final unit evaluation

1. What were the three aspects of the assignments I've submitted that I am most proud of? Ethical essay and lab 1.
2. What two aspects of my submitted assignments do I believe could have used some improvement?Compendium 1&2. I was ready for the end!
3. What do I believe my overall grade should be for this unit? I would have to say a "b". I was approaching biology burn out.

At what moment during this unit did you feel most engaged with the course? Ethical essay

At what moment unit did you feel most distanced from the course? Compendiums

What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit that find most affirming and helpful? Great replies on ning for questions

What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit did you find most puzzling or confusing? none

What about this unit surprised you the most? The major affects of our world population on our natural resources. The news plays this every nite. This was a great on-line class, and i am glad to complete it because i will receive my AAS in Paramedicene. YEAH!!!!!!!!

ethical essay 4

Population taxation on resources is producing a strain on the world population that can not be ignored. Today, our world is under a tremendous strain to produce resources for our use and consumption. This is only going to get worse as more third world countries become more advanced, which in turn, will become more dependant on the worlds resources. We are beginning to really feel the strain with China. China and its vast population is becoming more dependant on commercialization. More people are able to afford vehicles. This has created a larger demand on oil. The news reports the negative issues with the demand of oil for the world consumption. This is not a "ripple", but rather a Tsunami. Even though China has a law regarding how many children a couple may have, this is not a solution that is working out. We as Americans, are just as dependant on oil as China. What was one of our solutions to the oil crisis in the 1970's? Lowering the speed limit. Did this help? I don't know. What i do know, is that we are in a crisis today. Is this because of oil speculators raising the cost of oil, or is because o population that has become a commuting 30miles one way to work in a gas guzzler society? I can't answer that. I know that in the public safety sector of society, everyone pays the price when it comes to fuel costs. Prescott, as an example with it's large senior citizen population, has created a fuel burden on local departments. Even though around 80% of EMS calls to 911 turn out to be non-emergent in nature (sometimes it is just an abuse of what 911 was designed for), we still burn lots of fuel to respond and transport in case that 911 call is truly an emergency. How does this affect everyone? Very simple, taxes have to go up to cover the cost of "responding". This will only continue, since our population is growing. This could be the same for other countries. For a society to change and help shave the use of oil (as an example), we have to promote alternate means of transportation. Prescott is still fighting over on putting more bike lanes in. This is only an example. The same can be said for food demand. Simple supply and demand will suggest that with a growing population comes a higher demand for the potentially limited food supply. This will only raise prices. These are very large issues that can't be ignored. It is sad that the world is just now trying to figure out what to do, but are we to late?

Unit 4, Lab 2

This is a human demographics lab that compares the different fertility rate against the the whole world population.

1. What was your high fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate? My high fertility rate country is Somalia, with a fertility rate of 7.11

2. What was your low fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate? I used the U.S. because the fertility rate is at 2 and this is our home country.

3.The high fertility rate in Somalia represents that many issues that face that country. There are many births that can contribute to the country and its lack of industrialization. Which i find interesting because it is a very poor nation with very little help in terms of food and medical supplies. This is proves to show that the average life span is low when compared to the U.S.. This has the potential to effect the world because we are already experiencing a large demand on resources due to the Asian population becoming more industrialized. This will only compound the issues at hand as more countries become even more dependant on our worlds limited resources.

4. In the low fertility rate country, the middle aged class has grown, in my opinion, because those societies have more to offer in regards to choices in living a more structured life because of the need to have income in order to keep up with the cost of life. People are becoming more focused on income in order to "have a life". You can have more money to live off of if you do not have children to support. So, in my opinion, people are having less children, which in turn, gives us a higher middle-aged class vs. the fertility rate.

5.Middle aged no children: Focused, driven, set in their ways, structured, professional, bad drivers, slow, rude, have to be catered to, taxing(abusive) on the U.S. health care system.

Children: Fast, funny, no-care, really enjoying life, no worries, reckless, bad drivers, limited regard to respect, loud, play full, not focused.

Final Lab

This final lab will list 20 species that i will interact with on any given day.

1.Fire Ant- Solenopisis invicta. Predation since they seek out food that is alive or dead.

2.Dog- Canis Lupos Familiarias. Mutualism because we both benefit but i have the overall advantage

3.Cat- Felis catus. Tricky because cats are predators, we both benefit with the attention given and received.

4.Hamster- sub family Cricetinae. Commensal, because my kids and the hamsters both benefit from one another.

5.earthworm- phylum annelida. Mutualism because the worm decomposes sediment.

6.horse-equus caballus- Mutualism for humans and horse because they provide labor uses and relaxation to humans.

7.house fly- musca domestica- Commensal because fly help to decompose organics, but they can make us ill.

8.quail-phasianidae or in the family odontophoridae- Symbiotic since they provide food and help keep insects in check.

9.rabbit- leporide, cotton tail genus sylvilagus- Symbiotic- mutually benefit as food source and helps with foolige.

10.plum- genus prunus, family rosaceae- Symbiotic since it is a food source and a source for pollination.

11.Russian sage- Perovskia atriplicifolia. Commensal since the bees use the pollination for many things in our eco-system.

12.rose plant- genus rosa, family Rosaceae. Same as the sage, Commensal

13.cheery tree- genus prunus, family rosaceae-Symbiotic due to food source and the pollen production.

14.grape vine- vitus, vitaceae. Predation, because its vines "choke" out any shrubs near it.

15. Spaghetti squash- cucurbitapepo, i find the interesting because out of the fruits and vegetables at my house, this is the only one that is an American native. Predation because of its aggresive vines.

16.tomato- solanum lycopersicum. Symbiotic because we benefit from the plant and it benefits from our "up-keep"

17.cattle- bovines. Parasitic, because they eat plants and then we eat them.

18.Corn/Maize- family poacea, genus Zea

19.wheat- family poaceae, sub-pooideae, genus triticum. Mutualsim since wheat grows and produce food we farm it then harvest it.

20.cricket- insecta, orthoptera, gryllidae. Parasitic to foliage but used as a food source in some countries.

Compendium 2, unit 4

Human Landscapes

1.Origin of life

a.Primitive earth

b.Small organic molecules

c.Macromolecules

d.Protocell

e.Biological Evolution

f.Fossils

g.Human evolution

h.Natural Selection

2.Nature of Ecosystems

a.Autotrophs

b.Heterotrophs

c.Niche

d.Water Cycle

e.Carbon Cycle

f.Nitrogen Cycle

g.Phosphorus Cycle

3.Human Population Growth

a.Bio-diversity

b.Alien species

c.Pollution

d.Medicinal value

e.Agricultural value

4.Working towards a sustainable society

a.Sustainable society

b.Multi-use farming

c.integrated pest management

d.recycling and composting

1.Origin of Life

a.Primitive earth- The Atmosphere was formed by gasses escaping from volcano's.

b.Small organic molecules- Production of nucleotides and amino acids.

c.Macromelecules- RNA first hypothesis suggests that rna was the only macromolecule used to produce the first cells.

d.Protocell- Can carry on metabolism, but unable to reproduce

e.Biological evolution- simplest cells produced, prokaiyotic and eukryotic cell was present.

f.fossils- evidence for evolution.

g.Humans evolution- Started out as Domain Eukaryn (2bya) and evolved to Homo Sapiens (0.1 bya).

h.Natural Selection- Mechanism for adaptation that has led to the ever growing of not only or species, but all others, according to Darwin.

2.Nature of Ecosystems

a.Autotrophs- Require only inorganic nutrients and an outside energy source to reproduce organic nutrients for their own use and for all other members of a community.

b.Heterotrophs- They are consumers that need a source of organic nutrients.

c.Niche- The role of an organism in an ecosystem

d.Water cycle- Transfer rate of water between components of an ecosystem.

e.Carbon cycle- TERRESTRIAL AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS EXCHANGE CARBON DIOXIDE WITH THE ATMOSPHERE.

f.Nitrogen cycle- Nitrogen gas is converted to ammonium.

g.Phosphorus cycle- Phosphorus in the ocean sediments move onto land.

3.Human Population Growth

a.Biodiversity- Variety of life on earth, described in terms of the number of different species.

b.Alien species- Exotics, are non native members of an ecosystem.

c.Pollution- Environmental change that adversely affects the lives and health of living things.

d.Medicinal value- Medicine that has originally derived from living organisms.

e.Agricultural value- Wild plants that have been modified to become high producers.

4.Working towards a sustainable society

a.Sustainable society- would only use renewable energy sources.

b.Multi use farming.

c.Integrated pest management.

d.Recycling and composting.

Ref: Mader, Aris, Brady

unit 4, lab 1

this lab project will list 10 phases of fetal development that i find important.

1. First week: Fertilization occurs.

2.Third week: Because the nervous system begins to develop.

3.Fourth week: Heart is beating >>>>>>>>>

4.Fifth week: The eyes, nose, ears, and limb buds are noticeable.

5. Sixth week: Finger and toe are present. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

6. Third month: Gender can be distinguished

7.Fourth month: The skeleton is visible >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

8.Sixth month: Dr. can tell where the head, back, and limbs are at.

9.Seventh month: The baby's eyes are open >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

10. Day of delivery, because of the incredible transformations ( patho-physiology )the baby's body will go through when it takes it first breath.

compendium 1, unit 4

Reproduction

1.How is a new organism started http://www.mun.ca/

a)Mitosis

b)Meiosis

c)Fertilization

d)Pre- Embryonic/Embryonic development

e)Fetal Development

f)Eggs

g)Sperm

2Fetal Development

a)3rd month

b)4th month

c)5th month

d)6th month

e)7th month

f)8th month

g)9th month

3Human life cycle

a)Meiosis

b)Fertilization

c)Fetal Development

d)Birth

e)Childhood/Adolescence

f)Adulthood

g)Aging

h)Death

1. How is a new organism started.

a)Mitosis- Somatic cell division that produces 2 daughter cells that contain the same number and kind of chromosomes as the original cell.

b)Meiosis- Begins with a diploid stem cell. After 2 divisions, 4 gametes are produced.

c)Fertilization- Union of a sperm and egg to form a zygote. This is the first cell created in order to create a person.

d)Pre-Embryonic- First week of embryonic fetal development

1) Embryonic Development- Begins 2nd week and lasts until the second month of development.

e)Fetal Development- Uterus is growing since the baby is being constructed. This will continue until birth of baby.

f)Eggs- Produced by the ovaries, lives 6-24 hrs unless fertilization occurs.

g)Sperm- Produced in testes, and transported by semen secreted by the prostate and seminal gland during ejaculation

2.Fetal Development

a)3rd month- Gender can be distinguished

b)4th month-Skeleton is visible http://www.search.com/

c)5th month- Heart beat can be heard

d)6th month- Able to differentiate parts of body

e)7th month- Eyes are open

f)8th month- Subcutaneous fat begins to be deposited

g)9th month- Fetus is ready for birth

3. Human life cycle

a)Meiosis

b)Fertilization

c)Fetal development

d)Birth

e)Childhood/Adolescence www.teachercreatedmaterials.com

f)Adult hood

g)Aging

h)Death

Ref: Mader book, ARIS, Brady Book

Major Lab, Unit 3

This unit lab is a model of a moving human limb with muscles, tendons, bones, and joints built from "play-doh". Each picture of my model has a description of what units that are involved in order to create movement. I also have models of a Neuron that shows: Axon with Schwann cells, Action Potential, and the propagation of action potential along the axon. Once again, each model is labeled accordingly. Lastly, there is a model of a muscle cell that includes: Sacolemma, T-tuble, Sarcomere, Sarcoplasmic reticulum, and myosin.

Below is an extra model representing action potential.

These models represent how our muscles receive information from the cns and in return, take that information and turn it into a reaction, or stimulation. This lab showed me just how complex are muscle system is. Through afferent and efferent transmission of stimulation, we are able to receive stimulation (or sensation) transmit the information, process, and then create a reaction. This lab was a positive re-enforcement of unit 3.

Ethical Essay 3

In today's American society, the perfect storm has been "blowing" for a long time in regards to obesity. More food choices along with a demanding work schedule has produced the simple answer of eating (large & quickly) and spending less time taking care of the body. This, in my opinion, is not an easy fix.

As a paramedic, i would have to say that most of my patients are overweight, and most of them have serious medical complications secondary to their weight. Is this a coincidence? I don't think so. I have been overseas (military service) and noticed that in Asia, i did not see many obese people. I will use Hong Kong as my example. This is a large metropolitan area, with many people living in a condensed area. What i noticed amazed me in regards to America: Most people there where in good condition. I have never seen so many people that walked around or used a bike. Same can be said about the many different places in Mexico that i travel to. Many people walk or ride a bike. Don't get me wrong, i am sure there are obese people in those areas, i just cant recall any! Is this a product of how our societies differ? I believe it is, but it is possible that because their society is not as commercialized as ours plays a major role. This is only my observation.

Now, back in the US, we have allot of options in regards to eating out. It is easy to order the "super-size" meal and not even think twice about the affects. In today's work force, not everyone has a gym at their work place to counter-act the effects of sitting in a cubical(generalized). As a Paramedic, my 24 hour shift may be slow. That is great when it happens (rarely). But, i am eating on the "run", and at odd hours of the day and nite. When you add limited sleep, your body will pay the price! I am fortunate that i have a gym available during my work shift. That doesn't mean i will get to use it. The gym is there to help me limit my chances of getting an infection (sick) while at work. The fringe benefit, is that i get to stay healthy. This is accomplished through exercise. However, not everyone has that luxury at work and i notice that when i go to a patients house at 3am who is complaining shortness of breath, who also weighs over 300lbs. This is not an isolated incident, like i said before, i notice more health issues with overweight people, and this age group isn't isolated to the elderly alone.

Big corporations play a major role in this storm. Larger food portions, easy access, for your convenience. Who is to blame? Everyone that chooses that option because they are tired and worn out from work? I am guilty of that choice sometimes. Maybe things will change with the slow down of our economy? Everyone will adjust to the price of food and people will spend more on healthy food, walk or bike to work---i doubt it. McDonald's will still offer super-sized meals for an adjusted price that consumers will accept. When you factor in the fact that exercising is not as convenient as order fast food, the storm only gets stronger!

Unit 3, Lab 2

www.etsu.edu

This lab is to test the effects of muscle fatigue and how the cold effects the function of muscles. First, i recorded how many times i can make a fist in 20 seconds. Then i submersed my hand in a ice/water mix for 60 seconds. I then recorded how many "fists" i could make in 20 seconds.

NORMAL Temp. # of fists: 45

Ice Water # of fists: 40

Next, I wanted to know the effect of fatigue on muscle action while squeezing a rubber ball. I did this for 20 seconds, with 10 trials. I did not rest between each trial.

1. 50

2. 47

3. 40

4. 35

5. 28

6. 21

7. 19

8. 15

9. 8

10. 3

1. What are the three changes you observed in a muscle while it is working (contracted)? I noticed that the muscle would enlarge, it would also tighten up, and i could not continue with the same rate due to muscle fatigue

2. What effect did the cold temperature have on the action of your hand muscles? Explain. The cold caused my muscles to constrict due to the vasoconstriction secondary to the cold water. This in turn, made my muscle feel stiff. I had a hard time making my fist due to the initial vasoconstriction, and the end result made it hard for me to "catch up" with the demand.

3. What effect did fatigue have on the action of your hand muscles? Explain In the beginning, my body was able to keep up with aerobic demand of my muscles. However, this was a task specific challenge placed on group of muscles. As i continued with the exercise, my muscles had received adequate O2, but because i did not rest between trials,i think it is possible that the O2 demand for that specific group of muscles was greater than available. The end result was anaerobic cellular respiration with possible hypertrophy of those muscles.

Unit 3, Compendium 2

Muscular & Bone Systems

1.Muscle

a) 3 types of muscle tissue

b) Skeletal muscles

2.Anatomy of skeletal muscles

a) gross anatomy

b) micro-anatomy

c) myofilaments

3.Contractions

a) neuromuscular junction

b) synaptic knob

4.Action Potential Sequence

a) release of ACh

b) binding of ACh

c) conduction of action potentials

5.Bones

a) osseous tissue

b) calcium phosphate

c) osteocytes

d) osteclasts

e) osteoblasts

6.Remodeling & Homeostatic mechanisms

a) remodeling

b) calcium

c) fracture repair

1.Muscles

a) 3 types of muscle tissue: Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.

picture of the make up of muscle. http://fig.cox.miami.edu/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

b) Skeletal muscles attach to bones directly or indirectly, and are used to produce skeletal movement, maintain posture and body position,support tissues, guard entrances and exits, and maintain body temp.

2.Anatomy of skeletal muscles

a) Gross anatomy: Muscle fiber is surrounded by endomysium, sheathed by a perimysium, and covered by an epimysium. At the end of the muscle is a tendon.

b) Micro anatomy: Muscle cells have a sarcolemma, sarcoplasm, and a sarcoplasmic reticulum.

c) Myofilaments consit of a thin filament(actin) and a thick filament(myosin).

3.Contractions

a) Neuromuscular Junction: The link between electrical activity in the sarcolemma and the initiation of a contraction.

b) Synaptic knob, synaptic cleft, and motor end plate are part of the junction. picture of neuromuscular junction http://abdellab.sunderland.ac.uk/ >

4. Action Potential Sequence

a) The release of acetylcholine (ACh): Impulse at synaptic knob release ACh into synaptic cleft.

b) The binding of ACh at motor end plate: This event changes the permeability of the membrane to sodium ions.

c) This conduction of action potentials by the sacrolemma: This triggers a sudden release of calcium ions. The ens result is a contraction. This is how our body achieves movement.

5.Bones

a) Osseous tissue: Supports connective tissue, contains specialized cells, extracellular fibers, and ground substances. end product is a distinct solid with a stony character from the disposition of calcium salt. picture of bone tissue http://medicalimages.allrefer.com/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

b) Calcium Phosphate(Ca3(PO4)2: Accounts for 2/3 of the weight of bones. The remaining 1/3 is dominated by collagen fibers.

c) Osteocytes: Mature bone cells that recycle calcium and assists with bone repairs.

d) Osteoclasts: Giant cells with 50 or more nuclei, helps regulate calcium and phosphate concentrations in the bodies fluid.

e) Osteblasts: Cells responsible for the production of new bone.

6.Remodeling & Homeostatic mechanisms

a) Remodeling: Organic and mineral components of bone are continuously recycled and renewed.

b) Calcium: Most abundant mineral in the body. 99% is located in the skeleton, which acts as a calcium reserve for the body.

c) Fracture repair involves the formation of a fracture hematoma.

d) effects of aging on the skeleton can include osteopenia and osteoporosis.

picture of remodeled bone http://www.osteopeak.com/ >>

references: Aris, Mader book, Brady book.