10.8 million years ago in Southeast Asia is where the story of the common cat we know of today, starts. Though today there are 37 different species from the Felidae, and these make up 8 lineages, things weren't always this way. Through evolution cats have kept a few basic types of characteristics such as skills at catching prey, being fast, dexterous and having five important weapons, which are there teeth and claws. The different evolution has made is it's definition and additions in skill and appearance in different types of cats. In a comparison to the average household cat the ancestors looked quite different. It was a cat that resembled a panther. It then split into a big species called Panthera. This family includes all kinds of cats like: lions, leopards, jaguars, tigers, snow leopards, clouded leopards and Bornean clouded leopards.Then the bay cat lineage came a little over 9million years ago. In this split was the medium to small type cats and they were limited to the forests of Southeast Asia. The the next split, 8.5 million years back, called the caracals. This split was defined as being an African cats, often golden in color with long legs and big ears. Continuing on to, eight million years ago, where the ocelot family is formed, these are cats the primarily reside in Central/South America. What sets them apart from other cats is that they have 36 chromosomes while other cats have 38. Then came the lynx, a little over 7 million years ago. Starting in North America what make the lynx a unique family is it's shortened tail and ability to widely disperse. 6.7 million years ago came the the puma lineage, this line that split into Puma, jaguarondi and cheetah. Soon after followed the leopard cat, which would after become more dominant in Asia. We come close to the end of the tale of cats, when a little over three million years ago is when domestic cats started to come into the picture. So then, 8-10,000 years ago in Isreal and Near East came the domestic cats as their own species. Even though sometimes hard to connect your household pet to a roaring, prowling predatory killing machine, we must remember and respect the path and evolution of cats.Sunday, May 13, 2012
Evolution of Cats
10.8 million years ago in Southeast Asia is where the story of the common cat we know of today, starts. Though today there are 37 different species from the Felidae, and these make up 8 lineages, things weren't always this way. Through evolution cats have kept a few basic types of characteristics such as skills at catching prey, being fast, dexterous and having five important weapons, which are there teeth and claws. The different evolution has made is it's definition and additions in skill and appearance in different types of cats. In a comparison to the average household cat the ancestors looked quite different. It was a cat that resembled a panther. It then split into a big species called Panthera. This family includes all kinds of cats like: lions, leopards, jaguars, tigers, snow leopards, clouded leopards and Bornean clouded leopards.Then the bay cat lineage came a little over 9million years ago. In this split was the medium to small type cats and they were limited to the forests of Southeast Asia. The the next split, 8.5 million years back, called the caracals. This split was defined as being an African cats, often golden in color with long legs and big ears. Continuing on to, eight million years ago, where the ocelot family is formed, these are cats the primarily reside in Central/South America. What sets them apart from other cats is that they have 36 chromosomes while other cats have 38. Then came the lynx, a little over 7 million years ago. Starting in North America what make the lynx a unique family is it's shortened tail and ability to widely disperse. 6.7 million years ago came the the puma lineage, this line that split into Puma, jaguarondi and cheetah. Soon after followed the leopard cat, which would after become more dominant in Asia. We come close to the end of the tale of cats, when a little over three million years ago is when domestic cats started to come into the picture. So then, 8-10,000 years ago in Isreal and Near East came the domestic cats as their own species. Even though sometimes hard to connect your household pet to a roaring, prowling predatory killing machine, we must remember and respect the path and evolution of cats.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Reflection on Sexual Education Unit
What did I learn during this unit?
During this unit we studied Sexual Education, and I think we all as a class learned a lot. The first thing I learned was about how condoms are actually not completely the safest method of protection. They are only 60% effective, this is something I didn't know. I also learned about the different types of STDs. I had heard the names of different ones before, but never actually knew what they are. I think though, I am glad that I learned not only about what each kind of STD does but we also learned about how you can prevent STDs and how you can treat them. Also, while doing the essay for this unit, I picked the question where I had to research new developments in the world of STD testing. What I discovered during this process is that there is a new system of testing that can use your cell phone.
I think my favorite part of this unit, was discovering how big a condom can become when blown up. We did this when we were learning about how to put on a condom. I not only think that was a fun lesson but it was also informational, and was a good lesson. I learned that you must leave a little bit at the top, to collect the sperm, and I also learned that you aren't allowed to keep the air inside the condom, because that could cause it to break. We now know how to open the package without tearing the condom and making a hole in it that can cause the sperm to come through during intercourse. To conclude, I think that this unit was educational and an important lesson for all adolescence to learn.
During this unit we studied Sexual Education, and I think we all as a class learned a lot. The first thing I learned was about how condoms are actually not completely the safest method of protection. They are only 60% effective, this is something I didn't know. I also learned about the different types of STDs. I had heard the names of different ones before, but never actually knew what they are. I think though, I am glad that I learned not only about what each kind of STD does but we also learned about how you can prevent STDs and how you can treat them. Also, while doing the essay for this unit, I picked the question where I had to research new developments in the world of STD testing. What I discovered during this process is that there is a new system of testing that can use your cell phone.
I think my favorite part of this unit, was discovering how big a condom can become when blown up. We did this when we were learning about how to put on a condom. I not only think that was a fun lesson but it was also informational, and was a good lesson. I learned that you must leave a little bit at the top, to collect the sperm, and I also learned that you aren't allowed to keep the air inside the condom, because that could cause it to break. We now know how to open the package without tearing the condom and making a hole in it that can cause the sperm to come through during intercourse. To conclude, I think that this unit was educational and an important lesson for all adolescence to learn.
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