Nursing

Nursing Should Not Borrow
Nursing Should Not Borrow
Part One:
“Nursing should not ‘borrow’ theories from other disciplines.” Refute this statement by providing specific examples from your current nursing practice. (I work on a medical surgical unit) Describe the importance of increased nursing collaboration with other disciplines.
Your initial posting should be at least 400 words in length and utilize at least one scholarly source other than the textbook.
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Part two:
Assignment:
Your assignment this week will be an APA paper to include title page, level headings, and a reference page.
Case Study
The hospice nurse sat with Ann’s husband, Ben. Ann was resting quietly as the increased dosage of IV pain medication gradually reached its therapeutic level. Ben turned his head and slowly turned, looking out the room’s only window. As he glanced up, a small flicker of light caught his breath. It was a shooting star. A tear fell from the corner of his eye and he turned to Ann. The nurse sensed that something significant to Ann and Ben was unfolding. Shuffling to Ann’s bedside, he took her small fragile hand in his. These hands had rocked cradles, burped babies, and groomed the horses she loved to ride. Gently holding her hand, he turned to the nurse. “She would ride like the wind was chasing her.” Looking back to Ann his voice broke; choking back tears “Ann, Ann I saw Jessie…Jessie is calling.” Ben turned “Jessie was our daughter. She died having a baby that was too big. When she died it was a pitch-black night. Cold, so cold, the baby died too, a little boy, named him Abe, Jr. after Jessie’s husband. I took Ann outside so she could cry to God above and there in this dark sky we saw two falling stars…together…just falling. We knew it had to be Jessie and Abe…two angels to light up the night.” Ben turned back as a deep sigh escaped from Ann’s lips. A soft smile remained as she joined Jessie and Abe.
Based on this case study how would the nurse actualize Parse’s theory of Human Becoming?
What are characteristics of a human becoming nurse? What are strengths and weaknesses to this theory of nursing?
What challenges exist for healthcare institutions to switch to this nursing approach?
How might Parse’s understanding of transcendence guide the nurse, as Ann’s death became a reality to Ben?
From the nursing theories we have discussed, what additional theory would you apply to this case study? Develop a plan of care to include both nursing theories (be specific and provide reasons)
The APA formatted paper should include 2 outside references and your book. The essay should be between 1250 and 1500 words in length.

Assignment: CRISPR Human Gene
Assignment: CRISPR Human Gene
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“CRISPR, Human Gene Editing, and Esvelt’s Regret”
For your primary post, please respond to one of the following three topics with a post of at least 125 words that addresses each point given in the instructions. Also, please reply to at least one fellow student on any topic.
Topic 1
: Jennifer Doudna on CRISPR. View the NBC News story about CRISPR (1)*, including an interview with its co-discoverer, Jennifer Doudna. Then, address the following issues:
(a) What applications of CRISPR look particularly promising for improving human well-being?
(b) What sort of ethical issues have arisen or are likely to arise with the deployment of CRISPR?
Topic 2 [Reading]: Societal Aspects of Human Gene Editing. Read the article by Neuhaus (2)* and/or the article by Ossola (3)*, then address the following:
(a) Where do you think our procedures, regulations, and laws ought to come down regarding human genome editing, with CRISPR (or any other tool)? Take a clear position on this.
(b) Explain your rationale.
Topic 3 [Reading]: Esvelt’s Regret. In the article by Zimmer (4)*, Kevin Esvelt says that he made a huge mistake by championing the application of a technology that he now says is far too dangerous to actually deploy. Based on the article, address the following:
(a) What is the technology that he championed? What does it consist of and why does he think it’s too risky to use outside the lab?
(b) In your opinion, what sorts of laws and regulations, if any, should society put into place to regulate the technology that Esvelt regrets championing?
*References (in Strayer Writing Standards format).
NBC News, June 11, 2017. Life changer,
Carolyn P. Neuhaus, March 16, 2017. Genome editing: bioethics shows the way.
Alexandra Ossola, August 6, 2015. Should bioethicists “get out of the way” of CRISPR research?,
Carl Zimmer, November 16, 2017. ‘Gene drives’ are too risky for field trials, scientists say,

Discussion: Chemotherapy Drug
Discussion: Chemotherapy Drug
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7. A chemotherapy drug affects the enzyme DNA polymerase. In which part of the cell cycle does it inhibit cell division?
A) Metaphase
B) S phase
C) G1
D) Cytokinesis
E) Prophase
8. A researcher planted seeds from four types of tomatoes (Roma, Cherry, Big Boy and Early Girl) in a greenhouse to determine which type of tomato produce the largest number of tomatoes per plant. The plants were grown for 70 days under the same temperature and light conditions. The average results for 20 plants of each type are shown below. Choose the data set that demonstrates that Cherry tomatoes produce the largest number of tomatoes per plant.
A) Roma: 20 tomatoes, Cherry: 18 tomatoes, Big Boy: 30 tomatoes, Early Girl: 10 tomatoes
B) Roma: 1.8 lbs, Cherry: 2.8 lbs, Big Boy: 2.7 lbs, Early Girl: 1.0 lbs
C) Roma: 3 cm, Cherry: 1 cm, Big Boy: 10 cm, Early Girl: 7 cm
D) Roma: 2 cm, Cherry: 10 cm, Big Boy: 7 cm, Early Girl: 6 cm
E) Roma: 23 tomatoes, Cherry: 28 tomatoes, Big Boy: 10 tomatoes, Early Girl: 27 tomatoes
9. The majority of climate scientists believe that the current change in climate is caused predominantly by ________.
A) an increase of the greenhouse effect
B) a decreased reliance on fossil fuels for energy
C) a thinning of the ozone layer
D) a melting of the polar ice caps
E) an increase in solar radiation
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10. Based on the following phylogenetic tree, which of the following conclusions are *NOT* correct? Each letter represents a hypothetical species.
A) A and E share a common ancestor
B) B is one of A’s ancestors
C) E and D are more closely related to each other than to C
D) C is more closely related to E than to B
E) A and B are closely related
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11. You are taking a cruise from California to Hawaii. About halfway there the ship begins to sink. You are able to board a lifeboat, but now you are floating in the ocean waiting to be rescued. After several days you are so thirsty that you bend over the side of the boat and drink lots of salty seawater. What happens to your body?
A) You throw up because sea salt is toxic to humans.
B) You get thirstier because of osmosis.
C) Salt diffuses into your cells, water follows, your cells start to expand and you feel bloated.
D) Since sea water consist of 96.5% fresh water (and only 3.5% salt) you will feel much better.
E) You get dehydrated because water is unable to cross the semi-permeable membranes of your cells.
12. You are spraying your garden with a pesticide and you accidentally swallow a small amount. You read on the package that this pesticide inhibits ATP synthase. Should you be worried?
A) ATP synthase is part of the light dependent reaction in photosynthesis; this pesticide will therefore not affect humans. So don’t worry!
B) ATP synthase is an enzyme involved in the citric acid cycle so all animals, humans included, will be affected. Call the doctor.
C) ATP synthase found in the pesticide is a very toxic compound. Call the doctor.
D) ATP synthase is involved in both photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Call the doctor.
E) ATP synthase inhibitors will not affect humans, but there might be other toxic ingredients in the pesticide, so it is best to call the doctor to be on the safe side.
13. In the following chemical reaction, what is carbon dioxide (CO2)?
12 H20 + 6 CO2 -> 1 glucose molecule + 6 O2
A) substrate
B) product
C) enzyme
D) activation factor
E) independent variable

Prominent Feature Of Personality Disorder
Prominent Feature Of Personality Disorder
Question 8
1.
The most prominent feature of a personality disorder is
Answer
blantant disregard for society’s rules
feelings of sadness, dejection, and self-depreciation
phobias and other fears
thinking and talking in unconvential, illogical, or ambiguous ways
5 points
Question 9
1.
Which of the following examples of mental health issues would most likely be defined as a personality disorder?
Answer
A crooked politician
A person whith severe headaches
Someone with an acute fear of heights
A very anxious person
5 points
Question 10
1.
The primary motivation for burglary is
Answer
subsistence needs
the thrill of entering a home
expressive needs
to demonstrate technical skills
5 points
Question 11
1.
Joe was a sociologists who studied mental illness in a poor urban neighborhood whose residents have a high rate of mental illness. He discovered that many persons moving into the neighborshood had clear symptoms of mental illness, and that normal residents, when they could, moved out to a better neighborhood. His study would support the _______ explanation of the relations between class and mental illness.
Answer
Social causation
Organic
Social drift
Biomedical
5 points
Question 12
1.
In order for a person to undergo involuntary hospitalization for an indefinite period, the person must first be
Answer
Convicted of a crime
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Charged with a crime
Arrested for a suspected crime
Judged by the court-appointed psychiatrist as dangerous to themselves or others
5 points
Question 13
1.
Joe is a psychiatrist who works with mental patients and searches for the cause in some unresolved conflict in the patient’s childhood. He is probably using _______theory.
Answer
Behavioral
Psychoanalytic
Labeling
Biomedical
5 points
Question 14
1.
The reason cocaine is psychologically addictive is due to the
Answer
Physical addiction of the drug
High status coming from the use of cocaine
High quality of pleasure the user gains from it
Moral weakness of the user
5 points
Question 15
1.
Which of the following is part of the treatment program of Alcoholic Anonymous?
Answer
Requiring members to admit that they are alcoholics and powerless over alcohol
Encouraging members to develop a rugged individualistic approach to drinking
Encouraging members to maintain a moderate drinking pattern
Urging members to seek psychotherapy
5 points
Question 16
1.
Women who make huge sums of money selling sex to men are sociologically categorized as
Answer
Clever businesswomen
Feminist pioneers
Heterosexual deviants
Members of an exploited group
5 points
Question 17
1.
Which of the following aspects of pornography is considered most damaging to a feminist?
Answer
Its emphasis on sexual gratification and permissiveness
Its undermining of monogramous relationships by producing sexual arousal outside the marital relationship
Its direct and indirect link to violence and discrimination
Its social benefit, such as helping consumers to shed sexual inhibitions
5 points
Question 18
1.
Something a person has or does that others see as bad in some way is the definition of
Answer
A phobia
An obsession
A falsehood
A stigma
5 points
Question 19
1.
Deviance committed by the relatively rich and powerful is called ________.
Answer
Organized crime
White-collar crime
Privileged deviance
Normal deviance
5 points
Question 20
1.
The most common form of official violence is ___________.
Answer
Police brutality against citizens
The exposure of average citizens to dangerous chemicals
Strictly enforcing the tax laws
The adding of experimental drugs into the rations given to Army soldiers

Assignment: Significance of Cytochrome c
Assignment: Significance of Cytochrome c
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Cytochrome c is an important component of the molecular machinery that harvests energy from glucose. Because this protein’s role in producing cellular energy is crucial, it has changed very little over millions of years. Protein sequencing has shown that there is a considerable amount of sequence similarity among cytochrome c molecules of different species; evolutionary relationships can be assessed by measuring the similarities or differences among various species’ protein sequences.
Assignment: Significance of Cytochrome c
For example, scientists have determined that human cytochrome c contains 104 amino acids. For each cytochrome c molecule that has been sequenced to date from different organisms, 37 of these amino acids appear in the same position in each cytochrome c. This indicates that all these organisms are descended from a common ancestor. On comparing the human and chimpanzee protein sequences, no sequence difference was found. When human and rhesus monkey sequences were compared, a single difference was found in one amino acid. In contrast, human-to-yeast comparisons show a difference in 44 amino acids, suggesting that humans and chimpanzees have a more recent common ancestor than humans and the rhesus monkey, or humans and yeast.
Protein Structure
As discussed earlier, the shape of a protein is critical to its function. To understand how the protein gets its final shape or conformation, we need to understand the four levels of protein structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary (Figure 21).
The unique sequence and number of amino acids in a polypeptide chain is its primary structure. The unique sequence for every protein is ultimately determined by the gene that encodes the protein. Any change in the gene sequence may lead to a different amino acid being added to the polypeptide chain, causing a change in protein structure and function. In sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin ? chain has a single amino acid substitution, causing a change in both the structure and function of the protein. What is most remarkable to consider is that a hemoglobin molecule is made up of two alpha chains and two beta chains that each consist of about 150 amino acids. The molecule, therefore, has about 600 amino acids. The structural difference between a normal hemoglobin molecule and a sickle cell molecule—that dramatically decreases life expectancy—is a single amino acid of the 600.
Because of this change of one amino acid in the chain, the normally biconcave, or disc-shaped, red blood cells assume a crescent or “sickle” shape, which clogs arteries. This can lead to a myriad of serious health problems, such as breathlessness, dizziness, headaches, and abdominal pain for those who have this disease.
Folding patterns resulting from interactions between the non-R group portions of amino acids give rise to the secondary structure of the protein. The most common are the alpha (?)-helix and beta (?)- pleated sheet structures. Both structures are held in shape by hydrogen bonds. In the alpha helix, the bonds form between every fourth amino acid and cause a twist in the amino acid chain.
In the ?-pleated sheet, the “pleats” are formed by hydrogen bonding between atoms on the backbone of the polypeptide chain. The R groups are attached to the carbons and extend above and below the folds of the pleat. The pleated segments align parallel to each other, and hydrogen bonds form between the same pairs of atoms on each of the aligned amino acids. The ?-helix and ?-pleated sheet structures are found in many globular and fibrous proteins.
The unique three-dimensional structure of a polypeptide is known as its tertiary structure. This structure is caused by chemical interactions between various amino acids and regions of the polypeptide. Primarily, the interactions among R groups create the complex three-dimensional tertiary structure of a protein. There may be ionic bonds formed between R groups on different amino acids, or hydrogen bonding beyond that involved in the secondary structure. When protein folding takes place, the hydrophobic R groups of nonpolar amino acids lie in the interior of the protein, whereas the hydrophilic R groups lie on the outside. The former types of interactions are also known as hydrophobic interactions. In nature, some proteins are formed from several polypeptides, also known as subunits, and the interaction of these subunits forms the quaternary structure. Weak interactions between the subunits help to stabilize the overall structure. For example, hemoglobin is a combination of four polypeptide subunits.
Each protein has its own unique sequence and shape held together by chemical interactions. If the protein is subject to changes in temperature, pH, or exposure to chemicals, the protein structure may change, losing its shape in what is known as denaturation, as discussed earlier. Denaturation is often reversible because the primary structure is preserved if the denaturing agent is removed, allowing the protein to resume its function. Sometimes denaturation is irreversible, leading to a loss of function. One example of protein denaturation can be seen when an egg is fried or boiled. The albumin protein in the liquid egg white is denatured when placed in a hot pan, changing from a clear substance to an opaque white substance. Not all proteins are denatured at high temperatures; for instance, bacteria that survive in hot springs have proteins that are adapted to function at those temperatures.
For an additional perspective on proteins, explore “Biomolecules: The Proteins” through this interactive

Assignment: Lampreys And Large Brains
Assignment: Lampreys And Large Brains
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“Tarnita’s Termites, Pacific Lampreys, and Large Brains”
For your primary post, please respond to one of the following three topics with a post of at least 125 words that addresses each point given in the instructions. Also, please reply to at least one fellow student on any topic.
Topic 1
: Population Distribution of Termites in a Savanna. Watch the video (1) describing Corina Tarnita’s research on the spacing of termite mounds in savanna ecosystems, and then address the following:
(a) What were Tarnita’s findings about the spacing of termite mounds?
(b) What does Tarnita think is the main factor that governs the spatial distribution of the termite mounds?
(c) How do the termite mounds benefit other organisms on the savanna?
Topic 2
: Pacific Lampreys. Watch the video about Pacific Lampreys (2)*, then address the following:
(a) Where do Pacific lampreys fall in the taxonomy of vertebrates?
(b) What challenges do Pacific lamprey populations face?
(c) Why are Native American tribes of the Northwest concerned about them? (Please note: take care not to confuse the Pacific lamprey (described in the video) with the Sea Lamprey, which is a completely different species that is considered an invasive species in the Great Lakes).
Topic 3 [article]: Supporting the Energy Needs of a Large Brain. As discussed in the article by Zimmer (3)*, brain tissue is energetically expensive. For a species to evolve a large brain, it may need to make certain adjustments to ensure that enough energy is available to support brain function. Zimmer discusses various hypotheses about such adjustments in the human line of descent. Explain one of these adjustments.
References (in Strayer Writing Standards format).
HHMI Biointeractive (2015, November 11). Analyzing patterns in the savanna landscape. [Video]. Retrieved from
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (2012). Taking the initiative to conserve Pacific Lamprey. [Video]. Retrieved from
Carl Zimmer, July/August 2011. The brain. Discover, 32 (6), 18-19.

Difference Between Plasma And Serum
Difference Between Plasma And Serum
Question 20
During science class, a student asks, “What’s the difference between plasma and serum in the blood?” The nurse responds that the primary difference between plasma and serum is that plasma contains
Answers:
A. hydrogen ions.
B. heparin.
C. white blood cells.
D. fibrinogen.
Question 21
During a flu shot clinic, one of the questions the student nurse asks relates to whether the patient has had Guillain-Barré syndrome in his medical history. The patient asks, “What is that?” How should the nursing student reply?
Answers:
A. “A type of paralysis that affects movement on both sides of the body that may even involve the respiratory muscles”
B. “Influenza-like illness where you had fever and chills for 2 to 3 days after your last flu shot”
C. “A degenerative disease where you have trouble walking without the help of a cane or walker”
D. “Swelling of your arm where you got your flu shot, and maybe your eyes and lips had some swelling as well”
Question 22
A 22-year-old female college student is shocked to receive a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. What are the etiology and most likely treatment for her health problem?
Answers:
A. Excess acetylcholinesterase production; treatment with thymectomy
B. A decline in functioning acetylcholine receptors; treatment with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulins
C. Cerebellar lesions; surgical and immunosuppressive treatment
D. Autoimmune destruction of skeletal muscle cells; treatment with intensive physical therapy and anabolic steroids
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Question 23
A baseball player was hit in the head with a bat during practice. In the emergency department, the physician tells the family that he has a “coup”injury. How will the nurse explain this to the family so they can understand?
Answers:
A. “It’s like squeezing an orange so tight that the juice runs out of the top.”
B. “When the bat hit his head, his neck jerked backward causing injury to the spine.”
C. “Your son has a contusion of the brain at the site where the bat hit his head.”
D. “Your son has a huge laceration inside his brain where the bat hit his skull.”
Question 24
Which of the following glycoproteins is responsible for treating such diseases as bone marrow failure following chemotherapy and hematopoietic neoplasms such as leukemia? Answers:
A. Growth factors and cytokines
B. T lymphocytes and natural killer cells
C. Neutrophils and eosinophils
D. Natural killer cells and granulocytes
Question 25
While being on subcutaneous heparin injections for deep vein thrombosis during her latter pregnancy, a patient begins to experience major side effects. Her OB-GYN physician has called in a specialist who thinks that the patient is experiencing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. The nurse should anticipate which of the following orders?
Answers:
A. Immediately discontinue the heparin therapy
B. Switch to Coumadin 2.5 mg once/day
C. Decrease the dose of heparin from 5000 units b.i.d to 3000 units b.i.d
D. Infuse FFP stat
Question 26
Which of the following individuals would most likely experience global ischemia to his or her brain?
Answers:
A. A woman who is being brought to hospital by ambulance following suspected carbon monoxide poisoning related to a faulty portable heater
B. A male client who has just had an ischemic stroke confirmed by CT of his head
C. A woman who has been admitted to the emergency department with a suspected intracranial bleed
D. A man who has entered cardiogenic shock following a severe myocardial infarction
Question 27
A new mother and father are upset that their 2-day-old infant is requiring phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia. The pediatrician who has followed the infant since birth is explaining the multiplicity of factors that can contribute to high serum bilirubin levels in neonates. Which of the following factors would the physician be most likely to rule out as a contributor?
Answers:
A. Transitioning of hemoglobin F (HbF) to hemoglobin A (HbA)
B. Hepatic immaturity of the infant
C. Hypoxia
D. The fact that the infant is being breast-fed

Assignment: Biological Basis
Assignment: Biological Basis
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Due in week 5 and worth 80 points
Continuing on the research that you started in Week 3, explain what your chosen biotechnology accomplishes and how it is implemented, and describe the body of knowledge that it is based upon. The detailed guidelines are as follows:
Begin with a description of the biotechnology and what it accomplishes. Then, explain whether it involves manipulating the DNA (or RNA) of an organism, or simply utilizing the DNA (or RNA) that is already there naturally.
Provide a full and complete description of exactly how the technology works.
If your technology involves manipulating the DNA of an organism, then you should explain how that is accomplished. Depending on the specific technology, adding DNA to cells is often accomplished with a vector, such as a virus or bacterium, but there are mechanical means as well, such as microinjection or use of a “gene gun.”
If your technology involves interpreting the DNA in an organism (as one might do for personalized medicine), explain how that is accomplished. What are the means of collecting a sample? How is the sample processed? What exactly is being analyzed to generate the interpretation?
Discuss the key biological principles that underlie the technology. Many of them are based on an understanding of genes and how they are expressed. Other technologies may be based on the concept of the genome, transcriptome, or proteome. Others are based on an understanding of non-coding DNA (such as the short-tandem repeats used in DNA fingerprinting). Many are based on an understanding of DNA replication, as well as basic heredity.
The expected length is a proxy for how much detail to go into. Go into enough detail to get at least one page of double-spaced text (about 300 words), but not much more than two pages of double-spaced text (about 600 words). Your overall goal in this assignment is to show the instructor that you understand the underlying science behind the technology.
You must have a reference section which contains an SWS reference to your chosen article and all other sources. Additionally, you must provide in-text citations (in SWS format) to your references in the body of the text. Integrate all sources into your paper using proper techniques of quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing, along with your in-text citations. Double-space your paper. Use standard margins and fonts. Also, follow any additional formatting instructions provided by your instructor.
A large portion of the grading of this assignment is based upon the coherence, depth, and accuracy of your writing.
Objectives evaluated by this assessment:
Categorize a wide range of organisms, from single-celled to multi-celled organisms.
Describe how organisms acquire and utilize both energy and material.
Describe the cell cycle, cell reproduction, and control.
Investigate DNA and gene expression as well as technologies based on our understanding of them.
Discuss interactions between organisms in ecosystems.

Free-format And Fixed-format
Free-format And Fixed-format
For this Assignment, you compare the advantages between free-format and fixed-format self-report measures.
To prepare:
Review pages 72–80 in Chapter 4 of the course text.
You may also review and research materials (hard copies or online) outside this week’s Learning Resources that are relevant to the Assignment, if you wish.
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The Assignment (2 pages):
Explain what free-format self-report measures and fixed-format self-report measures are and provide specific examples. Plan to devote a paragraph to describing each.
Compare the advantages of free-format self-report measures and fixed-format self-report measures in a table similar to the one provided below. Provide at least three advantages for each. Paraphrase(put in your own words) rather than directly quoting from the Learning Resources.
Free-format advantages Fixed-format advantages
Advantage 1 Advantage 1
Advantage 2 Advantage 2
Advantage 3 Advantage 3
Respond to oneof the following two questions (A or B):
Briefly describe a research study in which a free-format self-report measure will be preferred over fixed-format self-report measure and justify your rationale.
Which free-format self-report measure (e.g., projective measure, associative, list etc.) would you prefer to administer if you were a researcher for your chosen study? Justify your rationale for the selection.
Briefly describe a research study in which a will be preferred over free-format self-report measure and justify your rationale.
Which fixed-format self-report measure (e.g., Likert scale, semantic differential, etc.) would you prefer to administer if you were a researcher for the study? Justify your rationale for the selection.
For this Assignment, you compare the advantages between
To prepare:
Review pages 72–80 in Chapter 4 of the course text.
You may also review and research materials (hard copies or online) outside this week’s Learning Resources that are relevant to the Assignment, if you wish.
The Assignment (2 pages):
Explain what free-format self-report measures and fixed-format self-report measures are and provide specific examples. Plan to devote a paragraph to describing each.
Compare the advantages of free-format self-report measures and fixed-format self-report measures in a table similar to the one provided below. Provide at least three advantages for each. Paraphrase(put in your own words) rather than directly quoting from the Learning Resources.
Free-format advantages Fixed-format advantages
Advantage 1 Advantage 1
Advantage 2 Advantage 2
Advantage 3 Advantage 3
Respond to oneof the following two questions (A or B):
Briefly describe a research study in which a free-format self-report measure will be preferred over fixed-format self-report measure and justify your rationale.
Which free-format self-report measure (e.g., projective measure, associative, list etc.) would you prefer to administer if you were a researcher for your chosen study? Justify your rationale for the selection.
Briefly describe a research study in which a will be preferred over free-format self-report measure and justify your rationale.
Which fixed-format self-report measure (e.g., Likert scale, semantic differential, etc.) would you prefer to administer if you were a researcher for the study? Justify your rationale for the selection.

Assignment: Forces of Evolution
Assignment: Forces of Evolution
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Purpose: To illustrate how multiple forces of evolution act on populations through time.
Learning Objectives:
· Define the driving forces of evolution and identify their effects at the population level
· Understand the necessary conditions of evolutionary (Hardy-Weinberg) equilibrium
· Predict how different forces of evolution influence diversity within a population through time
Lab Activity: Population Genetics & Evolutionary Forces Simulation
The “Modern Synthesis” was a term coined in 1942 by Julian Huxley in a book of the same name. Huxley used the phrase to summarize the tremendous explosion of biological theory and research that began to occur in the 1930’s as Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection was merged with Mendelian principles of heredity. The synthesis is represented by a series of collaborative seminal works from scientists who have since become legends: geneticists such as Haldane, Dobzhansky, and Wright, mathematicians such as Fisher, taxonomists such as Mayr, and paleontologists such as Simpson. At that time, their publications laid the foundation for the basic theories of evolution that are still accepted and applied today, and prompted the famous precept by Theodosius Dobzhansky that “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.”
In the previous lab, we discussed the basic principles of genetic inheritance of traits for individuals. This week’s lab will expand upon your understanding of how genetics works at the population level. In the following exercises, we will do a group activity and use a computer simulation to evaluate the effects of evolutionary forces on populations over multiple generations.
In the context of population genetics, evolution is defined as a change in allele frequency in the gene pool of a population over time. Alleles are separate copies of genes. In most cases, each individual has 2 alleles for every gene, which are known together as the genotype. Evolution is only possible if there is variation in these alleles within a population. Since different alleles may have different effects on the body or behavior of an organism (the organism’s phenotype), changes in the frequencies of alleles can result in phenotypic changes of a population. Certain alleles may be selected out through time or disappear by chance, while others may become more commonplace. Changes in allele frequencies within populations are thought to be responsible for most major patterns of evolutionary change, when magnified by the accumulation of time over many generations.
The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is a theoretical model that states that allele frequency and genotype frequency (and by extension, phenotype frequency) will remain constant in a single population that is not subject to the forces of evolution. This model allows us to test how changes in any of these variables would influence the other variables.
The conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are:
1. No mutation
2. No migration (gene flow)
3. No selection (all genes/traits equally viable)
4. Random mating is equally likely among all members of the population
5. Large population
Forces of Evolution
Modern evolutionary biologists recognize that four primary forces of microevolution can alter allele frequencies within populations. These include:
1. Mutation – the spontaneous change of one allele into another
2. Gene Flow – a.k.a. migration, the influx/outflow of alleles from/to other populations
3. Genetic Drift – the reduction of allele diversity via random chance (such as genetic bottlenecks and the founder effect)
· Genetic Bottleneck = sudden reduction in population size (e.g., due to natural disasters)
· Founder Effect = a small, random sample of a larger population breaks off to establish a new population (for instance, a small group from the mainland colonizes an island)
4. Selection – a.k.a. natural selection as proposed by Darwin. Conditions of the environment (physical, social, etc.) cause nonrandom elimination of some individuals’ alleles in the next generation, either because they were unable to successfully reproduce, or had no offspring that were able to successfully reproduce.
Exercise 1: Population Genetics (2 pts)
You come upon a tribe of humans that was previously undiscovered. The tribe is called Bretep. It has approximately 30 members and is governed by one chief, Chief Sakon. In the midst of learning everything you can about the groups culture and behavior, you gather some information on the evolutionary history of the group. Chief Sakon tells you that his second son, Ulan, will become the next chief because his first born, Lyzij, decided to leave the tribe and create his own group about 10 years ago. Lyzij took a small subset of the original tribe with him when he left. Chief Sakon hasn’t heard from him since and hopes he is doing well.
1. By leaving the original tribe, Lyzij’s group will be genetically affected by a _____________________ [evolutionary force]. How will the gene pool of this new group likely compare to the gene pool of the original tribe? Why do you expect that? (.75 pts)
You ask Chief Sakon if losing those members of his tribe has hurt the dynamics of the group. He describes a period of time in which the group struggled because their best potters when with Lyzij. However, the past few years have been fine because they found another tribe that was willing to trade goods with them. They meet often and even regularly choose members from this tribe to marry and bring into the Bretep. You are told that Ulan’s wife was originally from this other tribe. Chief Sakon very happily informs you that they have had many strong, healthy children that will help the Bretep prosper in the future.
2. What evolutionary force is acting on the Bretep when they intermarry and reproduce with the other tribe? Will this increase or decrease the genetic diversity of the Bretep? Why? (.75 pts)
Exercise 2: Computer simulation, Evolutionary Forces
(Adapted from: Dr. Jonathan M. Brown, Grinnell College)
About the simulation program – Red Lynx is a browser-based population genetics simulator developed by Reed A. Cartwright, an evolutionary biologist at Arizona State University. It can be accessed at . Once the webpage has loaded, click “Start Red Lynx Simulator” to start the program.
Red Lynx allows you to investigate how the four evolutionary forces affect allele frequency over many generations. In this case, our allele of interest is called “A1”. Once the web page has been started, adjust the number of generations to 1000 (type it into the corresponding box to be exact), and run a number of simulations. If you select the “Help” hyperlink, descriptions for each variable will be displayed. You should see a variety of different outcomes in the frequency of A1. For the most part, the frequency will fluctuate through time, but A1 will still be present in the population – though in rare instances A1 will become either fixed (frequency = 100%) or completely lost (0%).
Getting started:
Press “Clear Graph” and adjust the generations to 1000 by typing the number into the adjacent box.
Play with the existing settings until your simulated population reaches Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, in which no further evolution is occurring.
1. What happens to the allele frequency in the population once Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is achieved? (0.5 pts)
2. What adjustments had to be made to the population size? How did changing the population size affect allele frequency equilibrium? (1 pts)
3. Once the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, how does the allele frequency change if the initial frequency is adjusted? (0.5 pts)
4. Is Hardy-Weinberg likely to exist in nature? Why or why not? (0.5 pts)
5. Refresh the page and restart Red Lynx to return to the original settings. Mutations are the only source of novel genetic material in biological organisms. The average mutation rate among humans is 2.5e-8 per base per generation (very low!). Type this number into the box for A2 à A1 Mutation Rate.
Be sure the population is set to 800 and the graph is clear.
Set the number of generations to 10 (roughly 200 – 300 years for humans) and run 10 simulations.
What happened to the allele frequency? (0.25 pts)
6. Clear the graph, change the number of generations to 100, and run the simulation 10 times.
Repeat the above instructions with 1000 generations (roughly 20,000 – 30,000 years).
What is happening as time increases? (0.5 pts)
7. What does this tell us about the effect of mutation alone on evolution? (0.5 pts)
8. Keeping the population size at 800 and the mutation rate at 2.5e-8, we will look at the effect of migration.
Set the migration rate to 5% and the migrant allele frequency to 25%
Change generations to 100, clear the graph, and run 5 simulations.
What happens to the allele frequency over time? (0.25 pts)
9. Is the overall variation within the population increasing or decreasing? (0.5 pts)
10. Clear the graph.
Now we will investigate the effects of positive and negative selection. Return the migration rate to 0%.
Set the selection strength to 0.006 and run 10 simulations.
What do you observe? Is the overall variation within the population increasing or
decreasing? (0.5 pts)
11. Now set the selection strength to -0.006 and run 10 simulations. How do the results differ from those in the previous 10 simulations? (0.5 pts)
12. Which one of these two selection scenarios would be more common in nature? Hint: are mutations that have an effect on the phenotype usually beneficial or harmful? Why? (0.5 pts)
READING ASSIGNMENT (2 pts): Stock, Jay, T. 2008. Are humans still evolving? EMBO reports Special Issues 9: S51-S54.
Remember that plagiarism will not be tolerated and may result in a score of 0 for the entire lab. If employing a phrase from the reading or elsewhere, you must place it in quotations!
1. Why do humans show less genetic diversity than other species? (.5 pts)
2. Provide two examples of recent human evolution from the article. (.5 pts)
3. Describe what ways animals can respond to environmental stress other than genetic adaptation? What possible future environmental stresses does the author predict? (1 pt)