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Showing posts with the label animals

Plants, Animals and other Organisms

T here are approximately million named species of living oganisms. The total number of living species is of course not known and we can only estimate what the figure might be. Estimates range from about 11 to 30 million or more. What is certain is that human impacts are causing species to become extinct faster than they can be named. Also of concern is our lack of knowledge about the named species. Scientists have intensively investigated only 10 per cent of plant species and a far smaller proportion of animal species (information from the World Commission in Environment and Develop-ment 198- publication Our common Future, Oxford University Press).  There are many terms used to refer to different groups of animals, plants and other kinds of living organism such as fungi, bacteria and viruses. The classification of biota (living organisms) has been reviewed and changed many times as a result of new information. In 1969, R. H. Whittaker of Cornell University suggested fiv

What is a gene?

What is a gene? Support Stated Clearly on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/statedclearly You've probably heard about GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms but what exactly is a gene and what does it mean to modify the genes of a plant or animal? We hear about DNA and genes all the time in the news and in our biology classes but very few of us can actually explain what a gene is? This short film is designed to help. Here we discuss a basic definition of a gene, show what a gene looks like, what it is that genes actually code for, and the basic idea behind Genetically Modified Organisms.  The video also briefly mentions one of the ways DNA strongly suggests that all living things are related and share an evolutionary history. Even though the content given here is just a simplified overview of genetics, after watching this video (along with our first video on DNA  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwibgN... ) you should be able to easily follow any news article