Biodiesel and Bioethanol

The race to find new sources of fuel had led to the development of biodiesel and bioethanol. They both use things like corn and other sources of biomass and are usually put in with the gas. It might not be such a bad idea to start looking at other sources of fuel since everyone is saying that our current fuel source is running out.

Mitochondrial Eve

Everyone knows the story about Adam and Eve and how really all humanity has come from this one man and woman. I really had no idea that there was a way that you could trace it to Eve through the mitochondria. When the genes are passed on from mother to child the mitochondrial DNA remains the same. This means that it could be traced back for ages and it could not change. This is how people today trace back their ancestors. It would be interesting to see how far back scientists could actually trace the DNA because you have to take into account mutations that could occur and probably have occurred in the DNA over so much time.

Burgess Shale

Everyone knows Darwin for his theory of evolution but I didnt know that this shale was a source of his dilemma. It was interesting to find out that he could not explain the "explosion" of all these new species that arose during the Cambrian. The fossil records show the fossils of the animals of this explosion but does not show evidence of animals that they evolved from...they just appeared. This was the source of his dilemma because Darwin couldn't explain it. It is an interesting dilemma not only to him but to people today because how do you explain it if you cant prove the evolution.

Amphioxus

I did not know about this fish before but it was interesting to know that scientists think it could unlock secrets to the evolution of vertebrates. I could how that could be true since it is a very old fish and maybe some of genes could help. They want to compare them to that of present vertebrates to see how we have evolved and changed our genes to adapt. It might be a clue or it might even help but you never know.

My favorite lake

Lake Baikal in Russia is one place I would love to see. I have heard of it and seen pictures and fell in love with its beauty. It is known as one of the clearest lakes in the world. I normally dont like lakes because they look dirty but this one does not even look like a lake.

Indian Mounds

The best part of the trip to the mounds was being able to go on the mounds and really see them up close. It was a great experience and we got to learn a little of the history of the mounds and the Native Americans that had built them. There were different mounds for different purposes which was interesting. We also did some identification of different plant life that was there.

Jackson Springs

The trip to the park was rather exciting. We got to walk around and see everything that the park had and got to take a look at some of the different rocks. It was a good trip and seeing the Ocmulgee River was not bad.