Hooded Pitohui

I picked a species Hooded Pitohui, Pitohui dichrous. They are from the vertebrate line. This is a song bird from New Guinea and has generally Halloween colors (black and orange). This species is interesting because it is poisonous; it has a neurotoxin called homobatrachotoxin that causes numbness and tingling when something touches the species. It is probably poisonous because of the Choresine beetles it eats which are also poisonous.


This is interesting because I didn't even know that birds could be poisonous/venomous. What an unique bird...

Antibiotics in Animals...

Antibiotic resistance is when a type of bacteria is subjected to a particular antibiotic over and over again until only the antibiotic resistant bacteria will survive. This bacteria will then be passed on to the next organism, and will be antibiotic resistant --which is not good.

Antibiotics in factory farms should definitely be regulated -- the fact that these animals are kept in such poor conditions that they need large amounts of antibiotics is appalling (not to mention using antibiotics to increase animal size). If animals become antibiotic resistant then humans can catch what those animals have but not be able to get rid of the problem because antibiotics won't work. I feel that antibiotic regulations would force the farmers and companies to have better conditions for animals (or they would all die, and let's face it, that's bad for business) and there would be less scary bacteria, overall a win-win.

Genetics Homework

I thought that the homework was pretty easy and straightforward. I have taken a biology class before, so I am semi-familiar with genetics already. I am glad this wasn't as hard as I was thinking, because I do admit that I did procrastinate some.

Cloning Pets

I never knew that people actually wanted to clone their pets. I guess it is a kind of cool idea that you could have a new and improved cat or dog, but it is not for me. The notion of them playing God or not playing God doesn't bother me, but I just think it is morbid. If my beloved pet died, I would not want to replace it with its clone. That seems disrespectful to the pet's memory. "Oh no Fluffy died... Eh, we'll just get a new one. Same difference." I know it is more complex then that for the people actually getting this done and they want to have their pet live on, but I still don't care for it. Cloning, to me, does not bring a person or pet back to life, it is like an identical twin being born later on. Cloning does not change my idea about death but I feel like it gives people the artificial feeling of prolonging life.

Cellular Respiration

This blog was a though one for me to get my mind wrapped around but I'll give it my best shot. Anaerobic respiration is acquiring energy while not using oxygen-- it uses fermentation. I think that it is safe to say that humans could not survive with only anaerobic respiration because we are in a constant need for oxygen (brain and heart), and if we didn't use oxygen we would die. Another downside is that anaerobic respiration makes way less ATP then aerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration is pretty much used, for us, with rigorous exercise when our fast-twitch muscles run out of oxygen.

"Warm-blooded" animals maintain there body temperature through metabolism (aerobic cellular respiration) whereas "cold-blooded" animals do not. This means that warm blooded animals are going to need to use their metabolism more, eat more food, thus create ATP. The more ATP they have, the more energy they have, and the more active they are. Cold blooded animals, in cold weather have their body processes slowed down in cold weather and they do not use their metabolism to mediate their temperature so they don't require all that energy via respiration.

Anaerobic respiration, although it is not used a lot in us humans, it is used in my friends yeast and bacteria. Where would we be without them?

Re-use of Energy?

I have never really thought of how the 1st Law of Thermodynamics pertains to things in my everyday life, especially with fuel, but after some research I feel that the above picture sums it up. When fuel goes into our car the energy is highly concentrated and is "high grade" but when the energy leaves the car the energy is converted into "used-up" energy. The energy is so low grade that even if we wanted to collect it that it would be impossible, unrealistic or way too expensive. Sadly to say, fossil fuels are our main fuel source so conservation is important until we can find an alternative fuel source.

Luckily there are companies out there that are researching and trying to develop renewable energy that would definitely be beneficial for the world. PPL Renewable Energy has some good projects going on, for example they have a Biomass Energy project in the works. They are planning on turning wood waste into electricity or heat for homes. Check them out! http://www.pplrenewableenergy.com/pplrenewableenergy.htm

Food!

I have Pop-tarts, (Hot Fudge Sundae) and the ingredients are... interesting. I counted about 30 chemical ingredients out of the 34 ingredients. I feel like it is probably as processed as it comes. I knew Pop-tarts weren't that healthy, but I didn't know they were about 88% unnatural. I do admit that I was looking for what I thought would be the most unnatural food, and I think I may have found it or close to it.


I don't eat as healthy as I should because my house is a very junk food oriented. My New Years resolution was to actually attempt to eat more healthily. I am trying but it can be difficult because I am more of a fruit eater than a veggie eater though; I am picky! Wish me luck on my resolution!

First Blog

I am Candace and I am a first year Sierra College but a 4th year college student (long story). I finally decided to be a Child Development major after two other major changes. I am taking this class because I still needed something to fulfill the biology GE requirement. I am currently looking for a job but I usually babysit/nanny. I love to hike, travel, go out, watch movies, be with family and my boyfriend of four years. This is my first real blogging experience and this is interesting!

Here are two rules that I am suggesting for comments:

1)  Be respectful in the comments; I feel that there should be no judgment or attitude.
2) Check for typos and grammar; just because it is a blog doesn't mean that people can't write correctly.

Thanks!