Blake

Week 4: The Genetic Genius J. Craig Venter Current Work This week in class, our work was not about sustainability, but focused on genetics. So, this following post will focus on the genius J. Craig Venter, who has made many valuable contributes to the field of genetics. Within the past decade, Venter has become one of the first men to sequence the human genome (2001), has started anocean exploration genome project (2004), and has had his own DNA sequenced (2006). These accomplishments allowed for Venter to establish the //J.////Craig Venter Institute,// and become the worldwide face of genetics. However, now it is 2013, and we have entered a new decade. So, what is the 21st century god of genetics up to? All I can say about his current work is that it is absolutely mind blowing.

In 2010, Venter announced a breakthrough in the field of genetics: He, along with his team, have created the first synthetic bacteria designed with a computer, using man made DNA. Essentially, Venter used a computer to recreate the genetic sequence of a bacteria, Then, using the computer, Venter created all the chemicals necessary to create the DNA for the bacteria. He does, however, use a living cell to insert this newly created DNA into. As Venter says, he "Creates a new life form out of an existing life form" (in the first video):

media type="youtube" key="yk0NXhEQXRI" width="448" height="251"media type="youtube" key="QHIocNOHd7A" width="448" height="251" align="right"

The first video gives a brief overview on what Craig Venter did to create this synthetic life form. The second video is a very in depth Ted Talk, where Craig Venter unveils his creation of the first self replicating synthetic life form. He explains the challenges he faced and how tiresome the process was. He also goes into depth about how he used yeast as a base for an original recipient of the computer DNA, and then transplanted the computer DNA into a cell. Also, he mentions how he placed within the DNA sequence key contributors to the project and a website name (the program they used allowed them to use the entire alphabet for coding. Explained in the 2nd video).



So, where do we go from here? This revolutionary accomplishment can result in many future applications. The goal now is to use this technology to find out the minimum number of genes an organism must contain in order to live. Venter says once this is configured, microorganisms can be created. These microorganisms can also be programmed with certain genes that can make useful proteins and chemicals. Also, these organisms could be used to break down pollutants. This has been met with controversy, as many religious group say it is wrong for Venter to "play the role of God" and create life. However, many scientists also say that this is a revolutionary moment in the fields of biology, chemistry, biotechnology, and life. If society can enhance this technology, I believe that the sky is the limit. For more information on applications, read the following link and watch the question part of the 2nd video (around 15min):

http://cdn.theguardian.tv/bc/281851582/281851582_86919108001_venter16x9-3387989.jpg?pubId=281851582

This past week in class, we mentioned Craig Venter. As I delved into research about Craig Venter, I found that the genetics genius was embarking on something remarkable: synthetic life. With all the applications it can provide, life on earth could change as we know it today. People may believe it is unethical, but i highly disagree. With our world rapidly evolving, we need technology that can help us combat difficulties society faces every day. Craig Venter's synthetic life can revolutionize the world, and allow humans to further explore an avenue of research that has never been explored before.

Week 3: Fresh Water Need

Currently, 75% of Earth is made up of water. Of that 75%, approximately 2.5% of that water is fresh water. Of that mere amount, only 1.3% of freshwater is on the surface of earth (68% of freshwater is trapped in glaciers). Finally, of that 1.3%, 0.46% of surface freshwater is in rivers, where a majority of water supplied to humans comes from (20.6% of it is also in lakes). These statistics show that although there is a vast amount of water on earth, only a very small fraction of it is usable for drinking purp oses. Even worse, are fresh water resources are rapidly depleting. Rivers such as the Colorado river are becoming depleted due to need and climate changes, which could have a dreadful impact on the world. So what's the solution? Let's find ways to create fresh water and maximize the amount of fresh water available to the population.



First, let's focus on a way to create fresh water. There are many inventors looking into this goal, and there have been many successes. For example, creating freshwater from salt water has become very possible. However, I would like to take a look at something different: Creating water from air. French inventor Marc Parent has created an electric powered windmill that is able to convert air into freshwater. This invention can provide water to the poorest and driest areas on earth, without wasting fresh water resources. The video and link below goes into greater depth about the subject: media type="youtube" key="zhe4jDWfFAY" width="560" height="315" align="center"

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/08/changing-cities-a-wind-turbine-that-creates-fresh-water-out-of-thin-air/ As this video shows, this environmental friendly machine could be the future answer to fulfilling water demands in several countries. With little need for maintenance, these machines can be set - up in almost any location. Although this is an invention in progress, it is a great step toward solving the water crisis. However, these machines are expensive. The economic issue of these machines needs to be solved. However, if it is solved, massive amounts of water can be supplied to people all over the world without depleting any of earth's natural surface freshwater resources.

The next big issue is how to conserve our fresh water. The citizens of the world are at fault of wasting billions of gallons of water every year. This is needs stop if humans want to preserve freshwater. The following links below describe how humans can stop their ridiculous habits of wasting water:
 * http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/top-ten/
 * http://www.conservation.org/learn/freshwater/Pages/fresh_water.aspx
 * http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/
 * (For some reason the links may not work so just copy them and paste them into a separate bar. They're short reads!!!)

The first link describes the amount of water humans use everyday, and major ways humans can reduce the amount of water they are able to use. The second article also describes the amount of water humans use daily, but focuses more on an organization that is trying to preserve the natural freshwater ecosystems. It also focuses, on the value of these ecosystems, and how they may be endangered. The third article focuses on ways to preserve water.

This week in class, we did various activities that portrayed the amount of freshwater on earth. What i found especially fascinating was the activity where beakers were used to illustrate the amount of fresh water available on earth compared to the total fresh water on earth. It was a droplet compared to a large beaker. I learned that our freshwater resources are limited. My goal in this week was to find ways to utilize resources to create more freshwater, and find ways to preserve fresh water. If we become careless with our freshwater, the planet itself could be drastically endangered, and chaos amongst people may break out.

Week 2: The Artificial Tree

Now more than ever, carbon levels are an all time high: 400ppm. The last time levels were this high was over one million years ago, or when the arctic had no ice and sahara desert was a savannah-like environment. This historic number will only decrease if we halt our rapid CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels. With our constant increase, environmental conditions could reheat theEarth's surface temperature, and change the climate to oldprehistoric conditions. Although the UN has set plans to settle this important issuein 2015, the world must act now. If industries are not going totry to curb their emissions themselves, technology must be created to combat their emissions.This, is where the artificial tree comes in.

Generally, the idea is that these trees are made up of a special plastic, that can intake large amounts of CO2. This can control the world's output of CO2. When the plastic is wetted, it can release the CO2 it absorbed, allowing natural plants to absorb CO2 (It is not affected by rain water, which is very important). Professor Klaus Lackner from Columbia University explains the following concept in the videobelow:

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From this video, you can see the many perks that artificial trees offer. These trees allow humans to have very steady control of the amounts of CO2 in the air. Furthermore, no dangerous chemicals are needed!!! Only a minimal amount of energy and water. Many of these trees can be built, and human emission levels can be dramatically reduced, to a point where our bad industrial habits may not even be felt.



However, there may be problems with the tree. The following article below gives a very good summary of the positives and negatives about the artificial tree. While it may reduce the CO2 ppm levels in the atmosphere, several trees would be needed to make a significant impact on earth (60 million by estimates from the video above). Also, there are other plastics or materials that can complete the process of capturing CO2 from the environment (but this one is the most cost effective). There are other interesting details in the article:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=prospects-for-direct-air-capture-of-carbon-dioxide

2013 measurements indicate that the level of CO2 in the environment is dangerous, and something must be done in order to reduce it. It appears industry will continue to use these fossil fuels, and have no regard for the environment. With these artificial trees constructed by Lackner, our society can possibly curb the trend of seeing more CO2 ppm in the environment, and in a cost effective way. However, we cannot become solely dependent on these trees. This will lead us to more bad habits. The bottom line is that we need to change, and stop emitting so much CO2 in the environment. These trees are a wonderful invention, even with the slight downsides. However, even with large amounts of these trees, if we continue our upward trend of emitting tons of CO2 in the environment every day, we will cause the dramatic change and death to Earth

Week 1: Permaculture Permaculture- Maximizing use of element or resource and making sure it does not ever go to waste (this field of permaculture uses processes, concepts, and new technologies in order to accomplish this task)

We are humans. Currently, we are one of the most advance and complex species on the planet. Our brains and capabilities allow us to manipulate the planet in unbelievable ways. However, what gives the human race the right to manipulate this planet? We are not special; we are only part of nature. We are animals that use elements for survival and receive these elements from nature. But, the ignorance of our species does not allow us to see this basic concept. We have created buildings, machines, and processes that use up the earth's natural resources, and then do not recycle them. Our species will be extinct within a few hundred years if we do not change. We must find ways to recycle our resources, in order to reuse the elements we need for survival. We must work with nature.

media type="youtube" key="NZ65wBmyCdE" width="560" height="315" align="center"

Nick Ritar highlights an important concept: We are only a part of nature, and we can only use the elements/resources that nature provides us in order to survive. He also states how finding fossil fuels have caused us to evade the issues of recycling. It is now clear that in order to conserve energy, nitrogen, and phosphorus, the things we use to survive, we must find ways to be sustainable. Nick also describes ways we obtain these elements and ways we can recycle these elements. He goes into detail about the Green Revolution, the way we feed ourselves. Also, he goes into detail about how humans need to recycle their fecal matter and their urine to create rich nitrogen soil, a process that could conserve the elements that are available to our species.

Every year, the human race flushes millions to billions liters of nitrogen rich material (our waste) into the ocean. It is a necessity that we capitalize on these resources. Nick highlighted in the video about how we can use urine and feces as fertilizer. In my opinion, urine is a great source of nitrogen that our species can use because urine is almost 100% sterile. Once you read the following links, you may realize how productive and resourceful it is to recycle our own waste:

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/10/human-pee-added-to-compost-boosts-crops/ http://www.grida.no/publications/et/ep5/page/2823.aspx https://www.engineeringforchange.org/news/2012/11/21/ten_ways_to_put_human_waste_to_use.html


 * The first link describes an experiment done with pee and feces, and taking the major nitrogen components from them. Next, they put these products in the soil, and created other various soil mixtures. They grew plants in the different soil mixtures and found the plants grew best in a soil mixture made of urine and feces.
 * The second article describes that as fertilizer prices are surging, human urine and feces can be an answer to reducing costs. They will also be effective in growing plants.
 * The third article describes the various uses of using human waste, especially for fertilizer and composting.

Nick Ritar and my research have showed me a few important concepts. For one, we must work with nature, because we are not above. We depend on nature's natural resources for survival. Also, I learned how wasteful humans are with phosphorus and nitrogen (especially nitrogen), the key building blocks in proteins (which make the human species). If we are able to utilize wasteful nitrogen, we can give it to our plants, which will then give it back to the consumers. Furthermore, we have the capabilities now to recycle nitrogen!!! There are composting toilets (as shown below) and other machines that utilize urine. It is even cost effective. So, what is the major point here? We are not special. Humans still have to live within the confinements of nature. If we do not recycle natural elements and resources, we, as a species, will not survive for much longer.