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What Makes A Guy An Eye Candy?

Posted by Dyamond Logan in Science and Society - Best on Monday, November 15, 2010 at 10:01 am

The attraction between a male ad female seems to always be a question well answered. However, I decided to focus on what actually makes a female attracted to a male. Is there an actual scientific reasoning behind it or is off of self judgment.  Could it be the way a male walks, or presents himself that makes a female attracted to him.

sagittarius-tyson-beckford
sagittarius-tyson-beckford

Through a study found from the book "human physique and sexual attractiveness in men and women" I had found that women like men who are tall, who have slightly narrow waist and broad shoulders. Men who are athletic and have well toned muscles are more preferred because it symbolizes they are more likely to be a good hunter, which could mean they could provide for their family. With males being big and strong they can protect the family from other males and danger. Women are also attracted to male that are successful because it shows that males have the ability and resources to be able to provide for the family 

In conclusion, just like males, females are cautious about the male they choose to mate with because women believe that men have the most valuable reproductive resources to offer. Men produce thousands of sperm while women only produce about 400 eggs in their lifetime. The time of pregnancy and child bearing are long process which puts more pressure on what women find attractive about guys. They find the security and long relationship to be attributes that make the guy more attractive. In other words a women finds a man that can provide for them, will stay there for a long period of time, and will be able to protect them. Kind of the same things we need in society today to survive.

family
family

By: Dyamond Logan

P.S ( i was absent, I went on a college tour and i didnt have any internet connection)

Tags: scisocE, Best, evolution
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Evolution and Protection of Species

Posted by Jacob McNeill in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 1:31 pm

Climate and environmental change are major parts of the evolution of species. If the environment changes the species generally either adapts to fit that change and becomes a new species or dies off. This is part of nature and always will be as long as there is life. So this brings up the question, if extinction is part of evolution, what is the point of protecting a species?

            There is no point to this actually. All it does is change how the species evolve or make it take longer for them to die off. However people find it necessary to fix these mistakes that are causing the extinction of species. However, the way to protect species isn’t to have them grow inside, being kept from living in the wild, it’s to fix the problems that human beings have caused by fixing what’s been done to the environment.

            However to argue against that, there is the point to be made that many endangered species are national or state symbols, like the bald eagle. There’s also the fact that many species are only able to survive inside because they’re environment has changed so drastically.

Overall this topic is something that is easily debatable from both sides. Possibly the simplest explanation of what the point of protecting species is, is that people find it necessary to find an immediate solution to the problem caused but don’t realize that the long term solution is the better one.

 

Source:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/local/species.html

Tags: science and society, evolution, Endangered Species
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Why wings?

Posted by Robert Glynn in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 12:31 pm

How have some animals evolved wings?


When learning about evolution, someone might wonder about how irreducibly complex parts of animals, such as wings, have evolved.  A wing only works when there is an entire functioning wing. So this brings up the question, how does an animal without wings evolve into an animal with wings? The most reasonable explanation would be that wings began evolving with a slightly different purpose. 


Theropods that lived in the trees would get around by jumping from branch to branch. If they missed the jump, they could fall out of the tree and die. These theropods evolved into birds. According to discovermagazine.com, birds and theropods both "Have three bones that appear to have evolved from the digits on a common five-fingered ancestor." A theropod with a small flap of skin between its fingers would have a slightly larger surface area when jumping between branches and that would decrease the chance of it falling. Through generations, that skin flap became larger and eventually evolved into a functioning wing where the animal could flap it's wings and fly away.


If I were to do further research, I would want to look into birds that don't fly, like penguins or emus. If they can't fly, what is the purpose of having wings?



Sources:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/18/how-dinosaur-feet-evolved-into-bird-wings-new-fossil-provides-clues/


The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins

Tags: Mr. Best, evolution, scisocE
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Are there evolutionary causes behind the rates of cancer in this country?

Posted by Stephen Farrington in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 12:29 pm

Research Question:
Are there evolutionary causes behind the rates of cancer in this country?

Results of Research:
There are findings that support a notion that evolutionary changes have contributed to the many instances of cancer in America. According to Jarle Breivik from the University of Oslo in Norway, there are select mutations in the human genome that encourage cells to rapidly divide that also encourages genetic mutations. Usually, the immune system kills these mutated cells, but given how rapidly these cells divide, it is inevitable that the cells become cancerous as people continue to live longer. Jarle's research focused mainly on the cells of the upper intestine, as that is a common area for the creation of tumors and other signs of cancer in older people. Anil Jegga, a researcher at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, further concludes that there are seven mutations present in most Europeans in the p53 regulatory network of the human genome that encourages these changes; the p53 network normally regulates the cell's division genes so that they won't become cancerous. They have further demonstrated these results through rodent testing, in which they were able to replicate the entire p53 network and then modify it: the results of the studies were that the p53 regulatory network does not prevent the creation cancerous cells. Dr. Dan Mishmar, a researcher at BGU, performed a study that links the mitochondria of cells to the cancerous mutations. He argues that when mitochondria are passed from mother to offspring, there are certain changes that came from genetic mutations that were adapted to environmental conditions that resulted in cells living shorter lifespans and dividing more rapidly. The conclusion that scientists have drawn is that there is an evolutionary link between the makeup and behavior of cells that encourages cancer.

​http://www.discoverymedicine.com/Daniel-Menendez/2010/07/28/potentiating-the-p53-network/
http://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/04/17/23697.aspx
http://www.physorg.com/news165754102.html
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/8/74
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/cchm-eoh011608.php
http://www.bioinfo.de/isb/2007/08/0004/main.html
http://xenophilius.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/link-between-cancer-and-human-evolution-revealed/

Tags: evolution, scisocE, scisoc
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Evolution of Hair: Why are humans in comparison to other mammals, not completely covered in hair?

Posted by Alexis Ukaha in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 11:48 am

Humans are known to be of a complex species, however it is no mystery that Homo sapiens (humans) are also categorize as mammals. There are many components and characteristics that define a mammal; hair being on of them. Epidermal in origin, hair is made up of a complex structure. Mammals are the only animals in which hair is found on. Even "hairless" mammals, such as pigs, elephants, dolphins, and other cetaceans (another word for marine mammals) are partially covered with fine short hairs. Hair has many functions within itself. The many functions of hair include the retention of heat, attraction of mates, protection of skin, sexual dimorphism, an absorption of sunlight and, in the case of pets, the elicitation of a protective response from humans (us). Now how is it that humans and animals, all mammals, differentiate in how the hair is actually presented on their bodies? Though humans are covered in hair completely, they are not covered to the extent that animals are. This is because mammal body hair is an evolutionary enigma.

The common belief of hair evolution is that hair evolved to help retain body heat since hair is an excellent heat insulator. But there is no conclusion as to which evolved first: hair or warm-bloodedness (endothermy). Researchers verbally combat between the two all the time. Most ‘Darwinists’ believe that humans evolved in Africa along with other primates, all of which were almost totally covered with thick fur (again, hair). As such, a common view is that now the body hair of men and women are purely vestigial, a useless evolutionary leftover from when we were ape-looking animals. Initially hair arose as surface insulation, retaining body heat in primitive mammalian endotherms.

The reason for the putative issue of human hair loss in evolution is still unknown, and all the explanations and reasoning proposed are contradicting.


Harrub, Ph.D. Brad "Why do Humans Lack the Abundant Hair of Apes?", Article. Web. 2003. Nov 2010.<https://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2345>

“Human Thermoregulation and Hair Loss,” Article. Web. 2003. Nov 2010. <http://www.modernhumanorigins.com/>

Bergman, Ph.D. Jerry " Why Mammal Body Hair is an Evolutionary Enigma" Article. Web. 2004. Nov 2010. <http://www.creationresearch.org/crsq/articles/40/40_4/Bergman.htm>



Tags: evolution, Best, scisocE
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What evolutionary advances have enabled humans to be able to write/communicate?

Posted by Sabria Brown in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 8:01 am

Over the years writing has been a tool people would use to communicate with others. Where did writing come from and how does it have an effect on humans now. It started from roman numerals, which were carved in stone they were backwards and interpreted in this way to many who wrote it. [1]. Over time had passed the writing got thicker and started to look very script. By the 5th century there were capitals, this was a different direction from where it started and added a different style to writing. [2]


During the writing, pictures started to form. They began from the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Many other religions had their own ways of writing and eventually this later led to Cuniform, Chinese pictograms and also Mayan glyphs. [3] People could communicate in their own writing. The only pondering thought left is how was the writing for communication revolutionized over time? The answer  might be that over the years writing is changed in put into different arrangements because it revolutionizes itself. The process of writing is still going on and who knows when it will end. Writing is a form of evolution. [4]


 http://www.textism.com/writing/?id=2 [1]

http://www.atlantisquest.com/evolution.html [2]

http://www.krysstal.com/writing_evolution.html [3]

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab33 [4]

Screen shot 2010-11-12 at 9.12.49 AM
Screen shot 2010-11-12 at 9.12.49 AM
Tags: scisocE, Best, evolution
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The Evolution of Obedience

Posted by Danielle Duncan in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 8:00 am

Evolution of Obedience

  Think 81 years ago, on the island of Bathurst off the coast of Australia Indigenous Australians hunting and gathering, daily struggling to survive.  As a child you a born into poverty, famine, and danger, dealing with animals and an environment that could take your life.  In your first few years, all you know is your family, your mother, who birthed you, your father who protects you, and your elders who support you, who else would know better how to survive.  Underneath these selection pressures, children who would not obey, would die, so obedience as a trait survived. 

            Other hostile environments in different areas instill obedience to a degree of loyalty, trust and brotherhood.  In war torn areas children are recruited from young to join rebel militia.  They pillage through villages stealing people’s children, killing children who seize to obey.  Obedience is pounded into their mind from young, and if that trait does not sustain, eventually the child will be killed.

            Even as adults in a modern society obedience to authority prospers.  When you disobey the law, you go to jail, loose connections with the world, and are unable to procreate with the opposite sex.  Adults, who don’t obey the “rules” loose their job, loose their house and suffer fines and penalties, which are unpleasant. 

 

Future Questions?

If the government becomes lenient with there laws will that create more disobedient children?

Does being disobedient or rebellious make you more attractable?

 

Citations

Dahlman, Christian. "The Difference between Obedience Assumed and Obedience Accepted." Ratio Juris22.2 (2009): 187-196. Advanced Placement Source. EBSCO. Web. 12 Nov. 2010.

 

Passini, Stefano, and Davide Morselli. "The obedience–disobedience dynamic and the role of responsibility." Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology 20.1 (2010): 1-14. Advanced Placement Source. EBSCO. Web. 12 Nov. 2010.

 

Walcott, Damon Muir, Pat Cerundolo, and James C. Beck. "Current analysis of the Tarasoff duty: an evolution towards the limitation of the duty to protect." Behavioral Sciences & the Law 19.3 (2001): 325-343. Advanced Placement Source. EBSCO. Web. 12 Nov. 2010.

Bathurst Island men
Bathurst Island men
Tags: Graduation 2010, danielle, evolution, Best, scisocE, Science Leadership Academy, science
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Pig out or veg out?

Posted by Sophia Moreno in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 7:54 am

​What first allowed people to be vegetarians, and how has it affected human evolution?


Arcimboldo_vegetables
Arcimboldo_vegetables
​picture


The evolutionary paths concerning vegetarianism seem to be less a matter of biology as they are an issue of cultural ideals.  Physically, humans have the internal organs, systems and other mechanisms for meat consumption.  However, it has become a growing trend in society to opt out.  Some people today choose not to eat meat because they are morally against mass-market animal slaughter.  Others do it because it goes against religious values or simply because they believe it to be a healthier life choice.  However, it’s hard to go back and pinpoint one specific turning point that “began” vegetarianism. 

            Back in the day (talking thousands of years,) people got sustenance through “hunting and gathering.”  This required a fairly nomadic lifestyle, traveling around to wherever the food source went.  By this process, early man spread across the continents.  The food that was eaten was not always about choice, but more about availability.  If meat was scarce, then less was eaten.  However, it is unlikely that people lived a fully vegetarian lifestyle. 

            Many scientific researchers agree that humanity would not have developed as it did without a meat-laden diet.  According to N. A. Barnicot, “It is virtually certain that diet, as a major component of the human environment, must have exerted evolutionary effects, but researchers still have little good evidence.”  Meat and animal products do contain vital proteins and nutrients humans need, especially fats for brain growth.  Many believe that this is the primary reason our brains grew to what they are today.  Scientists have additionally stated that our teeth would not have formed the way they are if humans were not meant to tear through meat. 

Though it is disputed that animal-product nutrients can be found elsewhere, meat is often the “best” source.  According to Dr. Stephen Byrnes, “Vegetarianism and veganism are neither natural nor healthy diets…and it is not primarily meat-eating which is responsible for the spread of cancers and heart disease.” There is cause for concern with vegans, who are often malnourished in essential vitamins and minerals such as B12 and iron.  People need these to survive and develop, and it is usually not recommended for children to be vegan.  Some argue that the same goes for vegetarianism.    

            Whether or not someone believes vegetarianism is the right step, the idea developed in society as a choice.  Once people learned how to farm and grow their own food, they had more options.  As agriculture grew, so did population size, and with it religion.  Today, vegetarianism is still highly connected with religious values, especially in Buddhism, Jainism and devout Hinduism.  According to Daniel Lazare, “Vegetarianism is most fundamentally about the importance of not taking life other than under the most extreme circumstances.”

            This is not to say someone can’t be a perfectly healthy vegetarian.  In fact, Einstein said, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."  I just wouldn’t choose it for myself.  The convenience of modern supplements has made it easier to make the switch in a healthier fashion.  However I’d argue that if there suddenly were no more animal products, humanity would be weakened.  Even if I’m wrong and it isn’t evolutionarily disadvantageous to not eat meat, I don’t think it’s advantageous either. 

hunter_gatherer.original
hunter_gatherer.original
picture​



SOURCES:

http://www.diet-and-health.net/Diet/veg_diet.html

 

http://www.biblelife.org/abrams2.htm

 

http://www.theecologist.info/page14.html

 

http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/99legacy/6-14-1999a.html

 

Barnicot, N. A. "Human Nutrition: Evolutionary Perspectives." Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science 40.2 (2005): 114-117. Advanced Placement Source. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=105&sid=097bc83a-1caf-42ca-ac7c-7ad011a0e422%40sessionmgr112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aqh&AN=24225923#db=aqh&AN=24225923

 

LAZARE, DANIEL. "My Beef With Vegetarianism." Nation 284.5 (2007): 25-29. Advanced Placement Source. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=105&sid=097bc83a-1caf-42ca-ac7c-7ad011a0e422%40sessionmgr112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aqh&AN=23749985

 

Tags: evolution, scisocE, Mr. Best
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How Did The Human Eye Evolve?

Posted by Jennifer Albright in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 7:48 am


Human Eye
Human Eye

The most commonly used argument against Darwinism and for Intelligent Design is the human eye and it’s complexity. How did the human eye evolve? How does this change the strength of the argument of Intelligent Design as a scientific theory?

There are currently two competing theories as to how life on Earth came about, Darwinism, evolution and natural selection, and Intelligent Design, some great architect creating life. The most promising evidence for Intelligent Design had been the human eye and the argument that the independent pieces (the retina, lens…) had to have come about all at once for organisms to see. However, scientists have a theory as to how the eye evolved, creating a disturbance in the most prominent argument of Intelligent Design.

humane7
Diagram of Evolution of the Human Eye

Here’s the theory for the evolution of the eye: the original “eye” was a collection of cells on the skin (that curved inward like an eye socket) that helped organisms to “see” light, helping it to “see” if any other organism was in that direction because of the break in the light that the organism saw. Eventually the amount of light that the cells could detect was narrowed to give organisms better direction. And from this the cells became a retina, which helped the organism see even more clearly. Finally, the eye grew a lens that helped the organism to see even more clearly. We can even see these different stages of eye development in living species today.

And so, due to evidence of the evolution of the human eye, Intelligent Design loses its most promising argument. If there had been any disagreements as to whether Intelligent Design was a scientific theory, we now see that by ripping apart it's best argument it leaves us with a new term for creationism.

For more information on the argument against Intelligent Design see:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/intelligent-design-trial.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10545387/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/change/grand/page05.html

For more information on Evolution pick up Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5 Billion Year History of the Human Body- Neil Shuban.
Tags: scisocE, evolution, Best
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What is the difference between a myth and a theory?

Posted by Rachel Patterson in Science and Society - Best on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 7:45 am

 What is the difference between myth and theory?


White_square_with_question_mark

 

            This is the question that has been bothering me for the past month.  If the theory of evolution is so troublesome to the school district, why aren’t greek myths?  Is it not true that both Greek myths and the theory of evolution deal with the theme of how life was created? Could they both not potentially influence student views on creation? What makes them so different?

 

            After much research, I have discovered that a myth can be apart of a theory. Myths are stories that are created as an explanation for why certain things exist.  These tales date back to the early history of people.  A theory can be used to explain why myths exist all over the world.  There is actually a theory known as “The Jesus Myth Theory” that poses the idea that Jesus of Nazareth was not a historical person, but a fictional character or mythological archetype created by early Christians.  The idea that Jesus was not real but was a fictitious figure is apart of a larger theory that explains this myth. 

 

            According to Religion Compass, “Myths are prose narratives which, in the society in which they are told, are considered to be truthful accounts of what happened in the remote past.”  Theories serve to explain why these myths are created.  However, myth theories that are taught in school, such as the Greek myth of Zeus, are taught in such a way that makes it obvious that the stories are fictional.


Resources:

Myth & Theory

Jesus Myth Theory

What is Myth?


Questions to Consider:

•What about a theory makes it controversial?

•What other factors separate the theory of myth and the theory of evolution?


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White_square_with_question_mark
Tags: rpatterson, evolution, Best, scisocE
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