Artificial Selection: Makeup causes Madcow?

According to my handy dandy Biology textbook: Artificial selection is the intentional choosing of individuals of a species for the purpose of reproduction. Choices are based on the presence or absence of certain traits with the result that the desired characteristics will appear in subsequent generations. It is the intentional breeding for certain traits, or combination of traits.So this term was coined by the Charles Darwin to contrast this form of selection to Natural Selection. The difference between the two is that in artificial selections: humans favour specific traits also in natural selection humans have no control over choosing the specific traits.

Farm animals are a great example of Artificial Selection because they are individually scored to fit the criteria in which the breeder wants to produce a large amount of meat or produce. Animal breeders can highly change the characteristics of these domestic animals. They do this by selecting good candidates who are capable of meeting the desirable qualities expected by the owner. If these desirable characteristics grow over the years among the chosen plant or animal the breeding increases and continues the evolution process. I believe that this Artificial Selection will cause a great decline in other animals and plants because of the higher rate in the main focused plants and animals. Once these organisms are neglected, there will be a dramatic increase in the extinction of this Organism. But in the downfall we all know all of the outbreaks: MadCow, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Samonella ,the diseases were once transmitted from these organisms to humans. Breeding a specific kind of animal may lead to a hazardous ending.

For my examples I’m going for a different approach

MAKEUP: A WOMAN'S ADDICTION OTHER THAN CHOCOLATE

A day ago, I came across a youtube makeup guru, MichellePhan. Personally I think she is one of the most amazing makeup artists I’ve seen in a long time. So we see that in her videos she offers tutorials on how to achieve a desirable look. Most people would think that it is really a dumb idea considering that everybody looks different. This is why I’ll be applying artificial selection to make-up.
Make up is considered to be a great invention to humankind and also not. Although it has always been debated on natural and artificial beauty we all know that makeup is temporary. The main reasons for women wearing makeup is to end up with their desired look. Make up is designed to evolve a humans features in so many ways ending up with a desirable outcome. Just like the following picture:

Just like how animals transmitting illnesses to humankind, Makeup is also considered to destroy the youth of one’s natural face. So we see a very close relation between contrasting two different concepts of Artificial Selection.But hey, people are getting smarter and smarter, they don’t need makeup anymore we have PHOTOSHOP. No pain, no gain that’s what they’d say.So in the end, Artificial Selection is a benefit for marketing and for personal interest but is also a hazard to society and applies to many hobbies like a makeup.

References:

Artificial Selection - http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/2467173920_69cb0d4305.jpg

Make up - http://www.enviroblog.org/makeup.jpg

Mad Cow - http://www.b12partners.net/mt/images/matson_mad_cow.gif

Makeup Makeovers - http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/20_2007/MakeupMakeover.jpg

Designer babies, mere pixels coming to life?

A person cannot approach the divine by reaching beyond the human. To become human, is what this individual person, has been created for. - Martin Buber

The world is growing vastly, not only the world and culture itself but technology and science. Scientists and researchers have gathered ways to enhance our appearances and not only ourselves but the second generation. People have become so obsessed with appearances and looks and haven't looked beyond the beauty of reality. Babies are like kinder surprise chocolates with the random prize inside it. In reality, humans are all made of the same genetic material. This is a key factor that doesn't differentiate us from appearances because after all, were only human. Science is taking over the twenty first century not only for entertainment, leisure, and work reasons but also taken a part within humans. This is a huge improvement and a great discovery of our scientific world. But, this discovery would be modifying our future with a great force, which would allow us to select our children genes with our likings.



This is a shocking process; in my interpretation, you get to choose what the appearance of your baby will look like. You could even make them look like Brad Pitt and yet they'll still be your child. I'm completely petrified from this concept of choosing your own child. It's like going to the grocery store to buy ingredients from a variety of ingredients and only a few selected will be the major key ingredients for having a great outcome of a cake. I'll find it scary in the future to see children with Pink Eyes and Green Hair.
An exception of this research is if someone would like to gain the title of "Octo-mom" from Nadya Suleman, be my guest! But I highly won't recommend for anyone to do that because that that was way too many babies.

Researchers have gone "over board" with trying to modify the characteristics of childrens genes. People are taking advantage of this process of altering the genetics of a human being. The researchers should only use this important process when there is a problem with a baby and if the baby will be affected with an illness which would ruin their growth, before they are born.

This so called research could also cause many diseases because it could become an "expiriment gone bad". So if the baby was to become a "super baby" that is immune to other diseases" it may cause a new disease. In this case, it would be worse because Designer Babies would now be a new "species" or a new "type" of human being but in a more modified form which is going to attract a new illness which would be the new H1N1 Pandemic.


We, as humans need to appreciate and thank God for the beauty of mother nature. And for letting us share physical characteristics of our family. So, therefore we need to accept what the appearance of the baby looks like and so that in the future they won't be questioned by other people because of their different appearance in comparison of their parent. Parents should also note that babies are NOT LIKE BAKING A CAKE! They are fragile little angels THAT ARE LIKE Kinder Surprise Chocolates that have that surprise in the middle. So parents need to wait and see, that is the beauty of parenthood.


Pictures:
http://www.goldprodukt.de/wearables/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/designer-babies.jpg
http://www.australasianbioethics.org/Images/cloning-8.JPG
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10-HXG2tZQa__RZdGQx-1rMF_HWdKr6f0jEULfCB8cvn0yMb8trPJMIrT6alXg5o9-aAr8DC1mZzVKSt-nUVhN_9Di69J1HV6-q_DiGSsboTWVbsUaly6HYG1ndXUV-_aNNag_tFRXm8/s400/Baby+and+Me+5.jpg

WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO!?!?

Our world is in peril. Gaia, the spirit of the Earth, can no longer stand the terrible destruction plaguing our planet. She gives five special rings to five special young people. From Africa, Kwame with the power of earth. From the North America, Wheeler with the power of fire. From the Soviet Union, Linka with the power of wind. From Asia, Gi with the power of water and from South America, Ma-Ti with the power of heart. With the five powers combined they summon earth's greatest champion.
– CAPTAIN PLANET


If only we had a hero like Captain Planet… he would know what to do. If only we could maintain the elements of Fire, Wind, Water, Earth and Heart. Let’s break this down, in order to take care of the earth we need to tackle these elements and combine them. Without these elements there is no living. But hey when will humans start to realize that our planet is in grave danger???? Too bad Captain planet is a fictional character.



Isn’t it that mankind created all of these disasters? Like the dangers of fossil fuels, green house gases, climate change?
I see people throw their garbage on the ground rather than throwing it in the trash. The fossil fuels which is then turned into oil, coal and gases pollute the same air that we breathe. Can’t human create another alternative to fuelling transportation at a lesser cost? Gas prices rising a cent a day. Oh the humanity! All of our actions contribute to weather and the air we breathe. Throwing chemicals or into a river can also extinct a whole species of aquatic creatures. We are cutting down creatures habitats and taking up land to make cities. Man made inventions is ruining the earth. Poachers are hunting down poor innocent animals.

This not only affects ourselves but all living organisms. Such as: Animals, plants, and insects. New diseases are coming out every day. Organisms are being noted as extinct and or rare creatures. Like for example the panda has lost their ecosystems and there is now only about 30% of Sichuan’s forests have been lost. Half the natural forest vegetation has been destroyed making the areas not suitable for the pandas habitat. Soon leading the pandas to death from starvation. Look at the many earth’s natural disasters. Floods, Earth quakes, tornadoes. Not only are they natural disasters but they were caused for a reason.

These factors are caused most likely by how we treat our environment. Climate change, green house gases, air pollution are some of the many factors that cause our planet to be in grave danger. Humans have done many things to try and make a positive affect on the biodiversity of our ecosystems by inventing more things to prevent a negative impact on our ecosystems. Just like how we are soon to drive hybrids, but can everyone afford this luxury.


People are still going to drive their gas fueled cars until there won’t be any more supply of Fossil Fuels in our world. For it takes millions of years for fossil fuels to form. But humans ended up inventing more ways to negatively affect the biodiversity of our ecosystems, ruining their habitats, hunting, pollution, green house gases. We should start living in a much more simpler life because if the balance of nature is off, all of humanity will be wiped out along with it. Humans should start taking action and not take nature for granted because without our world’s resources and preserving them, humans will NOT survive.

OH If only we had a hero like CAPTAIN PLANET!

Pictures:

http://media.comicmix.com/media/2009/02/25/captain-planet.jpg - Captain Planet

http://www.chesterzoo.org/WhatWeDo/Field%20Programmes/~/media/CONSERVATION/FIELD%20PROGRAMMES/CHINA/China%20Programme.ashx - Panda

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3614447701_60d6cea228.jpg - Panda in Sichuan Forest

http://blog.autoworld.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/women-in-electric-car.jpg - electric car

http://a.images.blip.tv/Linkara-AT4WCaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers3534-51.jpg - Captain Planet