Article: Genetic Diversity

There is an immense amount of beatuy in the diversity of human beings. We are so different that each one of us has our own unique value. These differences meant that we don't all think the same way or believe the same things but we have something innately original to bring to the table. Diversity allows humans to work together to create the functioning societies that make the world what it is.

I came across the article " Decoding Diversity in Bushmen " in Science News magazine and it spoke about the science behind the diversity of hte human species. A reseach group sought out to decode the genetics of Bushmen in southern Africa. What was discovered provides a beatuiful story of genetic diversity but also has seriously beneficial implications. They found 1.3 million variations fo genes that could unlock many mysteries behind human diseases. This information in disease research could mean isolating genes that seem to work with certain diseases and thus their source.

One of the implications is also that pharmaceutical compaines could use this data to research better drugs that genetically sensitive. From this article I learned that a lof of drugs work better for people of European ancestry than for Africans. The article pointed out that this is possibly due to the fact that those of European ancestry were majorly the test subjects. So, the study hints that changes made in the medical world should be centered around a greater sensitivity to genetic diversity. We all are human beings with different personalities of course, but most importantly with genes just as different. The medicines today should reflect that as we continue to increase our knowledge base with research.

"Two Bushmen who live within wlaking distance of each other might habve mor genetic differenes betwewen them than a European and an Asian," says Stephan Schuster, a geneticsit at Pennsylvania State University. I found this statement really cool because it put the findign of the research into perspective. The article gives a techinical explanation about genetic codes and SNP and genetic variants but the quote simplified all of that information. It also piqued my interest because people often lump Africans together genetically because they live on one continent. So , to find out that African Bushmen are more gentically diverse than people of Europen ancestry is really interesting. This is especially true since European ancestry is a broad and varying category by defintion.

The fact that a study done on 5 Bushmen can reveal tons of information about a subjuect is complicated as genetic codes says a lot about scientific researach. This article increased my respect for the scientific process. The idea that you can start with a question asnd research a solution that can have a lot of positive implications that can postively affect a lot of people is worth cherishing and celebrating.

polymers are forever

This article made me realize how trash has so much more significance than people give it. We may throw a plastic bottle away not contemplating its final destination just knowing that its out of our lives is sufficient. We never consider that its journey on earth is just beginning and will possibly continue long after our time on earth has passed. Our thought process seems to end at the trash can.

The use of plastic as a material for many products has revolutionized the way Americans live their lives. However, this has come at a major cost to the environment and to the animals that call earth their home. It was sad to hear the article say the worlds marine life, already threatened by major issues like global warming, has been dealt another blow due to tiny plastic polymers.

snail inspired body armor?

I came across this article entitled "Snail in Shining Armor" by Lisa Grossman in ScienceNews magazine. The article introduces to the world why a deep sea snail called the scaly-foot gastropod is so unique and thus perfectly poised to allow for new technology. Scientists believe that tough materials needed for armor and helments can be modeled from the gastropod's shell. Scientists believe in the durability of the shell because of all the snail endures on a day to day basis.

The snail is able to survive in the high pressure, high acidity, and variable temeperatures provided by the deep sea. The gastropod shells also disperses the force from crab attacks through the shell so that numerous hits just provide surface cracks. All of these are important standards used to design any form of protective gear.

Researchers have also found the shape of the shell inspirational. The curvy shell minimizes stress on the snails inner layers. Its curve proves that geometrics are an important part of engineering.

I found this article very interesting because I think it addresses how collaborative science fields can be. The fact that what the scaly foot gastropod has accomplished through evolution can somehow benefit humans is a pretty cool concept. If things that are naturally created in the enviroment can inspire engineers there will be many helpful products of nature's genius in the future.