Animism and the Alphabet Essay Example for Free

Animism and the Alphabet Essay Animism and the Alphabet Response The author writes about human being how to develop writing system such as European civilization and the Greek origins. Then talk about â€Å"hieroglyphic† and explain the development of the writing process, this was human primeval communication, which a method of identifying with the animal draw on the wall. After they slowly learn to use images or picture to present what their said. Then, he thinks the ideograms of writing Ideographic scripts must make use of a vast number of stylized glyphs or characters, therefore, there are only a few people who highly trained it. Its hard for writing and training, more and more people choice it as how to describe way. With the advent of the aleph- beth, this new innovation changed new distance and open between human life and the rest of nature, people know how to practice and improve their writing ability. So the author is saying that† the larger, more than human life world is no longer a part of the semiotic, no longer a necessary part of the system† The development of human being language benefits our environment, people will reduce hunting to treat as sign and less depend on nature. I don’t agree the author’s views, because people should be eager to explore new stuff. More innovation can show human being value. Even if some ways is like a double edged sword, try to change new method, the writing system will be benefit more and more in the future.

Sexual Selection and Sexual Conflict Essay -- Mating Biology

Charles Darwin characterized sexual selection as â€Å"variance in the number of mates†. The purpose of sexual selection is to perfect the secondary sexual characteristics, which are the morphological differences between the two sexes. On the other hand the primary sexual characteristics are the differences between the reproductive genital systems of the two sexes. Sexual selection instead of adapting the individual to the environment, like natural selection, it does enhance traits involved in mate acquisition. Sexual conflict, on the other hand, occurs when males and females have different reproductive interests and deriving from the urge of sexual reproduction. This is boosted by promiscuity when males and females have several partners. (www1, www2, www4) Futuyma (1998) defines sexual selection as â€Å"selection that arises from differences in the mating success (number of mates that bear offspring)†. Sexual struggle can be divided into two categories. The first category is the struggle between individuals of the same sex (generally males) in order to be victorious against their rival by killing it or make it retreat. In this category the females remain passive. The second category is the struggle between individuals of the same sex but this time this happens in order to attract individuals of the opposite sex. There are also some theories for the existence of sexually selected traits. There is the intrasexual selection, in which males compete aggressively with each other for access to the females. It includes weapons such as horns, antlers, tusks and spurs, which are examples of sexual dimorphism. Weapons are mainly male characteristics and some possible explanations for their existence are: protection against predators, used for co... ...he same sex as they compete for mates and also between the sexes as individuals choose their partners. Sexual conflict arises because strategies that maximize the fitness of one sex can reduce the fitness of the other. To sum up, sexual conflict can lead to sexually antagonistic co-evolution, in which one sex evolves a favorable trait, which is countered by a countering trait in the other sex. (www5, www6) Works Cited †¢ http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/~otto/PopGen500/Discussion3/Overheads.html http://bio.research.ucsc.edu/~barrylab/classes/animal_behavior/SELECT.HTM#anchor460576 : http://aarongoetz.netfirms.com/My%20Articles/SexualConflict-bookreview-atg.pdf†¢ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/21967.php http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470015902.a0003669.pub2/abstract †¢ http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/npg.els.0001718/abstract

Race: Social Construct

Race as a Social Construct â€Å"Race dominates our personal lives† (192 Lopez). Race is constantly a part of people’s lives and throughout the film Rabbit Proof Fence directed by Phillip Noyce and the Critical Race Theory written by Ian Lopez, we are able to see in what ways it affects people. The film depicts a group of three half caste Aborigine girls, who are taken from their family by a white man, Mr. Neville. The girls are taken to be trained as servants and also so they can assimilate to the â€Å"White† culture.The article explains how race can be mistaken to be a biological difference, but how it actually is a social construct created by society. Throughout their works, Lopez and Noyce portray that race is not determined by biological factors, but rather by society creating social constructs. The Aborigine’s uneasiness towards whites because of how the whites treat and degrade them for their physical attributes exemplifies how race is a social con struct. In the movie, the half caste kids were nervous of being taken and never being able to see their mothers again.The half castes were taken to their new â€Å"home† where they were â€Å"[checked] for skin color and the fairer ones who are cleverer† to see who can be freed to leave and get a good education (Noyce). The whites were the ones who were free and had many more opportunities than the Aborigines did because of the color of their skin; hence, â€Å"Their race in the end determined whether they were free or enslaved† (192 Lopez). Their freedom was controlled by the whites, who caused them and their family’s pain because the whites thought their race was superior.In Rabbit Proof Fence, the whites separate themselves and the Aborigines because of their skin color and make the mistake of determining race by biological differences. Although Molly’s wit is able to fool Mr. Neville, Moodoo knows where the girls are, proving that race is creat ed by society and not by genes. There are times when Moodoo senses the girls nearby, but seems to ignore it. When he is with the white man looking for the girls he says â€Å"she’s pretty clever that girl, she wants to go home† (Noyce) because he wants to pretend he does not know where they are.He understands that it is unfair for these helpless people to be taken from their families out of force because he can relate since his daughter was taken as well. In the Critical Race Theory article, Lopez talks about how â€Å"Black and White are social groups, not genetically distinct branches of humankind† (193 Lopez). To Mr. Neville, whites are thought to be superior because of how they look compared to the Aborigines; therefore, the fairer ones are more intelligent and clever. Molly and Moodoo prove Mr.Neville wrong when they outsmart him, which verifies that race is a social construct. Race can be thought of â€Å"as a vast group of people loosely bound together b y historically contingent, socially significant elements† (193 Lopez) from their ancestry. Society has categorized people based on many different characteristics ranging from â€Å"hair, complexion, and facial features† (192 Lopez). We see this categorization in the movie when the whites put the half caste Aborigines in a special camp away from their families because of their skin color.The Critical Race Theory explains to us that race is a social construct created by society and Rabbit Proof Fence provides us with examples from the article. Race is constantly mistaken to be people with different physical attributes, when in reality a person’s biology should not and does not determine which race he or she belongs to. Race is a social construct. Works Cited Delgado, Richard. Critical Race Theory: The Cutting Edge. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1995. Rabbit-proof Fence. Dir. Phillip Noyce. Perf. Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, and Kenneth Charles Branagh . Miramax Films, 2002. DVD.

Moon Jellyfish Facts

The moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) is a common jelly that is easily recognized by its four horseshoe-shaped gonads, which are visible through the top of its translucent bell. The species gets its common name for the way its pale bell resembles a full moon. Fast Facts: Moon Jellyfish Scientific Name: Aurelia auritaCommon Names: Moon jellyfish, moon jelly, common jellyfish, saucer jellyBasic Animal Group: InvertebrateSize: 10-16 inchesLifespan: 6 months as an adultDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Tropical and subtropical oceansPopulation: AbundantConservation Status: Not Evaluated Description The moon jellyfish has a translucent 10 to 16 inch bell with a fringe of short tentacles. The tentacles are lined with nematocysts (stinging cells). Most moon jellies have four horseshoe-shaped gonads (reproductive organs), but a few have three or five. The bell and gonads may be translucent white, pink, blue, or purple, depending on the animals diet. The jellyfish has four fringed oral arms that are longer than its tentacles. Habitat and Range The species lives in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. It is common along the Atlantic coast of North America and Europe. Moon jellyfish frequent coastal and epipelagic areas (top layer of the ocean) and can survive the lower salinity of estuaries and bays. Diet and Behavior The moon jellyfish is a carnivore that feeds on zooplankton, including protozoa, diatoms, eggs, crustaceans, mollusks, and worms. The jelly is not a strong swimmer, mainly using its short tentacles to stay near the water surface. Plankton get trapped in the mucus coating the animal and passed via cilia into its oral cavity for digestion. Moon jellyfish absorb their own tissue and shrink if they are starved. They grow to their normal size when food becomes available. Although water currents group jellyfish together, they live solitary lives. Scientists believe jellyfish may communicate with one another using chemicals released into the water. The jellyfish life cycle includes both sexual and asexual phases. Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images Reproduction and Offspring The jellyfish life cycle has a sexual and asexual component. Each adult (called a medusa) is either male or female. In the open ocean, jellyfish release sperm and eggs into the water. Fertilized eggs develop and grow in the water as planula for a few days before attaching to the sea floor and growing into polyps. The polyp resembles an upside down medusa. Polyps asexually bud off clones that develop into mature medusae. In the wild, Aurelia jellyfish reproduce for several months. Near the end of summer, they become susceptible to disease and tissue damage from the exertion of reproduction and diminishing food supplies. Most moon jellyfish probably live about six months, although captive specimens may live many years. Like the immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii), the moon jellyfish can undergo lifecycle reversal, essentially growing younger rather than older. Conservation Status The IUCN has not evaluated the moon jelly for a conservation status. The jellyfish are abundant, with adult populations spiking or blooming in July and August. The moon jellyfish thrives in water containing a lower than normal concentration of dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen drops in response to increased temperature or pollution. Jellyfish predators (leatherback turtles and ocean sunfish) cannot tolerate the same conditions, are subject to overfishing and climate change, and may die when they mistakenly eat floating plastic bags that resemble jellies.Thus, jellyfish numbers are expected to grow. Moon jellyfish blooms in summer have environmental causes and consequences. Michael Nolan / Getty Images Moon Jellyfish and Humans Moon jellyfish are consumed as food, especially in China. The species is of concern because an overabundance of the jellies significantly decreases plankton levels. People frequently encounter moon jellyfish because of their abundance and preference for coastal waters. These jellyfish do sting, but their venom is mild and considered harmless. Any clinging tentacles may be rinsed off with salt water. The venom may then be deactivated with heat, vinegar, or baking soda. Sources Arai, M. N. A Functional Biology of Scyphozoa. London: Chapman and Hall. pp. 68–206, 1997. ISBN 978-0-412-45110-2.He, J.; Zheng, L.; Zhang, W.; Lin, Y. Life Cycle Reversal in Aurelia sp.1 (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa). PLoS ONE. 10 (12): e0145314, 2015. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0145314Hernroth, L. and F. Grondahl. On the Biology of Aurelia Aurita. Ophelia. 22(2):189-199, 1983.Shoji, J.; Yamashita, R.; Tanaka, M. Effect of low dissolved oxygen concentrations on behavior and predation rates on fish larvae by moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita and by a juvenile piscivore, Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius. Marine Biology. 147 (4): 863–868, 2005. doi:10.1007/s00227-005-1579-8Solomon, E. P.; Berg, L. R.; Martin, W. W. Biology (6th ed.). London: Brooks/Cole. pp. 602–608, 2002. ISBN 978-0-534-39175-1.