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Part of Discussion

The proximity of the camera caused differences in both figures. In Figure 1, the plant is fully viewable in panels c and d. When looking at Figure 2, some objects appear larger and the extent of the the photographed region is smaller. The angles of the pictures taken also caused differences in the replicated and original panels. Concerning photo a in both figures, the original figure is facing the plant head-on due to the presence of the surrounding plants behind the M. pudica in this photo. In the replicated figure, it appears to be a similar looking leaf chosen. Yet, in Figure 2, the angle of the photo leads me to believe the student was standing to the left of the plant, due to the rocks on the ground being visible. Also, the stems in panels c and d in the replicated figure are positioned in front. In the original figure, the stems are opposite where I am standing; I am facing the tips of the leaves.

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Toxic Algal Bloom

Hypoxia has proven to be a pressing issue for marine life over the last few decades. The presence of hypoxia has been estimated to increase due to eutrophication, which produces organic material that leads to various effects: competition for oxygen, increased temperature, and reduced coastal water oxidation, to name a few. Hypoxia inevitably leads to death among marine animals, reducing biodiversity in marine ecosystems. This article aims to detail the highest level of reduced oxygen that certain marine organisms can endure before it becomes fatal. Results show that the threshold amounts vary in different taxa. Regarding median lethal concentration, crustaceans are proven to show an increased threshold among other taxa. Fish appear to have the ability to withstand higher concentrations of hypoxia before reaching their threshold. The median lethal time results show that the results generally vary among taxa. One species was affected in mere minutes, whereas the species with the greatest endurance lasted multiple weeks. Overall, crustaceans proved to be the most sensitive organism. The researches have predicted that how affected an organism is by hypoxia can be linked to their adaptability. Mobile organisms are clearly better off as they can move out of hypoxic areas, with their speed not being considered a defining factor affecting their threshold.

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Fish DNA Extraction

This past week in lab, our aim was extracting DNA from two fish samples so we could analyze the DNA in PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and eventually gel electrophoresis. We started off by gathering our two fish samples, those being tuna and haddock. The samples were separately minced using razor blades and then transferred into two microcentrifuge tubes. Resuspension buffer was added to both tubes and lysis buffer was added. The tubes were inverted ten times and then placed in a water bath for ten minutes. Neutralization buffer was added and the tubes were then placed into the centrifuge for five minutes. The resulting supernatants were added to two spin columns that were placed in cap-less microcentrifuge tubes. Matrix beads were added and the samples were washed by pipetting distilled water into each tube and centrifuging. After three rounds, the final DNA sample was collected and stored until next week.

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Discussion Portion

The main objective of this assignment was to detail the methods that went into constructing a scientific figure, from photographing the plant to creating the figure using Inkscape. The method was written in a way that displayed clarity, so any person could read the narrative and replicate the figure. Once the figure was replicated and posted, I viewed it alongside the original figure and took note of the differences present. These differences originated from the proximity of the camera to the plant, the angles of the pictures, the time the photos were taken, and the method clarity.

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Evo-Devo of Butterfly Wing Patterns

This article is questioning whether the previously believed concept of structural organization (the body part) in animal development having arisen from differences in the animal’s structure is true or not. The methods included the use of artificial selection to observe the pattern organization in butterfly wings and the possible factors that may restrict the evolution of the wings. They tested eyespots on the front and back of the wings in one species of butterfly and hypothesized that one eyespot (pattern on the wing) is completely independent of another. The results stated a visible positive correlation between eyespot sizes and wing sizes. As wing size was increased, the eyespots, regardless of being either on the front of the wing or the back, also increased. This study impacted the field because, at the time, it wasn’t truly determined if an animal’s structural organization led to independent evolution of certain traits. Through this experiment, the use of wing size (a form of structural organization) and eyespot size (a trait) were compared to prove if the evolution of certain traits were impacted by structures, like wings.

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Cultural Constructs

Relating to the concept of the United States being a “melting pot,” if we don’t really understand what a melting pot is, then we’re unable to understand the real cultural construct of the United States. America is viewed as a nation that’s been built up by the addition of numerous cultures. We don’t have a set, national language. Instead, we have many languages all over the country, ranging from Spanish to French and to German and English and many more. Essentially, this is the beauty of America—we are able to express any culture and language and have it be accepted, more or less. There are definitely instances of cultural discrimination that are quite prevalent in our society. Our varied understandings of metaphors do inhibit our ability to coherently communicate across other languages without misinterpretation. There aren’t always word-for-word translations and, even if there were, they would not really make sense to someone that speaks a language that doesn’t have the same metaphor common to their language. Saying, for instance, “break a leg,” would probably sound insulting to someone belonging to another language before they went onstage for a play. Metaphors pose too much room for error when it comes to attempting to translate it to someone belonging to another culture and language that don’t have a similar common metaphor.

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Results of Methods - PP

The size of the letters in the upper left hand text boxes vary when looking at Figure 1 to Figure 2. The same sans-serif font appears to be used; yet, in the original figure, the letter size is larger than in the replicated figure. There is an obvious difference in photos ‘b’ as, in the original figure, the quarter is being held up to the finger. In the replicated figure, the quarter is placed on a flat surface with the finger placed to the left of it. Another difference is the actual images taken of the leaf. In Figure 1, in photos ‘c’ and ‘d,’ the leaf is not as closely seen as in Figure 2.

Results

The size of the letters in the upper left hand textboxes varies when looking at Figure 1 to Figure 2. The same sans-serif font appears to be used, while in the original figure, the letter size is larger than in the replicated figure. There is an obvious difference in photos ‘b’ as, in the original figure, the quarter is being held up to the finger. In the replicated figure, the quarter is placed on a flat surface with the finger placed to the left of it. Another difference is the actual images taken of the leaf. In Figure 1, in photos ‘c’ and ‘d,’ the leaf is not as closely seen as in Figure 2.

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Gender-Science IAT

I decided to take the Gender-Science Implicit Association Test for the second test. I figured it would be really interesting because I am a female and attaining a science major. My results stated I have little or no automatic association between Female and Male with Science and Liberal Arts. Of the people that have taken this test, around 70% have an automatic association of male with science and female with liberal arts. My results do not really surprise me at all. Additionally, the results from other people that have taken this test do not surprise me, either. Most people seem to automatically associate men with science-related professions, as opposed to women.

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A Critical View of Criminal Profiling

In Gladwell's "Dangerous Minds," he is extremely skeptical of the usefulness and accuracy of criminal profiling. An argument he makes relates criminal profilers to psychics because Douglas is called a psychic from a police officer, and Douglas is amused at the assumption. An argument Gladwell makes is when he tells that Brussel's profile wasn't even correct the first times he made it and that he never even said the Mad Bomber of New York was of Slavic descent; he claimed he was from Germany. Gladwell also goes on to tell us about each of the three profiles made by different professionals of the BTK killer; the profiles are extremely vague and each contradict each other. So Gladwell leaves us to wonder why we should rely on criminal profiling if there's no certainty or apparent validity to it.

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