Variation Lab Graphs

Height

Cubit

Span

Eye span

Foot span

Questions

1.  What were the trends that you noticed in each of the frequency graphs? 

=> I noticed that there were many people in one or two measurements on each graph. The eye span graph showed some extreme traits as well as the cubit graph. Most people were in the ten centimeter category for span and the foot span was random. There were extreme traits in the height graph with the average height being 160-165cm, though some people were in the 180-185cm range.
2.  How many people had "extreme" traits?

=> Approximately two to three people had extreme traits in each graph.

3.  What trait had the most variation?

=> The foot span trait had the most variation.
4.  How would having variation within a trait benefit the entire species?  How would having no variation be detrimental to the success of the species?

=> Variation would benefit a species in that the species could adapt to its environment and not die out.  If the species food suddenly starts growing higher the taller species will survive, therefore preventing extinction. No variation would mean that a species could not adapt. If its environment changed to be unsuitable, no organism of that species would survive.
5.  How could having extreme traits be beneficial?  Can you find an example in nature?

=> Extreme traits could be beneficial to a species because it would have some traits that would give it different advantages. For example, a smaller elephant may be able to run faster from prey. 
6.  How did you come to have the characteristics that you have?  (ie. why are you short?)

=> I got my characteristics from my momma and poppa. My dad is short and my mom is tall therefore I am average height for a girl. Both my parents have black hair and passed that gene on to me. 
7.  What is a gene?  What is DNA? Where did you get your DNA?

=> A gene is a hereditary trait passed on from parents to their offspring. It is in our bodies as a distinct sequence of nucleotides forming part of a chromosome. DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid and is the fundamental characteristics of someone or something. It determines a persons traits and characteristics. My DNA is passed from my parents to me and replicates itself continuously in my body. It contains my genes.

Scientific Naming

Makira flying fox

Scientific classification: 

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Chiroptera Pteropodidae Pteropus cognatus

Cross River gorilla

Scientific classification:

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primates Hominidae Gorilla gorilla [s.s.] diehli

Pygamy hippopotamus 

Scientific classification:

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Artiodactyla Hippopotamidae Choeropsis liberiensis

West African lion

Scientific classification: 

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae Panthera leo [s.s.] P. I. senegalensis

African elephant 

Scientific classification: 

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Proboscidea Elephantidae Loxodonta africana

Similarities and Differences of KPCOFGS

All of the organisms I chose are in the kingdom Animalia. All five also share the same phylum which is Chordata, and the same class which is Mammalia (humans are also part of the same classifications). I unintentionally picked mammals and learned that the defining characteristics of a mammal are their ability to grow hair, give live birth, and the females have mammary glands for their babies. Additionally, all mammals are warm blooded. The animals share the phylum chordata which means they have a notochord/ vertebral column, dorsal nerve chord, post anal-tail/anus, close circulatory system, myotomes, pharyngeal slits/ pharynx+ esophagus. 

Question:

Why don't the African animals have more similarities? Were they meant to live somewhere else but adapted? Or were they created to live in Africa and will support following genetic diversity (eventually share more similarities)?

Tree Dichotomy

Douglas-fir (Pdeudotsuga)

Biology Question

Why is the sunrise/ sunset red?
The answer to why the sunrise/sunset is red is very similar to why the sky is blue. Due to Rayleigh scattering, light from the Sun bounces off tiny particles in the atmosphere and scatters in different directions. Since blue light has the shortest wavelength, it is scattered more effectively which makes the sky blue most of the time. Red light has a longer wavelength, making it noticeable only when the sun is low on the horizon; light rays must pass through more of the atmosphere which means they bounce off more molecules. Therefore, red light scatters all other colours away as it hits our eyes. Darker shades of the sunrise or sunset are a result of pollution and dust. Another related fact is: when you can't see the sunrise or sunset it means clouds are covering the light.

Related Links:
http://www.howitworksdaily.com/environment/question-of-the-day-%EF%BB%BFwhy-does-the-sky-look-red-at-sunrise-and-sunset/

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_the_sun_look_orange_at_sunset_and_sunrise

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-06-29/open-space/27215085_1_red-light-sunrise-and-sunset-sky