Artificial Selection in Plants

In the 1800s, Charles Darwin, with some help from Alfred Russel Wallace, first came up with and published his On the Origin of Species in which he proposed an actual mechanism explaining how species evolved over time. He called this mechanism natural selection, which basically means individuals possessing the most favorable adaptations for the environments in which they lived would survive long enough to reproduce and pass down those desirable traits to their offspring. Darwin hypothesized that in nature, this process would only occur over very long periods of time and through several generations of offspring but eventually, unfavorable characteristics would cease to exist and only the new, favorable adaptations would survive in the gene pool. Darwins Experiments With Artificial Selection When Darwin returned from his voyage on the HMS Beagle, during which he first began formulating his ideas on evolution, he wanted to test his new hypothesis. Since its aim is to accumulate favorable adaptations to create a more desirable species, artificial selection is very similar to natural selection. Instead of letting nature take its often lengthy course, however, evolution is helped along by humans who choose desirable traits and breed specimens possessing those characteristics in order to create offspring with those traits. Darwin turned to artificial selection to gather the data he needed to test out his theories. Darwin experimented with breeding birds, artificially selecting various characteristics such as beak size and shape and color. Through his efforts, he was able to show that he could change birds visible features and also breed for modified behavioral traits, much as natural selection might accomplish over many generations in the wild. Selective Breeding for Agriculture Artificial selection does not only work with animals, however. There was—and continues to be—a great demand for artificial selection in plants as well. For centuries, humans have been using artificial selection to manipulate the phenotypes of plants. Perhaps the most famous example of artificial selection in plant biology came from Austrian monk Gregor Mendel, whose experiments with breeding pea plants in his monastery garden and subsequently collecting and recording all of the pertinent data would go on to form the basis for the entire modern field of Genetics. By either cross-pollinating his subject plants or allowing them to self-pollinate, depending on which traits he wished to reproduce in the offspring generation, Mendel was able to figure out many of the laws that govern the genetics of sexually reproducing organisms. Over the last century, artificial selection has been successfully used to create new hybrids of crops and fruit. For instance, corn can be bred to be larger and thicker in the cobs to increase grain yield from a single plant. Other notable crosses include broccoflower (a cross between broccoli and cauliflower) and a tangelo (the hybrid of a tangerine and a grapefruit). The new crosses create a distinctive flavor of the vegetable or fruit that combines the properties of their parent plants. Genetically Modified Foods   More recently, a new kind of artificial selection has been used in efforts to enhance food and other crop plants for everything from disease resistance to shelf life to color and nutritional value. Genetically modified (GM foods), also known as  genetically engineered foods  (GE foods), or  bioengineered foods,  got their start in the late 1980s. Its a method that alters plants a cellular level by introducing genetically modified agents into the propagation process. Genetic modification was first tried out on tobacco plants but quickly spread to food crops—starting with the tomato—and has enjoyed remarkable success. The practice has undergone considerable backlash, however, from consumers concerned with the potential for unintentional negative side effects that may result from eating genetically altered fruits and vegetables. Artificial Selection for Plant Esthetics Apart from agricultural applications, one of the most common reasons for selective plant breeding is to produce esthetic adaptations. Take, for example, the breeding of flowers to create a particular color or shape (such as the mind-boggling variety of rose species currently available). Brides and/or their wedding planners often have a specific color scheme in mind for the special day, and flowers that match that theme are often an important factor in realizing their vision. To that end, florists and flower producers often use artificial selection to create blends of colors, different color patterns, and even leaf coloring patterns to achieve the desired results. Around Christmas time, poinsettia plants make popular decorations. Poinsettias can range in color from a deep red or burgundy to a more traditional bright Christmas red, to white—or a mixture of any of those. The colored portion of the poinsettia is actually a leaf, not a flower, however, artificial selection is still used to get the desired color for any given plant variety.

Che Guevara - 2292 Words

Che Guevara The Major Figure of the Cuban Revolution I. Introduction A. Significance of the Subject B. Purpose and plan of the paper C. Thesis Statement: Che Guevara’s actions were driven by his two-sided mind. Che was a good-minded revolutionist with evil actions. II. Che Guevara’s starting ideas and believes A. Changes in his world views B. First ideas III. The beginning of the revolution A. Che’s impact on the revolution B. Che’s part of the rebel army C. Che’s violent actions IV. Historians’ views on Che’s actions A. Doing good or evil B. Reasons for his actions C. Reasons that brought him off the right directions V. Interpretation and evaluation of all the opinions and facts A. Responding to†¦show more content†¦Meanwhile, as supplies and morale diminished, and with an allergy to mosquito bites which resulted in agonizing cysts on his body, Guevara considered these the most painful days of the war (â€Å"Che: Part One†). As the war continued, Guevara became an integral part of the rebel army and convinced Castro with competence, diplomacy and patience. Guevara set up factories to make grenades, built ovens to bake bread, taught new recruits about tactics, and organized schools to teach illiterate soldiers to read and write. In addition, Guevara established health clinics, workshops to teach military tactics, and a newspaper to distribute information. For all of these actions, The New York Times, gave him the honorable nick name, â€Å"Castro’s brain† (â€Å"Che: Part Two†). Unfortunately he also had a very dark and brutal side. As the only other ranked C ommandant besides Fidel Castro, Guevara was a harsh disciplinarian who sometimes shot anti-revolutionists. Deserters were punished as traitors, and Guevara was known to send killing squads to track those down. As a result, Guevara became feared for his brutality and ruthlessness. During the guerrilla campaign, Guevara was also responsible for the sometimes summary execution of a number of men accused of being informers, deserters or spies (Anderson-Lee 59-65). In his diaries, Guevara described the first such execution of Eutimio Guerra, a peasant army guide who admittedShow MoreRelatedEssay Che Guevara796 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Che Guevara    The late Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara was a genuine leader. His cause was to liberate  Cuba  from a corrupt military dictatorship, and resist  United States  interference in Cuban political affairs (â€Å"More or Less†, 2002). In the beginning this cause was just, but his passion grew to hatred, which inevitably consumed him. Che personified a collectivist but real concern for people, and truly came to believe that the key to realising that concern was through armed, savage, anti-imperialist politicalRead More Ernesto Che Guevara Essay2914 Words   |  12 PagesChe Guevara, a revolutionary in Cuba, has become an internationally recognized figure. While many people are familiar with his achievements of helping to overthrow and rebuild the Cuban government, his image has expanded well beyond his political success. Che’s picture has been seen all over the world, in every imaginable context. Many people associate Che Guevara with the very word â€Å"revoluti on,† while others remember Che as a brutal and ruthless guerilla. While everyone has their own interpretationRead MoreResearch Paper on Che Guevara4218 Words   |  17 PagesResearch Paper on Chà © Guevara | Globalization | 11-10-2012 | Table of contents Introduction 2 Revolution 3 Chà © Guevara’s existence, and relationship with revolution 4 The Cuban Revolution 8 The Influence of Chà © Guevara on Latin America 12 Conclusion 17 Bibliography 18 Introduction I decided to write this research paper because we were assigned to find an issue or subject within Latin America to write about. One of the most widely known and influential revolutionaryRead MoreErnesto Che Guevara Essay1914 Words   |  8 PagesErnesto Che Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara, a doctor and revolutionary in Bolivia, was assassinated by the American CIA for many political reasons, thus becoming a legend and idol after the Latin American Revolution. In the United States Che is remembered only as a relic of the 1960 revolution. In Europe he became a pop icon among the youth with little or no historical reference. Only in Cuba does his legacy stand for the hope and faith of the Latin American people. Ernesto Guevara de la SernaRead More Ernesto Che Guevara Essay2680 Words   |  11 PagesErnesto Che Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara has undeniably been one of the most powerful icons of the past fourty years. The Argentine revolutionary has had his picture widely printed on shirts and posters and has become a symbol for the (often young) anarchist. Yet, how many of us really understand or know what Che stood for? Do we know what his philosophy was about? Very few of us have taken the time to understand the goals and principles of Guevara and what he fought for - to death. DrRead MoreChe Guevara s Reminiscences Of The Cuban Revolutionary War1916 Words   |  8 PagesChe Guevara’s Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War In Che Guevara’s Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War, Guevara writes about his experience being a dedicated soldier in the Rebel army that overthrew Batista’s regime in Cuba, being Fidel Castro’s brain throughout the entire operation, and becoming a pioneer of guerilla warfare. These topics that Che covered in his memoir, his role in the expedition led by Castro, the basics of each leaders approach to guerilla warfare, the importanceRead MoreChe Guevara: Iconic Hero or Failed Revolutionary? Essay2365 Words   |  10 PagesThe story of Ernesto Guevara, a child who was born to a well-to-do Argentine family who went on to become a medical doctor sounds like a success story. Ernesto Guevara probably isn’t a name many people recognize, add the word â€Å"Che† to the name—Ernesto â€Å"Che† Guevara—and many people recognize the name of a famed revolutionary of the 1960’s. Even now, forty-four years after his death, his name and image remain popular. To some Che Guevara is idolized as a man of the people, a freedom fighter for theRead MoreErnesto Che Guevara1643 Words   |  7 PagesA. Plan of Investigation Question: Was Ernesto â€Å"Che† Guevara the revolutionary hero as depicted in today’s pop culture, or was he a vicious murderer, obsessed with the destruction of capitalism? Methods: This investigation will describe Che Guevara’s involvement in Latin American independence movements, focusing specifically on his involvement with Fidel Castro’s â€Å"26th of July† movement. His actions and words will be analyzed, and his conduct this period of political upheaval will be used as evidenceRead MoreBiography Of Ernesto Che Guevara1780 Words   |  8 Pagesworld. Other people will learn from experiences and those experiences will stick with them as they go through life. Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara learned a great amount from experiences that he shared in his memoir, The Motorcyle Diaries. In this book, he shares the story of his journey through a large portion of South America, with his friend Alberto. Throughout the journey, Guevara notes several differences within the individual countries and between the countries themselves. Some countries, like Chile,Read MoreThe Motorcycle Diaries Che Guevara Analysis1143 Words   |  5 Pag esperceptions and values. The impact of a physical journey in order to come reconnected with ones spirituality can lead to the emotional and social discoveries that ignites the reassessment of these factors. This notion of transformation is validated in Che Guevara’s 1952 autobiographical memoir â€Å"The Motorcycle Diaries†. Where through his extensive recount of his travels there is the revelation of social inequity of which highlights the corruption of the political system. This exposure ultimately reveals

George Rousseau And Jean Jacques Rousseau Essay - 1002 Words

The concept of Liberty can be very complex when trying to define it, one of the reasons for that is that no one seems to agree on what it means to be free. There is the connotation of the word Liberty which is â€Å"Freedom from captivity imprisonment, slavery, or despotic control.† (566 Oxford Dictionary) but Liberty is often portrayed as more than just that. When looking at the past, Liberty is an interesting concept, considering the social structure at the time and how the king and the church had so much power. A lot changed with the French Revolution and the abolishment of the French monarchy but let us take a look a few years before that, where two great minds of this time had their own opinion of Liberty an how to achieve it. Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau are two of the original Romantics; they both brought new ideas to the world and tried to change it. Diderot was very big on man being able to think for themselves, not always being told what to do and how to do it, he believe in our ability to reason and make our own decisions â€Å"The finest privilege of our reason consists in not believing in anything by the impulsion of a blind and mechanical instinct. Man is born to think for himself.†(Denis Diderot, â€Å"L’Encyclopedie† 1751) Rousseau had his own view of liberty, he believed that man show follow their feelings and not their mind, he believe that nature was man’s true safe haven â€Å"To feel is to exist, and our feelings come most uncontestebly before our thoughts†Show MoreRelated Jean-Jacques Rousseau Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesJean-Jacques Rousseau   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I was born to a family whose morals distinguished them from the people.† (Josephson 9) Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, 1712. He became the son of Isaac Rousseau, a plebian class watchmaker, and Suzanne Bernard, the daughter of a minister who died shortly after giving birth to him. Rousseau’s baptism ceremony was a traditional one held at St. Peter’s Cathedral on July 4, 1712 by the reverend senebies. He had an elder brother who hadRead MoreJean Jacques Rousseau Essay1383 Words   |  6 PagesJean-Jacques Rousseau I was born to a family whose morals distinguished them from the people. (Josephson 9) Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born in Geneva, Switzerland on June 28, 1712. He became the son of Isaac Rousseau, a plebian class watchmaker, and Suzanne Bernard, the daughter of a minister who died shortly after giving birth to him. Rousseaus baptism ceremony was a traditional one held at St. Peters Cathedral on July 4, 1712 by the reverend senebies. He had an elder brother who hadRead MoreAnalysis Of Emanuel Leutze s Painting967 Words   |  4 Pages Emanuel Leutze’s painting depicts George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, crossing the Delaware River with his men on Christmas night, 1776 in order to surprise attack the Hessians at Trenton. Leutze’s portrait reflects some of the ideals represented by Thomas Jefferson, as well enlightenment thinkers John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau and perfectly demonstrates the role the Americ an Revolution played in the shift from the medieval period intoRead MoreJean Jacques Rousseau And The Declaration Of Independence Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesJean-Jacques Rousseau was an Enlightenment thinker during the eighteenth century and is most noted for his work The Social Contract. The Social Contract published in 1762 and is a philosophical document that expresses the ideas of popular sovereignty. Popular Sovereignty is a form of government in which â€Å"the doctrine that sovereign power is vested in the people and that those chosen to govern, as trustees of such power, must exercise it in conformity with the general will.† This is basically a fancyRead MoreRousseau ´s Solution to  ¨The Fundamental Problem ¨1178 Words   |  5 PagesThe problem is to find a form of association †¦ in which each, while uniting himself with all, may still obey himself alone, and remain as free as before.’ Does Rousseau have a convincing solution to the problem he poses? The opening line of Jean-Jacques Rousseaus influential work The Social Contract (1762), is man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they. These are not physical chains, but psychologicalRead MoreJean-Jacques Rousseau Influence on the Declaration of Independence743 Words   |  3 PagesAmerica,† (Fink, 9). Five of the founding fathers got together and penned this important document. As they penned this document, they were inspired by a number of European philosophers and writers. One of these philosophers was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. â€Å"Jean-Jacques Rousseau played a significant role in three different revolutions: in politics, his work inspired and shaped revolutionary sentiment in the American colonies and France; in philosophy, he proposed radically unsettling ideas about humanRead MoreJean-Jacques Rousseaus The Social Contract Essay example1786 Words   |  8 PagesThe problem is to find a form of association †¦ in which each, while uniting himself with all, may still obey himself alone, and remain as free as before.’ Does Rousseau have a convincing solution to the problem he poses? The opening line of Jean-Jacques Rousseaus influential work The Social Contract (1762), is man is born free, and he is everywhere in chains. Those who think themselves masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they. These are not physical chains, but psychologicalRead MoreA Catholic Socialist1014 Words   |  5 Pagessaying, â€Å"Rousseau abandoned his five children, one after the other, but had, we are told, an unspeakable affection for his dog.†1 Irving Babbitt certainly had no love loss for Jean-Jacques Rousseau not only because of his abandonment of his children but because Rousseau was the antithesis of Babbitt. Even though both Babbitt and Rousseau offer revolutionary ideas that affected their societies, their educational and religious philosophies differed in many ways. On education, Babbitt and Rousseau exhibitedRead MoreWomen in the Enlightenment Essay1406 Words   |  6 PagesThe Enlightenment allowed a period of educational growth to begin. A new love for knowledge and debate sprung up throughout the century. Women joined in with the intellectual banter by starting salons. â€Å"If Voltaire transformed the thoughts, and Rousseau the feelings, of the eighteenth century, it was the salons of Paris that the new conceptions of ‘reason’ and ‘nature,’ of ‘free thought’ and the importance of the individual, were sifted, codified, and eventually imposed.† Women played a centralRead MoreNo Perfect Form of Government Essay2014 Words   |  9 Pagesthe ideal government was still prevalent during the Enlightenment period. During the 18th century, numerous philosophers developed various new ideas about how the ideal government should perform its duties. Philosophers like John Locke and Jean Jacques Roussea u, for example, conceived the idea of a government in which the majority rules through a system of democracy. A bloody conflict finally brought some of these ideas into practice. From the American Revolution, the United States was born, and its

Final Essay free essay sample

Final Essay George Orwell’s story â€Å"1984† teaches us that leadership and power can be token way too far in society. In this book the totalitarian government has total control over the people. The government watches everyone with telescreens which are pretty much cameras, they say â€Å"Big Brother is watching†. Also there is police called â€Å"thought police† they handle thought crime, which are thinking of something against the law. If you get caught committing a thought crime you are sentenced to death. That’s a bit harsh; the government is taking it way too far. The most convicted thought crime is people saying â€Å"down with Big Brother† The government also abuses their power in this society. There are three social classes in this society the inner party, the outer party, and the proles. The inner party is the government members and the smarter people. The outer party is made of the normal people in society, and the proles are the poor. We will write a custom essay sample on Final Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page You are born into the social class you are in you cannot move up or down. The government abuses their power by totally controlling the outer party and proles, but the inner party has way more privilege than the others. They are not watched as the outer and proles are. They can commit what would be called crimes to the other parties with no consequence. There are some governments today that are totalitarian like the government in â€Å"1984†. Some examples are North Korea and Singapore. They may not be as strict as the government in Oceania but they are the same type of government. They have strict laws and harsh convictions like Oceania. North Korea is the most like Oceania’s government. In North Korea every radio is locked onto a government frequency. Cell phones and the internet is banned also, they only allow elite members of the government to access them. This is like the government in â€Å"1984† the members of the higher class get away with more things than lower classes. â€Å"The bubble that Kim Jong Il has created allows him to manipulate the minds of Korean right down to their daily life’s†. Says Fabienne Hernandaise Yahoo! Contributor Network. â€Å"North Korea is a real life â€Å"1984†Ã¢â‚¬ . Says Tony Poe, Marketing Director, Poe Travel many things are exactly the same. Just like in the book citizens are closely monitored, people don’t say anything that would cause their neighbor to rat them out. They both brain wash people in their society, there are posters everywhere. The posters have Kim IL Sung on them in North Korea and â€Å"Big Brother is watching† on them in Oceania. Also high rank officials have luxuries in both societies. There are radios in all the houses that are tuned to government channels you can’t turn it off, it’s like the telescreens in Oceania they are always on and always tuned in on you. Singapore is another country with a dictator; their government is also very strict compared to ours. They have the death sentence for small crimes in our country. If you get caught with drug possession or the use of narcotics the punishment is death. â€Å"Singapore a squeaky clean place it is†. Says Kamnan O ( ) http://www. orientexpat. com/. The act of homosexual leads to imprisonment because kissing between men is illegal. Riots of any kind are illegal, especially against the government. Another law is if you forget to flush the toilet in public it is a $500 fine. You can prevent the abuse of power by making sure that your country has a constitution that cannot be broken. You can riot to make the government fear you, if everyone rebelled and rioted there would be no way to stop it without killing innocent people. Also Anonymous will get involved and do what they do best. You can post stuff about it online and it might spread to other countries and they take action also. Make sure you know your rights so you can prove that what you doing isn’t illegal. It is our responsibility in the act of our government turning totalitarian to take action. Don’t just sit there and let it happen go out and make sure your rights aren’t taken from you.  Know your constitution and the rights it gives you. Take part in anything that will help with preventing the takeover of the country. Make sure you don’t break any laws in the process you don’t want to go to jail in this time of need.