Reasons to Ban Cloning :: essays research papers

Cloning is defined as the process of asexually producing a group of cells, all genetically identical, from a single ancestor (College Library, 2006).† Cloning should be banned all around the world for many reasons, including the risks to the thing that is being cloned, cloning reduces genetic differences and finally it is not ethical. Almost every clone has mysteriously died even before they are born. First of all, â€Å"Australia’s first cloned sheep appeared to be healthy and energetic the day she died, during the autopsy they could not find the cause (Castro, 2005).† There are many risks to cloning and you are seldom able to identify the cause of their death. â€Å"More than 90% of cloning attempts fail (Human Genome Program, 2006).† Most cloned animals died mysteriously even before they were born or when they were very young, so there is hardly any information on how clones age. Clones may be born with a normal looking body but may have internal functioning problems. â€Å"Cloned animals tend to have more compromised immune function and higher rates of infection, tumor growth, and other disorders (Human Genome Program, 2006).† There are many risks of cloning and a major factor is genetic differences. Secondly, â€Å"the most the human race has to loose by playing around with cloning is that the genetic diversity would be lost (Andrea Castro, 2005).† Reducing the genetic differences will produce clones that are grossly overlarge, many animals will be born with genetic mutations, and there will be a higher â€Å"risk of disease transfer (Saskaschools, 2003). â€Å"A review of all the world's cloned animals suggests that every one of them is genetically and physically defective (Leake, 2002).† Mutations will be passed on to the younger generation because if a cloned species has a mutation in their DNA this mutation will be passed on. Cloning has been linked with diseases of ageing, arthritis and, cancer. Last of all, Cloning is not ethical, many religious groups look down upon cloning and think it’s not proper because they think it’s like playing God. Many scientists were mainly thinking about cloning animals and, most likely, humans in the future to harvest their organs and then kill them. â€Å"Who would actually like to be harvested and killed for their organs?† â€Å"Human cloning exploits human beings for our own self-gratification (Dodson, 2003).† A person paying enough money could get a corrupt scientist to clone anybody they wanted, like movie stars, music stars, athletes, etc (Andrea Castro 2005),† whether it be our desire for new medical treatments or our desire to have children on our own genetic terms (Dodson, 2003).

A Brief History of Clocks: From Thales to Ptolemy :: Expository Essays Research Papers

A Brief History of Clocks: From Thales to Ptolemy The clock is one of the most influential discoveries in the history of western science. The division of time into regular, predictable units is fundamental to the operation of society. Even in ancient times, humanity recognized the necessity of an orderly system of chronology. Hesiod, writing in the 8th century BC., used celestial bodies to indicate agricultural cycles: "When the Pleiads, Atlas' daughters, start to rise begin your harvest; plough when they go down" ( Hesiod 71). Later Greek scientists, such as Archimedes, developed complicated models of the heavens-celestial spheres-that illustrated the "wandering" of the sun, the moon, and the planets against the fixed position of the stars. Shortly after Archimedes, Ctesibus created the Clepsydra in the 2nd century BC. A more elaborate version of the common water clock, the Clepsydra was quite popular in ancient Greece. However, the development of stereography by Hipparchos in 150 BC. radically altered physical representations of t he heavens. By integrating stereography with the Clepsydra and the celestial sphere, humanity was capable of creating more practical and accurate devices for measuring time-the anaphoric clock and the astrolabe. Although Ptolemy was familiar with both the anaphoric clock and the astrolabe, I believe that the development of the anaphoric clock preceded the development of the astrolabe. The earliest example, in western culture, of a celestial sphere is attributed to the presocratic philosopher Thales. Unfortunately, little is known about Thales' sphere beyond Cicero's description in the De re publica: For Gallus told us that the other kind of celestial globe, which was solid and contained no hollow space, was a very early invention, the first one of that kind having been constructed by Thales of Mileus, and later marked by Eudoxus with the constellations and stars which are fixed in the sky. (Price 56) This description is helpful for understanding the basic form of Thales' sphere, and for pinpointing its creation at a specific point in time. However, it is clearly a simplification of events that occurred several hundred years before Cicero's lifetime. Why would Thales' create a spherical representation of the heavens and neglect to indicate the stars? Of what use is a bowling ball for locating celestial bodies? Considering Eudoxus' preoccupation with systems of concentric spheres, a more logical explanation is that Thales marked his sphere with stars, and Eudoxus later traced the ecliptic and the paths of the planets on the exterior.

Robbert Harris :: essays research papers

We have all read interesting, touching stories in our lifetime. I have read a few, myself. The one that really sticks out in my mind is, The Unquiet Death of Robert Harris by Michael Kroll. This story left me filled with emotions, opinions, and questions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story was told by a man named Michael Kroll that had a very dear friend on death row named Robert Harrison. They had been friends for ten years and now that friendship was to come to an end. Nothing that night seemed to go as planned or on schedule. Michael and a few others including Roberts’s brother, waited several hours in a small room only to be filled into another small room, where they continued to wait. When Robert finally came into sight Michael was a little relieved. Nothing happened for a long time then they took Robert out of the room. Michael was confused and wasn’t sure what was going on. Finally they brought Robert back, and of course they executed him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the end of this story my first reaction was sadness. I felt awful for Michael, Robert, and everyone that was involved. I thought this story was the worst thing I ever heard, and I wanted to cry. My next reaction was anger. I was horrified that one human being could do something as horrible as this to another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Next my brain started rattling with opinions. First I though the death penalty was a horrible thing, and should be outlawed completely. Then I started to think, what if it was my family, and someone had killed one of my family members. I would want that person dead! I wouldn’t care how they did it, when, or even where they did it, as long as I knew that they paid for what they did. In order to insure that they would never hurt anyone in my family, or even anybody at all ever again, they would have to be dead in my opinion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Then came the questions. One major question I had was how did the death penalty ever come into the picture? Did some creep invent it, or was it discovered by accident? When did they start using the death penalty, and what state was first to use it? Is it legal in all states in the United States of America? After a person is executed, does the family get to perform a proper funeral as they please?

Homework Is Bad

Homework is harmful to my health? When I first read the topic, a big question mark appeared in my mind. I haven’t thought that homework is harmful to my health because I have been taught that doing homework is students’ duty. However, in my opinion, too much homework is really harmful to my health according to the following reasons. First of all, too much homework exhausts brains and bodies, so I can’t have a good rest.I stay in school almost ten hours from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m. on weekdays. When getting home, I am extremely tired, but I still have to cheer up to finish daily homework. As a result, I don’t have any time to take a rest. Second, too much homework leads to insufficient sleep. I have different homework from different subjects. Take me for example, as a second grader in senior high school, on average I usually spend 2 or 3 hours on homework every day.When having lots of homework to do, I will stay up late to complete homework. Unfortunately, I sti ll have to get up early next morning, so I can’t get enough sleep. Third, too much homework causes stress, especially so-called difficult homework. When I can’t solve difficult problems by myself, such as problems in math, chemistry, and physics, I am absolutely obsessed with these difficult problems and then they become my heavy burdens and pressure.Fourth, doing too much homework makes eyes extremely tired and eventually it may cause near-sighted. I wear glasses because I ignore the importance of right gestures and bright light while doing homework. According to these above reasons, I firmly believe that too much homework is harmful to my health. Although too much homework may be harmful to my health, adequate homework is beneficial to my studies. After all, doing homework is one of my duties.

How to Survive High School Essay

Maybe your friends from middle school are going to a different high school, or even if you know other freshmen, you might not know many upperclassmen. This is why it is very important to attend freshman orientations. These are helpful not only because you learn your way around the building and get to meet some of your teachers, but you also get to meet fellow freshmen. When you talk to people at orientation, you’ll probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you are. They’re all new to the school and don’t know what to expect either. Talking to your classmates about a common concern could even spark a new friendship. Secondly, you should learn more about your teachers. Some freshman teachers are nice and kind at times. However, in order to avoid their negativity, you must go by all of their rules. Different teachers will have different expectations. Learn what they are and don’t make your high school experience rough, by trying to make your own rules. Some rules will seem unfair and some will seem stupid, but if you go by them, you will find that life is much easier. You don’t have to be a teacher’s pet to do this, and you just don’t have to be a rebel either. Just remember, in all cases, think things through before you act. Sometimes it will save you a lot of trouble in the end. Thirdly, you should maintain a good reputation. Having a good reputation at high school is very important. You should always take responsibility for your actions, and choose them wisely. We remember people by their actions as much as we remember their hair color. While embarrassing moments are unavoidable and nothing to be ashamed about, dishonest or vicious behavior is well within your control. Last but not least, you should always be yourself. I know everyone says it, but if you’re not yourself, who else are you going to be? Everyone has their quirks which makes them unique. There’s nothing interesting about a high school full of clones. Embrace your uniqueness. To enjoy your time, always be who you are. Opportunities are going to present themselves, and who knows where these opportunities might lead. Don’t ever change who you are just to fit in. You’ll never be as happy pretending to be someone you’re not when you could be yourself. As you can see, high school is only what you make it. Following my advice will only make your freshman year a lot better. These are a few tips on how to you can survive your freshman year in high school.

Homers The Odyssey Essay

Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the most valued and highly regarded classic stories in the world of literature. Coming from the grandiose and mysterious world and era of the Greek mythology, The Odyssey has been seen to be one of the greatest stories that dealt about heroes, tragedies, gods and goddesses and adventurous journeys. Over the years, this work of the great writer Homer has also been regarded to be one of the most significant works the world has ever had (â€Å"The Odyssey† n. p. ). The Odyssey, because of its undeniable value and significance in the world of literature has been one of the most studied classic stories in the academe. Its characters as well are some of the most admired and explored personalities in the world of literature. And one of these great and gallant characters is the chief Odysseus himself. Odysseus was depicted in the story as a great man who led a group of warriors and voyagers in the great feat to the sea which was popularly called the Odyssey. He was presented in the story to be the brain and the great decision maker of the group. If there is one thing remarkable in the story when it comes to its intellectual aspect, it would be more on Odysseus analytical and very intelligent abilities. Throughout the entire adventure of the troupe, several challenges and trials were put to them at sea. During these times, Odysseus could be seen to be an indestructible hero of his team who never did back out and give up. He would analyze situations very deeply and carefully, and he would device solutions and remedies right then and there depending on his radical and objective observations (Woodnutt 1). Thus aside from being a chief and a captain, Odysseus was also portrayed as the total representation of intelligent and just decisions that are solely based on radical observations and not on mere judgments and biases. But aside from this portrayal of Odysseus, an impeccable intellectual content can also be observable on how Homer created such terrible disasters that appeared inescapable to men, yet he was also able to device impeccable solutions to it. On the other hand, when it comes to the aesthetic appeal, The Odyssey also did not fall short. This work by Homer has been highly acclaimed by critics because of the grandiose and spectacular mixture of being poems, prose and hymns. It has also been commendable through time because of the sample of poetry found in its text that leads its readers to a peak of aesthetic experience paving the way for more insightful thoughts (Chessik n. p. ). The narration was impeccable as it exposed the secrets and the wonders behind each characters and events. The characters and the command of language also played an important part as they were so strong that the characters of this classic have been etched in the minds of readers for years. Also, Homer’s use of metaphors and his choice of tone and rhythm were also impeccable. His ability to mold an amazing story was undeniable throughout the entire story. But most especially, this classic by Homer also did not fall short of relevant morals and lessons that can be valued for generations. Above everything else, The Odyssey is a story of heroes and heroic acts. It reflects the value of authority and respect for authority as something close to how people regard their gods (Johnston n. p. ). Also, The Odyssey also holds that particular magnificence as it celebrated history and the arts that it also teaches people how significant history and the arts are for their lives. It also talks about inferno, its realities and nature; that if only people would try to veer away from bad things and believe that they can be good and straight people, then they can escape this miserable place after death and enjoy a feast and a banquet with gods in Olympus instead (Johnston n. p. ).

Primary Source Analysis: the French Revolution and Human Rights

Perhaps one of the most unique eras in world history was the Enlightenment, a time period in which intellectuals like Voltaire, Adam Smith and Denis Diderot â€Å"Observed with unprecedented acuity the evils and flaws of human society in their day† (Tignor, Adelman, Aron, Kotkin, March and, and, 621) and sought to change the worldview of their generation both socially and politically. Those intellectuals believed that by sharing an aspiration to spread knowledge, human judgments could resist ignorance. Today, the ideals of those Enlightenment thinkers have become the foundation of many, if not all human societies. The Enlightenment had a great impact on the world, especially on Europeans who were customary to old practices of fixed social hierarchies, in which the king held absolute power. The knowledge gained from this intellectual movement brought about many changes in society. Minority groups such as women â€Å"gained confidence in their own worthiness—to create art, to write books, to observe the world accurately, and perhaps even rule their states† (Tignor, Adelman, Aron, Kotkin, Marchand, and, 619). The Enlightenment also paved the way for a newer approach towards the concept of human rights. Human beings were granted certain individual rights known as their â€Å"natural rights† that was always convenient by law. Before the French Revolution, European cultures were restricted by â€Å"two major institutions: the Catholic and Protestant churches and the dynastic court systems† (Tignor, Adelman, Aron, Kotkin, Marchand, 617) where individual rights were given based on social ranks. The Enlightenment influenced the concept of human rights in France in that society had a better awareness of their world, which contributed to the emergence of cultural ambitions such as women forming political clubs to debate for social and political equality. Traditional governing ideas were gradually replaced by new governing visions to protect the natural rights of citizens over the king’s authority. For instance, prior â€Å"traditional Christian belief in original sin and God’s mysterious tamperings with natural forces and human events† (Tignor, Adelman, Aron, Kotkin, Marchand, 617) were abandoned. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens was also established, which helped changed the social and political structure of the country. Additionally, and perhaps the most influence the Enlightenment had on the concept of human rights in France was that it provided â€Å"freedom of religion, freedom of the press, no taxation without representation, elimination of excessive punishments, and various safeguards against arbitrary administration† (Hunt, 77). Having been greatly influenced by the American War of Independence, â€Å"French officers who served in North America arrived home fired by the ideals of liberty that they saw in action in the New World† (Hunt, 13). French deputies met in 1789 with constitutional ideals adopted from Americans like Thomas Jefferson and George Mason, establishing the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens in an effort to drive the â€Å"ideas of rights and liberties in a more universalistic direction† (Hunt, 13). A more Universalistic direction basically meant replacing ideals of the old order with knowledge gained from the Enlightenment. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens empowered all French citizens with protected liberties and granted all men equality under the law. It also declared that the basis of all sovereignty rests most importantly in the nation. Additionally, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens not only grant these rights, but â€Å"trumpeted individual rights, the principle of equality and connected more closely the concept of the people with the nation† (Tignor, Adelman, Aron, Kotkin, Marchand, 647). It is obvious that the document had great significance. Prior to the declaration, political and social situations raised questions that were often left unanswered, usually sparking tensions between government and society. France’s government was based on the old order, a monarchy system in which feudalism was practiced and aristocratic values were vital. Under such system, â€Å"legitimacy depended on the king’s will and maintenance of a historic order that granted privileges according to ranks and status† (Hunt, 15). The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens granted all people of the French society equality under the law, yet the content of those â€Å"true, inalienable natural rights of humanity† remained undefined (Hunt, 6). Several national assemblies were held, but not one of them acknowledged women’s political rights. Rather, all of those assemblies dodged granting women equal political rights. Women were still forbidden â€Å"the rights to meet as a group, draft grievances, or vote† (Hunt, 60). As a result, women, influenced by the declaration, debated for specific rights when â€Å"they saw the opening created by the convocation of the Estates General and hoped to make their claims for inclusion in the promised reform† (Hunt, 60). Between 1790 and 1791, members of a group called Cercle Social, formed by agitated omen, campaigned for equal political rights. Their campaign exposed discrimination against women that denied them equal rights in marriage and education. In that same year (1791), female activist Marie Olympe De Gouges issued the Declaration of the Rights of women in an effort to prove that women had been excluded from the promises of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens. In her declaration, she requested that â€Å"The law should be the general will. All citizenesses and citizens should take part†¦in its formation. It must be the same for everyone. All citizenesses and citizens, being equal in its eyes, should be equally admissible to all public dignities, offices and employments† (Hunt, 27). She argued that women and men were born equal in rights. Therefore, women should have all those rights that a man enjoys such as holding public offices. However, all of these actions of the Parisian women soon increased the National Convention’s negativity towards women and their rights. From October 29-30, 1793, the National Convention held a discussion about women’s political clubs and abolished all women’s clubs. They claimed that women were â€Å"hardly capable of lofty conceptions and cogitations† because â€Å"their body and social role made them unsuited for public affairs† (Hunt, 29). Yet, they felt threatened by women’s organized political activities. The Age of Enlightenment significantly changed the fundamentals of European cultures, and French society during the eighteenth century. It took them away from their rituals of the old regime where government was dominated by monarchy. It formulated ideas on how the churches and the dynastic court systems could be reformed. The Enlightenment also influenced the establishment of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens. However, fundamental questions about rights especially that of women, remained unanswered. The declaration did little to change the inferior status of women. â€Å"None of the national assemblies ever considered legislation granting political rights to women (who could neither vote nor hold office), and on a few occasions on which the possibility arose, however tentatively, the deputies greeted it with widespread derision and incredulity† (Hunt, 27).