Genetic Engineering In Food Production Essays - Molecular Biology

Genetic Engineering In Food Production Genetic Engineering in Food Production: Is it Safe, Wise, and Moral? Over the past couple of decades much debate has been going on about the use of advanced technology in the field of biology. Ever since the first gene was cloned in 1973, genetic engineers have been pursuing at break-neck speed the unlimited possibilities promised by biotechnology (Davidson 1993). Their excitement, which has generated billions of investment dollars for the industry, is understandable. Bioengineering allows scientists to identify specific gene sequences responsible for particular characteristics and then to transfer the genes -- and the specific trait -- into entirely different species. One of the more current and controversial issue in the field of biotechnology is the use of bioengineering in food production. Scientists are experimenting with many different plants, but the genetic engineering of the tomato, dubbed Flavr Savr has been the most highly publicized project by far. The new tomato is supposed to boast more flavor and be tastier due to its longer staying tim e on the vine, thereby giving it more time to accumulate sweetness; yet, it will not rot or spoil because of its new genetic makeup. (Davidson 1993). With this advanced technology scientists argue that it could offer the greatest hope in the aid to stop hunger in Third World countries. This new technology could be used to make bulk levels of food production more efficient and less costly. However, despite all of its advantages in creating better crops, many people are very skeptical about its safetiness and possible long-term health effects. Moreover, the social issue lies deep in the realm of ethical and moral concerns. Do people really want to eat meat that is leaner and tastier but contains genes from humans? Or, would individuals (like vegetarians) be able to eat certain vegetables that may contain genes from animals? Personally, I would not support the use of genetic engineering in food production based on moral and ethical reasons: I do not think that scientists should be able to use their knowledge and social prestige in society to be able to play the role of God in creating new or better living things even if their justification is for the purpose of serving mankind. Although we still have much to learn about genes, recently developed techniques have already given rise to a new technology of molecular genetics. Genetic engineering, also known as gene splicing/manipulation and recombinant DNA technology is a set of techniques for reconstructing, or deliberately manipulating, the genetic material of an organism. Operating at the molecular level, this process involves the addition, deletion, or reorganization of pieces of an organism's DNA (known as genes) in order to alter that organism's protein production (Arms et al. 1994). The use and applications of genetic engineering range from medical and pharmaceutical to industrial crops and food products. Its applications, today or in the future, include?creating improved strains of crops and farm animals (Arms et al. 1994). All of these applications rely on the ability to transplant genes into a cell's makeup, or genome. The new gene may come from another organism, of the same species, or it may contain DNA produced in the laboratory. One example, the new Flavr Savr tomato, developed by Calgene, a biotechnology company based in Davis, California, was subjected to years of scrutiny before the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) agreed that it was safe to eat. They found, copied, and rebuilt a gene that lets these tomatoes stay on the vine without softening and spoiling. That means that the fruit can develop more of the sugars and acids that make a home-grown tomato taste so sweet and rich. Conventional tomatoes sold in the stores are often hard and flavorless because they are picked while green and firm enough to transport, then 'ripened' by spraying with ethylene (Wood 1995). This turns the tomato red but does nothing to develop a riper flavor. Ethylene, a colorless, odorless gas that once kicks in, so do all the problems of perishability (Wood 1995). Since tomatoes have a softening gene, it produces RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) to help manufacture a protein that causes rotting. To stop the tomatoes going soft too soon, the researchers devised a

Peoples Republic of China Facts and History

Peoples Republic of China Facts and History The history of China reaches back over 4,000 years. In that time, China has created a culture rich in philosophy and the arts. China has seen the invention of amazing technologies such as silk, paper, gunpowder, and many other products. Over the millennia, China has fought hundreds of wars. It has conquered its neighbors, and been conquered by them in turn. Early Chinese explorers such as Admiral Zheng He sailed all the way to Africa; today, Chinas space program continues this tradition of exploration. This snapshot of the Peoples Republic of China today includes a necessarily brief scan of Chinas ancient heritage. Capital and Major Cities Capital: Beijing, population 11 million. Major Cities: Shanghai, population 15 million. Shenzhen, population 12 million. Guangzhou, population 7 million. Hong Kong, population 7 million. Dongguan, population 6.5 million. Tianjin, population 5 million. Government The Peoples Republic of China is a socialist republic ruled by a single party, the Communist Party of China. Power in the Peoples Republic is divided between the National Peoples Congress (NPC), the President, and the State Council. The NPC is the single legislative body, whose members are selected by the Communist Party. The State Council, headed by the Premier, is the administrative branch. The Peoples Liberation Army also wields considerable political power. The current President of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party is Xi Jinping. The Premier is Li Keqiang. Official Language The official language of the PRC is Mandarin, a tonal language in the Sino-Tibetan family. Within China, however, only about 53 percent of the population can communicate in Standard Mandarin. Other important languages in China include Wu, with 77 million speakers; Min, with 60 million; Cantonese, 56 million speakers; Jin, 45 million speakers; Xiang, 36 million; Hakka, 34 million; Gan, 29 million; Uighur, 7.4 million; Tibetan, 5.3 million; Hui, 3.2 million; and Ping, with 2 million speakers. Dozens of minority languages also exist in the PRC, including Kazakh, Miao, Sui, Korean, Lisu, Mongolian, Qiang, and Yi. Population China has the largest population of any country on Earth, with more than 1.35 billion people. The government has long been concerned about population growth  and introduced the One-Child Policy in 1979. Under this policy, families were limited to just one child. Couples who got pregnant for a second time faced forced abortions or sterilization. This policy was loosened in December of 2013 to allow couples to have two children if one or both of the parents were only children themselves. There are exceptions to the policy for ethnic minorities, as well. Rural Han Chinese families also have always been able to have a second child if the first is a girl or has disabilities. Religion Under the communist system, religion has been officially discouraged in China. Actual suppression has varied from one religion to another, and from year to year. Many Chinese are nominally Buddhist and/or Taoist  but dont practice regularly. People who self-identify as Buddhist total about 50 percent, overlapping with the 30 percent who are Taoist. Fourteen percent are atheists, four percent Christians, 1.5 percent Muslims, and tiny percentages are Hindu, Bon, or Falun Gong adherents. Most Chinese Buddhists follow Mahayana or Pure Land Buddhism, with smaller populations of Theravada and Tibetan Buddhists. Geography Chinas area is 9.5 to 9.8 million square kilometers; the discrepancy is due to border disputes with India. In either case, its size is second only to Russia in Asia  and is either third or fourth in the world. China borders 14 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam. From the worlds tallest mountain to the coast, and the Taklamakan desert to the jungles of Guilin, China includes diverse landforms. The highest point is Mt. Everest (Chomolungma) at 8,850 meters. The lowest is Turpan Pendi, at -154 meters. Climate As a result of its large area and various landforms, China includes climate zones from subarctic to tropical. Chinas northern province of Heilongjiang has average winter temperatures below freezing, with record lows of -30 degrees Celsius. Xinjiang, in the west, can reach nearly 50 degrees. Southern Hainan Island has a tropical monsoon climate. Average temperatures there range only from about 16 degrees Celsius in January to 29 in August. Hainan receives about 200 centimeters (79 inches) of rain annually. The western Taklamakan Desert receives only about 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain and snow per year. Economy Over the past 25 years, China has had the fastest-growing major economy in the world, with annual growth of more than 10 percent. Nominally a socialist republic, since the 1970s the PRC has remade its economy into a capitalist powerhouse. Industry and agriculture are the largest sectors, producing more than 60 percent of Chinas GDP, and employing over 70 percent of the workforce. China exports $1.2 billion U.S. in consumer electronics, office machinery, and apparel, as well as some agricultural produce each year. The per capita GDP is $2,000. The official poverty rate is 10 percent. Chinas currency is the yuan renminbi. As of March 2014, $1 US 6.126 CNY. History of China Chinese historical records reach back into the realm of legend, 5,000 years ago. It is impossible to cover even the major events of this ancient culture in a short space, but here are some highlights. The first non-mythical dynasty to rule China was the Xia (2200- 1700 BCE), founded by Emperor Yu. It was succeeded by the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE), and then the Zhou Dynasty (1122-256 BCE). Historical records are scanty for these ancient dynastic times. In 221 BCE, Qin Shi Huangdi assumed the throne, conquering neighboring city-states, and unifying China. He founded the Qin Dynasty, which lasted only until 206 BCE. Today, he is best-known for his tomb complex in Xian (formerly Changan), which houses the incredible army of terracotta warriors. Qin Shi Huangs inept heir was overthrown by the army of commoner Liu Bang in 207 BCE. Liu then founded the Han Dynasty, which lasted until 220 CE. In the Han era, China expanded west as far as India, opening trade along what would later become the Silk Road. When the Han Empire collapsed in 220 CE, China was thrown into a period of anarchy and turmoil. For the next four centuries, dozens of kingdoms and fiefdoms competed for power. This era is called the Three Kingdoms, after the three most powerful of the rival realms (Wei, Shu, and Wu), but that is a gross simplification. By 589 CE, the Western branch of the Wei kings had accumulated enough wealth and power to defeat their rivals  and unite China once more. The Sui Dynasty was founded by Wei general Yang Jian  and ruled until 618 CE. It built the legal, governmental, and societal framework for the powerful Tang Empire to follow. The Tang Dynasty was founded by a general called Li Yuan, who had the Sui emperor assassinated in 618. The Tang ruled from 618 to 907 CE, and Chinese art and culture flourished. At the end of the Tang, China descended into chaos again in the 5 Dynasties and 10 Kingdoms period. In 959, a palace guard named Zhao Kuangyin took power and defeated the other small kingdoms. He established the Song Dynasty (960-1279), known for its intricate bureaucracy and Confucian learning. In 1271, the Mongolian ruler Kublai Khan (grandson of Genghis) established the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The Mongols subjugated other ethnic groups including the Han Chinese  and eventually were overthrown by the ethnic-Han Ming. China flowered again under the Ming (1368-1644), creating great art and exploring as far as Africa. The final Chinese dynasty, the Qing, ruled from 1644 to 1911, when  the  Last Emperor  was overthrown.  Power struggles between warlords such as Sun Yat-Sen touched off the Chinese Civil War. Although the war was interrupted for a decade by the Japanese invasion and World War II, it picked up again once Japan was defeated. Mao Zedong and the Communist Peoples Liberation Army won the Chinese Civil War, and China became the Peoples Republic of China in 1949. Chiang Kai Shek, leader of the losing Nationalist forces, fled to Taiwan.

Smoking cigarettes and the strenghts and weakness of the theory of Essay

Smoking cigarettes and the strenghts and weakness of the theory of planned behaviour in explaining this behaviour - Essay Example This is a habit and people become addicted to these kind of things very quickly. Among the addiction of things the addiction of cigarette smoking is very common and popular. A approximate number of adults smoking in United States is about 44.5 million. 23% of the high school students are current smokers. The rate of persons who start smoking is more in students than in adults. This is the major point of concern for the health organization to reduce this rate. Some people smoke to make their image glamorous and effective. The person falling in these categories are most from the reel life persons or star personalities. Military also advertises smoking as glamorous part of life and society. This is a kind of irrational behavior of man that forces him to get addicted to such things in life that are harmful to him. He knows that these are harmful but enjoys the addiction. The irrational behavior is the abnormal behavior of person that is related to his addictions. They do not know how to act at some instance. When they are addicted to something they get unconscious in the absence of it. Who is responsible for this kind of action or behavior the person or the environment around him. About the first cigarette every person thinks that he will not be addicted of it but soon when he is used to the smoking environment he starts it slowly and occasionally. The first cigarette offered to him is just the initialization of his irrational behavior. Smoking for the first time is due to the curiosity of the feeling that something is missing in life and that must be filled by smoking. Smoking is also done to equalize his standard with others of his age. They think that smoking creates a glamorous and mature image. Even in the early stage of smoking majority hates the taste of cigarette but due to the irrational behavior of smoking it makes them feel satisfied of smoking. With first few cigarettes one thinks he would not get addicted to smoking since he is smoking only one or two in couple of days but then sitting in the environment it gets doubled and the person becomes addicted to it very soon. Even then he tries to quit smoking that becomes difficult for him. Then if someone offers you a cigarette you cannot stop yourself from smoking. This forces a person for irrational behavior of smoking and makes him addicted to the heinous act of smoki ng. Smokers have a basic habit of smoking at certain interval or at certain time like in the morning of after having dinner or such time. This makes him slave of cigarette and cannot quit at these times. In early stage of smoking person smokes in group but then individually needs cigarette at certain interval. He becomes dependent on smoking or cigarette. At

Revolution of architecture Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Revolution of architecture - Coursework Example Beijing the capital of China has undergone such a rapid change in quite a short span of time similar to a few other capital cities like Hanoi, Vietnam that were destroyed after the war and other calamities.(Economist ed 2004 pp 63). Beijing was nothing but a rubble of old alleys and small streets and dilapidated apartment blocks, but today this is a city of commercial interests that has led to the birth of rapidly growing office towers, skyscrapers, shopping malls and supermarkets, colossal stadiums and lavish government buildings. With this reformed transformation one has to agree that there was a high influence of westernization in the bigger cities of China not only on the domestic front but also globally. This transformation took place after 1949 with an attempt to create profitable markets not only for consumption but also to reform it into a city of production and trade. PROBLEM STATEMENT In this study the problem is defined as "Does urban design or planning in Beijing relate to the western concepts of architecture and in what way are they related'" This relation between urban design and architecture is necessary so as to understand the perspective of the research. In this study yet another problem is defined as "which theory will be best acknowledged from the theory perspective". Is it the post-structural social theory OR post-modernism theory or post Marxist theory that will be seen in the application and existence of revolutionized architecture' EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In this dissertation, the research will be focusing on the architectural advancement in Beijing and the manner in which the Western form of architectural styles enhanced the outlook of the city of China. During the 1950's there was a breakthrough in Chinese...With this reformed transformation one has to agree that there was a high influence of westernization in the bigger cities of China not only on the domestic front but also globally. This transformation took place after 1949 with an attempt to create profitable markets not only for consumption but also to reform it into a city of production and trade. In this study yet another problem is defined as "which theory will be best acknowledged from the theory perspective". Is it the post-structural social theory OR post-modernism theory or post Marxist theory that will be seen in the application and existence of revolutionized architecture' In this dissertation, the research will be focusing on the architectural advancement in Beijing and the manner in which the Western form of architectural styles enhanced the outlook of the city of China. At this juncture the Chinese architects began to examine the social princ

Attachment styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Attachment styles - Essay Example In order to understand this theory better, let us consider an example of infatuated love. We meet and like a number of people in our daily life. We do not feel the same about all of them. At times, we meet people who we like a lot and we really wish to be with them. This type of love is often called ‘love at first sight’ or ‘infatuated love’. People do not actually know each other, neither do they have intimacy. Such kind of love starts with the feeling of pure passion. The romantic relationships of this kind, are based on the sexual desires and physical attraction. Hence, in such relationships, passion dimension of the triangular theory is at its peak. Passion is the element which plays a major role in infatuated love relationships. People involved in this kind of love relationship do not normally trust each other to the extent as romantic lovers do. The commitment level is also low as their feelings are limited to the sexual desire and apparent attraction. However, when the intimacy develops between them and they start knowing each other the infatuated love grows into romantic love relationship where intimacy and passion both are high. If the level of intimacy does not grow, the relationship and love vanishes with time and no feelings are left between the partners. Hence, for an infatuated love to develop and the relationship to be strong, the level of intimacy and commitment must flourish. In conclusion, we can that the triangular theory of love provides good information about how love grows and the level of the three dimensions of love in each relationship. This theory provides a better insight in the relationships and the needs to grow one or the other aspect in order to keep the love relationship strong and

Virtual Reality in Education

Virtual Reality in Education Abstract This project consists in introduce more the technology in Education with Virtual Reality. This study shows the problems with the education around the world, differents learning style and understand and take advantage of the characteristic of Virtual Reality offer for learning. This video game allows learning in an interactive way since we can learn use all feels that are auditive, visual and kinesthetic methods. To identify the problems with skills of different students, we found and think that Virtual Reality is a creative an innovative form to learn. It will permit finish with the antiquated methods to learn. Virtual Reality: A creative and innovative form to learn How can Virtual Reality help to improve the education? Many countries around the world continue to use antiquoted methods for learning. It is no good for the students because they do not learn all of knowledge that the teacher theach in class. For that throughout years technology has been a great help for teach to the students in a good way. However, this time Virtual Reality has been implemented like new technology. The caracteristic that it has can be implement in education because with this tool the students can learn by using their senses like hearing, sight and touch. Therefore Virtual Reality is one of the most deviceful tools for schools to teach natural sciences since it is an innovative way of teaching, it uses technological elements and it adjusts to students different learning styles. Innovative Education Several countries like Perà º are implemented new methods in education. In this case Perà º has an innovative way to teach that consist in blended learn its mean that they combine two methods to learning, traditional and each student deliver the content in online way (Segal, 2016). Likewise the Virtual Reality is an innovative and creative form to teach because it permit work in others enviroments such as a person can stay in a rocky mountain and learn about this place. Moreover, the student that use this tools can learn through experiences since it tool is able to do that the person can inmerse in the scene and learn to the sound, imagens and weave. Finally, the students can improve their knowledge with diferents innovative tools like Virtual Reality that with its characteristics can teach to the playful way. Furthermore, Virtual Reality are being implemented by many enterprises such as Google that created a Expeditions, it is proyect of this enterprise that consist in take a students to new place with help to cardboard that is a glasses in Virtual Reality (Wikipedia, 2017). Expedition is constitute in know the places which are considered World Heritage like egyptian pyramids, Galapagos island in Ecuador, Rune of Machu Picchà º in Perà º and a lot of more places around the world. Consecuently, it will have that the students can inmerse and learn about these places for experience way. As well as Discovery Virtual Reality has a project that consist in show the life of elephants in South Africa. For this reason Virtual Reality is a excellent tools to teach with a innovative way, because of this there are already enterprises that use this mechanism for a better teaching and soon Virtual Reality will be more popular in educatives institutions for its many aplication. Uses of Technological Elements The 40% of students who graduated does not recive a quality education and always have fault in education (Segal, 2016). This mean that not all knowledge is acquired by students. For this reason, technology in this time is necessary because it can help with education such as improve the productivity in the classroom or also increse the attention and motivation in the students. However, technology have alredy implemented in enducation in many time ago like calculator, printer, old computers used by teacher. But with throughout years technology have improved and now there are internet, movil technology like ipads or cellphones, virtual classrooms such as Google Classroom. All of this news technological tools are a good way to make homeworks or investigation. Therefore introduce new technology in education for improving teaching like the internet, virtual classroom or Virtual Reality are tools for learning more about the differents subjects that are difficult to understand. Likewise, combine traditional classroom with technology like computer plus board, or us application in cellphone to learn something such as Duolingo that is a video game in cellphone that help yo to learn diferents languages. According to Segal (2016), in 2012 the company of Duolingo implemented this app in schools for that the students can learn with new methods and they see that the students are feeling more motivate and their concentrated was better. Additionally, Virtual Reality can be used in chemestry laboratory of educative institution for see how work an experiment without any risk. It is because this innovative tools permit to work whit interactive way and immerse totally in environment that you are. In conclusion, there are a lot of possibilities to use the technology like element for teach and learn in the classroom. Adjusts to students different learning styles According Wikipedia (2016), Sà ³crates was the creator about a new method of learning that deduction. This method consist that all of knowledge can be learned by reasoning way. It means that the knowledge learn better when the things are reasoned but not to much when are memorized. Moreover, each one of people learn in differents way. There are people that learn better when they see the things, other people learn better with sounds, and other people learn when they touch the things. For this reason, the knowledge in this paper are clasificated in three different learning style that are auditory, visual and kinesthetic. But the Virtual Reality combine those three learning styles. Auditory According to Lake Superior State University (There is not the year), approximately 30% of the people learn keep information after hear somethig. This learners prefer to talk or hear about a subject. They can memorize of sound easily and improve their knowledge through spoken class and then with interaction with another person. Therefore, this kind of learners prefer have sound around him because they concentrat better. Kinesthetic Almost 5% of people can learn when touch something ot pick up the things (Lake Superior State University). This kind of people learn better when make the things after that learn them. Also, they can develop their knowledge for example if their study rocks, the kinesthetic person could understand better than the another learning styles. Consecuently, this people need blocks or anything that they can learn about its texture or shape. Visual Approximately 65% of people can learn better when see photographs, picture, diagrams or notes (Lake Superior State University). This Kind of population prefer demonstration and they are be able of imagine the information visually. The student that has this hability will have more adventege with the other students because in class normally learning that the teacher does. In conclution, the people that have this learning styles can be better than the students that learn with auditory and kinesthetic. Nevertheless, all of this diferent learning styles can developt with Virtual Reality because it consist in helpmet that the content can be seen and listened by this helpment. Likewise, it has a glove where you can feel the texture and shape. This permit that the students have a interaccion and immerse with the environment of Virtual Reality as if it were the real world. For example, a laboratory, a rocky mountain, be inside a cell. Finally, there are a lot of possibilities with this innovative and creative tool to teach. Conclusion In conclusion, throughout years the technology has been improved and it had been a great help in education such as Virtual Reality. This tool can tech to the innovative way like natural science and it adjust with the differents learning styles. This investigation show that combines the traditional methods with the technology could be the key for improve the education around the world but is necessary follow with the investigation because still not exist enough relationship with Virtual Reality and education, but how technology is advancing soon the Virtual Reality can be seen in many schools around the world.

Power of the Mind Revealed in Albert Camus The Guest Essay -- Albert

Power of the Mind Revealed in Albert Camus' â€Å"The Guest† In â€Å"The Guest†, a short story written by Albert Camus, Camus uses his views on existentialism to define the characters’ values. Camus’ effective use of descriptive words and individual thoughts and actions allows the reader to understand and sympathize with the characters’ judgments of one another, predominantly pertaining to the characters Daru and the Arab. Daru’s responses to the Arab and his decisions, Camus’ description of the Arab, and the Arab’s respect for Daru, prove that there is a basic goodness in humans, allowing them to accept responsibility and consequences for their acts of free will. In â€Å"The Guest†, Daru forms his own opinion about the Arab based on his personal morals, even though the Arab is given qualities that brand him a problematic character. Camus uses intensely descriptive words to describe the Arab’s stinging appearance. â€Å"†¦the whole face had a restless and rebellious look that struck Daru when the Arab, turning his face toward him, looked him straight in the eyes† (318). Even with these seemingl...