Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5, KJV Have you ever wondered why you have brown hair and not blond? Or why you have green eyes while your brother has blue? Or why it is that chickens always come out of chicken eggs and never those from a duck? All… Continue reading The Wrestling Match of Your Genes
Author: Alice Meredith
Two Are Better Than One – A Bacteria Reproduces
Will the circle be unbroken, By and by, Lord, by and by There’s a better home awaiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” For the last few chapters, we have looking deep, deep inside of creatures, to see what they are made of, what makes them tick. Now that… Continue reading Two Are Better Than One – A Bacteria Reproduces
The Sum is More Than the Parts: Emergent Properties
There may be something there that wasn’t there before.” Beauty and the Beast When we were talking about how cells work together to make your body, you might have noticed that there was a bit of a leap between your organ systems and you. After all, you are more than just a collection of organs,… Continue reading The Sum is More Than the Parts: Emergent Properties
From a Skin Cell to a Skink
‘Goodness!’ cried Marie, clapping her hands together, ‘What has Godfather Drosselmayer brought us?’ “ The Nutracker, Alexandre Dumas It’s kind of weird, when you think about it, how much time we spent in the last chapter talking about cells. After all, we are not cells. Sure we’re made of cells, but that doesn’t make us cells any… Continue reading From a Skin Cell to a Skink
From a Castle to a Tank
Our gates were strong, our walls were thick, So smooth and high, no man could win A foothold there, no clever trick Could take us, have us dead or quick. Only a bird could have got in. The Castle, Edwin Muir It was wonderful taking a tour of our castle of a cell, so before… Continue reading From a Castle to a Tank
The Cell – A Castle in Disguise
A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing.” A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Martin Luther Inside of each of those different types of cells, you will find even smaller parts that work together so the cell can do its job. In many ways, cells are like the castles of old, with many people… Continue reading The Cell – A Castle in Disguise
What’s Shape Got to Do with It? – Cell Form and Function
Cut your morning devotions into your personal grooming. You would not go out to work with a dirty face. Why start the day with the face of your soul unwashed?” Robert Hooke – discoverer of plant cells You might be thinking to yourself, after hearing about all of those different types of cells: why would… Continue reading What’s Shape Got to Do with It? – Cell Form and Function
Cells of Every Shape and Size
By the help of a microscopes, there is nothing so small as to escape our inquiry; hence there is a new visible world discovered to the understanding.” Robert Hooke – discoverer of plant cells Now that we have taken a tour of all the Kingdoms of Creation, it is time for us to settle down… Continue reading Cells of Every Shape and Size
Don’t Judge a Mammal by Its Stripes: Cladistics
Birds of a feather flock together.” Traditional saying Within the last century, we have made great advancements in science and technology, from rockets to smart phones, but one of the most groundbreaking discoveries is the unraveling of the genome – DNA. As we mentioned earlier, DNA holds the information that makes a creature what it… Continue reading Don’t Judge a Mammal by Its Stripes: Cladistics
Mammals: The Warm and Fluffy Icing on the Cake
Tyger, Tyger burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame they fearful symmetry?” The Tyger, William Blake Finally, we are on the last leg of our tour of the Kingdoms of Creation (who’s up for some ice cream when we’re done?). Our final group to visit is the… Continue reading Mammals: The Warm and Fluffy Icing on the Cake