Essays and Research Papers on Genetics & Paleontology

A 5 page paper which examines the causes and effects of genetics in alcoholism. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 7 page paper discussing the climate change that has occurred in the area of Crawford Lake, Ontario over the past 13,000 years, using the lithology of the lake as evidence. The paper discusses the records of oxygen isotope, calcium carbonate concentration and detritus layer as evidence for a moist climate followed by change ...

An 8 page overview of cellular function. Concentrating on cellular function in viruses, the author utilizes RNA to illustrate the view that the cell is a supramolecular machine. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A comparison of online museums with physical museums. Observed is the Marian Koshland Science Museum on the Washington, D.C. mall, compared to its own website. The piece makes a very favorable comparison between the two, but posits that they both support public policy for DNA testing. Bibliography lists 3 sources. jvIntMus.rtf

A 9 page examination of the age old question of whether it is our environment or our genes that shape our personality and behavior. The author examines both sides of this argument to conclude that a number of factors enter into the question of whether a parent or other factors of a child’s environment ...

An 8 page review of the controversy surrounding genetic engineering. The author points out the success and failures of the technology in agriculture and outlines the arguments of the two opposing camps in regard to its use. Bibliography lists 12 sources.

This 4 page paper discusses the debate of whether non-human primates have the instinct for learning language as humans do. Examples given, Matt Ridley discussed. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page review of an article appearing in Scientific American in 2003 discussing genetic similarities and differences between and within those groups of humans that we commonly refer to as races. The authors discuss the role that Alu polymorphism carries in distinguishing broad groups of people and the limitations of using the measure ...

A 4 page paper containing 2 distinct sections: 1 page on carbohydrates and weight gain, 3 pages discussing the Cx26 gene (GJB2/DFNB1). This gene is associated with autosomal recessive deafness, ranging from moderate to profound. The paper lists and discusses several of the allele variants of this gene. Bibliography lists 6 ...

Mercury is a known neurotoxin and for this reason, it has been targeted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a primary toxic exposure threat. Mercury is transferred through multiple means including ingestion, airborne, and osmosis through the skin. Mercury toxins are released into the air naturally, as well as through car and other exhaust. ...

A 6 page overview of the contentions presented in this 1967 book. Noting the controversy surrounding the book and its occasional deviation from contemporary evolutionary thought, the author of this paper asserts that Morris for the most part echoes contemporary evolutionary thought. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 7 page paper which discusses the pros and cons of cloning, with the paper focusing on an argument in favor of certain kinds of cloning. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

An 11 page overview of the current state of stem cell research and its potential for future benefit. Lamenting the current governmental restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, this paper emphasizes the myriad of possibilities that stem cell research holds in terms of improving human life. Bibliography lists 12 sources.

A 4 page examination of the potential that gene therapy holds for the future. Providing specific examples of how gene therapy might be utilized to address alcoholism and such debilitating conditions as multiple sclerosis, the author contends that gene therapy is sure to gain societal acceptance as time goes on. As the general public ...

A 3 page paper which examines an article in Scientific American which relates to a finding of remains of a small race of people, “The Littlest Human.” No additional sources cited.

A 4 page contention that holds as many or more threats for society as it does promises. This thesis is supported through a discussion of the direct and indirect impacts genetically engineered species have to the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of species that are currently unutilized but which hold promise for the cures of disease ...

This 5 page paper examines both points of view and concludes that these are not necessarily competing theories and may even complement each other. The debate is discussed and each concept is defined and explored. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

A 4 page consideration of the promise of genetic engineering. This paper describes the potential benefits of the technology in improving the production, nutrition, and marketability of four common food crops, corn, wheat,tomatoes, and avocados. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

5 pages in length. Is it about making informed decisions for the betterment of the future child, or is it a manmade version of survival of the fittest? Genetic analysis before implantation does, indeed, decrease the risk of inherited genetic diseases; however, there are serious ethical concerns related to the use of preimplantation ...

This 5 page paper examines theories as to why this species died out. Some information is relayed about the types of animals they were and then ideas about thier demise are explored. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 4 page paper examines the thinking of Teilhard and how he justified placing God/Christ within the boundaries of evolutionary science. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 6 page assessment of the potential negative impacts of genetic engineering as it is applied towards food crops. The author contends our production of genetically engineered crops will ultimately impact not just our population but the world population as a whole. Furthermore, this production has a high likelihood of ultimately causing pollution, ...

This 3 page paper discusses the relationship between Darwin's theory and the idea of the human being. Bibliography lists 2 sources

This 5 page paper considers the question of whether extinction is a necessary part of the survival of the species. The question of whether extinction of certain species will inherently reduce genetic diversity has been at the center of recent debates. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This is a 6 page paper which examines the social issues which have been brought to the forefront as a result of genetic research. The bibliography has 7 sources.