A Matter of Selection

Over time, the brassica oreala family has evolved into different variations of the plant. The plants have developed different colors, sizes, and leaf shape. In Willow Glen’s garden I have observed the plants and their differences. The greatest characteristic variation between each of the plants were the shapes of their leaves. The greatest range of variation was shown in the plant and stem color.

Siberian Kale:

• Dark green leaves
• Ruffled edges
• Purple stems

Cabbage:

• Green leaves
• Light green stem
• Wide leaves

Dino Kale:

• Bumpy texture
• Skinny leaves
• Dark dark green leaves
• Light green stem

Purple Cabbage:

• Smaller size
• Dark purple leaves
• Purple stem

Kohlrabi:

• Dark green leaves
• Purple stems

Broccoli:

• Tall
• Green stem

These many variations were over a long period of time. During this long period the plants genes changed to suite the environment. Artificial selection might have also been apart of the change in the plants. Humans would alter the genes to produce a better outcome. This is a form of selective breeding because humans are breeding the plants for particular traits. This type of change is not always the case. Some plants evolve through descent with modification. This event occurs when a plant is forced to adapt to a change in the environment and one specific trait becomes more dominant to better suite the change. These shifts in the plants genes cause natural variations in offspring over time. Mutations are also a large reason why the plant has changed so much over time.

The most consistent part of the anatomy in the brassica olercea family were the colors of the plants leaves and stems. Each of the leaves were a certain shade of green. For instance the cabbage, cauliflower, and dino kahle all had a shade of green leaves and green stems. I believe the reason why this trait never seemed to change is because there was never a need to or a change in the environment that forced them to change their color.

In order for a breeder to obtain a specific trait they would have to use different methods. For instance, the method most commonly used today is done by extracting a specific trait from a plant and embedding it into another. Another  more natural way would be putting the plant into a different environment causing it to adapt and change over time.

Blog post #9 -- A matter of selection

              The size and shape of the leaves in the brassica oleracea family show the most variation. The two most polar opposite plants in this family would be kale and cauliflower. The Kale's leaves are thin and have ridges every so often while the cauliflower exhibits wide leaves that curve at the edges. Their length is about the same ranging from 22 cm to 24 cm, but the cauliflower's leaves are much wider. they measure each about 20 cm wide while the kale is only 11 or 10 cm wide.
            I believe that this is due to selective breeding and mutations. Because the plants were always in the same geographic area, descent with modification would be harder to encounter. The decrease in bees has definitely caused some changes in which species have bred more. This selective breeding lead to mutations in the wild cabbage that later created many different variations.
          Most of the b. oleracea that has blossomed looks the same. For example, the kohlrabi and cauliflower both had tall, yellow blossoms. Not many of the plants were in their full adult form yet so I could not tell which of them would show the same flowerings. The blossoms were close together in both cases and almost identical to other Kohlrabi organisms.
         For plant breeders to get desired characteristics into plants, they must selectively breed two plants with the traits they choose. If a botanist were to want another gene in their gene pool, they would have to introduce a separate brassica oleracea plant who can breed with a different blossoming.

             

Blog Post #9

The evolution of Brassica Oleracea is a fascinating and amazing process. Because of selective breeding there are many types of Brassica Oleracea. The part that exhibited the most variation is the leaf, and the two types of Brassica Oleracea that are almost opposites are Siberian kale and the Purple Cabbage. The Purple Cabbage has big, long,and purplish kind of leaves. While the Siberian kale have long, rough texture, tattered edges, and greenish type of  leaves. The Siberian kale is 29 cm long, and 11 cm wide. The Purple Cabbage  is 20 cm long and 15 cm wide.Both plants have purple stems.

The Brassica Olercea plants come in many forms. Because of artificial selection and changes in their genes. Because the brassica oleracea changed genes they were more adapted, because humans started to selectively breed them. They were selectively bread to meet peoples expectations. Although humans have caused most of the brassica oleracea to be so diverse descent with modification  also  plays a role in this. If some unusual thing occurs the plants with a trait that helps it in that situation will become dominate.There is also natural variation witch selects traits for or against something and mutation are other reasons why plants are so diverse.

The stem of the plants were the most consistent because they were all about the same size about 1 cm. One of the reasons that the stem  is so consistent is because the stem is one of two main structural axes of a plant. The only difference is the color. Some are yellow green, purple, or white.

 For plant breeders to get the stem to become much different they have to find certain traits in other plants and breed them together or transfer it in some other way. This is called selective breeding. The brassica oleracea plants would never be this diverse if it was not for selective breeding. 

Blog post Number Nine (A matter of selection)

       After measuring a variety of plants I believe that the most variations are expressed through the sizes of leafs as shown in the pictures below.

29cm

                                                                             22cm

19cm

15cm

35cm

                                                                Leaf lengths

                                                                      Leaf lengths

So much variability in the domestic brassica oleracea traits is a cause of selective breeding by humans, also known as artificial selection. Selective breeding alters an organisms genes over time which never inevitably changes the organisms appearance. Some differences might also be the cause of mutations (natural variations) which are random changes that occur in an organisms genes. The last possibility is descent with modification which is the inheritance of traits from parent organisms but with mutations in its genes.

                   The main similarity in all the plants that I noticed was the stem structure. As you can see in the picture above, they have a semi rectangular structure with occasional digits coming off of the side of the plant. The rectangular structure applies a great deal of  support throughout   the whole plant allowing it to grow bigger without collapsing. For data what I have are the images this is a vital observation.

                    To acquire more in genetic variation, Plant breeders we need to take the few plans with different stems and breed them with the rectangular stemmed plants. This is also known as selective breeding.

Mason's GATTACA Essay

G.M.H

The future holds many untold wonders and possibilities in a vast number of scientific branches, especially genetics. There may be ways to genetically enhance the probability of desirable traits in future generations. Genetically modifying human beings can have both positive and negative effects.

On the positive side, genetically modified humans (GMH) could be engineered to have just about any given trait. This means that we can adapt faster than any other species.Humans could be built for the future. A possible scenario could be a high chance of solar flares, And people with dark skin would have less of a chance of getting skin cancer. So instead of not adapting quickly enough, doctors could advise soon to be parents to choose a dark complexion for their children. One generation would be all that it takes to adapt.

For our current time it seems ethically wrong to select which embryo survives and which one dies. Basically, we are illuminating natural selection, and beginning abortions at an even earlier stage in life. Depending on how our citizens opinions last throughout the years this might not even be an option. It is still uncertain that embryos can feel and think.

There isn't only ethical issues, but biological issues two. If humans need to reproduce naturally, our bodies might become unable to support life without electronics. This means that if some sort of un-calculated disaster strikes, humans slowly die off, or every time a person is pregnant there would be a great chance that the mother would die before or after the baby is born.

The negative effect seemed to outweigh the positive effects for now, but given that we are faced by a future disaster many of the ethics ideas would be dropped. When someone is desperate sense is to be thrown in the recycle bin and used for later.

Gattaca essay

Many modern  foods are filled with GMOs or genetically modified organisms. When foods have GMOs in them, they predispose consumers to diseases such as diabetes, or even cancer. Foods such as Reese’s® are known to carry GMOs, and they have been shown in movies such as Food Inc. or Gattaca. Genetically modified organisms should be banned because they are not healthy, or contribute at all to humans.

GMOs do not only carry negative affects to the population though. Using GMOs on plants has proven to make them taller, wider, and feed more. The products with these GMOs are priced lower in stores so that customers are persuaded to buy foods that are not organic. But even though they are priced lower, you have already paid a portion of taxes to these big scale farmers for GMO infused foods. Families stricken with poverty have no choice but to buy these non-organic products because they cost less. Families such as these either have to buy these products that seem healthy or buy fast food, which gives these big companies the upper hand.

So far, genetically modified organisms have not contributed anything but a bigger risk of autoimmune attacks but, harm can still come if we cease to continue in their growing. Because prices will have risen, poor families will have no choice but to resort to fast food. This will cause unhealthy diets and eventually lead to obesity. Farmers will also have a hard time gaining money because corporates won’t pick them up for using, or not using GMOs.

On the bright side, discontinuing GMOs will ultimately give us better lifestyles. Ending the life of genetically modified organisms will also end the raigne of cancer caused by GMOs, nitrates, and other unhealthy substances added to foods. Although poorer people may not be rich enough to afford all foods, they will also be more accustomed to healthy lives.

Genetically modified organisms have been an issue for the past decade, and years before. They pose a serious threat and if we overlook them, we will pay our health. If we end the usage of genetically modified organisms, we will be overall better off than we would be with them.  In conclusion, we should get rid of  genetically modified organisms and everything like them.

GATTACA Essay

GATTACA

In the movie GATTACA  society has been divided into two groups, the genetically gifted and the  invalide.A child conceived through genetic manipulation has a better if not ensured chance of success,than an invalid. Vincent is not genetically gifted and struggles to overcome his genetic differences, and follow his dream to travel into space.

‘’Jerome was engineered with everything he needed to get into Gattaca… except the desire to do so.’’--Vincent. If someone don’t have a desire to do something it’s pointless to do it. If a person does something that does not interest he will eventually get depressed and do the unexpected what ever that might be. What made Vincent different was his desire of space travel. In this fact vencent is somewhat better than Jerome. People with genetic manipulation are considered to be perfect. But  no one can be prefect.

In this sense Jerome is imperfect because he does not have desires. Even though Jerome was born for the job he disliked it. While Vincent was not genetically engineered for the job, he had the desire to which is the most important thing. He showed that he could make it even though others did not believe in him, which is amazing and he became a hero for those without genetic manipulation.

This also might be related to destiny. Maybe Vincent was meant to travel space. His fate was to help the genetically gifted that there are some things they can't change like fate,and desire because there is no gene for desire.

In conclusion no matter what racism will always exist but that won't stop heros from proving them wrong. In reality Vincent was the one that had what it took to get into Gattaca, his desire was all he needed.

GATTACA Essay

In GATTACA Jerome shows Vincent a second place medal he received as a kid. He exclaims to Vincent that “Jerome Morrow was never meant to be one step down on the podium”. Jerome Morrow was told to be genetically perfect with the heart of an ox while Vincent was not as perfect. Vincent was born with a chance of heart disease and a life span of only 30 years. The relevance of this quote is that if Jerome was expected to be perfect but failed to do so, how would Vincent succeed  where Jerome failed?

Throughout the film there are recurring symbols. Glass and water are two examples of recurring symbols or obstacles that Vincent face. For instance the recurred many times throughout the film. Vincent would have to go up against his brother to see who could swim the furthest. Eventually Vincent beats his genetically better brother and changes his view on obstacles in life. Another image the occurred during the film was glass. For example, while Vincent was a janitor at GATTACA he washed windows around the building hoping to eventually work behind them.  In the end Vincent's dream comes true and he gets a job in the building.

In GATTACA Jerome and Vincent form a relationship as the story goes on. When Vincent first meets Jerome he only plans on using him for his body and genetics, but eventually start to bond. Jerome would give Vincent all the necessities he needs to work at GATTACA and in return Vincent would help move Jerome around and help him and his crippled body. In ecological terms this could be an example of the bonding of cells because each cell bonds with another with an necessity it needs.

How Want To Live A Million Years?

It took me 6 turn to finally win because I did not know which traits were the best for that environment. It took so long because of changes in the environment. this suggests that most species that lived million of years ago are either extinct or really different.

At first i chose the small legged green one because I did not know what traits were best. When I chose the long legged spiky one it still died. So then I chose the long legged hairless one and it survived. I survived because when the big monster came they were able to run away.

Genetic drift played a big part in this game. All the time I was about to win some predator would come out of nowhere and kill them off. Some of those who survived had different genes that allowed them to thrive.

The dominant alleles were long legs and being hairless. Being hairless helped because the creatures lived in hot environment. Having long legs helped them outrun predators. I can tell because the ones with genes that were not best suited for the environment died.

In cold condition it would really help to have lots of fur, and smaller legs. In hot conditions you would need to be hairless and have long legs. If a new predator came around you would need long legs to run away from the predators. If there is new tall food source you would need to have both long legs and a long neck.

If I could change the game to make it better I would make it look a lot more realistic. I would also add different types of predators and not the same one over and over again. I would also change the environment because it would not stay the same for one million years.It might also be interesting to add some natural disasters.

Who wants to live a million years (Antonio)

              It took me four generations to win because I had no idea which mutation carried certain traits. The game illustrates how hard it is to get a species to live one million years. I believe it would be equally difficult to survive as many natural disasters, predators, and temperatures to survive one million years.
              I chose a short legged hairless organism for all three choices because i had no idea what the difference was (whoops). When I chose a long legged, hairy organism, a short striped organism, and a long legged organism, I survived on the first try. They shortly all had stripes, long necks, and longer legs. I won later using this exact combination because this diverse combination can survive most of the disasters put in this game.
             Genetic drift was a main issue in this game. I was always crossing my fingers to see if my wanted trait would diffuse into the population. Most of the time, it did; if it didn't happen soon enough then the population would die off. Different genes would either decrease in the gene pool, stay the same, or expand. This is due to genetic drift and natural selection.
           I could tell that being tall was dominant to having a small neck and that stripes were more dominant that being hairless. I could tell this because certain genes would die off quicker than others, or wouldn't always expand in the gene pool.
           In cold conditions, it is better to be fat, hairy, and have short limbs like legs or necks. The exact opposite would be good in hot conditions. Long limbs, being thin, and hairless all help in harsh heat. If a predator was nearby, stripes and long legs would contribute the most. The only things that would help being able to eat a taller food source are long legs and a long neck.
           To make the game more realistic, I  would add more possible disasters, foods, and add more possible environments. different types of foods would give more adaptions and make the game harder to beat. The game would be a lot less predictable if there were more disasters or outcomes.

Who wants to Live a Million Years Questions

It took 5 games to finally win the because I wasn’t sure what exactly what was going to happen in the future. This means that real species would have really hard lives and it would be 100 times harder to survive.

I chose red body, tall legs, and no fur and I was able to survive because they allowed me to run fast get fruit on tall trees and stay cool in the heat.

Yes I think this population, when genetic drift occurred,  was greatly affected because when a large amount of my species died I was less likely to survive a disaster. I saw evidence of genetic drift when the group of creatures shrunk and expanded in my screen.

The alleles for fur and long legs were dominant with my creatures while green skin with no fur and short legs were recessive. Evidence of this came to me as I observed the rapid change of a few short hairless creature to a tall hairy creature.

cold conditions= new large predator on the scene

new tall food source=hot conditions

Three improvements I would add to the game is more disasters, different types of predators, and a way you can make your creature a predator.

Who Wants to Live a Million Years? Q&A

1. How many generations did it take for you to finally win a game? Why do you think it took this long? What do you think this means/suggests for most real species on Earth in terms of their species's chances of long-term survival?  

It took me about 5 generations to win the game. I think it took me that long because I was still figuring out the pros and flaws of each character in different situations.  This suggests that most real species on earth can have different chances of long term survival depending on the environment, climate, and situation.

2. Which initial phenotypes/phenotype combinations did you select and why?Which starting/initial combinations seemed to allow you to continue/survive the longest (win the most games)? Why do you think this was so?

The initial phenotypes that I chose most of the time were the characters with some fur, long legs, and stripes characters with some fur had a better chance in hot and cold weather and long legs aloud the characters to be tall and fast and the stripes camouflage them from predators.These were also the initial starting combinations I chose and the one that won the most games.

3. Do you think this population of theoretical creatures would be greatly affected by genetic drift? What evidence of drift did you see as you played the game (simulation)?

I agree that the population of fke creatures would be affected by genetic drift because during the game the animals go through a series of changes in the environment. For instance, as the temperatures dropped the animals quickly had to adapt by growing thick fur and increasing in size.

4. Which alleles/phenotypes seemed to be dominant and which seemed to be recessive? How could you tell?

The most dominant phenotypes that the animals seemed to pass on the most was hard to pin point exactly, but the ones i saw the most were animals with thick fur and longer necks. The recessive phenotypes were usually the stripes compared to all the other genes.

5. Match the environments/situations/conditions below with their corresponding adaptations:

(a) cold conditions; (b) hot conditions; (c) new large predator on the scene; (d) new tall food source

When the environment got cold the animals needed thick fur and larger size. When temperatures get too hot the animals either needed some fur or none at all. If a predator came upon the animals stripes and longer legs were necessary for camouflage and speed. If a new food source is tll the animals had to adapt with longer necks or longer legs to reach the food.

6. How would you improve this simulation to more realistically represent natural selection and biological evolution? Discuss at least three improvements.

If I were to improve this game I would include more natural disasters like floods or droughts to make situations harder for the animals. I would also add more variety in the animal combinations because they were limited in the game. Lastly I would include more environments to allow players to survive in different biomes like jungles, deserts, and even under water.