Lab # 11: Population Life Tables

Lab #10 Making Bio diesel and Bio ethanol

Biodiesel is America's first advanced biofuel – a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that is reducing U.S. dependence on foreign petroleum, creating green jobs and improving our environment. Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as agricultural oils, recycled cooking oil and animal fats, biodiesel meets the strict specifications of ASTM D6751. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is the national trade association representing the biodiesel industry in the United States.

Ethanol fuel is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofueladditive for gasoline. World ethanol production for transport fuel tripled between 2000 and 2007 from 17 billion to more than 52 billion litres. From 2007 to 2008, the share of ethanol in global gasoline type fuel use increased from 3.7% to 5.4%. In 2010 worldwide ethanol fuel production reached 22.95 billionU.S. liquid gallons(bg) (86.9 billion liters), with the United States as the top producer with 13.2 bg (50 billion liters), accounting for 57.5 percent of global production. Ethanol fuel has a "gasoline gallon equivalency" (GGE) value of 1.5 US gallons (5.7 L).

And here is a video on the alternative fuel sources, however it seems a little biased and I'm not sure if it is all completely accurate. 

Mitochondrial Eve

In the field of human genetics, Mitochondrial Eve refers to the matrilineal "MRCA" (most recent common ancestor). In other words, she was the woman from whom all living humans today descend, on their mother's side, and through the mothers of those mothers and so on, back until all lines converge on one person. Because all mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is generally passed from mother to offspring without recombination, all mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in every living person is directly descended from hers by definition. Mitochondrial Eve is the female counterpart of Y-chromosomal Adam, the patrilineal most recent common ancestor, although they lived thousands of years apart.

Amphioxus

Amphioxus also called lancelet,  any of certain members of the invertebrate subphylum Cephalochordata of the phylum Chordata. Amphioxi are small marine animals found widely in the coastal waters of the warmer parts of the world and less commonly in temperate waters. Both morphological and molecular evidence show them to be close relatives of the vertebrates. The theory is that the Amphioxus split from vertebrates about 520 million years ago, their genomes hold clues to their evolution and have been heavily researched. 

Lab #9 Macon Dog Park

When we went to the dog park it started storming pretty badly so we ended up turning around.  However are original intention for going was to see how beneficial dogs parks are for the community and to test the creek water in the park for any contamination specifically bacteria or parasites in the water.  The reason for checking this creek specifically is because dogs drink out of it frequently and it is a man made creek that dogs are around constantly.  The dog park has a large amount of pros and cons the pros would be that the community benefits for    a space that dog owners can come together and have fun and gives a large space for dogs to run around in.  The cons are more potential for dog fights, owners not picking up the dog poop, and the potential for large concentrations of bacteria and germs for dogs.

Lab #8 Darwin's Dilemma

The video explores Darwin's dilemma which was that his theory of gradual evolution is not supported by the fact that the fossils he found seemed to have been formed almost at once.  The evolution was not gradual but rather sudden and is called the Cambrian Explosion. The duration is not known and it raises huge questions, it could have lasted from one day to many years.  These findings have stirred up massive debate which challenges Darwin's theory.  Southern China seems to have a lot of fossils in mint condition that can be examined, and there are some fossils from before the Cambrian explosion that can help explain how this came about.  Darwin's theory while viable  is not the only one out there and many people adhere to it so that any other theory seems to be pushed to the wayside.  I don't know what to believe anymore. Evolution is still a lot of theory.  "Nature takes no sudden leaps" is a famous quote from Darwin which is being challenged by this
Cambrian Explosion.  It seems some sort of biological catalyst was introduced that jump started all of these species.

Lab #7 Hitchiti Experimental Forrest

Unfortunately I was unable to make it to the Hitchiti Experimental Forrest because of my Spanish test. However me and Jarett were able to drive out there in time to see everyone's car and leave a note on your car Dr. Rood.  And you told us too look up the wild ginger and here are some of the interesting facts that I learned.

Wild ginger is a workhorse of a groundcover, spreading readily with beautifully glossy, slightly heart-shape leaves. It must have shade and moist but well-drained soil to thrive, but with the right conditions this native plant is indispensable, doing well where many other plants wouldn't. In spring it bears purplish maroon bell-shape blooms mostly hidden in the foliage. 

The plant is called wild ginger because the rhizome tastes and smells similar to ginger root, but the two are not particularly related.