Friday, July 27, 2007

1. What were the three aspects of the assignments I've submitted that I am most proud of?

Probably the reproduction section, the fetal section and just finishing the class. :-)

2. What two aspects of my submitted assignments do I believe could have used some improvement?

Again the essay my weakness and the final lab.

3. What do I believe my overall grade should be for this unit?

I believe I should recieve a B. While I know I could have put more effort in I did try very hard to do well.

4. How could I perform better in the next unit?

There is no next unit. :-)





At what moment during this unit did you feel most engaged with the course?

I enjoyed the fetal development. Probably because I am a mom and have experienced it.


At what moment unit did you feel most distanced from the course?

Towards the end. Knowing this was the last project I was anxious to get done and rushed some of the work.


What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit that find most affirming and helpful?

Looking over the other blogs to give me ideas when I felt stuck.


What action that anyone (teacher or student) took during this unit did you find most puzzling or confusing?

None


What about this unit surprised you the most? (This could be something about your own reactions to the course, something that someone did, or anything else that occurs to you.)

I really enjoyed certain topics in this class more than I thought I would.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

essay

I feel like countries like Ethiopia need to do something about their fertility rate. I am not trying to be mean but, it is not fair to bring children into a life of poverty and starvation. While we do see some families like that in the United States for the most part most people take into consideration the expense of having a child.

While I don't believe in forced abortions and killing children of a certain sex. I feel like some form of birth control or sterilization should be mandatory in the poorer countries.

lab

List of species we come in contact with:

1. Canis lupus familiaris - domestic dog





2. Felis silvestris catus - domestic feline/cat





3. Budrerigar - domestic bird/parakeet





4. Cricetinae - hamster can be domestic





5. Streptococcus - harmful bacteria found in the mouth, cavity causing





6. Squamata - snake can be domestic


7. Feces - fecal matter/poop

8. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus - dust mite




9. Formicidae - ant





10. Rodents - rats, mice etc.. can be domestic





11. Canis latrans - coyote


12. Geococcyx californianus - road runner




13. Bos primigenius taurus - cow, domesticated





14. Swine - pig

lab




1. What was your high fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?

Burundi 6.80

2. What was your low fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?

Albania 2.80

3. The initial demographic "shape" of your high fertility rate country should have been a pyramid, with high population in young age groups. Explain why high fertility rate results in a high percentage of young people in the population. How does this affect future population growth?

High fertility rates result in a high percentage of young people because people are having kids younger and faster so the younger population is multiplying faster.

4. Your low fertility rate country might have had a more oval-shaped curve with high population in middle age groups. This is especially exaggerated if the fertility rate is below 2.00. Explain why low fertility rate leads to lots of middle-aged people.

The older you get the lower your fertility is. Since their fertility rate is low they have more middle aged people than younger because the population is not multiplying as fast.

5. Write ten adjectives or descriptive phrases for what you might expect life, people's attitudes, conditions on the streets, etc. will be like in each of those situations. Imagine a situation with lots of middle-aged and older people in the population and write ten quick "brain-storm" descriptors for you think it would be like (Prescott, Arizona?). Then do the same for a situation with lots of children in the population.


high fertility

chaos
teen parents
poverty
child abuse
troubled youth

low fertility

cranky
wealthier
cleaner
snobby
successful

Lab

Ten events that occur during fetal development:

1. Fertilization - begins when the sperm penetrates the egg. This usually takes place 14 days after day one of a woman's menstrual cycle. This is a major event because without this there would be no baby to develope.



2. Around day 18 the heart begins to beat. This is a major time because if this doesn't happen the mother will miscarry.

3. Legs and arm buds begin to develope around 6 weeks. Any problems occuring during this time can cause the baby to be physically handicapped/disfigured at birth.


4. Week 12 vocal cords are complete and infant can silent cry in the womb.

5. Week 15 taste buds are formed and infant may be able to taste some of the mothers meals. I just found this interesting. I couldn't imagine living without these and never tasting food.

6. The sucking reflex develops around 4 1/2 months. Without this reflex the infant would not be able to nurse.


7. Hearing develops around week 17. Without proper development of this the infant could be born deaf.

8. 20 weeks sex organs are fully evident. Very exciting time for new parents to learn sex of baby.


9. Week 26 infants retinas are finishing developing and infant will start to open eyes and blink. Without proper development infant could have a visual impairment.


10.Fetus is fully formed during the last few weeks of pregnancy. This time is for the babies lungs to finish maturing and weight to be put on to help it survive in the world.
Work Cited

www.healthscout.com/ency/1/002334.html

www.allwords.com/word-epididymides.html

www.thefreedictionary.com/vasa+deferentia

www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5448

www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/male_reproductive.html

Human Biology; Sylvia Mader 10e

www.wprc.org/parenting/fetal-development/first-trimester/

www.pregnancy.org/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment2.php

www.tqnyc.com/NYC040719/life_cycle.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection
Human Ecology

"Human ecology is an academic discipline that deals with the relationship between humans and their natural, social and created environments. Human ecology investigates how humans and human societies interact with nature and with their environment."

Domestication is the "process of taming a population of animals (although it can also be used to refer to plants) or even a species as a whole. Humans have brought these populations under their care for a wide range of reasons: to produce food or valuable commodities (such as wool, cotton, or silk), for help with various types of work, transportation and to enjoy as pets or ornamental plants. Plants domesticated primarily for aesthetic enjoyment in and around the home are usually called house plants or ornamentals, while those domesticated for large-scale food production are generally called crops. Likewise, animals domesticated for home companionship are usually called pets while those domesticated for food or work are called livestock or farm animals."