Golden Rice Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

'Golden Rice': Who Would Have Thought Something So Dry Could Raise So Much Controversy? Heated debate over the bioengineering of a type of rice that has come to be called 'golden rice' has been taking place in the past five years. Exploration of the possibilities that would follow the mapping of the rice genome began in response to the huge populations in developing countries that experience vitamin deficiencies; namely, vitamin A. When biotech company, Syngenta, announced that they had mapped the rice genome, a series of activist groups spoke out against a project that was, many argued, politically and financially motivated. This has been a topic of intense debate that I was surprised to find. Developing a kind of rice containing a vitamin that is lacking among large populations seems to be such a great idea. So why does so much controversy surround the project? There are many more disadvantages to the introduction of the new technology than one might anticipate. The following first explores the effects of vitamin a deficiency and then the arguments of the opposition a nd supporters' responses to it. Vitamin A is an organic compound that is needed in small amounts in the human body; however a deficiency in this micronutrient can lead to problems and illnesses (3). The vitamin is found naturally in many plant and animal foods in the forms of retinal in animals and carotene in plants (3). Retinal pigments that are very important for night vision are produced by Vitamin A; the vitamin is also important in maintaining the strength of epithelial tissues (5). Without proper amounts of Vitamin A, the outer lining of the eyeball becomes dry and wrinkled, leading to redness and inflammation and, which brings potential of blindness... ...ww.indiatogether.org/reports/goldenrice/science.htm 9)"An exercise on how not to do science.", Author of this article is adamant critic of 'golden rice.' http://www.indiatogether.org/reports/goldenrice/science2.htm 10)"Golden Rice and Vitamin A Deficiency.", This article addresses problems with Golden Rice http://www.foe.org/safefood/rice.html 11) "Golden Rice: blind ambition?" Friends of the Earth International. Link Magazine: Issue 93, April/June 2003. More arguments against Golden Rice 12)"Grains of delusion: Golden rice seen from the ground.", Assessment of pros and cons of Golden rice. http://www.grain.org/grain/error404.cfm?url=/publications.delusion-en-p.html 13)"Golden Rice and Beyond.", This article contains arguments supporting Golden Rice research and the importance of technology transfer. http://www.biotech-info.net/Grandbeyond.html

Life on Other planets. Essay -- essays research papers

One of the most common unanswered questions scientists find themselves asking is "Is there life on other planets?" Since the first famously documented UFO sighting in 1947, the idea of extra-terrestrial life has been debated almost non-stop. The subject has inspired many TV programs, such as The X-Files, and films (Mars Attacks, Independence Day, and the Men in Black films to name but a few). Scientists have come up with many new ideas and ways of trying to either prove or disprove the existence of life elsewhere. Mars is a very similar planet to earth in relation to size and atmosphere. Therefore it seemed like the most likely place to search for life. At the end of the 19th century, an American named Percival Lowell built himself an observatory so that it was possible for him to study Mars in intimate detail when its orbit was closest to Earth. At this time it had recently been suggested that the planet had a system of channels on the surface, present from the evaporation of flowing water. Looking through his telescope Lowell became convinced he could see a network of artificial canals. This led him to believe that there were intelligent beings on Mars who had built these canals. However, spacecraft have now visited Mars and found that there is no evidence of water at all. It is now thought that the lines he could see were the combination of Lowell's overactive imagination, and scratches on the lens of his telescope. We are now searching one of Jupiter's moons, Europa, as this seems to be th e next likely place to hold life. It is seen to be more likely, however, that we will find less intelligent life in one of two different ways: It may be possible for us to obtain material from another planet or moon or star from elsewhere in the Solar System. Spacecraft may be able to visit these bodies and, for example, use a robot to collect material for examination. This may be examined on site, or brought to Earth to be investigated in laboratory conditions. They could be tested for things such as evidence of fossilised organisms. Another, possibly slightly far-fetched hope is that we may find simple organisms like bacteria actually living on the desired planet. These ideas spanned from the discovery of rock on our planet that originated from Mars; knocked from the planet when a comet collided with it. In 1996 a group of scientists created conflict by ... ...them is so great that they are dragged to our planet. Another idea is that UFO's are not really from other planets at all, but created right here on Earth. Supposedly Germans, Americans and Soviets started the 'Projekt Saucer' in Germany towards the end of World War II. During the war Germans sent ships to the Antarctic with equipment and plans for a massive underground structure. It is said that at the end of the war scientists and engineers who had been working on Projekt Saucer in Germany ended up in this underground structure, where even more advanced saucers were created. In a manner of thinking this is by far the scariest theory should it be proved correct, for it brings up more questions than it gives answers. What would people on Earth want to create spaceships for? Why keep it such a secret if everything is harmless? Maybe, if this theory is proved correct, it is better not to know the answers. To conclude, there are no solid facts on the existence of extra-terrestrials. Whether or not they exist will, until definite proof is brought forward, be a topic of major debate. Personally I believe that there is something out there-although what it is I wouldn't hazard a guess.

Comparing and contrasting Bandura’s cognitive theory Essay

Introduction Perhaps there are as many differences as there are similarities between the ideas expressed in Bandura’s Cognitive Theory and Beck’s Cognitive Theory. Many similarities exist between the two theories because they are both based on the study of human behavior and personality. However, the ideas expressed and mechanisms used in analysis confer some discord between the two theories. It is evident that no two persons in the world would have exclusively similar thoughts about a phenomenon; hence, differences are always abound. Since studies in similar fields are usually related in a way, prevalence of similarities should not occur as a surprise. For example, the fact that behavior is affected by, among other things, the environment, is embraced in the detail of both theories. The two theorists are also of common opinion that negative thoughts are likely to trigger negative behavior and dysfunction in many activities. For example, Bandura’s theory highlights that people with high opinions about themselves are usually better performers in many activities than those who weigh themselves on a lower scale. In the same way, Beck’s theory is emphatic of the point that negative thoughts in people lead such people to have low opinion of themselves and evaluate themselves negatively. Bandura’s Cognitive Theory and Beck’s Cognitive Theory both view the environment as a determinant of personality and behavior. While Bandura (1976) used â€Å"environmental factors† in his triad, Beck (1976) showed that the â€Å"world† (in reference to the environment) is one of the factors that shape a person’s behavior, attitudes and perceptions about various phenomena. Both theorists agree that the environment acts together with other factors to shape a person’s character and behavior. For instance, Bandura (1986) observed that aggressive behavior in adolescents is caused by the environment, but the behavior as well creates an environment. Bandura referred to such a relationship as reciprocal determinism. On the other hand, Beck (1976) noted that the world shapes a persons character since a person acts in accordance with what is happening in the general world. Disparities in Bandura’s and Beck’s theories are evident right from the beginning of the model. While there is a similarity of the use of a triad, the constituents of the triads are the source of dissonance. This is in addition to many other instances in the illustration of the applications of the two models. This paper gives an analysis of the similarities and differences in the two theories and the implications or causes of such scenario. Moreover, the paper will highlight the key areas where similarities as well as differences occur between the two theories.

Economic History and Evolution of Health Care Economics

Health care has been changed dramatically during the years from back in 1960 to today. The economics crises have taken over majority of its courses for these changes. What is economic history and health care funding? Economic history is the way people dealt with supply and demand, cost of production of a product, the levels of income and distribution of wealth, the structure of overseas trade, and the volume and direction of investment, (Adelman, 1985). In today’s society health care and medicine has become one of the life savers for patients with health care issues.More and more new technologies, research, development of new procedures and medications have taken over a major change in health care industry while comparing to back in 1940’s when there was less facilities, doctors, technologies, and medicines available for treatment of major and chronic diseases. Health Care funding is defined as a method for patients to pay for their medical costs. During the early years of 1940’s, there were no Medical or Medicaid , HMO or PPO plans available and neither was there any governmentfunding available for low and no income families as it is today. In today’s society the Obama health care reform is helping millions paying for their health care expenses by providing Medical, Medicaid and or discounted health insurance plans from various companies with no or low income families. Millions are benefitting from this program today in comparison from the early 1940’s century. Today the debate continues between the poor and rich as to how and if the new health care reform program is beneficial for the economy and how it will affect the nation.The timeline below describes and shows how the government was involved in the health care funding and economy back from the early 1940’s till it is today. Health Care Funding Timeline 1935-At this time during the great depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had signed another act into law, a nd that was the Social Security Act. 1940’s For the second time, war put an end to any possibility for achievement of national health insurance. In 1943, there was a ruling from the The War Labor Board that certain work benefits, including health insurance coverage, should be excluded from wage and price controls.1946-In 1946 President Truman signs the Hospital Survey and Construction Act. This act would give states the access needed to federal grants for the maintenance and construction of public health centers. This act also provides care to all patients regardless of the race, nationality and religion. 1960’s The Kerr-Mills Act provided states with federal grants pay for health care for the elderly poor. He only had the support from 28 states who signed on for this act. John Kennedy proposed legislation in 1962 for hospital care for seniors under Social Security. However the opposing democrats blocked his proposal.During the election in 1964, Medicare was made a pri ority in the health care reform in USA. 1970’s By 1970, the health care costs had grown rapidly and therefore the number of uninsured patients among the elderly had grown which grew a major concern for the government and the health care reform. The country had started to face major health care crises. Sen. Ted Kennedy held hearings around the country and issued a report, â€Å"The Health Care Crisis in America,† generating support for his bill, the ‘Health Security Act,’ a universal single payer plan with a national health budget, no consumer cost-sharing, financed through payroll taxes.President Nixon proposed for an employer mandate which required employers to provide health care coverage to employees or to pay tax for the unemployment. 1980’s During the 1970’s the economic inequalities increased and decline in income. President Carter submitted cost control legislation which again didn’t pass. With the election of Ronald Reagan, a b ill for the expansion of Medicare Catastrophic coverage was signed and Congress passed an expansion of Medicaid. 1990’s By 1990, a major healthcare crises hits United States.Almost about 38 million people were without health insurance due to the recession that hit United States in 1990. It left people with no option to decline health care coverage. Private Insurance programs were at high pace , rates were increased by 90% and wages were at 28% between 1987 and year 1993. Wide range of proposals was put in for consideration for the better. The Clinton campaign was put into consideration. As president, Clinton appointed a task force to develop the concept into legislation, the Health Security Act (HSA).This act would have created universal coverage for the employer and the individual mandates. Due to the budget, the democrats did not approve of it. This bill never made it out of the committee. 2000’s President Bush signs Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement Act into la w in 2003. President Obama and the congress discussed the health care plans and spend over a year in doing research and planning for new plans to find solutions that would require businesses to cover for health care coverage for their employees.2010 -Today An adequate summary of the background and components of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act signed into law March 3, 2010 by President Obama is beyond the scope of this space. It will be discussed in detail at a presentation Dec. 4th. This act was signed on March 23, 2010. January 1, 2014 Obama Health Care Reform takes into effect. In conclusion, as you can see health care issue has been ongoing for decades and has not been solved in United States as of today. We are still debating the costs, benefits and economical effects on health care for our people.While comparison from the 1940’s life was much simpler and less stressful for people and less issues while in today’s society there is more paperwork, more law s and requirements involved before a patient can be seen at a local clinic or hospital. Back in the days it was easier for patients to get treatment in a clinic or hospital while today a patient can easily be seen if he or she has some kind of medical or health insurance coverage. There is still hope that someday our nation will become better for our people in providing a better health care coverage and service to all.

Life’s Greatest Miracle Essay

â€Å"Life’s Greatest Miracle†_ details the reproductive process from start to finish. It starts by discussing the crucial role DNA plays when it comes to reproduction, its so important due to DNA holding the chromosomes that give each human unique physical traits. From there they begin discussing the process of meiosis, the process of male sperm and female eggs. They describe sperm being more about quantity, whereas the female egg is all about quality. When the male sperm and a female egg meet, they create a union of chromosomes, taking unique traits from both the male and female, creating an individual that has unique traits. The documentary also makes use of microimagery, which gives the viewer very detailed and real time photos of the process that is a new human life and what it looks like during the developmental phases. From this point, they begin discuss the journey sperm takes upon sexual intercourse and the difficult nature of fertilization. It is amazing to think, that at the very beginning of ones conception you are a single cell. A single tiny cell that nature and nurture takes over and the same tiny cells grow to be strong and powerful enough to produce bones, vital organs and a brain over the course of only nine months. Throughout these entire discussions and processes, the documentary does not overwhelm you with scientific jargon and due to the nature of the subject; it was not as  uncomfortable as one might then when watching. It also helped that during the  entire documentary of the films and going through the scientific side of reproduction that they had a real time couple discussing their experience of pregnancy from start to finish. This made the material much easier to understand. These real life examples gave the documentary another dimension. This was actually my third time watching this documentary, after watching it once in High School and again in a previous college class. Their wasn’t exactly a shock factor or the material didn’t overwhelm me, which is seems to do to many people when they first watch it. After watching it though, it provokes your thoughts about the concept of life and the wonders of how in nine short months; two people can create a new life. Overall the material of reproduction, I agree with. I mean what is there to disagree with exactly? Reproduction is a scientific process like it or not. Yes, there are some unknowns and minor details that we might never find out. Unless you have some of your own beliefs about reproduction and life I just don’t see or understand how somebody could disagree and argue with the science and knowledge we have established in the process of reproduction. Also the video does increase the viewers’ knowledge of our beginnings. Many people know the concept of reproduction, and man has sexual intercourse with a women and if she is fertile, a baby can be conceived, whoever the documentary breaks down the science behind reproduction in detail, but like a stated previously they do an excellent job of not overwhelming the viewer with scientific jargon and the real-life couple they have speaking about their own pregnancy from beginning to birth makes it much easier to understand. Yes, I would recommend this video to another group of students. It was an excellent documentary on the process of reproduction and development. I would recommend this to be watched by future diversity classes and defiantly any type of sexuality class. The material is very informative, and something that any mature class can watch and understand without any issues.

The huge salaries of some top athletes from an economic perspective Essay

The huge salaries of some top athletes from an economic perspective - Essay Example The paper tells that in the opinions of many researchers and media personalities, the salaries of athletes are too high. However, judging from a series of empirical studies and economic theory arguments, the opposite of this notion is true. Few players earn extremely high wages, most likely due to the innate characteristics of the sport labour markets both on the production and on demand sides. Through the introduction of broadcasting channels in the second half of the 20th century, the salaries of players have substantially grown, as people have exhibited exceeding interest in the need to watch sports as a preferable entertainment mode. Looking into the wages of the highest earning players, boxing produced the top two earners. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao top the list with the latter earning $160million, $140 less than that earned by the former. Soccer had the third and four largest earners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who pocket $79.6million and $73.8million respectiv ely. Roger Federer and Lebron James become the highest paid tennis and basketball players, earning $67 million and $64.8million respectively. The demand for labour in the sport market is a derived demand, which depends on the final product’s demand produced by the labour. The rigid supply of sport stars explains why the wages of professional sport stars is relatively high. The quality of demand and production of professional sport stars is not dependent on the increasing or decreasing numbers of consumers, though the market has a structure that can prevent practices such as free riding.

Business ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business ethics - Research Paper Example The module takes ideas from all range of disciplines which include some of the greatest time while thinking how and understand, analyze all the ethical dilemmas in management. Business ethics Practical problems of the moral conduct in the business field, it emphasizes on the philosophy of the foundation of ethical conduct and other practical problems encountered daily. Much of the practical problems centers on the actual problem. Ethics is the study of what is admirable and right for human, business ethics refers to the aspect of human value. Business people speak about business ethics means, avoid breaking the law, in the relate work place, avoiding which may result in civil law against the company and avoid action which portray an unfavorable image about the company. All business are concerned with the three basic things, if not taken keenly the business can result to large loss and company reputation. A business theory addresses various sectors by assigning corporate attorneys and public relation to escort the employees on t heir dairy activities. Anytime an employee might stay a narrow and straight path for an acceptable conduct. Obviously, the solution would be a financial disaster is carried out in practice since it cost the company more. However, it is not the philosophers can teach the ethical issues, even if they can teach the advice will not be financially efficient. Morally responsible, pay attention to the product safety, truthful advertising and environmental impacts with excellent working conditions, we can never solve the tension between the ethical interests. Business people argue that the symbolic relation between business and ethics in which ethics naturally emerge from a profit oriented business. They are both strong and weak version of this approach; it expressed in dictum moral ethics result to a good business. It may be the best financial interest in respect of the company privacy policy. Moral business, practice usually has an economic ad vantage in the long run. It provides little incentive for business which is designed to simply as a matter of survival. More business practices are not economically viable even in the long run. Second approach to business ethic is the moral obligation in business which is restricted to what the law requires. Universal aspects of western morality have been put into a legal system such as, law against stealing, killing, fraud, harassment, validity and society wavers about its acceptance. Issue under consideration such as determining the counts is responsible in marketing in privacy in the work place. Moral requirements in the society become evident when considering societies that have strong external source morality, broad range of the requirements prohibits against sleeping partners that collect unearned money. Business ethics have limitation ethic is complex and history is filled with different theories, which systematically refuted by rival theories. We expect to find controversies when applying ethics in practices of the business. However, they bring closer to an acceptable moral behavior, close attention to ones profit motive and moral interest of consumers, in addition, the above business ethics help to examine stories of business that have a moral responsibility. Such often reveal blatantly crude,