This is mildly relevant. Bear with me. 4 years ago I stopped doing nearly everything. My life consisted of menial labor, sitting on my ass in front of the T.V. and obsessively playing Major MUDD. I took an I.Q. test at that time and tested at a certain number. In the last year, I went back to college, took a number of courses, wrote 4 research papers, developed a social life, studied human heredity,re-read every one of Vonnegut's books, and began writing myself. Two weeks ago I took the same I.Q. test, and tested 20 points higher. I don't think it's the learning per se that made me test higher, rather it was the exposure to different modes of thinking and the development of problem-solving skills.
I don't know about a difference in the number of synapses, but I know that they 'fire' into different regions of the brain for different attributes. (verbal, spatial, etc)
I don't know about legality, however, I think it will probabally result in higher insurance rates for those who don't have a vehicle equipped with the device. Probabally not immediately, but in a few years if it is shown to be helpful. There are already lower rates for cars equipped with airbags, alarm systems, and non-smoking soccer moms.
I aggree with you about American Beauty. I've never seen anything that made me feel like dancing, laughing, killing myself, getting drunk, crying, and vomiting all at the same time. Truly unique and thought provoking.
Some employers in the U.S. that sponser employee health insurance already conduct pre-employment assesments using genetic testing. There are fears that this will lead to bias and eventually, an "unemployable underclass".
You also have to consider environmental factors that have been shown to cause genetic mutations. I guess these genetic muations could be stuck in the subfile titled "s**t happens"
Most genes have a "normal" important function, and when the gene is mutated in some way, and ceases to "do its job" that genetic disorders occur. In cases of genetic metabolic diseases, mutations that cause a loss of function in a single enzyme can have many pronounced effects. In the case of Cystic Fibrosis, the gene that it was mapped to (q31 of chromosome 7) produces a protein that inserts itself into the plasma membrane of exocrine gland cells. This protein regulates the flow of chloride ions accross the cells plasma membrane. With CF patients, this protein is absent or defective. In most cases, mutated genes can not perform their normal functions.
certain genes have already been patented by pharmecutical companies, largely the insulin gene. If you have a working insulin gene, it's been patented. Some genetic researches have patented whole fragments of code, and are now working on deciphering it.
Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive disorder. The reason why it is much more prevelant among males is that if a male inherits the recessive allele from his mother, he is hemizygous (expressing the trait in both the recessive and dominant condition) This is because a male has only one X chromosome. A female would have to be homozygous (carry both mutated alleles) in order to be affect. A woman's odds of having hemophilia are about 1 in 100 million,but not impossible.
There are no perfect energy sources out there, each one has its drawbacks. Fossil fuels are pollutive, and emit gases that destroy the ozone. They are also unrenewable (at least until humanity destroys itself and in a few million years we become the fuel). Nuclear power has had safety issues (although there have been numerous safety advances) but it is not as efficient as was once hoped. Uranium costs a bundle. I think that in the coming century, we need to examine other alternative methods of securing a renewable, realitively safe, non-polluting source of energy. Any ideas?
Not only did they plow topsoil over it, they also built a makeshift cover over the whole thing that was dubbed the "sarcophagus" to keep thousands (millions?) of tons of radioactive dust from being blown everywhere. Anyone remember the half-life of uranium? I don't offhand, but I remember that it is a hell of a long time. There are exposed core rods in there as well. I can't imagine that it would be safe to even work in the vicinity. I suppose they don't really give much of a damn either. People get cold and hungry enough, they will work in apalling conditions just to survive.
This kind of overreation is becoming very common everywhere. Recently, in a neighboring town, 2 students were expelled for having a "hit list". Now, I don't know about you, but when I was in high school, I hated EVERYONE. I had a new hit list every week. I also wrote jaunty little limericks and short stories about blowing up the school. Obviously, I never did it. I understand the need for caution, but I think that it violated their right to free speech. If they were that concerned, they should have called in a shrink. That would have treated the problem, rather than the symptom. Then they use a 46 pica scare headline in the paper to justify what they've done to the masses. They attempt to validate their actions with the stance that it's all "for our safety". Humanity can be violent, but trampling on individual rights will only result in a revolution at some point. Hopefully we're not too thin-skinned and sheep-like to revolt when the time comes.
Potential loophole: Start selling merchandise with the stores web-address on it. I can see it now...www.thegap.com-could'nt be much worse than those commercials!
Although most of my teachers were underqualified, I can not blame them alone for the state of our educational system. They are, for the most part, underpaid, overworked, and generally not respected by anyone. They come into the field fresh-faced and idealistic, and quickly get ground up in the burocracy. They deal with children who are hostile and unwilling to learn, parents who don't give a damn, an administration that overloads their classes, and crappy funding. There is no incentive for them to learn anything new. They are'nt going to get a raise, or a reduction in their workload. Because scientific knowledge increases exponentially, it would be nearly impossible for them to learn about every new advance. Maybe a summer class could be offered, and teachers that participated would be rewarded somehow-but who will pay for it?
It bothers me as well. Not reading Orwell and using the term "Big Brother" is irritating because the whole concept is pivotal to the book and vice versa. Don't worry, you're not an old curmudgeon, your just "old school" (in modern parlance). Enough to make you gag?
Drug testing in the workplace also falls under the category titled "rape of the 4th Ammendment". What's even creepier is that they can do genetic testing on urine (as well as hair, blood, semen, etc.)Many U.S. companies that sponser employee insurance are requiring genetic testing as a pre-employment assesment. Now they can tell if you are genetically pre-disposed to certain conditions like Alzheimer's, Huntington's Disease, and certain forms of cancer. What do you think your chances are of scoring that job? Of finding insurance coverage? The worst part is that most genetic diseases are multi-gene mutations. Therefore, one mutation does not mean that you will get the disease, merely that you are predisposed. Will there be an un-employable class...an American version of India's Untouchables? The walls have ears...Big Brother is everywhere!
A kid in my Heredity class is in the National Guard, and he says he will undoubtedly be called out on New Years...not beacuse of Y2K, but because of hysteria and riot potential. Mob mentality and all that. Only thing I plan to do is buy a carton of cigarettes and watch humanity degenerate into hair-pulling soccer moms fighting over the last Sara Lee poundcake.
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This is mildly relevant. Bear with me. 4 years ago I stopped doing nearly everything. My life consisted of menial labor, sitting on my ass in front of the T.V. and obsessively playing Major MUDD. I took an I.Q. test at that time and tested at a certain number. In the last year, I went back to college, took a number of courses, wrote 4 research papers, developed a social life, studied human heredity,re-read every one of Vonnegut's books, and began writing myself. Two weeks ago I took the same I.Q. test, and tested 20 points higher. I don't think it's the learning per se that made me test higher, rather it was the exposure to different modes of thinking and the development of problem-solving skills.
I don't know about a difference in the number of synapses, but I know that they 'fire' into different regions of the brain for different attributes. (verbal, spatial, etc)
I don't know about legality, however, I think it will probabally result in higher insurance rates for those who don't have a vehicle equipped with the device. Probabally not immediately, but in a few years if it is shown to be helpful. There are already lower rates for cars equipped with airbags, alarm systems, and non-smoking soccer moms.
I aggree with you about American Beauty. I've never seen anything that made me feel like dancing, laughing, killing myself, getting drunk, crying, and vomiting all at the same time. Truly unique and thought provoking.
They are the four bases in all DNA. A=adenine, C=cytosine, G=guanine, T=thymidine.
Some employers in the U.S. that sponser employee health insurance already conduct pre-employment assesments using genetic testing. There are fears that this will lead to bias and eventually, an "unemployable underclass".
You also have to consider environmental factors that have been shown to cause genetic mutations. I guess these genetic muations could be stuck in the subfile titled "s**t happens"
Most genes have a "normal" important function, and when the gene is mutated in some way, and ceases to "do its job" that genetic disorders occur. In cases of genetic metabolic diseases, mutations that cause a loss of function in a single enzyme can have many pronounced effects. In the case of Cystic Fibrosis, the gene that it was mapped to (q31 of chromosome 7) produces a protein that inserts itself into the plasma membrane of exocrine gland cells. This protein regulates the flow of chloride ions accross the cells plasma membrane. With CF patients, this protein is absent or defective. In most cases, mutated genes can not perform their normal functions.
certain genes have already been patented by pharmecutical companies, largely the insulin gene. If you have a working insulin gene, it's been patented. Some genetic researches have patented whole fragments of code, and are now working on deciphering it.
Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive disorder. The reason why it is much more prevelant among males is that if a male inherits the recessive allele from his mother, he is hemizygous (expressing the trait in both the recessive and dominant condition) This is because a male has only one X chromosome. A female would have to be homozygous (carry both mutated alleles) in order to be affect. A woman's odds of having hemophilia are about 1 in 100 million,but not impossible.
Hydroelectric power also disturbs the ecosystem (does'nt everything?)and it has a really high initial cost.
There are no perfect energy sources out there, each one has its drawbacks. Fossil fuels are pollutive, and emit gases that destroy the ozone. They are also unrenewable (at least until humanity destroys itself and in a few million years we become the fuel). Nuclear power has had safety issues (although there have been numerous safety advances) but it is not as efficient as was once hoped. Uranium costs a bundle. I think that in the coming century, we need to examine other alternative methods of securing a renewable, realitively safe, non-polluting source of energy. Any ideas?
Not only did they plow topsoil over it, they also built a makeshift cover over the whole thing that was dubbed the "sarcophagus" to keep thousands (millions?) of tons of radioactive dust from being blown everywhere. Anyone remember the half-life of uranium? I don't offhand, but I remember that it is a hell of a long time. There are exposed core rods in there as well. I can't imagine that it would be safe to even work in the vicinity. I suppose they don't really give much of a damn either. People get cold and hungry enough, they will work in apalling conditions just to survive.
This kind of overreation is becoming very common everywhere. Recently, in a neighboring town, 2 students were expelled for having a "hit list". Now, I don't know about you, but when I was in high school, I hated EVERYONE. I had a new hit list every week. I also wrote jaunty little limericks and short stories about blowing up the school. Obviously, I never did it. I understand the need for caution, but I think that it violated their right to free speech. If they were that concerned, they should have called in a shrink. That would have treated the problem, rather than the symptom. Then they use a 46 pica scare headline in the paper to justify what they've done to the masses. They attempt to validate their actions with the stance that it's all "for our safety". Humanity can be violent, but trampling on individual rights will only result in a revolution at some point. Hopefully we're not too thin-skinned and sheep-like to revolt when the time comes.
Potential loophole: Start selling merchandise with the stores web-address on it. I can see it now...www.thegap.com-could'nt be much worse than those commercials!
Although most of my teachers were underqualified, I can not blame them alone for the state of our educational system. They are, for the most part, underpaid, overworked, and generally not respected by anyone. They come into the field fresh-faced and idealistic, and quickly get ground up in the burocracy. They deal with children who are hostile and unwilling to learn, parents who don't give a damn, an administration that overloads their classes, and crappy funding. There is no incentive for them to learn anything new. They are'nt going to get a raise, or a reduction in their workload. Because scientific knowledge increases exponentially, it would be nearly impossible for them to learn about every new advance. Maybe a summer class could be offered, and teachers that participated would be rewarded somehow-but who will pay for it?
I like the fun future dystopia books...anything by Vonnegut. Cat's Cradle is good, or the short story "Harrison Bergeron" (sp?)
I think it's Swift (Jonathon, not Tom)
It bothers me as well. Not reading Orwell and using the term "Big Brother" is irritating because the whole concept is pivotal to the book and vice versa. Don't worry, you're not an old curmudgeon, your just "old school" (in modern parlance). Enough to make you gag?
Actually no, never have seen it. Rather, I have just finished a paper on genetic testing/bioethics.
Drug testing in the workplace also falls under the category titled "rape of the 4th Ammendment". What's even creepier is that they can do genetic testing on urine (as well as hair, blood, semen, etc.)Many U.S. companies that sponser employee insurance are requiring genetic testing as a pre-employment assesment. Now they can tell if you are genetically pre-disposed to certain conditions like Alzheimer's, Huntington's Disease, and certain forms of cancer. What do you think your chances are of scoring that job? Of finding insurance coverage? The worst part is that most genetic diseases are multi-gene mutations. Therefore, one mutation does not mean that you will get the disease, merely that you are predisposed. Will there be an un-employable class...an American version of India's Untouchables? The walls have ears...Big Brother is everywhere!
A kid in my Heredity class is in the National Guard, and he says he will undoubtedly be called out on New Years...not beacuse of Y2K, but because of hysteria and riot potential. Mob mentality and all that. Only thing I plan to do is buy a carton of cigarettes and watch humanity degenerate into hair-pulling soccer moms fighting over the last Sara Lee poundcake.