A Million Years Questions

Questions

1. How many generations did it take for you to finally win a game? Why do you think it took this long? What do you think this means/suggests for most real species on Earth in terms of their species's chances of long-term survival?
1. The first time I played I actually won.
2. It didn’t take me long at all.
3. Even though I won the first time I think that it’s really hard for species to survive for a long time.
2. Which initial phenotypes/phenotype combinations did you select and why?Which starting/initial combinations seemed to allow you to continue/survive the longest (win the most games)? Why do you think this was so?
1. I originally chose the long neck, long legs, and one with short legs and neck.
2. The long neck and long leg one, I think because the long neck allowed them to reach food that was up high, and the long legs let them run away much faster from a predator.
3. Do you think this population of theoretical creatures would be greatly affected by genetic drift? What evidence of drift did you see as you played the game (simulation)?
1. Yes, I think it they would be greatly affected because some of the traits help them survive and if the traits disappeared the animals could die faster and in an easier way.
2. The animals combined the genes I chose and sometimes it was the wrong combination so they all died.
4. Which alleles/phenotypes seemed to be dominant and which seemed to be recessive? How could you tell?
1. The long neck seemed to be more dominant and the short legs seemed to be more recessive.
2. I could tell because a lot of the animals had long necks and not many of the animals had long legs.
5. Match the environments/situations/conditions below with their corresponding adaptations:

(a) cold conditions- For cold conditions my animals would have thicker fur and be fatter.; (b) hot conditions- For hot conditions my animals would have shorter fur and be skinnier.; (c) new large predator on the scene- For a predator situation my animals would have longer legs.; (d) new tall food source- For a tall food source my animals would have longer necks.

6. How would you improve this simulation to more realistically represent natural selection and biological evolution? Discuss at least three improvements.
1. I would improve it by having people not change the environment so the animals wouldn’t have a hard time adapting.
2. Also maybe bring the animals into a better habitat.
3. Also not have people go into an environment and kill animals.

GATTACA Essay

“This child is still you, simply the best of you. You could conceive naturally a thousand times and never get such a result.” - Genetic Counselor. This quote is relevant to the movie GATTACA because it’s saying how they can make better more healthier versions of people. When Vincent was born they tested his blood and it said all the things wrong with him, and also the age he would die. Since he was conceived naturally he had a higher chance of illnesses, which he did have. Making a better version his parents created his brother, Anton, they chose the way he looked and he also had more of a chance to live longer. Since they conceived Vincent naturally he would never be as good as the modified versions of people they created.

A recurring symbolism is; genes as a persons race. This is saying that people are judged based on their genes. For example; Vincent is automatically thought of as weak and sick because he was conceived naturally. Anton, Vincent’s brother, isn’t thought of as weak or sick because he is modified. This is recurring in the movie GATTACA because Vincent always tries to get into GATTACA but he can’t because he isn’t modified. While Anton and other modified people can get into GATTACA easily because they are thought of as stronger. They also put naturally conceived people in lower jobs, like being a janitor, but for modified people they can be astronauts.

A theme is; perfection versus happiness. In the movie GATTACA the parents in the future world want their kids to be athletic and look perfect. This avoids all happiness, in my opinion, because the kids don’t get to choose what they want. The world isn’t as fun and exciting if everyone has the same amount of athleticism or perfectness. Since they are all the same I think the world is boring and not fun or exciting. They are expected to the same thing everybody else would do and can’t do what they want. For example, in the movie everybody that is modified has the same job working at Gattaca. All the naturally conceived people work as janitors because they are expected to work that spot. When Vincent tries to get into Gattaca he can’t because he’s not modified.

A Matter of Selection

             Each plants have many different traits to make them look like the way they do. A lot of people use selective breeding to get the plant they want to grow and or eat. Artificial selection also helps us make the perfect plant, for example, broccoli comes from a flowering head of a cabbage. That wasn't artificial selection, it was natural variation. Scientists combine plant genes to create different kind of plants, some plants can have natural differences. Also, many plants do descent with modification, they pass down their traits to their offspring. Plants also have mutations, they can have a defect in their genes and become a different color, have a different size, and be a different texture.

GAATACA Essay #2

In the film GAATACA a person could have a potential romantic partner sequenced. This could be good in some ways but could also be harmful. Knowing everything about someone’s genes could sway a persons decision in choosing their partner. Someone may chose to not start a relationship because you don’t think the person is good enough or will amount to much. Or one may chose to start a relationship with another person because they like that persons genes and feels they would be successful. Knowing someone’s genes could be good because it tells you what their personality traits and tendencies more or less will be like and whether or not the are good tendencies.

Having someone sequenced before deciding to start a romantic relationship with them could be good because then you know their background. A person now knows what the other person is capable of physically and mentally. Maybe you meet someone and they seem nice but then you have them sequenced and you learn if they were susceptible to illness or defects that could be passed on to children or even mental illnesses. It allows you to see any genetic defects that could be passed down to children. You are also now able to see the good gens they have.

Having a potential partner sequenced so that all their flaws are now visible may not be a good thing. This could lead to people choosing someone to marry because of their genes and wealth and not the love they have for each other. You could find someone that is nice but then see their results and decide otherwise because they don't have something or have something you want. It could also be bad because now all their genetic flaws a available for you to view. This could lead to people focusing too much on the genetic flaws and not on the personality of the person.

I don’t think I would like to have someone’s sequence known to me because I think knowing would make it hard to decide if i want to start a relationship. I would see all I dislike about the person genetically and all I like, but I also have to take into account their personality. Having a potential romantic partner sequenced and knowing every genetic thing about them  is neither good nor bad.