Lab 10

Making bio diesel and bio ethanol 


Bio diesel is simply saturated fats combined with alcohol to make a fuel source for diesel engines. The chemicals are called long chain alkyl (methyl, propyl or ethyl) esters. Bio diesel is usually mixed with different amounts of fossil fuel made diesel. This takes strain off the farmers to make large amounts of plants just for fuel. There is a push in many nations around the world to begin to use bio diesel for its renewable properties and its lower emissions. Other advantages of bio diesel is that it can be made at home using left over cooking oil and fryer oil that would normal be thrown out. However, the home made brews may not be as pure as commercial made bio diesel. There are a few other negatives associated with bio diesel. One is that the liquid is very viscous and in colder climates can become too viscous for the engine to start. This requires external heat sources to keep the bio diesel warm in colder climates. Also, water is sometimes a contaminated issue in bio diesel. This is left over from the chemical reaction processes that create bio diesel. Other arguments is the amount of farming it takes to create bio diesel. In some cases its less efficient to make bio diesel than to not make it. Another concern is its economic cause of raising food prices. This causes many poor nations to have problems buying food to feed themselves.  
Bio diesel is a good idea that needs some work to become a solution. Research into algae and other methods of making bio diesel will be excellent and take strain off food producers to make bio fuels instead of food.          

Mitochondrial Eve

Mitochondrial Eve was can be considered the female ancestor of all humans on earth. This is caused by the fact that the mitochondrial DNA is passed down through the female line to their children. These lines of ancestry can be traces from all human population to the small populations of Africa nearly 200,000 years ago. However, the spread of humans over the earth did not happen until nearly 100,000 years later. There have been other points of common ancestry however, including a common male ancestor and a certain point by which common ancestors left offspring or did not. Many of this points happened much later than Mitochondrial Eve. There is also evidence that there where many Mitochondrial Eves that simply did not leave any daughters in the human population resulting in us have one female common ancestor. Mitochondrial Eve was the start of the Africa origin hypothesis that states that human population began in Africa and expanded from Africa.         

Amphioxus

These animals are characterized by the development of a notochord for axial support throughout its life. They have a structure that is somewhere between and worm and fish. The animal has a few features in common with the vertebrates. They have a hollow nerve chord, and tail, and similar muscle structure. However, they lack a true brain and complex sensory organs. It feeds using a sort of filter feeding by secreting mucus over its gill slits. They have a simple tube structure for a digestive system. They also lack a respiratory and circulation systems.

These creatures are good for studying evolution and perhaps understanding the "missing link" that was between vertebrates and invertebrates.        

Lab 9

Dog Parks


Dog parks are locations that are set aside for dogs and their owners to go to. These parks can be unleashed with fences or the other way around. Dog parks provide many benefits for both pet and owner. Exercise for both pet and owner is the first obviously benefit. In urban areas, this is important since most dogs must be kept in confined environments that do not promote exercise. Exercise is equally important for the owner. This exercise will be both pet and owner happy and healthy. Pet and owner also can enjoy socializing with others of there kind. Dogs need this since they are prone to be pack animals and it good for a community to have social gatherings.
There are some dangers of dog parks however. Sometimes dogs can become aggressive with each other and cause problems. Also, sickness can spread to healthy dogs and younger dogs. It is not good to bring puppies to dog parks. Owners must also not replace dog park activities with normal brisk walks.
Overall, dog parks can be very good for pets and communities but must be used properly.       

Lab 8

Darwin's Dilemma (Burgess Shale) 


The Burgess Shale is notable for its large variety of animals with many being soft bodied. This could only happen from a rapid burial.  

The video showed to us in this lab looked into the issues with the fossil record. Although much of the fossil record has many creatures not alive today, it is not complete enough to fully support the theory of evolution. The video explained that the fossil record does not have the slow change from one simple creature to many more complex creatures. They explained that many of the body types were already in existence from this explosion of life. Therefore, the development of life was more like "blades of grass" and not a "tree". The video also showed the probability that genetic mutation would be a positive change which shows the improbability that evolution was driving by mutation. They also said that the amount of data required to build a fully functioning organism is proof that intelligence design is the only way.      

Lake Lab

Plitvice Lakes

   The lakes are formed by a cascading bodies of water. These bodies of water can not be considered separate since they together form a system of erosion and sedimentation that forms the cascading barriers between the bodies of water. 

Cross Section of the Lakes

These barriers are made of tufa or travertine. These barriers are constantly being washed away and remade by the geological processes present in the water system. The erosion is caused by natural carbonic acid in the water. With the warm temperatures and humidity, the compound calcium bicarbonate settles in the barriers over time. This process is helped by the many plants, mosses, and algae that live in the water.

 

Lab 7

Hitchiti Experimental Forest


The hike we went on during this lab was perhaps my favorite. It is always nice to get out of the class room and enjoy the outdoors. During this lab we did various things such as: identifying plants, witnessing the destruction caused by the southern pine beetle, examining rock formations, discussing controlled forest fires, hugging trees and walking. A few highlights of the trip were finding a harmless garden snake and also getting some much needed exercise.

Our destination for the trip was where the creek that ran through the park met the Ocmulgee river. The rocky river bed of this area contrasted the sandy river bed that is in the city of Macon. We also got to see a example of a hole worn into the bed rock by the forces created by flowing water. Finally, we took a family picture then used the service road for the long trip back to our cars.