...Animal Behaviour Behaviour is simply an action that an organism carries out, in response to some sort of stimulus. So it includes movements, changes in position, physiological reactions etc. Even organisms as simple as amoeba (photo) show behaviours. As biologists, it is important that we get to grips with the adaptive nature of behaviour as well as physical adaptations. The study of animal behaviour is called ethology. The study of animal behaviour is more difficult than you might think: it takes a long time to observe behaviour and link it reliably to particular stimuli. It can be difficult to separate out behaviours when many are occurring at once. Furthermore, keeping the conditions under which you observe an animal as natural as possible can be tricky. Behaviours develop and evolve just like physical characteristics. Animals’ behaviours occur in response to specific stimuli: i.e. changes in their environment. One way to classify behaviour is by the complexity of the behaviour. Another way to classify it is by whether the behaviour is innate, which means that it is in-built or genetically programmed, or whether it is learned. Let’s start with innate behaviour. Innate behaviour Innate behaviour is not learned; in fact, it is genetically pre-programmed and determined by specific genes. Organisms will carry out the behaviour no matter what: if the right stimulus is applied, the organism will do it. Some organisms seem to only have innate behaviours at their disposal, and cannot...
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...prejudice. This disease is not the first one where society has imposed social stigmas, political agendas and outright pandemonium. Misunderstandings of other diseases like the bubonic plague, small pox and the Spanish flu also have caused hysteria among populations around the world, but the main difference between these epidemics and that of AIDS/HIV is that AIDS is a modern epidemic staged in a new world of influential media outlets, politics and new social stigmas. In order to combat the societal misunderstandings of AIDS/HIV, one must understand the disease itself. When referring to AIDS/HIV, one is actually talking about two different parts of the same disease. AIDS (Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the main disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). AIDS attacks the immune system of people causing their immune systems to revolt against their bodies killing off their "good" cells. With this self-annihilation comes the opportunity for other infectious...
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...1. What influence did Thomas Huxley have on Eugene Dubois? Thomas Huxley influenced Eugene by what he described in his famous book “ Evidence as to Man’s Place in Nature” where he stressed the relationship between man and apes. He proposed questions that were to explore the existence of man and his relations to the universe of things. Huxley “s book detailed biological examinations of the first human fossils and comparing them to the apes. This in a way motivated Eugene to want to explore the topic even more so that he can be the one to find the “missing link.” 2. Why did Dubois choose to search in the Dutch East Indies for the missing link and not Africa? Because Asia had the gibbon and the orangutan, which Haeckel had suggested, were more related to humans than the gorillas and chimps found in Africa. Also, there had been a recent fossil ape discovery in India at the time, and so he chose Asia to get a better lead. 3. What evidence did Dubois assemble to support his claim that Pithecanthropus was an intermediate between apes and modern humans? He assembled a 39-page description of the thighbone and the skullcap that he had found in Java. He included many photographs of them, and also provided pictures of ape skulls for comparison. He emphasized on how the close proximity of where these were discovered led him to believe that it was from the same individual. He also elaborated on how these remains had both human-like and ape-like features such as...
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...Alane Thompson Biology 101 Dr. Ferdinand The cell is the basic unit of life for all living things, while the DNA is the design for all passed down characteristics in living things. Both the cell and DNA have been studied and linked to the evolution process. From the beginning of the eukaryote cell unto the prokaryote cell there has been changes and the same goes for DNA. Changes in DNA sequences has contributed to different yet similar species over great periods of time. The cell which first existed in its prokaryote form of bacteria can be divided into two domains, domain Bacteria and domain Archaea. Prokaryotes are organism with a single cell and does not have a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. There are no organelles within the prokaryote cell and it reproduces on its own. This cell can reproduce two daughter cells out of one parent cell by cloning itself. This is done by asexual reproduction or as spores and can multiply into billions of cells without the assistance of other cells. Cells produced by binary fission produce two separate cells and cells produced as spores produce more than two cells at a time. These types of reproduction does transfer genes but they are not replicated between the cells it produces. Each new cell now have the growth potential of the original cell. The Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than the eukaryotic cell (which will be discussed further along) and have great diversity. This cell (prokaryotic) preexisted long before...
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...the time it was popular in the 1930s through 1950s (Whitaker, 2002). Today, Americans generally view the lobotomy as a cruel, ineffective treatment. Closer examination reveals that the operation was ineffective, unfounded, and inhumane. (Whitaker, 2002). The lobotomy was a surgical procedure that evolved over time. The main purpose of the method was to damage the frontal lobe of the brain (Whitaker, 2002). The first type was the prefrontal lobotomy, which was first performed in humans in 1935 (Whitaker, 2002)....
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...La planète des singes to Planet of the Apes: The Evolution of a Franchise The 1960's saw a rise in the popularity of science fiction novels, television shows and movies being produced around the world. In France, Pierre Boulle, a former engineer and secret agent with the French army, published La planète des singes, a satirical novel that found nearly immediate success in the science fiction community. Less than five years after publication, the novel had been translated into English, and the first of many films in the American Planet of the Apes media franchise debuted as "loose adaptations" of Boulle's work. Today, this science fiction powerhouse continues to create popular film adaptations, however as time continues, the derivation from Boulle's original French novel escalates. By looking at a handful of the many films, one can see how each of the different versions distances further from the original intent of the novel, becoming nearly unrecognizable from the 1963 French novel. Despite Boulle willingly signing over the rights to his work, having been credited and compensated accordingly, and even writing new material for a movie sequel, the Planet of the Apes franchise's continual derivation from the original work is a disservice to Boulle's creation and legacy, leaving the author almost forgotten. On the contrary, the modifications to the original allowed Boulle's creative thoughts to reach entire audiences that he never thought possible. The author himself spoke minimal...
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...Humans have a history of experimenting on animals, most often in the areas of medical and cosmetics. Humanity would not exist as it is today if animal experimentation was eliminated. The argument animal testing is useful cannot surpass its’ cruelty. With advancements in science and medical technology, animal testing no longer stands as a morally justifiable option. Animal testing lacks proof of necessity because it inhumanely abuses animals, carries inaccuracy, and is outdated. Animal experimentation is an abusive method of testing. Very minimal regulation in procedures can be done to animals during experimentation. Abuse defined as a verb, means to treat (a person or an animal) with violent cruelty, especially regularly or repeatedly. For research, animal abuse remains allowed legal: “the only U.S. law that governs the use of animals in laboratories, the Animal Welfare Act, allows animals to be burned, shocked, poisoned, isolated, starved, forcibly restrained, addicted to drugs, and braindamaged” (“Animal Testing is”). These methods are unbelievably cruel and abusive, as this suffering of the animals is intentional. Famous British philosopher Jeremy Bentham, famously proposed that “the question is not, can they reason? nor can they talk? but can they suffer?” The question asked, states that defenders of animal experimentation do not deny that animals suffer. Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation , explains that scientists cannot deny animal abuse, while the book stresses the ...
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...firm belief in Jesus Christ as her savior. She said that in the bible when god made the earth in 7 days, the "day " was not referring to the 24 hour period we have today. I could dispute this by saying Hebrew scholars recognize that the intent was to convey six normal days of twenty four hour length. There was an evening and morning. In Exodus 20:11, " For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." She then answered my next question saying there was no shared ancestor between apes and humans. Janae made some clear points about how humans walk upright unlike monkeys and are capable of communicating and having self control and emotions. I would proceed to tell Janae that there several skeletal difference for walking for humans, such as the human spine is long and curved and there is a knee joint and our foot is arched and no opposable big toe. Chimpanzees have sloped face, no nasal bones and large canine teeth. I then asked my best friend, Navdeep from back home and she is a practicing Sikh. Most of her belief in...
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...Holistic (multifaceted): approach to the study of human beings. Refers to an approach that studies many aspects of a multifaceted system. Cross-cultural: discovering general patterns about cultural traits Two broad classification of anthropology Biological (Physical) Seeks the emergence of humans & their later evolution (called human paleontology) and how & why contemporary human populations vary biologically (human variation) Study the fossils of human, prehumans & related animals Human genetics, population biology & epidemiology Cultural How & why cultures vary or are similar in the past & present Archaeology: study of past cultures Anthropological linguistics: study of language Ethnology: study of existing & recent cultures Archaeology Seek to reconstruct the daily life & customs of peoples who lived in the past but also to trace cultural changes & to offer possible explanations for those changes Deal with prehistory (time before written records) Historical archaeology: studies the remains of recent peoples who left written records Must used info from present & recent past in trying to understand the distant past Linguistics Study of languages Had to construct a dictionary & grammar, then could study the structure & history of language Study changes that have taken place over time Historical linguistics: study of how languages change over time & how they may be related Descriptive: focus of linguistics ...
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...HIV Epidemiology J**** A******* Grand Canyon University: NRS-427V August 2, 2014 HIV Epidemiology Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus spread through body fluids that affects specific cells of the immune system, called CD4 cells, or T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015). HIV is spread when certain body fluids from an infected HIV individual: blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk; are transmitted through a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into the bloodstream. It is only under these specific conditions that HIV can be transmitted, it is not spread from causal contact with an infected individual. Early signs and symptoms include: fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, headache, malaise, nausea, muscle and joint pain, diarrhea, and a diffuse rash. In the progression of HIV, these symptoms worsen and additional symptoms include: localized infections, lymphadenopathy, nervous system manifestations, and the presence of oropharyngeal candidiasis (thrush). Other infections that can also occur include: shingles, persistent vaginal candida infections, outbreaks of oral or genital herpes, bacterial infections, and Kaposi sarcoma (KS). The biggest complication of HIV is the progression of the infection to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Numerous...
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...In the passage “Legal Drugs Unlikely to Foster Nation of Zombies” (Chapman, 2012), author Stephen Chapman argues his conclusion that drugs should be legalized. Furthermore, Chapman argues that the legalization of drugs would do more good for society than the present war on drugs, which does considerable harm. This conclusion is based upon a converging argument of three main premises: 1. Drugs aren’t an issue for most people 2. The war on drugs causes more harm to society than it does good 3. Countries that have legalized drugs, specifically marijuana, have seen a reduction in that drugs popularity In this critical essay I’ll illustrate how Chapman’s inductive reasoning could result in a false conclusion by focusing on his use of statistics within the passage; and his claim that the war on drugs is harming society as a whole. Applied in a diagram, Chapman’s argument can be visualized as: The argument presented by Chapman is a compelling one because the premises given are believable and presented with supporting statistics, witness statements and passionate exclamations by Chapman himself. Upon closer inspection curious readers may begin to wonder what Chapman didn’t include in his argument. P9-Drugs aren’t for most people Chapman provides a series of claims to support P9. One such claim which was generated by a poll sponsored by the Drug Policy Foundation resulted P5. What this statement is really saying is that of those who claimed to never have used...
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...2) Larger societies include groups whose organization can be categorized as bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states. What type of organizational structure would you argue that the Hutterites fall under? Please explain your reasoning. The Hutterites are a society that, like the Amish and the Mennonites, are a branch of Anabaptists that formed a communal living in the 1500’s based off a belief of pure pacifism, in addition to the separation of church and state. After centuries of living in various countries, they evententually ended up in the Northern Plains of the United States and parts of Canada. After conducting research online as well as in our text, I believe that the Hutterittes are a chiefdom. The reasoning behind this was accomplished through the process of elimination, at first. When speaking of bands, you have to look at them in the simplest form, which in Park’s (2013) words is that bands essentially have no political organization at all. We know that is not the case with Hutterites because they have their own elected officials, consisting of three high-level leaders: the Minister, the Secretary, and the Assistant Minister. This is further broken down, where a group of “bosses” are selected to be responsible for their own respective areas of the community. So in essence, there is a form of self-government (outside of federal and state government). On the other end of the spectrum is a state. States are by far the largest organizational structure. Park...
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...Core study 1 Asch 1955 : Aims and Context Summarise the aims and context of Asch’s 1955) research opinions and social pressure An individual is said to conform if they chose to study a course of action that is favoured by the majority or that is considered socially acceptable .When an individual is influenced by how the majority of people think this is considered socially acceptable Conformity is a form of social influence that results from exposure to the majority position , the tendency for people to adopt the behaviour, attitudes and values of other members of a reference groups, This was a study of conformity in an ambiguous situation ‘unclear’. Jenness asked students to guess how many beans there were in a jar,they were then asked to discuss in groups. Lastly they were asked to give their estimates again, individuals estimates tended to converge to the group norm.It seems reasonable that when in an ambiguous situation (were the answer isn't obvious ) we look to others to get some ideas about behaviour . Jenness's research is limited as he specifically asked participants to produce a group estimate rather than just observing if they would produce group estimates. Sherif conducted a similar investigation into responses to an ambiguous stimulus using the auto kinetic effect ( this is where a stationary spot of light projected on to a screen appears to move) Sherif told participants he was going to move the light , he asked the pp’s to estimate by how far the spotlight...
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...Well if one were to sit down and do some research they would see that they have some much more ethical questions to ask themselves next time they walked into a zoo. But one thing one may not notice is that animals can react differently in their exhibit depending on who is outside the glass watching them. Males or females, old or young, animal’s behavior can be observed as different and the question becomes why? In many human-animal interactions, men and woman interact with animals similar. But when it comes to the protection, involvement, and overall care for the animal’s well being, woman have a greater impact than men. Gender differences can be deemed large in the animal’s behavior according to psychologist, Harold Herzog. This then raises an interesting question: When in captivity, are we compromising the animal’s welfare by not confronting the behavioral and psychological changes based on gender differences? Animal rights are the idea that animals essentially have the same rights as humans. They should be able to live free of suffrage, just like any human and with the same moral status as well. In 1966 the Animal Welfare Act was signed into law. The AWA is the only Federal law in the United States that regulates the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transport, and by dealers. According to the International League of the Right of animals, “all animals are born with an equal claim on life, are entitled to respectful treatment, and have the right to live freely...
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...Starting with the Sumerians, the first great culture 6,000 years ago, through the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, everyone accepted that some form of heavenly beings had created all of life and, as a crowning achievement, topped it off with humans. Now, consider that for a moment. Today the CEO of a medium-sized corporation can verbally issue an instruction to be carried out company-wide and have no hope it will reach the lower echelons intact. So the fact that most historical cultures, from first to most recent (our own), believed essentially the same creation story is astonishing in its consistency. Naturally, such long-term consistency made it extremely difficult to challenge when the accumulation of scientific evidence could no longer be ignored. Charles Darwin is usually credited with issuing the first call for a rational examination of divine creation as the belief system regarding the origins of life and humanity. However, in his 1859 classic, The Origin Of Species, he skirted both issues in an attempt to placate his era’s dominant power structure—organized religion. Though he used the word "origin" in the title, he was careful to discuss only how species developed from each other, not how life originated. And he simply avoided discussing humanity’s origins. Ultimately, pressure from both supporters and critics forced him to tackle that thorny issue in 1871’s The Descent Of Man; but Charles Darwin was never comfortable at the cutting edge of the social debate he helped...
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