Disproving Spontaneous Generation essays

Disproving Spontaneous Generation essays It was a commonly held belief in Ancient Rome, during the Middle Ages, and even until the late nineteenth century that spontaneous generation, or the sudden generation of complex life from nonliving matter, existed. (Evers, 1999) Scientists began to question this theory as early as the second half of the seventeenth century, but it was not until almost 200 years later that Louis Pasteur definitively disproved spontaneous generation and changed the course of scientific thought. While it is still debated whether any forms of Abiogenesis, or the generation of even simple or microscopic life from nonliving matter, could be possible (Wilkins, 2004), it is certain that spontaneous generation involving complex life The first recorded Westerner to suggest spontaneous generation was Anaximander, a philosopher from the BC 600's and 500's. His pupil, Anaximenes, wrote that air imparted life, motion, and thought. Xenophanes and Parmenides thought that plants and animals would spontaneously form under sunlight. Empedocles wrote in the BC 400's that spontaneous generation is possible if there are the correct combinations of parts of animals to rise. (Wilkins, 2004) Aristotle, in the times of Ancient Greece, believed that life was the result of the ether, a substance which existed only in the heavens, combining with the pneuma, or the animating force or soul, and that if the pneuma was present, it would be possible for life to come from nonliving material. (Wilkins, 2004) In 1668, Francesco Redi, a physician and poet, attacked the idea of spontaneous generation. In his famous experiment, he set out meat in a variety of flasks, some of which were completely open, others covered with a gauze or mesh material, and others were sealed off completely. When maggots appears only on the meat which was exposed to the air, and therefore to flies, his theory that maggots came fro...

Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr. Biography

Astronaut Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr. Biography Its no surprise that there are doctors who have served as NASA astronauts. They are well-trained and particularly suited to study the effects of space flight on human bodies. Thats exactly the case with Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., who served as an astronaut aboard several shuttle missions beginning in 1991, after serving the agency as a flight surgeon and clinical scientist. He left NASA in 1996 and is a professor of medicine and is CEO and Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, which invests in healthcare technologies and related companies. His is a very classic American story of aiming high and reaching amazing goals both on Earth and in space. Dr. Harris has often spoken about challenges that we all face in life and meeting them through determination and empowerment.   Early Life Dr. Harris was born on June 26, 1956, the son of Mrs. Gussie H. Burgess, and Mr. Bernard A. Harris, Sr. A native of Temple, Texas, he graduated from Sam Houston High School, San Antonio, in 1974. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1978 before following that up with a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. Beginning a Career at NASA After medical school, Dr. Harris completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1985. He joined the NASA Ames Research Center in 1986, and focused his work on the field of musculoskeletal physiology and disuse osteoporosis. He then trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks AFB, San Antonio, Texas, in 1988. His duties included clinical investigations of space adaptation and the development of countermeasures for extended duration space flight. Assigned to the Medical Science Division, he held the title of Project Manager, Exercise Countermeasure Project. These experiences gave him unique qualifications to work at NASA, where ongoing studies of the effects of spaceflight on the human body continue to be an important focus. Dr. Harris became an astronaut in July 1991. He was assigned as a mission specialist on STS-55, Spacelab D-2, in August 1991, and later flew on board Columbia for ten days. He was part of the payload crew of Spacelab D-2, conducting more research in the physical and life sciences. During this flight, he logged over 239 hours and 4,164,183 miles in space. Later, Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr. was the Payload Commander on STS-63 (February 2-11, 1995), the first flight of a new joint Russian-American space program. Mission highlights included the rendezvous with the Russian Space Station, Mir, operation of a variety of investigations in the Spacehab module, and the deployment and retrieval of Spartan 204, an orbiting instrument that studied galactic dust clouds (such as those where stars are born).  During the flight, Dr. Harris became the first African-American to walk in space. He logged 198 hours, 29 minutes in space, completed 129 orbits, and traveled over 2.9 million miles. In 1996, Dr. Harris departed NASA and received a masters degree in biomedical science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He later served as Chief Scientist and Vice-president of Science and Health Services, and then as Vice President, SPACEHAB, Inc. (now known as Astrotech), where he was involved in business development and marketing of the companys space-based products and services. Later, he was vice-president of business development for Space Media, Inc., establishing an international space education program for students. He is currently serving on the board of the National Math and Science Initiative and has served as a consultant to NASA on a variety of life-science and safety-related issues. Dr. Harris is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Aerospace Medical Association, National Medical Association, American Medical Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, Harris County Medical Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Texas Tech University Alumni Association, and Mayo Clinic Alumni Association. Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association. Association of Space Explorers. American Astronautical Society, a member of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Houston. Committee Member, Greater Houston Area Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and a member, Board of Directors, Manned Space Flight Education Foundation Inc. He has also received many honors from science and medical societies and remains active in research and business.

Marketing & Entrepreneuriship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Marketing & Entrepreneuriship - Essay Example In order to critically evaluate the factors which determine entrepreneurial success, it is imperative to begin by explaining the meaning of entrepreneurship in order to gain a clear understanding of the whole concept. Entrepreneurship is loosely defined as the emergence and growth of new businesses. Timmons believes that entrepreneurship is the process of creating or seizing an opportunity and pursuing it regardless of the resources currently controlled. Small to medium businesses are the dominant forms of business developed by entrepreneurs in the economy and is going to be discussed below, the success of this kind of business can be attributed to many factors. For instance, venturing into a mobile business which offers fast foods is a good example of entrepreneurship given that an entrepreneur can capitalize on the opportunity of satisfying the needs of the customers who do not wish to visit restaurants. However, it is not an easy feat to successfully operate in this venture withou t taking into consideration some of the following factors. Creativity and innovation are the major factors that can lead to the success of small business. Creativity can involve the adjustment or refinement of existing procedures or products, the identification of opportunities and the identification of solutions to problems. Basically, creativity involves new ideas and every person who establishes an enterprise, adds value and strives to ensure that the enterprise continues to exist and this person is involved in economic creation.

Constitutional law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Constitutional law - Essay Example It does not establish nor constitute the system of government. It does not involve constituent power. Its form of law is not superior to other laws; and it is not entrenched. All these characteristics are an integral part of a written constitution. One of the major differences of the British constitution from that of other countries is that it is not composed, written or set out in any single document like for example, that of the United States of America. Rather, it is made up of statute law, common law and conventions. Thomas Payne stated that the United Kingdom does not have a constitution. Against this background one can agree with Payne in saying that the United Kingdom does not have a constitution because there is no official written document. Since the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution there are several elements that are lacking which would give the people more autonomy. Amendments cannot be made to a constitution if there are no written documents to refer to. Even if amendments are attempted at times these are not seen as having far reaching effects because they are not legally binding. The United Kingdom is not seen as having a constitution because having a constitution hinges on the rights of the people. One of the earliest documents to form a central element of the constitution, the Magna Carta, was drawn up by the rich landowners so the rights of the common man were not provided for. It would therefore seem more difficult for the common man to clarify his rights and protect himself against the state. The Justice Secretary Jack Straw in a visit to Washington of February 2008 commented well on the British Constitution when he said that, "Most people might struggle to put their finger on where their rights are." It is difficult sometimes to know what the constitution really say because of the many

Psalm Essay -- Bible, God

Today’s culture is one where people like to do as little work as possible. Even when it comes to reading our own scripture, The Holy Words of God, a lot of people like to look up one verse and reference it to something without knowing what the rest of the passage says. Psalms 109 is no exception, it is one the more widely misused passages as of late. A popular verse from Psalms 109 is verse 8 which reads â€Å"Let his days be few; and let another take his office†, this is seen in reference to our current president, but what people fail to realize is what else David is actually praying. This paper is going to go through Psalms 109 and unpack it verse by verse to show the true meaning of what David was praying and to give us a new look at how to pray. Psalm 109 begins with a superscription that we have seen several times before, â€Å"A Psalm of David† (Bible 873). David is believed to be the author of this Psalm. Psalms 109 though is not a usual Psalm by David; this particular Psalm is classified as an Imprecatory Psalm or a Cursing Psalm. The idea of Imprecatory Psalms is very unsettling for people and the church. This though goes with a misunderstanding of what is involved in actually making an imprecatory prayer. In the introductory section, consisting of verses 1-5, David makes two claims: â€Å"(1) his innocence and (2) the sins of his enemies† (Spurgeon 28). When you read a Psalm by David, God is usually the subject of Praise and thanksgiving, but that is not the case here, God is instead the one who is being petitioned to do something. The plea that David makes for God to not remain silent in verse 1b is a cry for help. The basis for David’s petition is then given in verses 2-5: 2: For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth o... ...scue of David will result in praise by David. In verses 30 and 31 we see David’s vow of praise. David says that he will praise God for His deliverance in the midst of the all of his trials and enemies (Bible v. 30, 874). The basis for this praise is David’s experience of seeing God stand at his right hand to defend him. David knows that the accusers will finally be silenced when God reveals Himself as his helper and defender. In conclusion, in order to have a proper and healthy relationship with God, one will need to occasionally pray an imprecatory pray. To pray a prayer of imprecation is not wrong, you just need to be sure that your heart is right with God. Finally one must be sure to always leave it in God’s hands and to never take revenge yourself. God wants us to take everything to him good and bad, we are his children and he will take care of us.

Retreat Reflection

Last March 4-5, 2011, I had my retreat at the Capuchin Retreat Center at Lipa, Batangas. I treated it as a mini or short vacation from my busy and stressful everyday school life. Well, that was my initial take on my retreat day until I finally came to the realizations the recollection had offered me during my time there. It wasn’t just a vacation. It was a time for me to be able to take a break from my usual life and take a step back to take a look at where I am at the moment and where I want to be in the future. As I am about to finish my college degree with hopefully two terms left, I needed that time to know what God intends for me to do as I begin a new chapter in my life – professional/work life. The retreat was an eye-opener for me. I got to know myself better through the questions asked by the facilitator. Each of which had different intentions. An example would be the question â€Å"What is my passion?†. This made me think of what I would love to do or what I am interested in, disregarding the degree I am taking and what it is about. Honestly, I am not happy with where I am right now and knowing my passion could help me find another path that I could take because doing what I love to do could or might be the best thing. Another question asked was â€Å"What is my biggest or most important question in my life as of the moment?† My answer to it was â€Å"Why is there a need for suffering?† My reason for which was â€Å"I’m just curious to know why because why do we need to suffer if we can all just be happy instead†. I don’t know but my question sounds clichà ©. Maybe we are to suffer for us to remember that God is always there for us. We can always find refuge, security and rest in Him. The retreat also reminded me that in everything that I do, do it for the greater glory of the Lord. There are times when it is hard for me to be productive with God in my mind cause I get caught up with mundane things. The solution I was presented during the two days that I’ve spent in Batangas was to be in love with Christ. If I put God in the center of my life then the things that I’d do would come natural. It’s not forced. I do not need to over analyze the situations I am in because I will have direction. I believe that our paths are shown to us and He unfolds His plans to us when we decide to spend some time with Him.

Cumbia Music and Gender Roles - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1093 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/04/16 Category Sociology Essay Level High school Tags: Gender Roles Essay Did you like this example? Colombia is a beautiful country, that is the home to forty-seven million people. The flag is made of three colors yellow, blue and red. The countrys capital is Bogota and the language is Spanish. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Cumbia Music and Gender Roles" essay for you Create order Colombia was named after Christopher Columbus, as part of the New Granada colony. Colombia is a country that is located in the top part of South America. The land is made up of mostly forests, the Andes mountains, and many coffee plantations. Colombia is known for their coffee as well as being the place where the music and dance style, Cumbia, was created. While doing the research I found that cumbia music and dance styles are more male based. Before I can start to explain the role, cumbia has in Colombia, I first need to discuss the history of the Colombia. According to Delia Zapata in her Introduction to the Folk Dances of Colombia Indian, African slaves and Spaniards were the three major influences that helped develop Colombian culture (Zapata 1967, 91). The Spanish conquerors brought some of their own dances such as contradanza. The Indians and the African slaves adopted some of the dances that the Spaniards brought but each group chose what went well with their own culture. The Colombian population racial background is made up of a mixture of African slaves, Spaniards, and Indians. Cumbias music style is so popular that you can find it all over Latin America. This can be seen in Argentina as Pablo Vila and Pablo Sem?n stated Argentina have with the seemingly sexist and obscene lyrics of cumbia villera, which often portray women as sluts (Vila and Seman 2011, 4). An example of the sexualized lyrics towards women would be the song Mi Cucu by La Sonora Dinamita. In the song his lyrics are Que lindo es tu cucu Tan bello tu cucu Redondito y suavecitoCuando te pones pantal?n Y te tocas por detr?s Se me suelta el corazon Y te quiero mas In this song cucu is a word to represent a womans butt and the male artist is talking about how the ladys butt looks round, soft and just so nice in her jeans that he cannot control himself. Another song that shows sexizliztion towards women is Atrevete Te by Calle 13 one of the lyrics is Hello deja el show Sbete la minifalda hasta la espalda Subetela deja el show mas alta This lyric basically means that he wants the girl to lift her mini skirt high up to her back so that she can give them a show. As you can see these cumbia songs are very sexualized towards women because they only want them for their bodys. Cumbia music has a unique sound and it is mainly made up of percussion and wind instruments. Some instruments that are in cumbia music are the merry drum, calling drum, bass drum, maracas, and gaitas. An interesting fact is that there is a male and a female gaita. This instrument is composed of two long flutes called Gaitas: A male, which has only one hole and the female which has five holes. The male gives rhythmic and harmonic support to the female which carries the melody. They are supposed to be played always together, in fact, they are made at the same time in such a way that for any given male or female Gaita there is only one partner it sounds really well with (Munoz). Another instrument in cumbia music is la flauta de Millo. Brass instruments can also be heard in cumbia music such as trumpets and trombone. Other instruments are guitar, bass guitar, piano, and accordion. The basic musical rhythm of Cumbia is 4/4 (Visbal 2018,13). The dance style cumbia that is very popular shows how these gender roles. Delia Zapata also stated that, The origin is believed to be tri-ethnic and it represents the amorous conquest of women by man (Zapata 1967,92). This folk dance is almost always danced in pairs. For example, in folk dances, the women in the dance are reserved but graceful, however they are also very sensual in the way they move their hips. The women that dance cumbia traditionally typically wear long skirts and carry a candle. The men on the other hand are more free, ebullient and seen as more macho. The men in the performance usually wear hats, white pants and shirts with a red scarf tied around their neck and or hips. When dancing the folklore dance of cumbia, one of two ensembles accompany the dance. One is conjunto de cana de millo and the other is the conjunto de gaitas. As a traditional dance of slaves, Cumbia was associated only with the lower social classes until the mid-20th century. Today, some of the stigma has disappeared, but it remains a dance which is most popular amongst poorer people (Visbal 2018,11). In conclusion, Colombia has had a very interesting background from having the Spaniards come and take over the Indians land and bringing the African slaves. And it is because of this that all three of the cultures were combined and this is how Colombia came to be. Which is also why we now have the music and dance genre of cumbia. Cumbia has become very popular all-over Latin America, that other Latin American cultures have adapted cumbia to their own culture. Cumbia is also a type of dance style. In the folklore dance the women are supposed to be reserved while the man is seen as macho. Percussion and wind instruments are the main instruments that are found in all cumbia music. Cumbia music has always been male dominated as you can see in the two-music example above which were the songs Mi Cucu by La Sonora Dinamita and Atrevete Te Te by Calle 13. In both songs they have lyrics that sexualize women they talk about their body for example their butts. However, in the past few years th ere have been many female artists that have come up in cumbia music. A big female star would be Selena Quintanilla, she came out with many great cumbia hits in the mid- nineties such as Como La Flor, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, Baila Esta Cumbia and many more. These songs were such big hits that many people in our new generations are continuing to listen to her music. And its not only her, there are other artists such as Tot? la Momposina, Thal? ­a, Margarita, la diosa de la cumbia, and eight more female artist. Hopefully in the future there will be many more female artists paving the way in cumbia music.