Cumulative General Science/Technology Quiz

[StarWorms]

Lamarkian evolution was about the phenotype being passed on to the next generation. Darwinian was about the genotype (although they didn't know about that then).

For an example, I would guess at prions, which cause correctly folded proteins to fold incorrectly into beta sheets with each other to prevent degradation by the proteosome, causing disease. If they can pass to the offspring (not sure if they can) then the disease phenotype would be passed on, unrelated to the genotype.

 

[ori]

ok three right answers on Lamarck
I did not think about the plasmids (that is what you get from focussing too much on mammalian organisms ) - but that might actually fit.
The virus theory actually has been shown to be somewhat true - there are gene segments in mammalian genomes that resemble viruses extremely well and there is compelling reason to suspect that those where acquired by some ancestor and passed on to his/her offspring.
Prion inheritance has as far as I know not been shown - and would most likely be lethal early on - but I might be mistaken.
What I was thinking about is something that happens far more often and at least potentially allows for transmission of acquired traits through the generations: DNA-methylation which is part of the genetic imprinting mechanism is passed on and there is quite a lot of speculation that changes in methylation patterns caused by external forces could be inherited....

I'd say Abgar is up

 

[Aramazd]

Someone else can ask, I can't think of anything right now.

 

[GoodGame]

Ok,

When is a worm really a fungus?

Hint:

I can't stand music, I have a tin ear.

 

[ainwood]

When its ringworm.

 

[GoodGame]

"Survey Says: You're right!!"

The medical name for the infection is Tinea, with specific names usually being named for where they infect (scalp, beard, etc..).

In all cases they are some species of fungus that infects dermal (skin) tissue, known as a dermatophyte.

There is at least 3 known genera of dermatophytes.
Trichophyton
Microsporum
Epidermophyton.

Because the red, raised infection looks like a worm burrowing in the skin, it got the nickname "ringworm".

Your turn.

When its ringworm.

 

[Aramazd]

It's been 72 hours, so I'll ask one:

Echinodermata and Chordata belong to seperate group from other animals, what is it, and what distinguishes that group from other animals?

 

[Brighteye]

Skeletons?

 

[StarWorms]

Chordata are vertebrates. Echinodermata aren't. I don't know what universal features that group has, but I the group contains jellyfish and sea urchins.

 

[Brighteye]

Maybe they're the multicellular organisms then.

 

[peter grimes]

That's a thinker! I wish I had read Ancestor's Tale more recently

It can't be multicellularity, for the Invertebrates are multicellular. But I can't think of anything that's so fundamental between Cordata and Echinodermata that isn't shared with Arthropoda. Or maybe I'm going in the wrong direction?

 

[Aramazd]

That's a thinker! I wish I had read Ancestor's Tale more recently

It can't be multicellularity, for the Invertebrates are multicellular. But I can't think of anything that's so fundamental between Cordata and Echinodermata that isn't shared with Arthropoda. Or maybe I'm going in the wrong direction?

You couldn't tell the difference by looking at the organisms, think developmental.

 

[GoodGame]

I'm thinking Starworms had the answer with the spinal chord difference.

My main recollection that the Sea Urchin stirs up is how it was a model for studying development and the idea of 'determinism' in organism development.
But comparing sea urchins to vertebrates, regarding development, I have to think you want something about symmetry. Like bisymmetrical vs. what sea urchins are classed as.

You couldn't tell the difference by looking at the organisms, think developmental.

 

[peter grimes]

Echinoderms exhibit radial symmetry. I don't know if all of them show 5 fold radial symmetry, but at least some of them do. Vertebrates are bilaterally symmetric for the most part. For that matter, most invertebrates are, as well.

I was wondering if the developmental difference had more to do with meiosis or some other cellular distinction. But I'm really out of my element here

 

[Aramazd]

Nothing to do with symmetry.

 

[Aramazd]

It's been 72 hours. The answer was that Chordata and Echinodermata are Deutersomes. During development the first opening becomes the anus and the second the mouth, opposite of how other animals develop. Someone else can ask a question now.

 

[xienwolf]

Ok, how about a Time Paradox?

If a train is traveling at Relativistic speeds, and enters a tunnel of the same length as the train, what is the order of the following events for 1) an observer in the middle of the train, and for 2) an observer outside of the tunnel, equidistant from the entrance & Exit:

A) Front of the Train Enters Tunnel
B) Back of the Train Enters Tunnel
C) Front of the Train Leaves Tunnel
D) Back of the Train Leaves Tunnel

 

[Brighteye]

1 ACBD
2 A B/C D?

I don't know what else might be happening.

 

[StarWorms]

1.A, B&C, D
2. How can he be outside the tunnel but equidistant from the entrance and exit of the tunnel and still be able to see them? Is he standing atop a transparent tunnel?

Assuming it is transparent p): A, B, C, D

 

[brennan]

I believe Brighteye was correct. I also believe the question plagiarises a recent thread.