This is why species that reproduce asexually often also reproduce sexually, it allows in good conditions for a plant/fungus/etc to establish itself in it's biological niche yet at the same time produce different offspring via sexual reproduction to survive a change in conditions.
Then there are things which only reproduce asexually like bacteria, they have different methods of coping, which involve being able to pass good characteristics to other bacteria (why we need to be careful with antibiotic use, but this is completely off topic:) )
So why would we want to purposefuly wish to reduce the genetic diversity of a species? I don't get it (except in a few rare cases like apples as each tree is completely different)
Could you imagine the rise of a cloned cat sold at pet stores " Cloned Cat is free from genetic diseases and has the perfect temperament for every family, with individualised coats"...
This may seem abit far stretched, but this is what happened in Irealand in the summer of 1845 with the potato famine... (for more info read "The botany of desire: a plant's eye view of the world", by Michael Pollan, pub by bloomsbury)
All delving into the world of genetic cloning/modification needs to be taken slowly with appropriate educated social debate.
I would definately include Robin Hobb
Although The Assasins apprentice does start alittle slow, the writing in each book continues to improve by the time u read the 2nd book in the Tawny man series (pg 283 is HUGE!) it's fantastic!
I just can't belive We have to wait til the next book is released...
I live in Australia (Sydney) and am currently doing a Science degree with a Compsci Major and an Ecology Major... in my comp Science Classes there are plenty of Girls, just not of european descent.. I am the ONLY non asian girl in most of my comp sci classes, (not that this is bad) but I am still yet to figure it out.
Slashdot Mirror
This is why species that reproduce asexually often also reproduce sexually, it allows in good conditions for a plant/fungus/etc to establish itself in it's biological niche yet at the same time produce different offspring via sexual reproduction to survive a change in conditions. Then there are things which only reproduce asexually like bacteria, they have different methods of coping, which involve being able to pass good characteristics to other bacteria (why we need to be careful with antibiotic use, but this is completely off topic :) )
So why would we want to purposefuly wish to reduce the genetic diversity of a species? I don't get it (except in a few rare cases like apples as each tree is completely different)
Could you imagine the rise of a cloned cat sold at pet stores " Cloned Cat is free from genetic diseases and has the perfect temperament for every family, with individualised coats" ...
This may seem abit far stretched, but this is what happened in Irealand in the summer of 1845 with the potato famine ... (for more info read "The botany of desire: a plant's eye view of the world", by Michael Pollan, pub by bloomsbury)
All delving into the world of genetic cloning/modification needs to be taken slowly with appropriate educated social debate.
I would definately include Robin Hobb Although The Assasins apprentice does start alittle slow, the writing in each book continues to improve by the time u read the 2nd book in the Tawny man series (pg 283 is HUGE!) it's fantastic! I just can't belive We have to wait til the next book is released...
Well I don't know about you guy's, but I am in Computer Science and a Grl and I am NOT fat or Ugly :P
I live in Australia (Sydney) and am currently doing a Science degree with a Compsci Major and an Ecology Major... in my comp Science Classes there are plenty of Girls, just not of european descent.. I am the ONLY non asian girl in most of my comp sci classes, (not that this is bad) but I am still yet to figure it out.