Evolution E-Portfolio

Nikkatan Balakrishnan
Mrs. Kaloshi May 28th, 2013 SBI 3Ue

Table of Contents: Concept Map.pg. 2 Artefact Picture...pg. 2 Artefact Reflection.pg. 3 &4 Article Response -> Article 1pg. 5 & 6 -> Article 2pg. 7 & 8 Career Research -> Career 1...pg. 9 -> Career 2pg. 10 Canadian Scientist Reportpg.11 & 12 References...pg. 13

Unit Concept Map:

Link: http://prezi.com/hhljhcidvwvw/edit/?auth_key=vujqo41&follow=wj18u7aifc6j&kw=edithhljhcidvwvw&rc=ref-193678

Colour YELLOW RED BLACK BLUE Unit Artefact Picture:

Subject Evolution Theories Evidences Speciation and Cladograms Mechanisms

Unit Artefact Response:

This is a self-made artefact that is a picture of broccoli and cabbage. This photograph represents the group activity we did which introduced us to Artificial Selection. Before the activity started we were given a brief history of the Wild Mustard Plant. We were told that thousands of years ago this plant was domesticated and now there is a variety of vegetables today from this one plant. The different tastes and appearance was the result of artificial selection. We got into groups of 4 and travelled around the class to the different veggie stations. The stations include the Ornamental cabbage, Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Kohlrabi. We described the physical features of these veggies and predicted which ones were derived from the Wild Mustard Plant. Some of these features were the stem, Petiole, Leaf, Axil, Axillary or Lateral Bud, and the Terminal Bud. This activity was very significant for me because I am a kinetic learner. Activities like these which are hands on explain the process of Artificial Selection better then reading the definitions. Artificial selection is the process were we as humans decide which traits are advantageous and are passed on. This activity also was significant because at this point in time I was also looking for a dog to buy. Dogs are another type of species that are the result of the process of artificial selection. I was told that before I bought a dog I had to know its parents and its linage to better understand the dogs habits. This activity taught me about the importance and hazards of artificial selection. Due to this process we as a society are given a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and species. Artificial selection is very human favoured as this process is done to help the needs and desires of humans. Without artificial selection we most likely would not have the variety of vegetables that we have in our markets today. However it does come with a cost; one major hazard of this process is the loss of biodiversity. To produce one artificially made species two different species are sacrificed. If this process becomes overused than the parent species will all disappear due to their low demand and inability to reproduce their own species; this will also cause the same artificially made species to appear over and over again causing low biodiversity or monoculture. Earlier I stated that I was interest in buying dogs which I still am. My parents say that I can get one in the summer if I get good marks. However, I have already been looking for different dogs that I want. This activity can partially be applied to my life because it taught me that dogs are a domesticated species. Before I never gave it thought of how dogs came to be, but after this activity I learned that they too are artificially made. From this activity I learned that an offspring that is artificially made might have health problems. Now I know that before I get a dog I should know about its health, and to see if everything is okay. I also learned from this activity that the traits from the two parents are passed onto the offspring. This taught me that I should ask the seller about how this dog was breed and who the parents were. This activity also hinted to me that I can actually get my desired puppy by picking two types of dog breeds that I like. Therefore this activity can be applied to my life just because it taught me about the elements of artificially made species which can be helpful when buying dogs.

Again, I like activities that are hands one for example labs, projects, and presentations rather than written reports and essays. This activity I was given the opportunity to actually feel the items and describe the physical features of the veggies. It really helped me better understand the concept of artificial selection, which included the advantages and hazards of the process. Artificial and Natural Selection were two main concepts of this unit that needed to be understood, thus this activity really helped me understand the unit better by teaching me about Artificial Selection. Not only did it give me a base understanding but also expanded my thoughts and raised questions inside of me like how would our market look without artificially made products? And where does this process take place? And is the mating process done in large amounts on individually? An activity that raises more questions inside of me is an activity that I think is successful.

Article (1) Response: Vitamin C kills drug-resistant TB in lab tests

Summary: A study published by the University of Yeshiva in Nature Communications, a multidisciplinary journal, showed a surprising tactic to fight the multi-drug resistant infection tuberculosis. The researchers say that this surprising tactic is none other than Vitamin C. TB is a very serious multi-drug resistant disease that affects an estimated 650, 000 people around the world. It is caused by the infection of a bacterium called M. tuberculosis which has overtime become resistant to normal treatments. The study states that Vitamin C acts as a reducing agent that generates free radicals, which are reactive oxygen species. These radicals are what kill of the TB bacteria. Scientists are excited because Vitamin C is also inexpensive, widely available, and safe to use; so experimenting with it will not be too hazardous. Response: In class when we learned about how dangerous drug-resistant bacteria are to the human population. Scientist are unable to create new antibiotics fast enough to compete with the growing population of antibiotic resistant bacteria and therefore there are more and more death casualties. Through mutations there are some bacteria that grow immune to antibiotics; while the drug kills most of the bacteria, the resistant bacteria that survive multiply and quickly all bacteria become antidrug resistant. This article relates because it also deals with the struggles to find antibiotics/drugs to fend off the infectious bacteria. I partially agree with this article because for one; it is using a natural already proven healthy base, Vitamin C; however no major tests have been conducted. I am a strong believer of herbal medicine, medicine that is not chemically produced in labs. Through personal experiences, I felt that medicine that my grandma gave me compared to the medicine I got over the counter for runny noses, or coughs were more effective. Even though, the scientist have to expand on the vitamin C and have to add other elements to make it more effective, they are starting off from a natural healthy base. Vitamin C has been proven in the past to improve your bodys health by protecting the cells. The reason why I dont totally agree is because the University professors have only tested the effects of Vitamin C and the TB bacteria in test tubes; thus no major lab have been conducted to prove it can work on Humans. For me as a professional it would affect me in a major way. The advantage of this finding is the demand for the resistant drugs. Doctors are trying to create drugs and antibiotics to kill these infectious bacteria, but they are mutating and reproducing so fast that these bacteria are becoming immune much more quickly than extra research and test can be done. Since Vitamin C has been introduced as a killer of the TB bacteria, I as a professional have a base I can expand my work on. The disadvantage is that there is NONE because experimenting with Vitamin C is inexpensive and proven to be completely safe. 5

Also since no major experiments have been done, I can make a real stride in my field. For me as a citizen it would be advantage if I have TB or a person I know does. Currently there is no drug for TB, so if the doctors can make something work with Vitamin C it could potentially save my life or someone I know. Again there is no disadvantage for me as a citizen because these experiments are only helping me. For me as a student, it would partially affect me if I were studying in the field on microbiology. The advantage would be the extended curriculum; which would probably include the study of more natural elements and their benefits like vitamins, because the science world is like a domino effect. Once something is discovered many other scientists try to expand on that work; in this case the experiment that this university did. The only disadvantage I see is the increase of workload on an already strained student. The next step for this research is of course expanding on the experiments done. The professors at the university tested the effects of Vitamin C and the Infectious Bacteria in a Test tube. In chemistry we learned that the variation in quantity can cause variation in results. Since it has not been proven that it can work in Humans, which of course has more liquid than that which was tested, their next key step is doing major experiments to see if it can.

Article (2) Response: Cockroaches lose their 'sweet tooth' to evade traps
Summary: A team from the North Carolina State University recently tested a theory announced by some American scientists that stated cockroaches reorganised their taste buds to make them dislike sweeter foods to avoid sugar traps. Residents and exterminators use glucose to coat the poison so the cockroaches will die once they eat it. The test the University conducted was called the Jam vs Peanut Butter test. The test placed some cockroaches in a controlled environment with two choices of foods, peanut butter and glucose rich jam (jelly). The mutant cockroaches were first attracted to the jelly, but after their taste buds sensed sweetness they repulsed away and swarmed over to the peanut butter. The lead researcher Dr. Schal described the actions of the cockroaches similar to that of a baby rejecting spinach. Dr. Schal believes that this evolutionary process is highly reflected upon Natural Selection and soon the whole cockroach population will be sweet taste resistant. Response: This is not an article that I can say I can agree with or disagree with because it is just revealing information on how cockroaches are evolving. However, I can say I believe that this information is true because of the issue of natural selection. This unit we largely focused on the effects of Natural Selection a theory developed by Darwin. Natural selection is the theory that individuals with advantageous traits will survive and reproduce passing on their traits to the next generation. Cockroaches that have genetic mutations allow them to avoid the traps, and thus their death so they can reproduce. Time will then replace the disadvantaged cockroaches with the advantageous ones; that is why I believe the information in this article is accurate. Another reason is because this has happened with other insects like the peppered moth. The Moth before was white with black spots, after the industrial revolution the moth got mutated to turn into full black or mostly black. These black moths turned out to survive better as birds could not see them in the night time or in the shade of the trees. For me as a professional in the field as an exterminator this is a huge disadvantage. Since the original bait will not work anymore on the cockroaches, a new pesticide will have to be created to exterminate them. There will be a lot of time lost before something is created which can really hurt my profits. The advantage of this could be my saved expenses. Since there are no pesticides for cockroaches anymore, I dont have to spend money buying them or travelling to houses trying to kill them. For me as a citizen I share the common disadvantage of a professional. If some furious cockroaches were affecting my house; I have no solution to kill them off because there is no pesticide. The advantage of having no pesticide to kill of dangerous cockroaches is not affecting the environment. Most pesticides are extremely dangerous to the environment so having no pesticide will protect it. For me as a student I do

not see this really affecting me in any way unless I was going to take an apprenticeship under an exterminator where I might have to learn about the new pesticides. The next step for this research will probably be expanding the experiments to other types of insects to see which others have also mutated to become resistant to their pesticides. Informing the world about this is highly important, because insects can carry many diseases and can really affect the surroundings of a home. This next step can keep homeowners aware of how spraying or dispersing pesticides around the home will not guarantee to get rid of insect problems.

Prospective Careers (1): Paleontologist Description: Paleontologists study plant and animal fossils in order to learn about the history of the natural world.

Core Tasks: Search for and extract fossils Preserve and catalogue fossils in museums Study fossils to learn about animals, plants, ecologies, and climates Teach the public about paleontology Some paleontologists help petroleum companies find oil

Workplace: Work for universities, museums, governments, and companies Professors work long hours Other paleontologists have more regular schedules May travel to remote locations to look for fossils Fieldwork that involves blasting or hammering can be dangerous

Earnings: $40,000 to $120,000 a year for professors $25,000 to $100,000 a year or more for museum paleontologists $35,000 to $60,000 a year or more for other paleontologists Salaries vary depending on the nature of the work

Education & Training: At least a master's degree A PhD is required to teach at a university

Attributes & Abilities: Detail-oriented Organized Research skills Computer skills

Prospective Careers (2): Archaeologist Description: Archaeologists dig up, preserve, and study artefacts in order to learn about past civilizations.

Core Tasks: Search for and dig up artefacts at dig sites Clean, restore, and study uncovered artefacts Work with anthropologists to draw conclusions about societies Write reports on findings May catalogue and conserve collections in museums

Workplace: Work for universities and colleges, museums, governments, and private companies Professors work long hours A lot of research is done indoors, in labs, libraries, and museums Fieldwork is done outdoors, often in remote locations Digging for artefacts is physically tiring

Earnings: $40,000 to $130,000 a year or more for professors $35,000 to $80,000 a year or more for other archaeologists Salaries depend on employer and level of education

Education and Training: At least a master's degree A PhD is required to teach at a university A PhD may also be required to dig up artefacts in foreign countries

Attributes and Abilities: Writing skills Communication skills Logical Patient Curious
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Canadian Scientist
Dr. Brian Husband - Professor and Associate Dean Canada Research Chair, Tier 2 Email: bhusband@uoguelph.ca Office: SCIE 1469, 1477 Ext: 54790 Lab: SCIE 1409/1410 Ext: 56014 Profile His interest in plant population biology and evolution developed early in his childhood which included many hours of hiking and working in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. This led to a M.Sc. degree in which he investigated the biology of submerged aquatic plants and focused his interests on the ecology of small, isolated plant populations. For his Ph.D., he shifted his focus to the genetic and evolutionary aspects of small populations in a project that focused on genetic drift and mating system variation in a South American aquatic plant. As a Postdoctoral Fellow, he continued this line of study, this time studying inbreeding and its negative consequences. Since coming to the University of Guelph, his research interests have diversified to include: 1. 2. 3. 4. The ecology and genetics of small populations Causes and consequences of genome duplication Functions and evolution of plant reproductive systems Ecological consequences of genetic diversity

He is currently a member of the Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution, Society for the Study of Evolution, American Association for Higher Education and the Canadian Botanical Association. He is also a member of NSERC Grant Selection Committee 18 and the National Recovery Teams for Red Mulberry and American Chestnut. Education: B.Sc. - University of Alberta M.Sc. - University of Alberta Ph.D. - University of Toronto

Research: His research and that of the lab group is focused on the ecology and genetics of plant populations. He studies the mechanisms regulating genetic diversity and phenotypic evolution in plants, and, how evolutionary processes (drift, gene flow, adaptation, genetic diversity) affect the ecological function of populations (reproduction, growth, persistence, extinction). 11

Currently, his lab is involved with : I. Ecology and genetics of small populations All populations contain a limited number of individuals, particularly those populations in restricted or bordering habitats. This can have a deep effect on mating patterns, but the significance of population size for the evolutionary process is heavily debated. They have explored this issue through studies on effective population size, metapopulation dynamics, the effects of drift on mating system evolution, inbreeding depression, and the mechanisms by which hybridization causes the extinction of rare species. II. Evolutionary significance of genome duplication. Genome duplication is widespread among plants and animals and is particularly common in flowering plants and ferns. Their research uses plant species with natural variation and mutagens that induce genome duplication to explore two major hypotheses: 1) genome duplication has an unreasonably large influence on rates of species variation; 2) it enhances the adaptive potential and, hence, persistence of lineages that bear it. III. Ecological impacts of hybridization and gene flow? The importance of genetic diversity (mutation, gene flow, drift, heritability) to adaptive evolution is widely recognized, but it is less clear whether and how it affects ecological function. Using a combination of genetic markers and controlling studies, their research on hybridization between American and Eurasian chestnut (Castanea), Asian and native mulberry (Morus) and domestic and native apples (Malus) has allowed them to explore the conditions favouring gene exchange between species. IV. Development and applications of plant barcoding His group is a part of a national collaborative effort (comprising 4 labs) to develop barcoding tools for plants. The group has published one of the most extensive evaluations of potential barcode regions and has been instrumental in facilitating an international agreement on a standard barcode region for land plants. They are advancing and exploring the applications of this tool for studies in ecology and evolutionary biology. V. Function and evolution of plant reproductive systems. Plants exhibit a bewildering array of breeding systems, reflected by variation in gender, floral form, mechanisms of pollen transfer, and pathways of fertilization and seed maturation. It provides them a useful focal point for studying the mechanisms of microevolution such as gene flow, genetic drift and selection. Their research currently focuses on two aspects of plant reproduction: the evolution of self-fertilization versus cross-fertilization (mating system). In both cases they are using comparative analyses, manipulative experiments and multi-generational selection studies to understand the evolution of these traits

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References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Career (2) Article (2) Canadian Scientist Career (1) Article (1)

1. Archaeologist. (n.d.). Career Cruising. Retrieved April 18, 2013, from https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/profile-at-a-glance/570 2. Gill, V. (2013, May 23). BBC News - Cockroaches lose their 'sweet tooth' to evade traps. BBC Homepage. Retrieved May 27, 2013, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment22611143 3. Husband, Brian. (n.d.). Department of Integrative Biology. Dr. Brian Husband. University of Guelph. Retrieved April 29, 2013, from http://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/people/faculty/husband.shtml 4. Paleontologist. (n.d.). Career Cruising. Retrieved April 18, 2013, from https://www2.careercruising.com/careers/profile-at-a-glance/601 5. Roberts, M. (2013, May 22). BBC News - Vitamin C kills drug-resistant TB in lab tests. BBC - Homepage. Retrieved May 27, 2013, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22614522

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