BIOL 1012 by

Assignment 1

jwomac11 — 2025-01-19 19:26:55 UTC

I thought this was a very intriguing image to use to look into the different facets of evolution. This representation encapsulates the concept of evolution by combining biological, historical, and scientific themes into one cohesive visual.

The DNA strand symbolizes the genetic basis of evolution. Mutations and variations are essential to the evolutionary process.
The progression from a monkey to a caveman and then to a modern human climbing the helix illustrates the idea of evolutionary advancement and the development of species over time. The placement of modern humans at the top of the helix implies the current state of human evolution, while earlier forms are shown lower on the ladder, reflects the historical progression.
The inclusion of monkeys and early humans depicts the evolutionary lineage leading to modern humans, highlighting the connection between species over millions of years.
The background includes diagrams, formulas, and the words "Advantages Evolution," suggesting a scientific approach to understanding evolution.

Assignment 2

jwomac11 — 2025-01-19 20:05:18 UTC

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram-positive bacterium and a significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Before antibiotics, it accounted for 95% of pneumonia cases and still causes 15% of cases in the U.S. and 27% worldwide. Discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1881, this facultative anaerobe owes its virulence to its polysaccharide capsule, which protects it from the immune system.

With 92 identified serotypes, S. pneumoniae is commonly found colonizing the nasopharynx of healthy individuals, especially during colder seasons. Its ability to persist in healthy carriers and cause infections underscores its global impact as a key pathogen. It goes over different treatment and management options for individuals diagnosed with this type of pneumonia. Stressing the importance of cooperation among the interprofessional team in educating patients on the advantages and disadvantages of blood cultures, and compliance with antibiotics to enhance the delivery of care. It also provides complications the individual may have if left untreated or not correctly managed. Overall, this article highlights the background and most important information on streptococcus pneumoniae.

Assignment 3

jwomac11 — 2025-01-31 05:46:06 UTC

Plants we encounter daily are a mix of both monocots and dicots. Monocots tend to dominate in grassy areas, parks, and tropical landscapes. Think lawns, palm trees, corn, and ornamental flowers like lilies. Dicots are more common in gardens, forests, and as many of the fruits and vegetables we eat. Think shrubs, trees like maples and oaks, sunflowers, tomatoes, beans, and roses. Generally, most trees, flowering plants, and crops tend to be dicots, while grasses, cereal crops, and certain flowering plants are monocots.

Assignment 4

jwomac11 — 2025-01-31 06:14:33 UTC

Starfish, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins are all echinoderms, sharing key traits despite their differences. They are marine-only invertebrates (no backbone) with radial symmetry. This means their bodies can be divided into five identical parts, unlike humans, who have bilateral symmetry. They begin bilaterally symmetrical until "adulthood". Their water vascular system, featuring tube feet, aids in movement, feeding, breathing, and sticking to surfaces.

Assignment 5

jwomac11 — 2025-02-12 23:15:11 UTC

This website defines homeostasis, how it is maintained, the types and how it impacts your body. The author Kendra Cherry, MSEd, also mentions how the term ‘homeostasis’ was “first coined by a physiologist named Walter Cannon in 1926.” The primary components of how homeostasis works: stimulus > receptor > control unit > effector. The site also goes over negative feedback loop and positive feedback loop that are used to get the body back to homeostatic state. Negative feedback being where the stimulus is being decreased and positive being where it is increased. Negative feedback is the most common of the two. While the type of homeostasis are thermoregulation, osmoregulation, and chemical regulation. The impact of homeostasis being how your internal systems react to outside sources. I found the article to be well explained, but still short and to the point.

Assignment 6

jwomac11 — 2025-02-12 23:15:30 UTC

The article explores the lived experiences of individuals undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure, highlighting the significant impact on their physical, emotional, social, and practical well-being. Many patients struggle with feelings of dependence on the dialysis machine, leading to frustration, loss of autonomy, and a diminished sense of self. The review identifies numerous unmet supportive care needs, including better psychological support, improved patient-clinician communication, and more accessible health information. Social relationships and intimacy are also affected, often leading to isolation and emotional distress. Additionally, practical challenges such as financial strain, transportation difficulties, and employment concerns add to the burden. Family members and caregivers also experience stress in their supportive roles. The study emphasizes the necessity of moving away from a standardized approach to hemodialysis care and instead adopting a more personalized, patient-centered model that addresses the holistic needs of individuals living with kidney failure.

Assignment 7

jwomac11 — 2025-02-28 00:18:43 UTC

The Arctic biome is a unique and extreme environment characterized by the following features:

Climate: The Arctic has long, harsh winters with temperatures often dropping below -60°F and short, cool summers. Precipitation is low, mostly in the form of snow.
Permafrost: Much of the Arctic is covered by permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen soil that affects plant growth and water drainage.
Vegetation: Due to the cold climate and short growing season, vegetation is limited to low-growing plants like mosses, lichens, grasses, and small shrubs.
Wildlife: The Arctic supports a variety of animals adapted to extreme cold, such as polar bears, arctic foxes, reindeer (caribou), wolves, and seals. Many birds migrate to the region in the summer.
Northern Lights: The Arctic is one of the best places to see the aurora borealis, a natural light display caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s atmosphere.
Ice and Water: Large portions of the Arctic are covered by ice sheets, glaciers, and frozen seas. However, with climate change, ice cover is decreasing, impacting ecosystems.
Human Presence: Indigenous peoples, such as the Inuit and Sami, have adapted to the Arctic for centuries, using traditional knowledge and skills to survive in the harsh conditions.
Daylight Variations: The Arctic experiences extreme daylight variations, with 24-hour daylight (Midnight Sun) in summer and months of darkness in winter (Polar Night).

The Arctic biome is a harsh yet stunningly beautiful environment, home to unique wildlife, resilient vegetation, and breathtaking natural phenomena like the northern lights. Despite its extreme cold and long winters, life has adapted in remarkable ways. However, climate change poses significant threats to this fragile ecosystem, making conservation efforts more important than ever.

Assignment 8

jwomac11 — 2025-02-28 00:48:20 UTC

The term 'biodiversity' was first coined by Walter Rosen in 1985. Biodiversity is the variety of all living things on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. It also includes the different ecosystems they live in, like forests, oceans, and deserts. No species is exactly the same. An example of species diversity is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, it is home to over 9,000 species. High biodiversity means a healthy, balanced environment where different species support each other. It helps provide food, clean air, medicine, and a stable climate. However, human activities like deforestation and pollution are reducing biodiversity, which can harm the planet and our way of life. Protecting biodiversity is important for a healthy and sustainable future.