circulatory system of the mosquito, these immune cells react in various ways upon infection with a pathogen such as a bacterium or virus. The Hillyer Lab