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Module 4 Prompt: I think that mutation rate can evolve within a species. I think there are many circumstances where mutation rate must change in order to keep the species alive. It can increase or decrease depending on what will help make the organism most fit for its environment. There are many factors that can influence this mutation rate. Exposures to very high doses of potent mutagens can increase the mutation rate per generation by more than 100 fold. Nature of the gene and the environment can also play a huge factor in changes in mutation rate. Protective agents, possibly dietary, can alter this. Mutations allow organisms to adapt, but also can create negative impacts to fitness levels. The mutation rate is often considered a slow evolving parameter, but it is still subject to change and evolve over time. A high mutation rate can initially be beneficial because it allows for a quicker adaptation, but once the adaptation is reached, the benefit disappears. Low mutation rates have ...
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Blog Post Module 12

One disease of civilization  that has interested me recently is Parkinson's disease. I don't have a special connection in my family to this disease, but I work as a CNA in a nursing home and have gotten to see the real life impacts of this disease on a few of the residents I work with. Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the central nervous system. It affects movement and motor functions, often including tremors. Parkinson's occurs when neurons in the brain become impaired or die. These cells, when functioning properly, produce dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps the brain transmit signals between different areas in the brain. When nerve cell damage occurs, dopamine levels drop. This leads to the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This disease often starts with tremors in one hand and can lead to many other things. Other symptoms of this disease include shaking, slow movements, loss of automatic movements, speech and writing challenges, and difficulty...
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Blog Post Module 11

Speciation can be defined as how a new kind of plant or animal species is created. It occurs when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its own new unique characteristics. This is something that can result over time through many generations due to mutations. It would take many mutations in order to differentiate the new group of species from the others. This would gradually happen over a long period of time and a ton of generations. Depending on the organisms environment and habitats, speciation could vary. With some species it could take less time to develop, while in other habitats it could take much longer. This could also be due to mutation rate. Some species mutation rates and greater than others. This means that speciation could occur at a quicker pace. If the organisms mutation rate it slower, this mean it will take much longer for speciation to occur. 
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Blog Post Module 10

 The mating between pipefish is something unusual that we don't commonly see with other species. In fact, it is the opposite of what we see with other organisms. We see the female as bright and full of color and the male being dull. In this case I think the females are full of color to impress the males and to ultimately mate with them. The reason for this pertains to the fitness of the offspring they are producing. I found that the male actually caries the offspring rather than the female. I assume that since the females are unable to carry their offspring, they must attract the males by their vibrant colors. I can infer that these color changes are due the females competing for mates. 
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Blog Post module 9

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A trait on an animal that has always fascinated me is the pouch on a kangaroo. I always thought it was more like a pocket on the outside of the kangaroos stomach, but it looks and seems a whole lot more intricate than that. It is a fold on the skin that is exclusive to females. The pouch is hairless on the inside and allows the offspring to feed off the mother's milk. The pouch covers their breasts, and due to this it forms an epidermal bag which takes the role of an incubator. This is an adaptation that enables the offspring to be cared for at different stages of their life/development. They use this pouch to carry their babies and nurse them while still being quite mobile. Something that was very new to me was that the inside lining of the pouch is lined with sweat glands that release antimicrobial liquid. This is to ensure the health and safety of the offspring. 
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Blog Post Module 8: Reflection- Genetic variation vs natural selection

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The definition of genetic variation is the difference in the sequence of genes between the individuals and organisms in a species. We also see that natural selection is the process where organisms that are better suited for the environment they live in tend to survive and produce more offspring. In a sense, genetic variation drives natural selection. Natural selection would not be possible without a genetic difference in genes within a population.  There is a clear answer as to why natural selection has not eroded genetic variation over time, and the answer is mutations. If natural selection has taken place within a population, that does not stop the fact that mutations will still take place. This creates a whole new genetic variation amongst the population over generations. It creates a new gene pool and starts the process all over again. Mutations occur and they could be for the better of the population. In this case natural selection will take place and create a population ...
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Blog Post Module 7: Reflection

     Coming into this class I definitely was not expecting to code or learn in this sort of way. It made me really nervous because as a biology major, I have never had to even look at code before. At the beginning I definitely struggled with the R exercises, but I feel as the weeks go on I get more comfortable using Rstudio. Although I don't feel as intimidated by R anymore, I still have questions about certain codes on our exercises. It is definitely a challenge, but it is a new way of learning for me.      Looking back on my first blog post, I related evolution to adaptation and natural selection. Although that response isn't necessarily wrong, I now know it is much more intricate and deeper than that. I basically thought that evolution and natural selection were the same thing, but now I understand that natural selection drives evolution to take place. There are many working parts in order for evolution to occur and one that fascinates me the m...
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