The Evolution of Teeth
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A 10 page outline of the evolution of teeth from the lower vertebrates to more advanced species such as man. Describes the origin of jaw structure and structures such as conodonts (minute toothlike structures) which were the precursors of advanced teeth. Outlines the further evolution of these teeth in the higher mammals with the appearance of features like the hypocone which expanded the grinding surface of teeth and resulted in an explosion of mammal species some forty thousand years ago. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: PPevTeth.wps

The Future of Human Cloning.
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(7 pp) The idea of human cloning either sounds like something out of a bad science fiction movie, is a boon to medical science or a travesty to morality. As in the case of most exaggerations, there is a shred of truth in all of them. Although our proposed challenge is to project what might happen, some of those projections will be examined under a humorous light. Generally speaking we learn best when we can laugh. Other projections are as assigned. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: BBclone.doc

The Future of Plant Breeding
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This 6 page paper assumes that plant breeding progress will depend upon the efficient use of genetic resources. Genetic engineering is discussed and the future of plant breeding is looked at from both a practical and legal perspective. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
Filename: SA023Bio.wps

The Genetic Pathway and Developmental Evolution
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A 7 page discussion of genetic pathways, specifically the direction of the orderly expression of specific gene subsets, a process which is controlled by tissue-specific transcription factors. Specific DNA target sequences are bound by these transcription factors and, in turn, interact with one another on either a cooperative basis or an antagonistic basis to control expression of the gene subsets. This interaction is aided as well by extracellular signaling molecules which both control and are controlled by the transcription factors. Ties these basic observations together with a review of research on species as diverse as Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish. An additional 2 pages are appended on this paper which identify several references which could be applicable in an expanded review of this subject. Bibliography lists 13 sources.
Filename: PPgenePt.wps

The Great Human Diasporas: Implications of the Work of Luigi Luca Cavilli-Sforza for Theories of Cultural Evolution
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A 5 page discussion of the theories presented in the book The Great Human Diasporas : The History of Diversity and Evolution. Recognizes author Cavilli-Sforza as a renown expert in human genetic diversity. Notes Cavilli-Sforza adds significant contributions to the predominant explanations of cultural evolution. His work in linguistics, for example, has been applied to reconstructing ancient routes of human migration. Additional work in genetics complement such observations to allow Cavilli-Sforza to provide considerable insight to the manner in which culture has evolved alongside the biological aspects of human life. No additional sources are listed.
Filename: PPcltEvo.wps

The Importance of Phylogenetic Relationships in Evolutionary Biology
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A 5 page contention that phylogenetic relationships are a critical component of evolutionary biology. Indeed, it is upon our knowledge of phylogeny which we base much of our theory of evolution. Even in �Origin of Species�, that infamous production of an earlier century which many consider synonymous with the concept of evolution, Darwin relies heavily on his knowledge of phylogeny to assess the characteristics of plants and animals which he observed on his scientific voyage on the �Beagle�. Contends that this is only one example, of the many interrelationships of phylogeny and evolutionary theory which have occurred over time. It, along with the somewhat antiquated concept of ontogeny recapitulating phylogeny, however, illustrates the importance of phylogeny to evolutionary theory. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: PPphylog.wps

The Neanderthal Controversy
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This 8 page paper provides an overview of the controversies over the origins of Homo sapien, and the question of whether modern man drove out the Neanderthals or if they interbred. This paper integrate a view of the existing arguments. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Filename: MHNeande.rtf

The Origins of Homo Sapien
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This 5 page paper considers the arguments regarding the origins of Homo sapien, including the population replacement model, the multiregional replacement model and the genetic replacement model. These three theories are assessed, with a significant concentration placed on the validity of the population replacement model, also known as the Out of Africa model . Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Filename: MHHomoSa.wps