I was genuinely surprised to learn about the role of master control genes in the evolutionary process. I always thought (as many people do, I think) that the development of a new trait required a mutation in a gene. And, honestly, I could never figure out how enough mutations could occur to create such a vast array of living species (and of course I still don't understand that). But, it makes a little more sense to me that there are a few genes that control development which generate physical diversity even in the presence of similar genes. This is cool!
And, of course, this provides a different framework in which to consider the genetic similarity between humans and chimps. Even though our DNA is 98% the same, the master control genes in the 2% kick in to generate more physical differences between the species. Also, good to know!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Human evolution website review
Evolution
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/LifeScience/PhysicalAnthropology/
HumanGeneticEvolution/mainpage.htm
I looked at this and found it to be helpful to the extent that it is anecdotal and not technical. With my learning style, I can't really assimilate a lot of technical information without something real attached to it. For example, I liked the sections dealing with the controversy between the replacement theorists and the simultaneous development theorists. Just a little more real and concrete dealing with large populations than the discussions of what goes on the x chromosome and what's on the y.
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/LifeScience/PhysicalAnthropology/
HumanGeneticEvolution/mainpage.htm
I looked at this and found it to be helpful to the extent that it is anecdotal and not technical. With my learning style, I can't really assimilate a lot of technical information without something real attached to it. For example, I liked the sections dealing with the controversy between the replacement theorists and the simultaneous development theorists. Just a little more real and concrete dealing with large populations than the discussions of what goes on the x chromosome and what's on the y.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Prokaryote Eukaryote Quiz
Don't quite know how to post this. I did the tutorial and took the quiz. I got very few correct on the first try but it was a learning process! This reminds me a little too much of high school biology, which wasn't a happy thing for me. I did enjoy learning about viruses, never knew how they worked before!
Chimps and Humans
No big surprise here. We are animals, no more and no less. I am not the least bit surprised that our DNA is so similar to that of chimps. They are so highly intelligent and social, they seem like mini humans to me.
I'm a meat eater though, and I do get queasy when I'm forced to consider the similarity from that standpoint. It's so easy to compartmentalize, to entirely insulate myself from the fact that I'm eating an animal because food is so neat and tidily packed. I've dabbled in vegetarianism, feeling it's barbaric to eat animals. But then I don't feel well; I get tired and hungry. Soy is not something I'm interested in, so it's hard to get protein. Anyway, I'm a meat eater for now, but feeling more like a cannibal armed with this info. (Of course I've never eaten a chimp).
I'm a meat eater though, and I do get queasy when I'm forced to consider the similarity from that standpoint. It's so easy to compartmentalize, to entirely insulate myself from the fact that I'm eating an animal because food is so neat and tidily packed. I've dabbled in vegetarianism, feeling it's barbaric to eat animals. But then I don't feel well; I get tired and hungry. Soy is not something I'm interested in, so it's hard to get protein. Anyway, I'm a meat eater for now, but feeling more like a cannibal armed with this info. (Of course I've never eaten a chimp).
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Week one:
Introducing Myself
Arriving late to my first trimester of acupuncture school, I find myself more than a little discombobulated. But, in a nutshell, here is where I have been: I grew up and went to school(s) back east. Moved to California and practiced law for seven years in San Francisco. Then I got married and soon thereafter quit work upon the arrival of the first of my two boys, now aged 7 and 8. I have had a ball with them, but find myself ready to recreate my own life. My exposure to acupuncture as a patient has been life-altering. I am thrilled to be in a place to learn to help people as I have been helped.
Interesting to Me: Autism and Yawning
I think of empathy as one of the most uniquely human traits. I sometimes imagine my dog can empathize with whatever sorrow I might face. Then I realize she probably is just confused by my change in behavior, and so looks at me questioningly rather than in an understanding way (by the way, she says, you aren't too upset to get my dinner are you?). She doesn't empathize. Empathy for me is at the essence of what enables humans to rise above the animal kingdom. It's part of what enables us to be "spiritual".
But, I find the article about yawning disconcerting because it indicates that empathy is really just a biological function in the brain. New studies show that empathy drives contagious yawning. The function has been developed in humans as a way to increase survival likelihood for the pack. It enables the group to coordinate sleep patterns, and maintain alertness against potential predators. Those that empathize more keenly, the theory goes, survive better.
So empathy is not about spirituality. It is not an example of the human rising above his/her physical form. Rather, we find it is very much rooted in and determined by our physical being.
(Note: I don't fully buy this. I think empathy has developed way beyond the level necessary to assure survival. Look at deeply spiritual people who have abandoned identity with the ego. But, it's very interesting to me to learn that empathy has a physical basis.)
Introducing Myself
Arriving late to my first trimester of acupuncture school, I find myself more than a little discombobulated. But, in a nutshell, here is where I have been: I grew up and went to school(s) back east. Moved to California and practiced law for seven years in San Francisco. Then I got married and soon thereafter quit work upon the arrival of the first of my two boys, now aged 7 and 8. I have had a ball with them, but find myself ready to recreate my own life. My exposure to acupuncture as a patient has been life-altering. I am thrilled to be in a place to learn to help people as I have been helped.
Interesting to Me: Autism and Yawning
I think of empathy as one of the most uniquely human traits. I sometimes imagine my dog can empathize with whatever sorrow I might face. Then I realize she probably is just confused by my change in behavior, and so looks at me questioningly rather than in an understanding way (by the way, she says, you aren't too upset to get my dinner are you?). She doesn't empathize. Empathy for me is at the essence of what enables humans to rise above the animal kingdom. It's part of what enables us to be "spiritual".
But, I find the article about yawning disconcerting because it indicates that empathy is really just a biological function in the brain. New studies show that empathy drives contagious yawning. The function has been developed in humans as a way to increase survival likelihood for the pack. It enables the group to coordinate sleep patterns, and maintain alertness against potential predators. Those that empathize more keenly, the theory goes, survive better.
So empathy is not about spirituality. It is not an example of the human rising above his/her physical form. Rather, we find it is very much rooted in and determined by our physical being.
(Note: I don't fully buy this. I think empathy has developed way beyond the level necessary to assure survival. Look at deeply spiritual people who have abandoned identity with the ego. But, it's very interesting to me to learn that empathy has a physical basis.)
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