In the Argument section on page 65-66, Shenk argues that the bodies of highly accomplished people physically change over long periods of practice. Changes in the "muscles, nerves, hearts, lungs, and brains" (65) of very specialized, talented people are noted even in intellectual talents as well as athletic talents. Shenk also notes, most importantly, the vast changes in the brains of the subjects he studied and their changes in the ways they think (66). How do these changes illustrate the theme of relationship between structure and function? How does the changing structure of our bodies as a result of continuous practice relate to the function those changes serve? How do changes in the body systems we have learned about in class (excretory, circulatory) affect their functions?
-Akila Khan (starlight608@gmail.com)
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ReplyDeleteAs Tindall explains this major theme of biology, the relationship between structure and function is as simple as "a screwdriver is suited to tighten or loosen screws, a hammer to pound nails" (7). How things work is in direct correlation with their function. And, this idea is present at all structural levels of biology. Looking at the runner's heart example, the more the runners exercise, the stronger the heart muscles become, the more blood per contraction the heart can pump and the more efficient the runner's body will be. The relationship between structure and function is integral in biological processes and life forms.
ReplyDeleteMore specifically, the human body is a remarkable organism that adapts to change over time. A study at Columbia University found that “humans who had a exercise training program were able to grow and maintain new brain cells and nerve cells in the hippocampus region of the brain”*. The is a perfect example of how using our bodies changes our bodies due to the correlation between structure and function. An example of an adaptation of the circulatory system that further elicits this idea is the increase in red blood cells at high altitudes. Red blood cells are our oxygen carries and when the demand for oxygen increases rapidly and at a large magnitude, how bodies respond with the increased production of oxygen transport carriers. The adaptation of red blood cells shows that as we place demands on our bodies to function in ways beyond resting conditions, we can change the structure of our bodies. If this were not so, humans would not be nearly as abundant or successful as they are today and life would be dramatically different.
*(http://4mind4life.com/blog/2008/08/18/7-scientifically-proven-ways-to-stimulate-brain-cell-growth-neurogenesis/)
Jane Rose 5-6A
In human anatomy, structure greatly correlates with function. As Jane notes, evolution has allowed organisms to adapt and alter structure to create an extremely precise and advantageous, like how a screwdriver is created to best screw in a nail. Some examples in the human body include a large, thin, surface area of internal organs to maximize diffusion, or physical adaptations like being bipedal.
ReplyDeleteMore significant adaptations are those based on race/ethnicity, since historically race was centralized in a certain area and oftentimes affected social status. Essentially, a Central African farmer would adapt differently than a Western European lord because of the different necessities stressed by either environment. Adding to Jane's comments about red blood cells, Africans are generally more susceptible to sickle cell disease, but ironically provides them a fitness adaptation. This is because "Africa is largely the result of indirect selection for this trait by malaria. Heterozygous carriers of the sickling gene...are sufficiently resistant to the malarial microorganism" which gives them a "selective advantage" against malaria (since it is more prevalent in Africa) (Palomar). Additionally, the increased amount of melanin in skin cells for darker-skinned ethnicities (African, Indian) is another example of how humans can adapt to prevent skin cancer, sun burns, etc. While humans can't consciously choose to produce more melanin, the fact that skin cells must change its structure (or concentration of melanin) allows us to adapt to suit our environment and create a more fit population.
http://anthro.palomar.edu/adapt/adapt_1.htm
Nathan Ro (nathanro94@gmail.com)