The Greek Achievement free essay sample

Greece is the most prominent civilization and achievement in the history. Greek created many achievements in architecture, art, philosophy, mathematics and science. It occupied a very important position in the history of world culture. Moreover, there are no doubt that the contributions to the human society had a significant impact on the history. Also, There are some of the Greek achievements which still have impact on the world. Some information of achievements are below architecture and philosophy. Firstly, the style of architecture was mainly by Classical order. It represents the order of a building. Due to the Greeks believed that Zeus is very important in the gods of Greek mythology. And then, the gods of Mount Olympus looks like a human. They need the construction of buildings to protect them. For instance, the Parthenon which was built in Athens and accordance with strict laws of balance and proportion. It is a architecture that full of order. We will write a custom essay sample on The Greek Achievement or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Therefore, this classical style was continued to influence early Western architecture. The most notably monuments is the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. In addition, the refinement of form and the architectural of the style were established in the Greek temple. It is a architectural what is influence for the last two thousand years of western building tradition. Likewise, philosophy is also a part of the Greek achievement. Philosophy is a Greek word that meaning â€Å"love of wisdom†. Greeks searched the answers about their role in the universe. The Athenians loved ideas as much as they loved the freedom of democracy. The most famous philosopher in Athens was called Socrates. He dared to raise questions about Athenian values. He believed that is important to examine the laws, social customs, and even religious values. His motto was â€Å"know thyself†. After his death, his student Plato carried on his work. Plato opened the first university called the Academy in Greece which taught students. The ideas of Plato and Socrates are still study around the world now. To sum up, the classical age in Greece was a period of greatness achievement. Also, Greece was a the standard for philosophy, science, history, art and architecture for all different cultures. Therefore, the Greek architecture and the philosophy are still affect in the modern society.

Mechanical Weathering Defined and Explained

Mechanical Weathering Defined and Explained Definition: weathering There are five major mechanisms of mechanical weathering: Abrasion is the grinding action of other rock particles due to gravity or the motion of water, ice or air.Crystallization of ice (frost shattering) or certain minerals such as salt (as in the formation of tafoni) can exert enough force to fracture rock.Thermal fracture is the result of rapid temperature change, as by fire, volcanic activity or day-night cycles (as in the formation of grus), all of which rely on the differences in thermal expansion among a mixture of minerals.Hydration shattering may strongly affect clay minerals, which swell with the addition of water and force openings apart. Exfoliation or pressure release jointing results from the stress changes as rock is uncovered after its formation in deep settings. mechanical weathering picture gallery Mechanical weathering is also called disintegration, disaggregation, and physical weathering. Much mechanical weathering overlaps with chemical weathering, and its not always useful to make a distinction. Also Known As: Physical weathering, disintegration, disaggregation

Car Buying Assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Car Buying Assignment - Research Paper Example Present Value Annuity of 5% for 10 years =12.578(use a financial table for PVA, Tapiero, 2010) = ($180 12.578 (PVA 5%, 10 years) = $2,264.04 SOLUTION 4 Amount saved=$ 3,800 Time =5 years Rate=7% Present value annuity of 7% for 5 years=2.624(use a financial table for PVA, Tapiero, 2010) = ($3800 x 2.624(PVA 7%, 5yrs) =$9,971.2 SOLUTION 5 Cash cost=$60 Credit cost = ($60+ ($34for 24) =$876-$695= $181 Home Buying Assignment Grading Rubric Table Comparing Data for the Two Homes Particulars For each home in terms of: 1942 San Ysidro Drive Beverly hills’, CA 18737 Gledhill Street Northridge, CA Price $1,195,000 $579,000 Age 57 years 59 years No. of bedrooms 3 3 No. of bathrooms 2 2 Square footage 2310 1670 Lot size 0.29 0.21 Price per square foot $517 $347 Comparison of the Particulars of the Two Homes The essence of using the two zip codes is to try and locate the appropriate region for buying a particular home so that it can be convenient in terms of reaching to your work station (Lucier, 2005). This can also determine the accessibility of resources and services conveniently for places such as schools, hospitals, church. Therefore, the two zip codes are logically used so as to enable the person interested in buying a home be able to determine the right location of the home with regards to accessibility of various services. In addition, an individual should also consider the shipping factor especially if most times they will be receiving goods through shipment, then a convenient and a strategic location would be a better choice. Considering the total prices for the two homes it is realized that the Beverley hills home is more expensive as compared to that in Northridge both in California. The above table shows that the home in 1942 San Ysidro Drive Street in Beverly is costs $1,195,000 while that along 18737 Gledhill Street costs $579,000. This also proves that those who stay in this area are financially capable (Lucier, 2005). This information would enable t he home buyer to know how to prepare and plan within the limits of his or her budget. After receiving prior information the buyer will plan and ensure that his objectives are precisely met. An individual can therefore make a good decision by comparing the prices of the two homes and knowing which among the two will be within his financial ability before any transactions are made. The price per square foot for the first home in Beverly is about 517 dollars while that along the Gledhill Street in Northridge is about 347 dollars. This comparison illustrates that land as a property is highly valued in Beverly than in Northridge especially for constructed buildings. In this, the price per square foot shows the value of the house especially by using a square foot that is equated to a given price which helps in determining how much money can be paid, alternatively, if an individual wishes to buy the whole home (Lucier, 2005). T

CIS206 U5 Research Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CIS206 U5 Research Assignment - Essay Example Some of these basic UNIX objects are such as files, devices, processes, file system layout, privilege, and groups and users. Files, for example, are where programs and data are stored, and the administrator has to monitor three attributes of files namely; user, dates, and sets of permissions. Processes are the basic units of executing programs in UNIX and can be in states such as waiting for data, ready to run, or running. Processes are specific to users or groups, and this regulates who can send or access signals to a particular process (Malone 2011). Another aspect covered in the article pertains to the tools used by administrators. The author identifies the man command as the most valuable tool for a UNIX administrator because it gives access to the online manual pages. Other essential tools used by the UNIX administrator to administer the user environment are such as grep, awk, find, sort, uniq, sed, diff, head, tail, and diff. The author also touches on how to monitor the UNIX system. Monitoring is done on a daily basis in order to make changes whenever necessary. The administrator oversees some important aspects such as network performance, log files, available disk space, and running processes (Malone

Elder Fraud in the USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Elder Fraud in the USA - Essay Example Many of the elder frauds are unreported but leave the senior citizens in devastating situations since most of them have little time to recoup the losses. Surprisingly, most of the elder frauds against the senior citizens are committed by family members and mainly the adult children or grandchildren. Some of the common frauds include Medicare or health insurance frauds where the perpetrators pose as genuine Health insurance agents in order to obtain personal information from the elderly people or provide inferior services in small clinics and bill the costs to Medicare (Busch, 2012). Another common elder fraud in nursing is counterfeit prescription drugs which mainly are conducted through the internet. Elder people usually obtain drugs that may even lead to more harm and worsening of their medical conditions (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2012). This research paper will discuss types of elder fraud in the United States and offer recommendations on how to deter the fraud. The paper will utilize available literature on books and journals in order to understand elder fraud problem in the United States of America. Literature review According to figures released by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, healthcare related frauds cost the US economy about $ 250 billion every year. Elder fraud is one of the contributors of the skyrocketing medical costs in the US healthcare systems. Controlling elder fraud is difficult since the fraudsters who established sophisticated fraud schemes that entail overbilling the elderly patient, billing for more hours in a day or even charging the elder for services which were not offered (Busch, 2012). Elder people are polite and have excellent credit that makes them vulnerable to health care frauds. Elderly people also make poor witnesses since they do not provide detailed evidence and information to law enforcement officers due to their age effects on memory. Elderly people are also interested in products or medicines that increase their cognitive functioning, physical conditioning, and anti-cancer products thus increasing their vulnerability to fraudsters (Busch, 2012). The most common type of elder fraud is Medicare or health insurance fraud. All US citizens over the age of 65 years are eligible to Medicare plan that is primary financed by the federal government. â€Å"The fraudsters usually pose as agents of medical insurance companies or Medicare in order to obtain the victim’s personal information such as credit card details† (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2012, p 2). The perpetrators may also provide sub-standard medical services in mobile clinics and charge the services to Medicare in order to pocket the money. Other smaller frauds on Medicare and health insurance include the medical equipment fraud whereby the equipment manufacturers may offer free medical equipment to the elderly but the insurers are charged for the equipments even when they have not been delivered. Rolling lab frau d schemes is a common elder fraud which takes place when elderly people unnecessary or fake medical tests at their retirement homes or health clubs and the bogus service is charged to Medicare or the insurance companies.

Last Supper by David Lachapelle: Analysis

Last Supper by David Lachapelle: Analysis I am going to analyse the image taken by mentioned artist above. The essay will cover wide range of descriptive language from focus, light, depth of field, contrast ET all. In other words I will try to give an accurate detailed description of the image. The series of Jesus is a homeboy demonstrates God on rough urban streets and in the neighbourhood between homeboys. Except for one white looking guy who is Jesus. The author composition of the image is to draw viewer attention to the table and the Jesus sitting in the middle but not only because straight away your eye going to the source of aureole light and Jesus face which is focal point in the image. Further the photograph is staged we can see Jesus and young people in modern settings sitting around the table but all of their faces looking at Jesus as to some discussion is going on there. Also Jesus open hands lying on the table symbolise peace and hope for the subjects around. In fact only males are represented that creates the diversity and a sense of the corrupt company that was kept by Jesus. As well the wooden floor makes the room looking homely also the roses in the left back corner of the frame are showing us there is a life and fact that they are kept in water shows that this people do care. Even they had problems in the past they are still preparing to go in right direction. Moreover there is also a sense of exploration that engage s the viewer. We could look at the image over and over again and each time we will find something new that or evokes a different story based on what mood you are in when you approach the piece. Certainly we can see a mystery or curiosity, confusion or excitement or suspicion or scandal also social engagement and claustrophobia. Either the lighting in the image is artificial mainly coming from above of the subjects but also behind Jesus head, they are three high watt neon bulbs on the ceiling as you can recognise in the left window behind. Along the light looks diffused as you cannot see any shadows on the wall. Generally the top part of the image is lighten the most through the lights you see a fly traps hanging from the ceiling what shows that the moment is situated nowadays but not only that is helping you recognise what is the time line. In particular we can recognise the modern urban society by the way they dressed or their body language plus the burger and the beers across the table. We see that mostly they are coming from criminal activity background as they having tattoos all over their bodies. Again we would say that there is another light set up in front of the subject because their faces are lighten from the side. To look at this another way the light composition create bright rather cold atmosphe re. The photograph allows us to guess a time of the day which is a night time regarding to the lamp post recognize in the left side window. Differently the texture is eye catching colourful and inviting the walls covered in light brownish patterned wallpaper creates a clear open space but at the same time amount of people in the room makes you feel claustrophobic. The table cover texture feels smooth and is patterned too also colourful because of the light falling on it. Similarly top of the table surface value is smooth rather the bottom part where the shadows area of the table looks glossy in highlights but overall is looking like a cloth texture. In addition the darkest value of the photograph is in the left corner slightly going through the foreground when the lightest value is the very top part of the image the same as the Jesus aureole bright light. Appears to that the camera angle is lower than the eye level and the viewer is looking straight on the focal point already mentioned Jesus then the eyes following to the one side then to another carefully watching the subjects sitting around the table. The artist angle of view make the viewer feel like the image is directly trying to jar our minds to rethinking make us aware of something. Furthermore the camera is placed in front of the subject and the vantage point is right in the middle of the frame. What is more the focus is sharp through the foreground and getting soft focus while you are reaching the background. The edges of the subjects are gentle because author using selective focus by changing the aperture setting. The author placed the subjects and the lighting in the boundaries of the frame. In view of this it is really making the image looking narrow its pushing the viewer to look straight first and creates lines in triangle shape reaching the focal point. Then the setting and its physical surroundings looks real as we can notice the windows and opened doors, walls with wall paper on a furniture which is adding to it. Notably the house does not looks care about as seems to be just exist than being lived in by people maybe it is just the meeting venue rather than a family home. The subjects are not surprised that Jesus appeared possible because they were expecting him to come and help them or answer the questions they might have about their future. Besides the girl in the door is looking up also holding her hands up in the air like she is praying for something important the expression on her face make us feel helpless and the fact that she is just only one female in the room. Although she looks like she was not in the room from the beginning because the fact that she is between the door and situation so she appeared after everybody else. Unsurprisingly artist use a colour to achieve many effects on the viewer because it is giving a sens e of mood and place also time of the year. When the viewer moving his eyes around the composition colour creates a sense of space on a flat surface which is the image. If for example the image would be in black and white our interpretation might be completely different to the one we see in colour. Either the colours in the image are saturated and wide range of them making us engage the relationship between subjects and what we see. Moreover we also can see the bowl on the floor with water in the bottle next to it. Artist try to recreate the Christà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s last meal from Bible but in a modern way as for the water is present for Jesus to wash his feet after. Regarding to the bible the wine represents Gods promise in blood poured out in a humankind sin. It means that we have to self-examine ourselves and participate in body of Christ but instead the subjects are drinking beer and eating burgers and that is what the world came too. Therefore our interpretation shows that Jesus spent time with people from the street, hustlers because he feels comfortable and empathised with. The Bible interpretation of the Last Supper was considered blasphemous but is when Jesus actually pulled his believe for the people of the street. In a way that is why they are wearing modern clothes and they are in modern settings because this is the scenery would look like if we could get a second coming. Overall the majority were a shady characters as are we at best but many people do not notice that he tells this stories after when à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ good peopleà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  were questioning him. They are surprised that how he could spend tim e with this characters and dine with them. In short maybe that is the place where he found open hearts and room to rest. Jesus is giving to poor understands them help them he says we all should be the same the more we give the more satisfaction from life we receive. For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give large or small will be used to measure what is given back to you. (TLB, Luke 6:38) Dont judge other people, and God will not judge you. If you judge other people, you will be judged in the same way you judge themà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ . Matthew 7:1-5 (ERV)

Living in the Big City

Thao Nguyen02/18/2013 Toefl Prep. Dr. Ray Simple Essay Problem solving is the most important skill in the present day world. We have to deal with problem solving in business, in private lives, and in doing everyday choice. Below, I would like to specify the importance of this most vital skill in the areas mentioned above. First, every business is based on the ability of the owner of the business and his employees to make fast and professional decision.There are many situations in business that may be connected to buying a new product, selling it to the right person, advertising it, or communicating with other businesses for the sake of promoting your own. For example, my friend has a small restaurant. I can see how hectic his life is most of all, I am surprised at the speed with he makes very important decision. Sometimes, these decisions are wrong, but he does not mind. He says he his learning from his mistakes. Obviously, it is absolutely essential to solve the problem in business quickly if you want to survive in a tough competition in present day world.Second, we have to make a lot of personal choices in life, and therefore, we have to learn how to solve a lot of personal problems, too. It is a very difficult thing to make the right decision in love situation. I, for one, am very an emotional person. Due to my emotions, I make quick but wrong decisions. Therefore, I blame myself afterwards for having done or said something without much thinking. I know that I have to work on my ability to think first and to act after that if I want to be successful in problem solving.Third, my life is full of chores. I have to run around doing things, connected with my job, my college work, and my personal duties. For an instance, I have to make decisions every second, what to buy, what to wear, what to say, and how much money to spend. In fact, if I do not solve this problem quickly, I am lost. In conclusion, every one of us needs to do a lot of problem solving every day. We should be smart and calm about our decisions. I hope I will acquire this skill as I am moving along in life. The choice we make dictate the life we live.

Biology Revision

Majeed Thaika Year 10-11   Contents 1 Cells   pg-05 -Animal and plant cells (pg-05) -Specialised cells (pg-06) -diffusion (pg-07) -osmosis (pg-08) 2 Plants . pg-09 -photosynthesis (pg-09) -Factors affecting photosynthesis (pg-10) -Plants and minerals (pg-11) 3 Food Chains and Cycles pg-12 -Food chain (pg-12) -Energy transfer (pg-13) -Pyramids of biomass (pg-15) -efficiency of food production (pg-15) -calculating energy efficiency (pg-16) Shorter food chains (pg-16) carbon cycle (pg-17) 4Enzymes and Digestion   pg-18 -What are enzymes? (Pg-18) -Temperature and enzymes (Pg-18) -Ph and enzymes (Pg-19) -enzymes and respiration (Pg-20) -digestive system (Pg-20) -Enzymes and digestion (Pg-21) -Other substances in digestion (Pg-22) -Enzymes in industry (Pg-23) 5Homeostasis   pg-24 -Removing waste products (Pg-24) -Controlling blood glucose (Pg-25) -Diabetes (Pg-25) -Temperature regulation (Pg-26) – Temperature regulation – Higher (Pg-26) 6Hormones   pg-27 -Hormones a nd glands (pg-28) hormones in the menstrual cycle (pg-29) -Controlling fertility (pg-31) 7The Nervous System   pg-31 -receptors and effectors (pg-31) -Neurones (pg-33) -Reflex action (pg-34) 8Defending against infection   pg-35 -pathogens-bacteria (pg-35) -pathogens-virus (pg-36) -white blood cells (pg-36) -more about white blood cells (pg-37) -vaccination (pg-38) -antibiotics (pg-38) 9Diet and Exercise   pg-40 -nutrients (pg-40) -metabolic rate(pg-41) -the right amount of food (pg-41) -cholesterol(pg-42) -salt (pg-43) 10Adaptation   pg-43 -Adaptation-cold climates (pg-43) -Adaptation-hot climates (pg-44) 11Characteristics and Classification   pg-45 -genetic engineering (pg-45) -selective breeding (pg-45) -changing the characteristics of a species (pg-46) -classification (pg-47) -difficulties with classification (pg-48) 12The Heart   pg-49 -the circulatory system (pg-49) -arteries and veins (pg-50) -the heart (pg-50) -causes of heart disease (pg-51) 13Extra   pg-51 -se x hormones (pg-51) competition (pg-52) -The nitrogen cycle -the water cycle Cells All animals and plants are made of cells. Animal cells and plant cells have features in common, such as a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes. Plant cells also have a cell wall, and often have chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole. Note that cells may be specialized to carry out a particular function. Dissolved substances pass into and out of cells by diffusion. Water passes into and out of cells by osmosis. Animal and plant cells Function of cells which animal and plant cells have in common:- Part| Function| ucleus| contains genetic material, which controls the activities of the cell| cytoplasm| most chemical processes take place here, controlled by enzymes| cell membrane| controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell| mitochondria| most energy is released by respiration here| ribosomes| protein synthesis happens here| Extra parts of plant cells:- Part| Function | cell wall| strengthens the cell| chloroplasts| contain chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy for photosynthesis| permanent vacuole| filled with cell sap to help keep the cell  turgid|Diagram: Generalized animal and plant cell Specialised cells Cells may be specialized for a particular function. Their structure will allow them to carry this function out. Here are some examples: Examples of the functions of cells:- Cell| Function| Adaption| Leaf cell| Absorbs light energy for photosynthesis| Packed with chloroplasts. Regular shaped, closely packed cells form a continuous layer for efficient absorption of sunlight. | Root hair cell| Absorbs water and mineral ions from the soil| Long ‘finger-like' process with very thin wall, which gives a large surface area. |Sperm cell| Fertilizes an egg cell – female gamete| The head contains genetic information and an enzyme to help penetrate the egg cell membrane. The middle section is packed with mitochondria for energy. The tai l moves the sperm to the egg. | Red blood cells| Contain haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the cells. | Thin outer membrane to let oxygen diffuse through easily. Shape increases the surface area to allow more oxygen to be absorbed efficiently. No nucleus, so the whole cell is full of haemoglobin. | Diffusion Dissolved substances have to pass through the cell membrane to get into or out of a cell.Diffusion is one of the processes that allow this to happen. Diffusion  occurs when particles spread. They move from a region where they are in high concentration to a region where they are in low concentration. Diffusion happens when the particles are free to move. This is true in gases and for particles dissolved in solutions. Particles diffuse down a concentration gradient, from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. This is how the smell of cooking travels around the house from the kitchen, for example. Examples of diffusion Location| Particles move| From| To|Gut| digested food products| gut cavity| blood in capillary of villus| Lungs| oxygen| alveolar air space| blood circulating around the lungs| Two examples of diffusion down concentration gradients:- Remember, particles continue to move from a high to a low concentration while there is a  concentration gradient. In the lungs, the blood will continue to take in oxygen from the alveolar air spaces provided the concent-ration of oxygen there is greater than in the blood. Oxygen diffuses across the alveolar walls into the blood, and the circulation takes the oxygen-rich blood away. OsmosisWater can move across cell membranes because of osmosis. For osmosis to happen you need: * two solutions with different concentrations * a partially permeable membrane to separate them Partially permeable membranes let some substances pass through them, but not others. The animation shows an example of osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated soluti on through a partially perm-eable membrane. The picture above shows how osmosis works. Eventually the level on the more concentrated side of the membrane rises, while the one on the less concentrated side falls.When the concentration is the same on both sides of the membrane, the movement of water molecules will be the same in both directions. At this point, the net exchange of water is zero and there is no further change in the liquid levels. Osmosis is important to plants. They gain water by osmosis through their roots. Water moves into plant cells by osmosis, making them  turgid  or stiff so they that able to hold the plant upright. Plants Green plants absorb light energy using chlorophyll in their leaves. They use it to react carbon dioxide with water to make a sugar called glucose.The glucose is used in respiration, or converted into starch and stored. Oxygen is produced as a by-product. This process is called photosynthesis. Temperature, carbon dioxide concentration and li ght intensity are factors that can limit the rate of photosynthesis. Plants also need mineral ions, including nitrate and magnesium, for healthy growth. They suffer from poor growth in conditions where mineral ions are deficient. Photosynthesis Photosynthesis  is the chemical change which happens in the leaves of green plants. It is the first step towards making food – not just for plants but ultimately every animal on the planet.During this reaction,  carbon dioxide  and water are converted into glucose and oxygen. The reaction requires  light energy, which is absorbed by a green substance called chlorophyll. Cross-section through a leaf cell Photosynthesis takes place in leaf cells. These contain chloroplasts, which are tiny objects containing chlorophyll. The equation for photosynthesis is:- Plants absorb water through their roots, and carbon dioxide through their leaves. Some glucose is used for respiration, while some is converted into insoluble starch  for sto rage. The stored starch can later be turned back into glucose and used in respiration.Oxygen is released as a by-product of photosynthesis. Factors limiting photosynthesis Three factors can limit the speed of photosynthesis – light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature. Light intensity -Without enough light, a plant cannot photosynthesise very quickly, even if there is plenty of water and carbon dioxide. -Increasing the light intensity will boost the speed of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide concentration Sometimes photosynthesis is limited by the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air. Even if there is plenty of light, a plant cannot photosynthesise if there is insuff-icient carbon dioxide.Temperature -If it gets too cold, the rate of photosynthesis will decrease. Plants cannot photosynthesise if it gets too hot. -If you plot the rate of photosynthesis against the levels of these three limiting factors, you get graphs like the ones above. -In practice, an y one of these factors could limit the rate of photosynthesis. Maximizing growth Farmers can use their knowledge of these limiting factors to increase crop growth in greenhouses. They may use artificial light so that photosynthesis can continue beyond daylight hours, or in a higher-than-normal light intensity.The use of paraffin lamps inside a greenhouse increases the rate of photosynthesis because the burning paraffin produces carbon dioxide and heat too. Plants and minerals Plants need to take in a number of elements to stay alive. The most important are: * carbon * hydrogen * oxygen Plants get hydrogen and oxygen from water in the soil, and carbon and oxygen from carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. Water and carbon dioxide are used to synthesise food during photosynthesis. Oxygen is used to release energy from food during respiration. In addition to these three elements, plants need a number of minerals for healthy growth.These are absorbed through the roots as mineral i ons dissolved in the soil water. Two important mineral ions needed by plants are: * Nitrate  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ for making amino acids, which are needed to make proteins * Magnesium  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ for making chlorophyll If a plant does not get enough minerals, its growth will be poor. It will suffer from deficiency symptoms: * deficient in nitrate – it will suffer from stunted growth * deficient in magnesium – it's leaves will turn yellow The tomato plant on the left is healthy; the one on the right is growing in conditions where mineral ions are deficient Food Chains and CyclesFood chains show the feeding relationships between living things. Pyramids of biomass reveal the mass of living material at each stage in a chain. The amount of material and energy decreases from one stage to the next. Food production is more efficient if the food chain is short, or if energy losses from animals are reduced. The carbon cycle shows how carbon moves from the atmosphere, through various anima ls and plants, then back to the atmosphere again. Food chains A  food chain  shows what eats what in a particular habitat. For example, grass seed is eaten by a vole, which is eaten by a barn owl.The arrows between each item in the chain always point in the direction of energy flow – in other words, from the food to the feeder. The Sun is the ultimate source of energy for most communities of living things. Green plants absorb some of the Sun’s light energy to make their own food by photosynthesis. The other organisms in a food chain are consumers, because they all get their energy and biomass by consuming – eating – other organisms. It helps if you can recall the meaning of some common words used with food chains. Common words used with food chains and their meaning Word| Meaning|Producers| Green plants – they make food by photosynthesis. | Primary consumers| Usually eat plant material – they are herbivores. For example rabbits, caterpil lars, cows and sheep. | Secondary consumers| Usually eat animal material – they are carnivores. For example cats, dogs and lions. | Predators| Kill for food. They are either secondary or tertiary consumers| Prey| The animals that predators feed on. | Scavengers| Feed on dead animals. For example, crows, vultures and hyenas are scavengers. | Decomposers| Feed on dead and decaying organisms, and on the undigested parts of plant and animal matter in faeces. Energy transfer Energy is transferred along food chains from one stage to the next. But not all of the energy available to organisms at one stage can be absorbed by organisms at the next one. The amount of available energy decreases from one stage to the next. Some of the available energy goes into growth and the production of offspring. This energy becomes available to the next stage, but most of the available energy is used up in other ways: * energy released by respiration is used for movement and other life processes, and is eventually lost as heat to the surroundings energy is lost in waste materials, such as faeces All of the energy used in these ways returns to the environment, and is not available to the next stage. The animation shows how the level of available energy goes down as it is transferred through a temperate forest food chain. Most food chains are pretty short. There are rarely more than four stages, because a lot of energy is lost at each stage. Pyramids of biomass Biomass  means the mass of living material at a stage in a food chain. The biomass goes down as you go from one stage to the next, just like the amount of energy.A  pyramid of biomass  is a chart, drawn to scale, showing the biomass at each stage in a food chain. The bars become narrower as you reach the top. This pyramid of biomass is for the food chain: Oak tree > caterpillar > blue tit > sparrowhawk Note that you do not need to draw the organisms. But you must draw your pyramid of biomass to scale. Each bar should be labelled with the name of the organism. Efficiency of food production The efficiency of food production can be improved by reducing the amount of energy lost to the surroundings. This can be done by: * preventing animals moving around too much keeping their surroundings warm Mammals and birds maintain a constant body temperature using energy released by respiration. As a result, their energy losses are high. Keeping pigs and chickens in warm sheds with little space to move around allows more efficient food production. But this raises moral concerns about the lives of such animals. In reality, a balance must be reached between the needs of farmers and consumers and the welfare of the animals. Calculating energy efficiency This bullock has eaten 100 kJ of stored energy in the form of grass, and excreted 63 kJ in the form of faeces, urine and gas.The energy stored in its body tissues is 4 kJ. So how much has been used up in respiration? The energy released by respiration = 100 â₠¬â€œ 63 – 4 = 33 kJ Only 4 kJ of the original energy available to the bullock is available to the next stage, which might be humans. The efficiency of this energy transfer is: Efficiency = 4/100 x 100 = 4% Shorter food chains Food production is more efficient if the food chain is short, because a higher percentage of energy is available to us. The carbon cycle All cells – whether animal, plant or bacteria – contain  carbon, because they all contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates.Plant cell walls, for example, are made of cellulose – a carbohydrate. Carbon is passed from the atmosphere, as carbon dioxide, to living things, passed from one organism to the next in complex molecules, and returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide again. This is known as the carbon cycle. Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Green plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by  photosynthesis. The carbon becomes part of complex molecules such as proteins, f ats and carbohydrates in the plants. Returning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere Organisms return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by  respiration.It is not just animals that respire. Plants and microorganisms do, too. Passing carbon from one organism to the next When an animal eats a plant, carbon from the plant becomes part of the fats and proteins in the animal. Microorganisms and some animals feed on waste material from animals, and the remains of dead animals and plants. The carbon then becomes part of these microorganisms and detritus feeders. Materials from living things decay because they are digested by microorganisms. This process happens faster in warm, moist conditions with plenty of oxygen. Decay can be very slow in cold, dry conditions, and when here is a shortage of oxygen. Enzymes and digestion Enzymes are biological catalysts. There are optimum temperatures and  pH values at which their activity is greatest. Enzymes are also proteins, and usually denatured above about 45? C. Enzymes are important in respiration. Aerobic respiration releases energy from glucose. What are enzymes? Enzymes are biological catalysts – catalysts are substances that increase the rate of chemical reactions without being used up. Enzymes are also  proteins  that are folded into complex shapes that allow smaller molecules to fit into them.The place where these  substrate  molecules fit is called the  active site. The pictures show how this works. In this example, two small molecules join together to make a larger one. If the shape of the enzyme changes, it’s active site may no longer work. We say the enzyme has been  denatured. They can be denatured by high temperatures or extremes of  pH. Note that it is wrong to say the enzyme has been killed. Although enzymes are made by living things, they are proteins, and not alive. Temperature and enzymes As the temperature increases, so does the rate of reaction. But very high temperatures denature enzymes.The graph shows the typical change in an enzyme's activity with increasing temperature. The enzyme activity gradually increases with temperature until around 37? C, or body temperature. Then, as the temperature continues to rise, the rate of reaction falls rapidly, as heat energy denatures the enzyme. Temper-ature and enzyme activity PH and enzymes Changes in pH alter an enzyme’s shape. Different enzymes work best at different pH values. The optimum pH for an enzyme depends on where it normally works. For example, intestinal enzymes have an optimum pH of about 7. 5. Enzymes in the stomach have an optimum pH of about 2. H and enzyme activity Enzymes and respiration Enzymes in cells catalyse photosynthesis, protein synthesis – joining amino acids together, and aerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration Respiration is not the same thing as breathing. That is more properly called ventilation. Instead, respiration is a chemical process in which energy is released fro m food substances, such as glucose – a sugar. Aerobic  respiration needs oxygen to work. Most of the chemical reactions involved in the process happen in tiny objects inside the cell cytoplasm, called mitochondria. This is the equation for aerobic respiration:Glucose + oxygen >  carbon dioxide + water (+ energy) The energy released by respiration is used to make large molecules from smaller ones. In plants, for example, sugars, nitrates and other nutrients are converted into amino acids. Amino acids can then join together to make proteins. The energy is also used: * to allow muscles to contract in animals * to maintain a constant body temperature in birds and mammals Enzymes are important in digestion. Digestion is the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and fats into small soluble substances that can be absorbed into the blood.Lipases and proteases are used in biological detergents, and enzymes are used in the manufacture of food and drink. The digestive system Digestio n is the breakdown of large molecules into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed into the body. Digestion happens inside the gut, and relies on enzymes. This diagram will show you of the main parts of the gut: Enzymes and digestion The enzymes involved in respiration, photosynthesis and protein synthesis work inside cells. Other enzymes are produced by specialised cells and released from them; the digestive enzymes are like this. They pass out into he gut, where they catalyse the breakdown of food molecules. Different enzymes Different enzymes catalyse different digestion reactions. Enzymes and their reactions catalysed enzyme| reaction catalysed| amylase| starch > sugars| protease| proteins > amino acids| lipase| lipids   >   fatty acids + glycerol| Amylase is an example of a carbohydrase. Lipids are fats and oils. Different parts of the gut Different parts of the gut produce different enzymes. Where enzymes are produced enzyme| where produced| amylase| salivary gland s, pancreas, small intestine| protease| stomach, pancreas, small intestine| ipase| pancreas, small intestine| Summary Overall, this means that: * Amylase catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugars in the mouth and small intestine. * Proteases catalyse the breakdown of proteins into amino acids in the stomach and small intestine. * Lipases catalyse the breakdown of fats and oils into fatty acids and glycerol in the small intestine. Other substances in digestion You should recall that different enzymes work best at different pH values. The digestive enzymes are a good example of this. Enzymes in the stomach The stomach produces  hydrochloric acid.This helps to begin digestion, and it kills many harmful microorganisms that might have been swallowed along with the food. The enzymes in the stomach work best in  acidic  conditions – in other words, at a low pH. Enzymes in the small intestine After the stomach, food travels to the small intestine. The enzymes in the small i ntestine work best in  alka-line  conditions, but the food is acidic after being in the stomach. A substance called  bile  neutralises the acid to provide the alkaline conditions needed in the small intestine. Bile and enzyme production in the liver and pancreas Enzymes in industry Enzyme namesThe names of the different types of enzymes usually end in the letters  -ASE. Three of the most common enzymes with their chemical actions are: * lipase  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ breaks down fats * protease  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ breaks down proteins * carbohydrase  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ breaks down carbohydrates Enzyme uses Enzymes allow certain industrial processes to be carried out at normal temperatures and pressures, thereby reducing the amount of energy and expensive equipment needed. Enzymes are also used in the home, for example, in ‘biological' detergents. The table shows some common enzyme uses you should be familiar with. Uses of enzymes Enzyme| Use| rotease| used to pre-digest proteins during the manu facture of baby foods| lipase| used – together with protease – in biological detergents to break down – digest – the substances in stains into smaller, water soluble substances| carbohydrase| used to convert starch syrup, which is relatively cheap, into sugar syrup, which is more valuable – for example, as an ingredient in sports drinks| isomerase| used to convert glucose syrup into fructose syrup – fructose is sweeter than glucose, so it can be used in smaller amounts in slimming foods| Homeostasis The conditions inside the body must be controlled within narrow limits.This is called homeostasis. These conditions include water content, ion content, body temperature and blood glucose concentration. The thermoregulatory centre is the part of the brain that monitors and controls body temperature. The pancreas meanwhile monitors and controls blood glucose concentration. It produces a hormone called insulin that reduces blood glucose levels. Diab etes is a disease which can be caused by insufficient insulin. Removing waste products Waste products must be removed from the body. If they are not, they will increase in concentration and may interfere with chemical reactions or damage cells.Waste products that must be removed include carbon dioxide and urea. Waste product| Why is it produced? | How is it removed? | carbon dioxide| it is a product of aerobic respiration| through the lungs when we breathe out| urea| it is produced in the liver when excess amino acids are broken down| the kidneys remove it from the blood and make urine, which is stored in the bladder temporarily| Production and removal of waste products Water enters the body through food and drink. It is also a product of aerobic respiration in cells. If the amount of water in the body is wrong, cells can be damaged because too much water enters or leaves them.The pictures show how the amount of water lost as urine is controlled: Controlling blood glucose The pancre as and insulin The  pancreas  monitors and controls the concentration of  glucose  in the blood. It produces a hormone called  insulin. Insulin causes glucose to move from the blood into cells. It lowers the blood glucose concentration if it has become too high. This can happen after eating a meal that is rich in carbohydrates (for example, sweets, potatoes, bread, rice or pasta). The pictures show how this works. Diabetes Diabetes is a disease where the concentration of  glucose  in the blood is not controlled properly by the body.In  type 1 diabetes, the  pancreas  does not produce eno-ugh  insulin. This can lead to high levels of glucose in the blood, which can be fatal. Types of Diabetes There are two types of treatment for diabetes: * Careful monitoring of food intake, with particular care taken over carbohydrates – which are digested into glucose. * Injecting insulin into the blood before meals. The extra insulin causes glucose to be taken up by th e liver and other tissues. Cells get the glucose they need for respiration, and the blood glucose concentration stays normal. Temperature regulation Human  enzymes  work best at 37?C, so the body’s temperature is controlled. A part of the brain called the  thermoregulatory centre  monitors and controls body temperature. It gathers information as nerve impulses from  temperature receptors  in: * the brain – these are sensitive to the temperature of the blood flowing there * the skin – these are sensitive to skin temperature Sweating Sweating is one way to help cool the body. We sweat more in hot conditions, so more water is lost from the body. This water must be replaced through food or drink to maintain the balance of water in the body. Ions such as sodium ions and chloride ions are also lost when we sweat.They must be replaced through food and drink. If the body’s ion content is wrong, cells can be damaged. Temperature regulation – hig her If you become too hot or too cold, there are several ways in which your temperature can be controlled. They involve sweating, shivering, skin capillaries and hairs. Too hot When we get too hot: * Sweat glands in the skin release more sweat. This evaporates, removing heat energy from the skin. * Blood vessels leading to the skin capillaries become wider – they  dilate  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ allowing more blood to flow through the skin, and more heat to be lost. Too cold When we get too cold: * Muscles contract rapidly – we shiver.These contractions need energy from respiration, and some of this is released as heat. * Blood vessels leading to the skin capillaries become narrower – they  constrict- letting less blood flow through the skin and conserving heat in the body. The hairs on the skin also help to control body temperature. They lie flat when we are warm, and rise when we are cold. The hairs trap a layer of air above the skin, which helps to insulate the skin a gainst heat loss. Controlling temperature Too cold| Too hot| | | A  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Hair muscles pull hairs on end. B  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Erect hairs trap air. C  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Blood flow in capillaries decreases. | D  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Hair muscles relax.Hairs lie flat so heat can escape. E  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Sweat secreted by sweat glands. Cools skin by evaporation. F  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Blood flow in capillaries increases. | Remember: Capillaries do not move up and down inside the skin. Temperature is regulated by controlling the amount of blood which flows through the capillaries. Hormones Hormones are chemical substances that help to regulate processes in the body. Hormones are secreted by glands and travel to their target organs in the bloodstream. Several hormones are involved in the female menstrual cycle. Hormones can be used to control human fertility and have advantages and disadvantages. Hormones and glandsHormones are  chemicals secreted by glands  in the body. Different hormones affect different target organs. The bloodstream transports hormones from the glands to the target organs. Hormones regulate the functions of many cells and organs The target organ and effects of glands and hormones Gland| Hormone| Target organs| Effect| adrenal gland| adrenalin| vital organs, e. g. liver and heart| Prepares body for action – ‘fight or flight'. | ovary| oestrogen| ovaries, uterus, pituitary gland| Controls puberty and the menstrual cycle in females; stimulates production of LH and suppresses the production of FSH in the pituitary gland. ovary| progesterone| uterus| Maintains the lining of the womb – suppresses FSH production in the pituitary gland. | pancreas| insulin| liver| Controls blood sugar levels. | pituitary gland| anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)| kidney| Controls blood water level by triggering uptake of water in kidneys. | pituitary gland| follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)| ovaries| Triggers egg ripening and oestrogen production in ovaries. | pituitary gland| lut einising hormone (LH)| ovaries| Triggers egg release and progesterone production in ovaries. | testes| testosterone| male reproductive organs| Controls puberty in males. |Hormones in the menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle in women is a recurring process in which the lining of the uterus – womb – is prepared for pregnancy, and if pregnancy does not happen, the lining is shed at menstruation. Several  hormones  control this cycle, which includes controlling the release of an egg each month from an ovary, and changing the thickness of the uterus lining. These hormones are secreted by the ovaries and pituitary gland. FSH The hormone FSH is secreted by the pituitary gland. FSH makes two things happen: 1. it causes an egg to mature in an ovary 2. it stimulates the ovaries to release the hormone oestrogen OestrogenThe hormone oestrogen is secreted by the ovaries. Oestrogen makes two things happen: 1. it stops FSH being produced – so that only one egg matures in a cycle 2. it stimulates the pituitary gland to release the hormone LH LH The hormone LH causes the mature egg to be released from the ovary. This image shows how the level of oestrogen changes during the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is another hormone secreted by ovaries: it maintains the lining of the uterus and stays high during pregnancy. Hormone levels during the menstrual cycle Controlling fertility Human fertility is controlled by  hormones.This means that knowledge of hormones can be used to decide to increase, or reduce, the chances of fertilisation and pregnancy. Oral contraceptives Contraceptive pills The oral contraceptive, ‘the pill', greatly reduces the chances of mature eggs being produced. The pill contains oestrogen, or oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones inhibit the production of FSH, which in turn stops eggs maturing in the ovaries. Fertility treatment Some women have difficulty becoming pregnant because they don't produce enough FSH to allow their e ggs to mature. ‘Fertility drugs' contain FSH, which stimulates eggs to mature in the ovary. The nervous systemThe nervous system allows the body to respond to changes in the environment. This is a process usually coordinated by the brain. Reflex actions are extra-rapid responses to  stimuli, and this process also involves the nervous system, but bypasses the brain. Receptors and effectors Receptors Receptors are groups of specialised cells. They can detect changes in the environment, which are called  stimuli, and turn them into electrical impulses. Receptors are often located in the  sense organs, such as the ear, eye and skin. Each organ has receptors sensitive to particular kinds of stimulus. Receptors sense organs| receptors sensitive to|Skin| touch, pressure, pain and temperature| Tongue| chemicals in food| Nose| chemicals in the air| Eyes| light| Ears| sound and position of the head| The central nervous system – CNS – in humans consists of the brain a nd spinal cord. When a receptor is stimulated, it sends a signal along the nerve cells – neurones – to the brain. The brain, then co-ordinates the response. Effectors An effector is any part of the body that produces the response. Here are some examples of effectors: * a muscle contracting to move the arm * a muscle squeezing saliva from the salivary gland * a gland releasing a  hormone  into the blood NeuronesNeurones are nerve cells. They carry information as tiny electrical signals. There are  three different types of neurones, each with a slightly different function. 1. Sensory neurons  carry signals from  receptors  to the spinal cord and brain. 2. Relay neurons  carry messages from one part of the  CNS  to another. 3. Motor neurons  carry signals from the  CNS  to effectors. The diagram below shows a typical neuron – in this case, a motor neuron. It has tiny branches at each end and a long fibre carries the signals. A motor neuron S ynapses Where two neurones meet, there is a tiny gap called a synapse. Signals cross this gap using chemicals.One neurone releases the chemical into the gap. The chemical diffuses across the gap and makes the next neurone transmit an electrical signal. Reflex actions When a receptor is stimulated, it  sends a signal to the central nervous system, where the brain co-ordinates the response. But sometimes  a very quick response is needed, one that does not need the involvement of the brain. This is a reflex action. Reflex actions are rapid and happen without us thinking. For example, you would pull your hand away from a hot flame without thinking about it. The animation below allows you to step through each stage of the reflex arc.This is what happens: 1. receptor detects a stimulus – change in the environment 2. sensory neurone sends signal to relay neurone 3. motor neurone sends signal to effector 4. effector produces a response The way the iris in our eye adjusts the size of the pupil in response to bright or dim light is also a reflex action. In  bright  light: * Radial muscles of the iris relax. * Circular muscles of the iris contract. * Less light enters the eye through the contracted pupil. In  dim  light: * Radial muscles of the iris contract. * Circular muscles of the iris relax. * More light enters the eye through the dilated pupil.Defending against infection Pathogens are microorganisms – such as bacteria and viruses – that cause disease. Bacteria release toxins, and viruses damage our cells. White blood cells can ingest and destroy pathogens. They can produce antibodies to destroy pathogens, and antitoxins to neutralize toxins. In vaccination pathogens are introduced into the body in a weakened form. The process causes the body to produce enough white blood cells to protect itself against the pathogens, while not getting diseased. Antibiotics are effective against bacteria, but not against viruses. Some strains of bact eria are resistant to antibiotics.Pathogens – bacteria Pathogens are  microorganisms  that cause infectious disease. Bacteria and viruses are the main pathogens. Bacteria Bacteria are  microscopic organ-isms. They come in many shapes and sizes, but even the largest are only 10 micrometres long – 10 millionths of a metre. Bacteria are  living cells  and, in favourable conditions, can multiply rapidly. Once inside the body, they release poisons or toxins that make us feel ill. Diseases caused by bacteria include:- -food poisoning -cholera -typhoid -whooping cough -gonorrhoea – a sexually transmitted disease Pathogens – viruses Viruses are many times smaller than  bacteria.They are among the smallest organisms known and consist of a fragment of genetic material inside a protective protein coat. Viruses can only reproduce  inside host cells, and they damage the cell when they do this. A virus can get inside a cell and, once there, take over and make hundreds of thousands of copies of itself. Eventually the virus copies fill the whole host cell and burst it open. The viruses are then passed out in the bloodstream, the airways, or by other routes. Diseases caused by viruses include: * influenza – flu * colds * measles * mumps * rubella * chicken pox * AIDS White blood cellsThe body has different ways of protecting itself against  pathogens. The first defence is passive immunity. This is aimed at stopping the pathogen getting into the body in the first place. The body’s passive immunity system includes the skin,  mucus  and  cilia  in the respiratory system, acid in the stomach, and enzymes  in tears. If a pathogen still manages to get into the body, the second defence takes over. This is called  active immunity, and the white blood cells have key functions in this. Functions of the white blood cells White blood cells can: * ingest pathogens and destroy them * produce antibodies to destroy pathogen s produce antitoxins that neutralise the toxins released by pathogens In a written examination, it is easy to get carried away and waffle on about things such as invaders and battles, but stick to the point. Note that: * the pathogens are not the disease – they cause the disease * white blood cells do not eat the pathogens – they ingest them * antibodies and antitoxins are not living things – they are specialised proteins More about white blood cells There are several different types of white blood cells, each with different functions, but they can be put into two main groups: * phagocytes or macrophages lymphocytes Phagocytes Phagocytes can easily pass through blood vessel walls into the surrounding tissue and move towards  pathogens  or   toxins. They then either: * ingest and absorb the pathogens or toxins * release an enzyme to destroy them Having absorbed a pathogen, the phagocytes may also send out chemical messages that help nearby lymphocytes to id entify the type of antibody needed to neutralise them. Lymphocytes Pathogens contain certain chemicals that are foreign to the body and are called antigens. Each lymphocyte carries a specific type of antibody – a protein that has a chemical ‘fit' to a certain antigen.When a lymphocyte with the appropriate antibody meets the antigen, the lymphocyte reproduces quickly, and makes many copies of the antibody that neutralises the pathogen. Antibodies neutralise pathogens in a number of ways: * they bind to pathogens and damage or destroy them * they coat pathogens, clumping them together so that they are easily ingested by phagocytes * they bind to the pathogens and release chemical signals to attract more phagocytes Lymphocytes may also release antitoxins that stick to the appropriate toxin and stop it damaging the body. Vaccination People can be immunised against a pathogen through vaccination.Different vaccines are needed for diffe-rent  pathogens. Vaccination involves putting a small amount of an inactive form of a pathogen, or dead pathogen, into the body. Vaccines can contain: * live pathogens treated to make them harmless * harmless fragments of the pathogen * toxins  produced by pathogens * dead pathogens These all act as antigens. When injected into the body, they stimulate white blood cells to produce antibodies against the pathogen. Because the vaccine contains only a weakened or harmless version of a pathogen, the vaccinated person is not in danger of developing disease – although some people may uffer a mild reaction. If the person does get infected by the pathogen later, the required lymphocytes are able to reproduce rapidly and destroy it. Vaccines and boosters Vaccines in early childhood can give protection against many serious diseases. Sometimes more than one vaccine is given at a time, like the MMR triple vaccine against mumps, measles and rubella. Sometimes vaccine boosters are needed, because the immune response ‘m emory' weakens over time. Anti-tetanus injections may need to be repeated every ten years. Antibiotics Antibiotics are substances that kill  bacteria  or stop their growth.They do not work against  viruses: it is difficult to develop drugs that kill viruses without also damaging the body’s tissues. How some common antibiotics work antibiotic| how it works| penicillin| breaks down cell walls| erythromycin| stops protein synthesis| neomycin| stops protein synthesis| vancomycin| stops protein synthesis| ciprofloxacin| stops DNA replication| Penicillin The first antibiotic – penicillin – was discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming. He noticed that some bacteria he had left in a petri dish had been killed by naturally occurring penicillium mould.Since the discovery of penicillin, many other antibiotics have been discovered or developed. Most antibiotics used in medicine have been altered chemically to make them more effective and safer for humans. Resistance Ba cterial strains can develop resistance to antibiotics. This happens because of natural selection. In a large population of  bacteria, there may be some cells that are not affected by the antibiotic. These cells survive and reproduce, producing even more bacteria that are not affected by the antibiotic. MRSA is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.It is very dangerous because it is resistant to most antibiotics. It is important to avoid over-use of antibiotics, so we can slow down, or stop, the development of other strains of resistant bacteria. Cleanliness One simple way to reduce the risk of infection is to maintain personal hygiene and to keep hospitals clean. Diet and Exercise Regular exercise and a balanced diet are needed to keep the body healthy. Too little food leads to a person being underweight and prone to illness, while too much food and not enough exercise leads to a person being overweight and prone to other illnesses.Excess cholesterol increases the risk of he art disease, and excess salt causes high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Nutrients A mixture of different types of food in the correct amounts is needed to maintain health. The main food groups are: The main food groups food group| found in| required by our bodies for| | potatoes, pasta, bread, bananas, sugar and rice| A source of  energy  for other life processes. Sometimes referred to as  fibre, which is actually just one – very common – type of carbohydrate. | | cheese, butter, margarine and oils| Fats are needed to make cell membranes and to  insulate  our bodies.They also contain important fat-soluble  vitamins. | | meat, fish, eggs and cheese| Growth and repair. | | whole meal bread, fruit, vegetables and pulses| The fibre or roughage in our diet is not digested, but is important because it allows the muscles in our intestines to move food through our system by  peristalsis. | Metabolic rate A healthy diet contains all the different nutrients in the correct amounts, and provides the right amount of energy for each individual. An unbalanced diet can lead to a person becoming malnourished. They may be too thin or too fat as a result, and they may suffer from deficiency diseases.Chemical reactions Respiration is the chemical reaction that allows cells to release energy from food. The metabolic rate is the speed at which such chemical reactions take place in the body. It varies because of several factors, including: * age * gender – male or female * the proportion of muscle to fat in the body * the amount of exercise and other physical activity * genetic traits The metabolic rate increases as we exercise and stays high for a while afterwards. The right amount of food Not enough food If you don't eat enough food, you will become too thin and may suffer from health problems.These include: * irregular periods in women * reduced resistance to infection * deficiency diseases Deficiency diseases include  rickets  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ which affects proper growth of the skeleton and is caused by insufficient vitamin D – and  kwashiorkor  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ which causes a swollen abdomen and is a result of insufficient protein. Problems such as these are more likely to affect people in the developing world, where it can be more difficult to get enough food. Too much food In warm weather, or when you don't do much exercise, you do not need to eat as much food as when it is cold or when you have exerted yourself physically.If you eat too much food without taking enough exercise, you will become overweight. Very fat people are described as  obese. Overweight people may suffer from health problems, including: * diabetes  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ an illness in which the body is unable to control the amount of sugar in the blood * arthritis  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ an illness in which the joints become worn, inflamed and painful * high blood pressure * heart disease The heart The heart is an organ that needs its own supply of blood to keep it working. If the blood supply is reduced, the heart muscle will not work properly and will become weaker.A heart attack happens when part of the heart does not get any blood because of a blocked artery. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a substance found in the blood. It is made in the liver and is needed for healthy cell membranes. However, too much cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of heart disease, and of diseased arteries. Good and bad cholesterol The bloodstream transports cholesterol around the body attached to  proteins. The combination of cholesterol and protein is called  lipoprotein, and there are two types. 1. Low-density lipoproteins  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ LDLs – carry cholesterol from the liver to the cells. 2.High-density lipoproteins  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ HDLs – carry excess cholesterol back to the liver. LDLs are often called ‘bad' cholesterol because they lead to fat building up on artery walls, which causes heart disease. HDLs ar e often called ‘good’ cholesterol because they help to stop fat building up in the arteries. Improving the balance A high proportion of HDLs to LDLs is good for a healthy heart. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils – as found in vegetable oils – help to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, and also increase the proportion of HDLs compared with LDLs. Check your understanding of such oils by looking at  Vegetable oils.There are also drugs that can improve high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Salt Table salt is sodium chloride. Too much salt in the diet can lead to  high blood pressure, which in turn leads to an increased risk of heart disease and strokes. Salt is  found naturally in many kinds of food, but more is added by food manufacturers – and many people add even more when they are eating. Processed foods often have a high proportion of salt and fat. Salt added to food during processing accounts for about two-thirds of th e average salt intake. Adaptation Adaptations – cold climatesEvery organism has certain features or characteristics that allow it to live successfully in its  habitat. These features are called adaptations, and we say that the organism is adapted to its habitat. Organisms living in different habitats need different adaptations. The polar bear Polar bears are well adapted for survival in the Arctic. They have: * a white appearance, as camouflage from prey on the snow and ice * thick layers of fat and fur, for insulation against the cold * a small surface area to volume ratio, to minimise heat loss * a greasy coat, which sheds water after swimmingThe snowshoe hare The snowshoe hare has white fur in the winter and reddish-brown fur in the summer. This means that it is camouflaged from its  predators  for most of the year. Arctic plants The Arctic is cold and windy with very little rainfall. Plants in the Arctic often grow very close to the ground and have small leaves. Thi s helps to conserve water and to avoid damage by the wind. Adaptations – hot climates The camel Camels live in deserts that are hot and dry during the day, but cold at night. They are well adapted for survival in the desert.Camels have: * Large, flat feet  to spread their weight on the sand. * Thick fur  on the top of the body for shade, and thin fur elsewhere to allow easy heat loss. * A large surface area to volume ratio  to maximise heat loss. * The  ability to go for a long time without water  (they don't store water in their humps, but they lose very little through urination and sweating). * The ability to  tolerate body temperaturesup to 42 °C. * Slit-like nostrils and two rows of eyelashesto help keep the sand out. Desert plants Cacti are well adapted for survival in the desert. They have: * Stems that can store water. Widespread root systems that can collect water from a large area. In addition,  cacti have spines instead of leaves. These minimise the surface area and so reduce water loss by  transpiration. The spines also protect the cacti from animals that might eat them. Other adaptations Animals and plants may have specific features that adapt them to their environment. These include barbs and spines, poisons and warning colours that deter predators and herbivores. Some harmless species may even resemble a poisonous or dangerous species to increase their chances of survival. Characteristics and classificationGenetic information from one species can be transferred to another species using genetic engineering. Selective breeding, also called artificial selection, involves people taking charge of selection to produce new varieties of various species. A variety is a type of a particular species that is different in some clear way from other varieties of that species. The characteristics of a species can be used to classify the species. This is sometimes difficult to do. Genetic engineering Genetic engineering is also called gen etic modification (or  GM). It is not the same as cloning.Although cloning techniques are used in genetic engineering, the two things should not be confused. The table shows some of the differences. Cloning| Genetic engineering| Produces exact copies. | Produces a unique set of genes. | Genes copied within the same species. | Genes can be swapped across species. | Selective breeding Natural selection Species gradually evolve by a process of natural selection. The individuals in any population with the inherited features best suited to the environment in which they live are most likely to survive and reproduce. When they do, they pass on the genetic information for these features to their offspring.Over time, a species can change its appearance and may even become a new species, unable to reproduce successfully with individuals of the original species. Artificial selection Selective breeding, also called artificial selection, involves people taking charge of selection to produce ne w ‘varieties' of various species. A variety is a type of a particular species that is different in some clear way from other varieties of that species. For example, pedigree dogs come in lots of different varieties (or breeds) – they may be different colours and sizes, but they are all still dogs.Suppose you wanted a variety of cow that produced a lot of milk. This is what you could do: * choose or select the cows in your herd that produce the most milk * only let these cows reproduce * select the offspring that produce the most milk * only let these offspring reproduce * keep repeating the process of selection and breeding until you achieve your goal The key here is to identify the feature you want, and only breed from the individuals that have that feature. Here are some examples of what selective breeding can produce: * hens that lay big eggs of a particular colour cattle that produce lots of meat * tomato plants that produce lots of tomatoes * crops that are resista nt to certain plant diseases Changing the characteristics of a species The characteristics of a species can be changed by: * natural selection * selective breeding * genetic engineering. The table shows some differences between these. | Natural selection| Selective breeding| Genetic engineering| Number of generations needed for change| very many| many| one| Human intervention| not needed| needed| needed| Desired outcome known? | no| yes| yes| New species formed? | yes| no| no|Notes| This is the mechanism of change in Darwin's theory of evolution| This is how new varieties or breeds are usually produced| Genetic information can come from the same species or from a different one| In selective breeding and genetic engineering, there is a goal or desired outcome. For example, we may wish to produce a variety of cow capable of producing a lot of milk, or a bacterium capable of producing insulin. There is no goal in natural selection: although we find that particular species are well adap ted to their environments, natural selection does not ‘know' what the species should be like.Individuals that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive to reproduce, and so pass on their characteristics to the next generation, than those that are poorly suited. Classification You will remember from your Key Stage 3 studies that species with similar characteristics are put into groups, and that this is called classification. Remind yourself of the basics of classification by looking  here. Kingdoms The first rank in this system is called a kingdom. There are five kingdoms, based upon what an organism's cells are like: 1. nimals (all multicellular animals) 2. plants (all green plants) 3. fungi (moulds, mushrooms, yeast) 4. prokaryotes (bacteria, blue-green algae) 5. protoctists (Amoeba, Paramecium) Further divisions There are several further ranks before we reach a particular species. In order, these are: * kingdom * phylum * class * order * family * ge nus * species For example,  lions  have the following classification: * kingdom – animal * phylum – vertebrate * class – mammal * order – carniverous * family – cat * genus – big cat * species – lion Difficulties with classificationIt can be  easy  to classify a species. For example, we are  Homo sapiens. Classification of species rank| classification| notes| kingdom| animals|   | phylum| chordates| animals with backbones| class| mammals| animals that are warm-blooded, have lungs and body hair, produce milk and give birth to live young| order| primates| ape-like animals| family| hominids| human-like animals| genus| homo| humans| species| sapiens| modern humans| It can also be  difficult  to classify a certain organism. For example, the single-celled organism called Euglena has some confusing characteristics.It has: * chloroplasts, like a plant * no cell wall, like an animal * a flagellum to swim with, like some bacteri a A fifth kingdom, called the protoctists, was made for organisms like Euglena. The Heart The heart requires its own constant blood supply in order to keep beating and this is delivered through the coronary arteries. Genetic and lifestyle factors can lead to the coronary arteries becoming blocked, and an increased risk of heart disease. The circulatory system Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body’s  cells, and waste products away from them.The circulatory system consists of: * the heart, which is the muscular pump that keeps the blood moving * the arteries, which carry blood away from the heart * the veins, which return blood to the heart * the capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels that are close to the body’s cells The diagram outlines the circu-latory system. To make things clear, oxygenated blood is shown in red, and deoxygenated blood in blue. Arteries and veins The arteries carry blood from the heart, while veins return blood to it. With both, their structure is related to their function. ArteriesBlood in the arteries is under high pressure generated by the heart. The arteries have: * thick outer walls * thick layers of muscle and elastic fibres Veins The blood in veins is under lower pressure than the blood in arteries. The veins have: * thin walls * thin layers of muscle and elastic fibres Unlike arteries, veins have one-way valves in them to keep the blood moving in the correct direction. The heart The heart is a muscular organ. It keeps beating at about 70 times per minute. You can see how it pumps the blood to the lungs and the rest of the body by studying this animation.The muscle cells in the heart need a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, and for their waste products to be removed. So the heart requires its own blood supply in order to keep beating. Blood vessels called the  coronary arteries  supply blood to the heart muscles. If they become blocked, a  heart attack  can happen. Heart attacks A heart att ack can happen because: 1. Fatty deposits build up in the coronary arteries. 2. A blood clot can form on a fatty deposit. 3. The blood clot can block a coronary artery. 4. Some heart muscle cells do not get the oxygen and nutrients they need. 5. These cells start to die.Causes of heart disease Heart disease is not usually caused by micro-organisms. It is caused by: * genetic factors, which show as a family history of heart disease * lifestyle factors Heart disease is more common in the UK than in non-industrialised countries, and many other indust-rialised nations. This is due to lifestyle factors  including: * smoking * lack of regular exercise * stress leading to a fast heart rate * drinking a lot of alcohol * poor diet A lack of exercise and a diet that is high in salt and saturated fat cause people to: * become overweight * have high blood pressure have high levels of cholesterol in their blood These factors contribute to an increased risk of heart disease. Extra Sex hormones Changes occur at puberty because of sex hormones produced by the testes in boys, and the ovaries in girls. Some changes happen to everyone, both boys and girls, while others happen in one sex only. Here are some changes that happen to both boys and girls: * pubic hair grows * underarm hair grows Here are some changes that happen to boys only: * voice breaks – gets deeper * hair grows on face and body * body becomes more muscular * testes and penis get bigger testes start to produce sperm cells Here are some changes that happen to girls only: * hips get wider * breasts develop * ovaries start to release egg cells – periods start Fertility in humans can be controlled by the artificial use of sex hormones, including contraceptive pills and fertility drugs. Competition Different species compete to survive and breed. The size of a predator population depends on the size of the prey population, and the reverse is true as well. Mutualism benefits both species involved in the relationship, but parasitism only benefits the parasite, not the host.Habitats have limited amounts of the resources needed by living organisms. Organisms must  compete  with others in order to get enough of these resources to survive. If they are unsuccessful and cannot move to another habitat, they will die. Animals Some of the resources that animals compete for: * food * water * space Animals may also compete for mates so that they can reproduce. Plants Remember that plants make their own food using  photo-synthesis, so they do not compete for food. Here are some of the things that plants do compete for: * light * water space * mineral salts Human beings Human beings are very successful organisms. We compete with animals for food resources, and we compete with both animals and plants for space and water. The nitrogen cycle Seventy-nine per cent of the air around us is nitrogen. Living things need nitrogen to make proteins, but they cannot get it directly from the air becaus e nitrogen gas is too  unreactive  to be used to make new compounds within an organism. Plants can take up and use nitrogen when it is in a more  reactive  form – for example, in  nitrates  or  ammonium salts.Changing nitrogen into a more reactive substance is called  nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation Nitrogen fixation happens in three different ways: The energy in a lightning bolt can split nitrogen molecules in the air, allowing each nitrogen atom to  react  with oxygen to form  nitrogen oxides. The rain washes these oxides to the ground, where they form  nitrates. * The Haber Process  is used by industry to produce ammonia from nitrogen. Ammonia is then used to make the fertiliser that farmers spread on the soil to feed their crops. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in both the soil and root nodules of leguminous plants fix nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants. When plants are eaten by animals, the nitrogen compounds are passed on. Nitr ogen compounds are returned to the soil by excretion and egestion from animals, or when plants and animals die and decay. The nitrogen compounds returned in this way are  changed back  to nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria which live in the soil. This  completes the cycle, so that the percentage of nitrogen in the air remains constant. The nitrogen cycle

Idolatry of Christianity

Idolatry of Christianity Introduction Modern Christianity has come under serious criticism from various religious organizations because of a growing culture of idolatry. Christianity applies in various brands that have been subject to accusations on idolatry (Benson 20). Christians, especially Roman Catholics have been accused of worshiping images of Jesus and the crucifix.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Idolatry of Christianity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Christianity is a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus, as embodied in the New Testament. The bible is very clear, on whom Christians should worship. The concept of idolatry applies differently today compared to ancient days (Johnson par. 5). Christianity has its own explanation of idolatry and use of images in churches. It explains idolatry as any practice of worshiping something that is not God (Benson 33). In the contex t of Christianity, anything includes material things, actions, and thoughts that make people to exhibit great independence in thought and action from God. For a long time, Christian worship has incorporated the use of icons and symbols, which has resulted in people developing different understandings on their use. Idolatry in Christianity applies when people use God’s given gifts and commandments to achieve selfish gains by acting to appear powerful and knowledgeable. Discussion One of the most controversial topics in development of religion is the elements of Christianity that apply as idolatrous. In the past, people considered idolatry to be the worship of statues and carved images, while modern explanation of the practice considers God’s commandments. It is important to understand various elements of idolatry, and ways that Christians can avoid the practice. It is important to understand that this practice goes beyond bowing down to sculptures, and involves lack of respect to God’s commandments (Johnson par. 8). In the past people worshiped sculptures, which critics argue to have modern representation in the image of Jesus and the crucifix. A crucifix represents the cross on which Jesus died. Modern Christians are very self-centered, greedy, and rebellious towards God (Mills 58). People are turning away from the biblical teachings that present God’s commandments to all believers. God communicates a lot with Christians through the bible. Exodus 20:3 says, â€Å"You shall not have any other gods before me.† Christians have decided to serve two masters at the same time (Mills 59). People have generated their own priorities that come before God for the sake of earthly gains. Christians have turned to worshiping money, if the number of churches and vague prophets emerging everyday is anything to go by (Neumaier par. 4). Luke 16:13 says, â€Å"No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other. He will devote to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.†Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Images in the Roman Catholic Church Images have been part of the Catholic religion for a many years. Most people have associated the use of images to depict Jesus, Saints, the holy family, and the crucifix as a form of idolatry (Barton 66). The history of images in Christianity dates back to the third century. However, due to growth experienced in the church in terms of popularity and numbers, images applied as one of the ways to teach new members about the religion (Seinfeld par. 9). Some of the images developed at the time included those of angels, the crucifix, saints, and prophets among others. Since then, use of images became part of teaching and worship among Catholics. Images also apply as form of decoration for churches. Images apply to explain va rious biblical stories that form the foundation of Christianity. Images used by Christians are just arbitrary signs that have acquired a conventional significance for representing something else that is invisible (Seinfeld par. 12). Unlike early forms of idolatry where people used to bow down to visible things as their gods, Christians use images and sculptures to manifest their faith in the existence of God. Most people fail to understand that Catholics follow the system of prayer explained in the Old Testament (Barton 70). Roman Catholic believers hold images used in their religion with high regard, and often show their respect by kissing liturgical objects used in worship. One of the commandments applies to warn people against making their own desired images of the heavenly father. Catholics explain this commandment to mean that Christians should not worship these images or a false god through them (Heimer par 3). This means that Catholics do not use images as idols, but as senti mental objects that help them to make a connection with God through their religious practices. Modern idolatry Idolatry of Christianity applies when people follow God’s commandments for their own personal fulfillment, and not for the sake of satisfying the will of their creator. When people live and follow the biblical teachings in order to have the praise of fellow human beings, then Christianity becomes idolatry (Mills 60). Christians also find a lot of joy and fulfillment in serving people in churches, whereas they often fail to recognize the presence of God in their lives. Commandments teach Christians to look after the welfare of others, by helping them when in need and showing them the presence of God in their everyday challenges and tribulations (Seaton 100). However, most Christians demonstrate a lot of discomfort in associating with suffering people, and often hide themselves to avoid any engagement. Christianity becomes idolatrous when people start using God and his teachings to endear themselves to fellow human beings (Seaton 109). People have turned to bowing and worshiping their fellow human beings, who have convinced them that they have equal ability to influence their destiny just as God can do.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Idolatry of Christianity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More People have lost the value of having God in their lives, and replaced him with earthly joys such as sex, money, and power among others (Heimer par. 6). The biblical story of the Golden Calf is the closest that the bible gives a clear depiction of idolatry. The Israelites had used the good things that God had given them to go against him. This was a true manifestation of immoral living, because these people had literally used God’s power and good will to his people to replace him. The gold used to make the calf was meant for use in God’s work, but the Israelites used it to make t heir own god. Conclusion Idolatry of modern Christianity goes beyond bowing to sculptures. It includes any action by human beings that makes one to have little value for God over other things. People have replaced God as their hero with other things that do not guarantee salvation. Use of images by Roman Catholics does not qualify as idolatry because they do not worship them, but apply to develop a connection with their religious beliefs. Idolatry of Christianity applies when people follow God’s commandments for the sake of pleasing their fellow human beings and not their heavenly father. Barton, Stephen. Idolatry: False Worship in the Bible, Early Judaism, and Christianity. New York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2007. Print. Benson, Bruce. Gods that Fail: Modern Idolatry and Christian Mission. Journal of world  Christianity 5.3 (2011): 23-29. Print. Heimer, Mark. â€Å"Scandal Hints at Decline of U.S, Denominations.† The New York Times  26 October 2012. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Johnson, Matt. When Christianity is Idolatry. 2013. Web. Neumaier, Arnold. Christian Idolatry and Reality. 2013. Web. https://www.mat.univie.ac.at/~neum/sciandf/eng/idol.html Mills, Kenneth. Idolatry and Its Enemies. Journal of World Christianity 6.2 (2010): 56-62. Print. Seaton, Debra. Idolatry of Christian Leaders. New York: Cengage Learning, 2007. Print. Seinfeld, Peter. â€Å"Looking to Other Religions, and to Atheism, For Clarity in Faith.† The  New York Times 06 November 2009. Print.

Why Violent video games should not be banned

Why Violent video games should not be banned Introduction The essay is an argumentative one; violent games should not be banned. Recently there has been an endless and fierce debate on whether or not to banned violent video games. For instance, the countries that constitute the European Union are planning to ban some of the European games. However, it is the view of the majority of video games just like any other games are there to educate and entertain.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why Violent Video Games Should not be Banned specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although there are strong reasons brought forth by those who want violent video games to be banned here are reasons why we should not; increases self-esteem, reduction of pain, encourages teamwork, sharpening players’ wit among others (Sterngold, 2006). With regards to those in support of banning the game they hold the view that the games continuously poison the minds of the viewers especially th e young individuals. The argument in support of violent video games It is worth noting that there are indeed strong points that need to be given a second thought before we rush in banning violent video games. It has been argued and even proved that when kids play such games especially when the multiplayer type of game is available, then the children get to learn at a very early age to work as teammate which require teamwork. Arguably, this is advantageous as it helps in keeping children together in times of needs (Lebrilla, 2010). For this matter when they grow up, such individuals will be in a better position to be good team players. This concept has been currently deemed very vital in ensuring the success of an organization. Through the game, it is indeed tough to beat the opponent. However, through concentration, acquisition of skills and knowledge on how to win which has been learned from each other, children are capable of the emerging winner. With this, they grow knowing that to win, there is a need to have a team behind. As suggested by Bissell, 2008 violent video games have been thought to help especially those with very high tempers to release their anger by not hurting anybody. When very angry and one feels like inflicting pain on another human being, or even kill others, it has been thought appropriate to transfer such anger to violent video games. When one engages in a shoot out with an enemy in a video game, he/she might feel that the mission is accomplished.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Aside from assisting young individuals to sharpen their wits and problem-solving skills, violent video game plays a significant role in helping young individuals even a few older members of the society to learn how to persevere. On the same line of thought, these games have made it possible for people to have a well-coordinated hand and eye movement (Cr aig et al. 2007). This has helped in making sure that reflex action/response is normal. The advantage of this is that it will play a significant role in keeping progressive illnesses at bay. Another major point that is in support of violent video games is that it helps in sustaining the country’s economy. It is apparent that the industry of violent video games has played a significant role in the economic growth of the country. The export of the same product to other nation generates foreign income for the country. Additionally, a good number of Americans derive their daily bread from the same industry (Konijn et al., 2007). For this reason, banning of violent video games will mean that the unemployment rate will go up and the money generated from the industry will be lost. The industry generates close to 21 billion dollars annually (Jones Ponton, 2003). Additionally, doctors have proved that despite violent games being useful; releasing anger, it is also helpful in helping a patient reduce pain. The current efforts hospitals show this is making to install such games. More importantly, the games help in entertaining the plays as well as the viewers. Just like when people feel entertained in watching a football match violent game provide the same to the affected party. Considering the fact that slightly over 70.0% of American teens play these games, if it is banned then they will indulge in even more risky activities in their quest to be entertained for instance drug abuse (Goldstein, 1998). Argument against violent video games It would not be rational if the argument that supports the banning of violent games are not brought to light. It has been brought in the violent limelight game pollutes the minds of American children.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why Violent Video Games Should not be Banned specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More When a young individual engages too much in these game s, they are addicted. The result is that they will grow up and may put into practice what they saw. A recent incidence where a student walked in an institution of learning and started shooting at others killing them on the spot has been linked to violent video games (Anderson Dill, 2000). Similarly, just like any other thing that can bring addiction, violent video game when making a young individual addicted can be detrimental in their quest to learning. This is because most of the time, whenever they are free will, spend time playing such games (Ferguson, 2008). Although it has been argued that the game fosters socialization skills, it is evident that when one plays in non-multiplayer support, they grow up being persons with poor skills to socialize. Conclusion From the review of the issue of violent games, even though the game is intense, banning it will bring more harm than good. For those who advocate for the banning, it would be rational to critically analyze the benefits of t he game to individuals and even the society at large. For instance, it enhances teamwork, helps reduce pain, aid in releasing anger, and improves wit and hand-eye coordination among others. However, the disadvantages include polluting or poisoning young individuals, and addiction eats their time hence cannot engage actively in other vital activities. This thus warrants careful consideration from relevant stakeholders such as parents and the government. References Anderson, C. Dill, K. (2000). â€Å"Video Games and Aggressive Thoughts, Feelings and Behavior in the Laboratory and In Life.† Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(4):722. Ferguson, C. (2008). â€Å"Blazing Angels or Resident Evil? Can Violent Video Games Be a Force for Good?, Review of General Psychology, 14(1): 68-81Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Konijn, E. et al. (2007). I Wish I Were a Warrior: The Role of Wishful Identification in the Effects of Violent Video Games on Aggression in Adolescent Boys. Developmental Psychology, 43(1): 1-12 Craig, A. et al. (2007). Violent Video Game Effects on Children and Adolescents: Theory, Research, and Public Policy. Oxford University: Oxford University Press. Bissell, T. (2008). Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter. New York: Macmillan Publishers. Sterngold, A. (2006). â€Å"Violent video games† Web. Jones, G. Ponton, L. (2003). Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Super Heroes, and Make-Believe Violence. New York: Basic Books. P. 172. Goldstein, J. (1998). Why We Watch; The Attraction of Violent Entertainment. Oxford University Oxford University Press. P. 188