biology week 8 assignment

Each day you will be required to “loaf around without feeling guilty”.

 I really wish I could complete this assignment. However, at present it is unbearably challenging to loaf around and not feel like I ought to be working on something. It is extraordinarily difficult for me to take a break from studying for my classes. My to-do list is always calling and the pressure to keep up with my classes keeps me on my toes. Additionally since I am not one for cramming, it is necessary for me to study at least a little bit every day. However, this 'assignment' does remind me of the importance of loafing- of feeling comfortable with just being. 

biology week 7 assignments

How sophisticated is our understanding of cancer?

It seems as though we have a very limited understanding of cancer. However, I am sure my opinion would be different if I worked in the field of cancer research and had a better understanding of the strides that have been made.  It seems like what we know about cancer has centered on an approach to treatment that is centered around intervention rather than prevention. Obviously, there are the exceptions like tobacco which have become well known carcinogens because of public education and public heath campaigns.

How does TCM approach cancer different?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) focuses on the interaction between mind, body and the environment, to prevent and heal from illness. In the United States it is illegal for practicioner of TCM to treat patients for cancer. However, in other countires TCM has been acknowledged as a viable treatement for healing from and treating the associated symptoms of many types of cancer.

Because on my limited knowledge regarding TCM approaches to cancer, I do not know the details in the approaches to treatment. However, research from Australia's University of Western Sydney and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine has found that Chinese herbal medicine offers significant treatment. The researchers analyzed and reviewed 2,964 human clinical studies that involved 253,434 cancer patients. They found that in a full 1,015 studies or 85% of those that reported on symptoms, TCM treatment resulted in improvement of cancer symptoms with many of those reporting reduced pain. Another 883 studies – 70% – showed increased survival rates. Another 38% showed reduced tumor size, and 28% showed increased quality of life. Another 19% showed lower relapse rates and another 7% showed reduced complications.

biology week 6 assignments

How would you distinguish between living and non-living systems?

Instead of examining phenomena by attempting to break things down into singular organisms, a general living systems theory examines phenomena in terms of the patterns of the relationships of organisms within their environment.

Living systems are open self-organizing systems that have the special characteristics of life and interact with their environment.  A non-living thing or system is one that lacks or has ceased displaying the characteristics of life- the capability for growth, reproduction, respiration, metabolism, and movement. Additionally, living systems are dynamic and are capable of of responding to stimuli or evolve and adapt to their environment. Examples of non-living things are rock, water, and sun.

"DNA doesn't determine race. Society does" Would you agree?

Race is not biological, race is a social construct. Race is ontologically subjective, but epistemologically objective. It is ontologically subjective in that the construction and continued existence of ‘race’ is contingent on society and the collective agreement, imposition, and acceptance of the construction of the concept itself. However, race is very real in society and has different meaning that shifts through history, geography and culture. In the United States the dominant group in society (Whites) has imposed the boundaries of group membership by falsely defining race in terms of biology. If you are a person of color, then you are biologically inferior to a white person.

Individuals do not perpetuate racism or the concepts of race independently. Structures, Institutions and social systems including our medical system, legal system, prison system, educational system, etc. perpetuate the logic of race and racism.

After our disscusion in class i thought it was also important to post the links below. 

http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/02/10/7-things-color-blind-racist-friend-might-say-respond/

http://amptoons.com/blog/files/mcintosh.html

http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/

http://www.swaraj.org/illich_hell.htm