Genome Chapter 22 Summary
It is so peculiar to think that the sequence of the human genome was only completed 13 years ago. Chromosome 22’s sequence was finally discovered at Cambridgeshire’s beloved Sanger Center. Inside this chromosome lies the potential source of our free will, or at least the illusion of it.
Shin Shimojo, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology, can simulate free will simply by poking the anterior cinguate sulcus of the brain with an electrode. When that part of the brain is affected by some outside force, it could prompt a movement that would feel voluntary to the brain’s owner. Although the movement would be decided by someone else, the person would have the illusion of freedom. A. J. Ayer, philosopher extraordinaire, believes that someone who walks across the room because someone (or their own neurosis) is prompting them to, does not have free will. If those conditions do not apply, the person walking across the room would be walking freely. Whether or not there is a “point” to crossing the room is irrelevant, according to him. As Lyndon Eaves said, “Freedom is the ability to stand up and transcend the limitations of the environment”. The person without any mentally irregular or peer pressure based boundaries could, quite literally, stand up and transcend their surrounding limitations.
The gene(s) for free will can exist, just as easily as the gene for being ginger or having detached ear lobes. That gene menagerie arises from all sorts of traits that humans are genetically given. Each human has their own personal, unique free will. Their own life.
Independence Project - Declaration
In this project, we were asked to declare independence from any thing or idea of our choosing, and then write and perform a song about it. Writing the declaration was quite a fun experience, because we used the original declaration as a guide to write our colloquially phrased document.
IN SCHOOL, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011
The unanimous Declaration of the four people in our group
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to discontinue their participation in the inconceivably dull activities they often face, and take upon themselves to increase the allure of everyday ventures, their respect the opinions of mankind calls them to list the causes for such choices.
We hold these truths to be self evident, that boredom is a type of ill-favored torture, and that all persons are endowed by their creator the unalienable right to avoid enduring a such a terrible plunge into the depths of apathy. That most legally permitted acts for persons - particularly under the age of 21- are moderately to excessively monotonous, that among these are Homework, Errands, and Aimlessly Walking Around. That to prevent this form of oppression is primarily the providence of individuals, and when they fail to do this they should reform their avoidance of boredom in a manner more suited to their own needs. For the benefit of the people, this cause should not be undertaken lightly, and separation from such an institution as boredom should be used a last option, if an option at all. But when a long string of boredom occurs then such separation changes from thought to necessity. Such is the condition now found with us. The history of boredom is a history of repeated accounts of staring at clocks and sighing heavily, both of which erode the standard of life all should be accustomed to. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
Boredom has made many a task too mundane to complete.
It has transformed waiting into an awful chore.
It has, in it’s strongest and most relentless form, driven innocent persons to gather a portion of necessary materials for survival and live in dangerous, filthy environments for a number of days, an act of unexplainable insanity more commonly referred to as “camping”.
In every stage of boredom, we have appealed to those in power. They have turned a blind eye to our suffering. Nor have our peers come to our aid, instead replying with halfhearted empathy. We warned them of the ill effects of us being repressed as such, and we have been given nought but the veritable cold shoulder. We appealed to their native kindness and sense of justice, and our advances have been spurned.
We, therefore, the representatives of adolescents, solemnly publish and declare, with the good judgement of all our friends and allies, that we are to become independent of boredom and all its vices, and that it shall hold no power over us, and that we shall be beholden to it no more. All connections shall be severed and we shall instead institute a display of frighteningly extreme bliss whenever working on a long task. or waiting for anything. This will in turn cause the brain to release endorphins, thus causing the artificial enjoyment to assume the form of actual enjoyment. And as such we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
Look @ Me Now
This was the first project of the school year. Before studying literature, we had to study ourselves. I feel that this exercise in reflection was a great way to demonstrate proper book report techniques. If you can’t reflect about someone you’ve known your entire life, how could you possibly reflect about some stack of paper you’ve known for a week?
Theme:
Due to my apathy towards a surprisingly large amount of things, I am often called upon to act as a diplomat of sorts between assorted friends and family members. Most people I know think of me as quiet, bookish, and non-confrontational. To a certain extent, this is true, and I’m perfectly happy with people thinking of me in that way.
Conflict:
Man vs. Self is definitely the main conflict in my life right now. Sometimes I become extremely and irrationally depressed, which is simply resolved when I don’t sit around thinking about how depressed I am.
Characterization:
I’ll just describe my family, because I feel sort of obligated to make that my answer. Both of my parents are from the midwest, but they met in California. They’re both pretty tall and reasonably athletic. My sister is not athletic in the least, she has a large brillo pad-esque head of hair, and she is in love with TF2.
Protagonist:
It’s not a person so much as an action. Working brings out the best in me, because otherwise, I sit around watching TV all day.
Antagonist:
I am not my best in most social situations, so rather than blaming myself, I could say that the antagonist in my life is everyone I talk to.
Flashback:
Sometimes, I think about my trip to Hawaii when I was 6. I can only remember pieces of it, but it’s significant to me because it’s my first memory of travel. I love traveling, just so you know.
Irony:
In 8th grade, I thought I was going to go to high school at Tri-City Christian. I left halfway through the year and went to public school, where I thought I’d go to high school at El Camino. At some point during that year, my dad told me that one of his friends was teaching at a project-based school where they made art pieces and what not. That piqued my interest, so I applied, got put on a waiting list, and started my 9th grade year at High Tech High North County.
Symbolism:
One thing in my room that represents a part of my identity would be the rolls of 35mm film I have in a tin, which represent my undying appreciation for 1960s culture. Well, not “undying”. I could do without the smoking and racism. Anyway, I love The Twilight Zone to bits, I think The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks are some of the best bands in all of ever, and don’t even get me started on Retro-futurism. Seriously, I could go on for days. Seriously.
Foreshadow:
Well, I’ve logged 11 hours of driving, and I need 50 in order to get my driver’s license. I also try my best to write a lot because I’d like to pursue writing as a career. Computer Science is something I’d like to familiarize myself with and hopefully major in, so I’ve taught myself a bit of HTML.
Burden of Disease →
January 24 2012
In 1947, Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire premiered. The play dealt with denial, lies, and mental torment. Blanche DuBois, the main character, lies to herself and others throughout the play, refusing to acknowledge her alcoholism or the reason why she left her home town. The antagonist of sorts, Stanley Kowalski, is a big ol’ Type A jerk. Although he may reign terror on his wife Stella more often than not, she denies that anything is wrong with their marriage.
Essay Revision
I have learned:
- To use more creative adjectives
- Not to put quotes in the intro paragraph
- To think through my sentence fluidity/structure
Draft 2:
Hate is strong. Hate is passionate. Hate, in all honesty, doesn’t get you anywhere. The hate of one group can also prevent the action of another group, especially if the first group has the power to choose whether or not the marriage of a homosexual couple is shall be valid. In the midst of disasters, both natural and economical, the North Carolina senate has decided to put an amendment on next May’s ballot which would ban same-sex marriage in that state. This amendment is not only a colossal insult to gay people, it is a redundancy to be piled on top of the already present ban on same-sex marriage.
If two individuals love each other and want to get married, they should have the ability to marry. In sickness and in health, for better or for worse. Josh Stein, Democratic Senator for North Carolina, stated that “most of us have gay neighbors, co-workers, friends and family members” and “if you vote for this amendment, you will cause them pain”. There are millions of gay people in this country, and knowing that their rights are not equal to those of their straight counterparts is devastating, to say the least. During the early to mid-20th century, the women’s rights and civil rights movements were in situations comparable to where the gay rights movement is today. In 1960, sitting in the fronts of buses or visiting certain restaurants was a brave statement for African American men and women. In 2010, simply coming out as a gay man was exceptionally brave for anti-gay rights Republican Senator Roy Ashburn. Homophobia is truly the last prejudice accepted by the government. Senate President Phil Berger believes “the people of this state – not judges, bureaucrats, or politicians – should define marriage”. Having the people of North Carolina choose the future of marriages in their state is putting a responsibility in their hands that should not be present. The way countless same-sex couples will live their lives is about to be mostly decided by people who blindly dislike them.
It is already illegal for gay couples to get married in North Carolina, and if anything, the state’s economic problems could be partially solved by legalizing gay marriage. At the moment, 10.1% of North Carolina’s labor force is unemployed. Jobs are incredibly hard to come by in today’s market, and this amendment won’t positively affect that fact in any way. “This constitutional amendment would not create a single job. In fact, it could hurt existing North Carolina businesses… and harm our ability to attract new businesses to invest and grow jobs here”, says Governor Bev Perdue. If this amendment is passed, it could take the socioeconomic ecosystem in the wrong direction by excluding an entire group of people from civil rights. It doesn’t matter how tolerant you claim to be, not allowing rights to a group of people is backtracking on the path towards coexistence, and it certainly isn’t going to entice that group to buy your products or vote for your candidates.
Sadly, gay marriage is still a controversy in this country. It’s not dangerous or physically harmful, and in fact, it could prove to stimulate the economy. When one tenth of North Carolina is unemployed, their government can’t afford to put time and effort into blatantly discriminating a group of people. The amendment to ban same-sex marriage in North Carolina is childishly prejudiced and outstandingly superfluous. Hate is strong and hate is passionate, but like everything, hate must come to an end.
Habit of Mind: Connection
Connections are quite important in The Great Gatsby. Daisy connects with Tom Buchanan in a way that is thought to be reluctant, because they fight often and she loves Gatsby. Gatsby’s connections with the outside world are mostly vapid and disconnected, but his longing for Daisy’s love is very strong.
The epigraph for The Great Gatsby, Then Wear The Gold Hat, was written by the fictional poet Thomas Parke D’Invilliers, who befriended Amory Blaine while they attended Princeton together. F. Scott Fitzgerald based D’Invilliers on John Peale Bishop, who actually attended Princeton with Fitzgerald himself. The main characters of both books are remarkably similar to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Both Nick and Amory went to war, although the war ended before F. Scott Fitzgerald was sent overseas. Amory was a member of the Princeton Triangle Club and Nick was from the midwest, just like Fitzgerald. Amory’s first love, Isabelle Borge, was based on Fitzgerald’s first love, Ginevra King. Ginevra was also the inspiration for Nick’s cousin, Daisy Buchanan. In the end of each book, the main characters end up loveless, with Nick Carraway leaving Jordan Baker and Rosalind Connage leaving Amory Blaine.
The Jungle was written by Upton Sinclair in 1906. This novel focuses on the topic of factory towns and the tragedies associated with mass production. The main characters are all Eastern European migrant workers who have no luck in the slightest. In the course of events, Jurgis Rudkus manages to lose his home, his family, and his freedom. The only luck Jurgis seems to find is when he doesn’t follow the rules.
F. Scott Fitzgerald →
January 19 2012
Undead: A Nostalgic Tale
Classify Me, Taxonomically →
January 11 2012
Genome Chapter 21 Summary
It was Theodore Roosevelt who said, “Some day we will realise that the prime duty, the inescapable duty, of the good citizen of the right type is to leave his or her blood behind him in the world”. Who are the “good” citizens? Who are the “right” types? What lengths will nations go to in order to stop “bad” citizens and “wrong” types from breeding? I can easily tell you the answer, but in advance, I must tell you that it isn’t good.
Charles Darwin had a cousin by the name of Francis Galton. Aside from a shared love of science, Chuck and Franny were not alike. Not one to subscribe to the Darwinist theory of natural selection, Galton relished in the idea of selective breeding. He wanted to improve humans in the way that humans improve livestock and plants. In 1885, he coined the term “eugenic” for this form of breeding. Karl Pearson, A fervent follower of Galton, turned eugenics into a form of jingoism, which is extreme and emotional nationalism often characterized by an aggressive foreign policy, accompanied by an eagerness to wage war. You already knew that though, didn’t you? Anyway, Pearson didn’t just want individual eugenics, he wanted national eugenics. Five years after eugenics was termed, it became a popular idea in Britain. In 1907, Pearson told Galton that he heard “the most respectable middle-class matrons saying, if children are weakly, ‘Ah, but that was not a eugenic marriage!’”. It was around this time that the positive idea of eugenic breeding brought about the more negative idea of dysgenic breeding, and how to stop it from occurring. Three years before Pearson reported the good news of overheard conversation, Charles Davenport was busy working away in Andrew Carnegie’s Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, concerning himself with the prevention of “bad” breeding. Of course, this flip in mindset lead to deciding supremacy, leading to discrimination against those who were deemed “feeble-minded”, and even to intelligent individuals who didn’t display an Aryan absolute. In essence, eugenics lead to genocide in World War II. One could blame science for the outcome, but that would be ignoring the larger part that government played.
Genome Chapters 19 & 20 Summary
More than one anonymous scientist has claimed that “personal and family tragedies, ethnological catastrophes and economic disasters can all be traced back to the mischievous misfolding of one small molecule”. From a less existential point-of-view, Paul Berg said that “all disease is genetic”. As you might already know, genetics are not black and white. Ambiguity is everywhere in the biological world, and frankly, it won’t leave biology alone.
Scientists once suspected a viral infection to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Other suspects included multiple cranial injuries and traces of aluminum on the teeth. By the early 1990s, three genes were connected to early onset Alzheimer’s, all of which weren’t on 19 or 20. Why am I telling you this? Well, because later on in the decade, 1993 to be exact, a gene was found on chromosome 19 that seemed to be connected to Alzheimer’s in the elderly, proving at least some genetic basis.
As you’ll find out in the next summary, selective breeding is a slippery slope, made of tinier slippery slopes. The repercussions of Robert Bakewell’s selective breeding are tame by comparison. In the 1700s, Bakewell discovered that sheep and other animals could be rapidly improved by breeding the best animals with their own offspring in order to pinpoint desired features. This method initially worked pretty well, but in later life, the inbred sheep became twitchy, clumsy, anxious lunatics who died soon after going crazy. The disease, known as “scrapie”, killed 10% of Bakewell’s sheep. The mystery of scrapie lied in the fact that it didn’t seem to be inherited. In the 1930s, a scientist working in the veterinary field, accidentally caused a massive scrapie epidemic. The vaccine was partially made from the brains of sheep, and despite being sterilized as all hell (partially phrase-wise and partially because fire has sterilizing properties), it still made sheep deathly insane.
Genes have been, and will probably always continue to be, very complex. The slightest difference in the smallest gene can affect an entire organism in colossal ways. Every aspect of behavior, voluntary or otherwise, is determined by genes. They control life, and though they aren’t here to cause disease, they often do.
Genome Chapters 17 & 18 Summary
Cancer is contagious! Well, partially. If you have a functional tumor-suppressing gene and make sure to steer clear of smoking and radioactivity, you’re probably not going to “catch” cancer. But how severely can an alteration of genes affect one’s health? Read the rest of the summary and find out.
Peyton Rous was the first to prove the viral qualities of cancer. In 1909, he proved that a sarcoma-ridden chicken could pass it’s disease to a healthy chicken. His genius was not acknowledged until the 60s, when a string of animal cancer viruses (including Rous’ sarcoma virus) was discovered. Human cancer viruses were discovered quickly thereafter, and it became apparent that types of cancer could be partially caused by viral infection (i.e. cervical cancer). Around that same time, Bruce Ames found that many chemicals and radiations could cause cancer because of their affinity for damaging DNA.
Apoptosis is a cellular soldier of sorts that carries out the task of cell death. In the 1980s, Henry Harris discovered a gene in the human body that has a similar function: it detects excessive growth and shuts it down. Not enough of these two and you would have tumors, too many and you would have Alzheimer’s. The irony of not having chromosome 18’s tumor-suppressing gene is that you can’t undergo gene therapy. Instead, the supposed cure is simply one of bananas. As the author Matt Ridley states, “Genetic diagnosis followed by conventional cure is probably the genome’s greatest boon to medicine”. A boon is something to be thankful for, but we already knew that, didn’t we?
In this new world where we know how genes tick and how to make them tick in a different way, gene borrowing and alteration is very possible. The scientists who cloned Dolly the sheep in 1997 are now creating transgenic sheep, cattle, pigs and chickens for commercial reasons. Sheep are being given the gene for a human clotting factor in hopes of helping humans whose blood cannot clot.
Cures, whether clinical or holistic, are aiding the world in the constant fight against disease. As Matt Ridley has stated on several occasions, genes are not here to cause disease. Genes are on your side. They have your back.
Genome Chapters 15 & 16 Summary
The brain is incomprehensibly complex. It contains instincts, thoughts, ideas, passions, and even gender. The science of learning and instict was pondered in the late nineteenth century, while the gender link wasn’t found until sixty years later. There are billions of functional human brains on this planet, and yet they still remain in a partial shroud of mystery.
In 1956, Prader-Willi syndrome was discovered by Swiss doctors Andrea Prader, Heinrich Willi, and to a supposedly lesser extent, Alexis Labhart. Those born with this rare genetic disease are pale, languid, sexually underdeveloped, irrationally angry, obese, and mildly mentally retarded. A disease with near opposite symptoms was discovered nine years later (in 1965) by English doctor Harry Angelman. Angelman’s syndrome, as it is now known, is an even rarer genetic disease which was found in the families of Prader-Willi children. Those born with Angelman’s are stiff, thin, joyful, hyperactive severely mentally retarded insomniacs who never learn how to speak and move in jerking, puppet-like motions, causing Harry Angelman to refer to them as “puppet children”. The connection between these two diseases that leads to them commonly occuring together in families is the fact that the same chunk of chromosome 15 is missing in Prader-Willi children and Angelman’s children. If the child is missing that chunk from their father’s chromosome, then they are born with Prader-Willi. If the chunk is missing from their mother’s chromosome, then they are born with Angelman’s. The complete separation of disease based on gender means that genes seem to carry a memory of whether they are inherited maternally or paternally.
Instinct is behavior determined by genes. This is a fairly primitive trait. Learning, as Matt Ridley puts it, is “behavior modified by experience”. Learning is generally heralded as an advanced trait. In 1896, James Mark Baldwin wrote an article wherein he asked the question of why certain things are learned by individuals rather than made instinctual. The fact is, learning is somewhat genetic as well. The brain is created by genes, so it can only be as good as it was designed to be. If the brain wasn’t meant to learn, it would be genetically programmed not to learn.
These two chapters argue the complexity of pre-determined actions and responses, and I completely agree with the stance. The brain is already known to be an amazing thing, and we as a species might have only studied the tip of the neurological iceberg.
