Viruses: A Cause of Speciation

On an entry from the Discover magazine's blog The Loom, it was found a virus is very probable in the reason embryos attach to the mother.  This is quite important for that is a key characteristic of a mammal.  

What is most peculiar is how genes of different viruses are found in related species.  For example, the rabbit and its closest living relative, the pika, have different "virus genes". This implies that viruses are strongly linked to speciation, and that new species in mammals begin differentiating due to small changes in the placenta's role during development.  

This makes sense; viruses have a very fast adaptation rate (think of how many new flu vaccines are made).  So all the other speciation methods, such as separation due to land barriers, would easily allow 2 very different viruses to evolve and impact the genes of the separated groups.  Fascinating.  Just fascinating.

Cheers to Charles Darwin! Today is his birthday.

I can't believe I almost missed it!  Charles Darwin - the great interpreter of the data exposing evolution.  We owe a lot to him: increased crop yields, improved medicine, an answer to the question of what caused the diversity of life, and a decrease in racial stereotypes.

Here's to a great figure in the history of science.

Student-centered teaching: The Difficulties

Education has many problems with it.  I admit and am aware of these problems.  These problems have led me to attempt to have my classes be much different from the norm.  I have tried to get my students to understand that they all live their own life and their education is in their own hands.  However, I have seen that my attempts have been futile.  I started the year very passionately; I heard many students say they thought I would be an inspring teacher.  As the year has progressed the view has changed.  The majority of students say they do not learn in my class (I can say some do and even admit to it!).  So what happened?  I will say I am scared to answer this question, but it is worthwhile and needs to be pursued.

First, I will admit having four preps has made me not enjoy my life as much; the time it takes is too much for all of my classes to meet my level of "good".  What I have found is that instead of ensuring one or two classes are awesome, I split my time and all my classes end up being okay at best.  What I mean is that I am only able to think of the leading discussion questions and not where those questions may or may not end up.  This has caused many of my classes to seem disorganized, for I have had no chance to predict where my students will take the discussion or what their misconceptions are.

Second, I truly want my students to be in charge of their learning.  This is a big dream that society has seemingly destroyed, for young people get to make very few personal choices (i.e. parents/older people control the young's lives).  As a person of this generation I should have realized this.  When I went to college and actually had freedom, I admit to being, well, dumb.  I also forgot that I was different from most, being passionate about science.  This means my classroom management was/is lacking.

Third (or second and a half), the truth that the majority of people are not fascinated with the universe makes zero sense to me.  I teach the so called scientific subjects because I am fascinated with the universe and the puzzle it is.  To me, this has always been interesting.  To the majority of students, it is not.  The fact humans have so much confidence in knowing what an atom looks like, in understanding how the diversity of species came to to be, and we are able to predict outcomes with such accuracy is downright amazing and impressive.  I do not understand how others do not have the same feeling.  I will admit the students' lack of passion has taken my personal drive out of me.  I often times end my days with thoughts along the lines of "if they honestly don't care, why should I care about them?"

Well that is depressing, admitting I have stopped caring about my students....

Fourth, I hate the fact I am forced to teach specific material.  I would love to be able to go where my students wanted.  I understand people do not need to know about valence electrons to live a positive and productive life.  I understand people do not need to deeply understand evolution to live a positive and productive life.  I understand people will ask certain questions at different times in their life depending on their prior experiences.  I believe any part of life can be reflected upon and logically analyzed.  This is what I believe education SHOULD be.  Teaching people how to think logically.  However, that is not what education is.  Curiosity is natural.  Our brain is wired for it; I have done the research on that fact.  Controlling the curiosity is not natural.  This is where education fails.  This is where students lose interest.  This is what has destroyed my yearning to teach.

I will need to reflect on ways to fix this and still be able to teach.  I still believe the human species' ability to be educated is what sets us apart from other animals.  Unraveling the puzzle of the universe is the ultimate goal and I truly do want to be a part of it.  So I must find a way to fit into a system that inherently hinders this goal; I also must find a way to inspire the students trapped within it (even if they aren't like me and currently dislike answering the deep questions related to the workings of the universe).

An atheist at a funeral

I attended a funeral today and it got me thinking about the differences between an atheist's views and a religious person's views of life.  First, let me just say that I found the funeral to be quite beautiful.  Seeing a community come together to celebrate the life of a person is an inspiring and happy sight.  The atmosphere lends itself to help support the most powerful of feelings: sadness, joy, respect, and angst.

Because I was not close to the person that died, I had the opportunity to observe the ones around me.  What I found was quite confusing; I found myself smiling and feeling joy while others were showing signs of sadness.  I know the fact I was not close to the person is the main reason I could feel this way, but I still feel as though my feelings would be much different if, say, my immediate family passed away.  I say this because the pastor was talking about how one might feel the situation is unfair due to having a loved one pass away; why would God allow this to happen to someone so kind?  I feel this is the difference between an atheist and a religious person.  As an atheist, I acknowledge and accept life can easily be ended and understand accidents happen.  To simplify my views, I know that my family or myself is no more special than anyone else in the world.  This causes me to appear callous during what are commonly seen as emotional and trying times, for my grieving period is much shorter.   While the religious person may be dwelling on the pain caused by the situation, I am already seeing the powerful influence the person had on others while living.

I am beginning to ramble.  What I am trying to get at is the fact that talking about seeing a person "later" does little good now.  I would much prefer to see everyone use a person's passing as a catalyst to do good; note how precious and fragile life actually is.  Ask yourself, What can I do to achieve the most and positively influence the lives of others?

I recently had a few email exchanges with a student about how I would love to think I can see my mom again.  However, without any evidence of that actually able to happen, I am left with only the ability to influence the current world around me.  Am I happy with what I have done so far? No.  Is thinking about my mom beneficial?  Yes.  Is thinking I will see her again useful?  No.  Is that last thought detrimental?  To me, no; to a religious person, probably.  Where I see a waste of energy, others probably see a missing piece of motivation.

I feel as if I could rewrite this piece 100 times and it would all be slightly different.  This just shows how complicated and fascinating life is.  So I will leave it by saying that even though atheists and theists have different views, we all appreciate and value life.  I just do not want theists to think that because they believe in an afterlife, that means they value life more.  I am tired of others thinking atheists "care" less.  Life is an experience; we all experience similar, if not the same, emotions.