BIOLOGY: WEEK 2:





EVO-DEVO:

Evo-devo stands for the evolution of development.  It is considered the third revolution in evolution, revealing the theory that development and evolution were closely connected.  The article we read on eve-devo suggested that all animal species developed according to the control exerted by an unexpectedly small number of genes.  Therefore, scientists deduced that the whole spectrum of animal diversity had been fed by the same set of genes.  Evolution works with the same set of genes and uses it in different combinations to create new diversity.

This idea is mind blowing considering that we have assumed that the diversity of life was formed from scratch over and over again.  Humans and animals are not so different after all.  It makes me think of the great Tao and how all physical forms arose out of this vast sea of non-being.  Although humans and animals have different physical attributes, we were created from the same fundamental fabric of formlessness.

SYNESTHESIA:

Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory cognitive pathway leads to automatic involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.  The most common type is grapheme color synesthesia in which individual letters or numbers are associated with specific colors and colorful patterns.  Approximately 3-5 percent of the population has some form of synesthesia and the condition may be genetic.

People who have synesthesia may report things that normal people can only experience under the influence of a psychedelic such as LSD.  Some can see sounds as colors, perceive texture in response to sight, or associate shapes to flavors.  Synesthesia proves that the human mind is capable of so much more.  Maybe the “double rainbow” guy on Youtube is really not so crazy after all?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PHYSICS: WEEK 10

Image
When an object has symmetry, it can be divided into two pieces which are mirror images of each other.  Although we are always striving for symmetry, there is an underlying asymmetry within everything.  As an esthetician, I find this in my work on a daily basis.  Clients come to see me hoping that they can turn their brows into the perfect symmetrical work of art.  I do my best to perfect the mirror imaging of their brows but in reality, there is always some form of asymmetry no matter what.  I believe that we seek symmetry in our daily lives because it is built into our DNA.  We see this in art, music and all that we create.  Our animal instincts recognize that the symmetry reflected in facial features and bodily proportions is a better indicator of good health, so prospective mates may be chosen for healthier offspring.  Symmetry is also equated with the divine in many religions since it represents the ultimate perfection.  Through our cr...
Read more

RACHELLE'S PHYSICS BIO

I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and have been living in the Bay Area with my family since 2004.  I've worked an esthetician for the past decade by helping clients achieve their skin care goals.  I am now dedicated to being a student in Chinese medicine school and fulfilling an interest that was sparked long ago as a young child in my grandmother's kitchen.  She brought her knowledge of village medicine from China to the United States and used it in our household to treat various illnesses and ailments.  I am hopeful that my current journey will be a bridge for the knowledge of the inner and outer landscapes of the human body.
Read more

PHYSICS: WEEK 6

Image
Organized chaos can be described as the process of gaining desirable outcomes through a state of disorder.  This might reveal a hidden natural order that governs all living things, even when the environment seems chaotic.  If we think of the principles of yin and yang, we see that there is always an element of both within each other.  Therefore, chaos resides in order and order resides within chaos.  Organized chaos provides an environment for unpredictability and ultimately, creativity.  The lack of a system of rigid order results in numerous creative possibilities and outcomes.  Chaos can be seen as an environment of freedom that provides a breeding ground for systems of natural order to arise A fractal system is a complex, non-linear interactive system which has the ability to adapt to a changing environment.  Such systems are characterized by the potential for self organization, existing in a non-equilibrium environment.  Chan...
Read more