So I was just browsing youtube when I came across this video, which I though was very disturbing. My question is; is this natural selection as the scientist claims, or are humans trying to display their "dominance" and play God? 

It may be worthwhile to consider the evolution of the term: evolution. I decided to consult the OED to see what’s out there. Some of the following definitions are rare, even obsolete now, but they can be useful in understanding where our current understanding of the word comes from. They can help us “make sense of it” and come up with our own stories. Overall, evolution is quite the interdisciplinary word. There are multiple good stories of evolution.

 

Evolution, n.

 

Hello everyone, I'm a Bryn Mawr English major alum, and co-founded Serendip 17 years ago. I'm the shadow figure in the background making sure that the website works for you. Have fun this semester. Ann

 The one topic from the last class that I have been thinking a lot about has been the discussion on the objectivity (or lack thereof) of science.  At first I was very opposed to the discussion that we were having about how subjective science really is.  I was thinking specifically of certain tests, for instance an NMR test.  In one of these tests I would interpret the results the same way any other chemist in the world would.  I felt that in our class discussion we were talking about science in too broad of terms, because I still believe that there are many fields in science that are truly objective.  Then this weekend my views were even further played with by a New Yorker article that I was reading for another Biology class.

My name is Kate Gould, I'm a senior graduating in December of 2011 (medical leave), and I'm a thesis-writing English major.

I like video games and I guess the piece of technology that has been important to my development has been my father's Nintendo. 

From a young age I was inundated with computer games--my father is a mechanical engineer and loves all things tech. I guess by playing the Nintendo (and other games on the PC) since I was three or four, I've never been afraid of technology. It's all something that I want to try--and it's fun. Technology is fun--not scary or intimidating. I taught my mother how to use the computer when I was seven or eight years old. 

     I found this first week of discussion very interesting. As we continued the discussion on evolution as a way of being, I found many questions forming in my head. I understand the importance the role of history plays in explanations for why things are here, but I find more comfort in the idea that history cannot explain everything and that chance, opportunity and maybe even destiny are explanations for some occurrences. One example, we talked about was how we as individuals got here. Though there is a story or "history" that may explain how my parents met, got married, etc. The first answer off the top of my head was "by chance".

I am a firm believer of evolution.  To me it seems like the most natural thing in the world; we see it everyday with breeders, medicine, etc.  Evolution is a matter of change, whether in a positive direction or in a negative direction, in all living and non-living things.  Living creatures have been changing in order to adapt to their environment throughout the course of time, whether it is naturally or manipulated.  Naturally, we can use the example of the finches in the Galapagos Islands.  When climate changes occur, some species are more favorable than other; therefore, the favorable finches beat the unfavorable ones, hence changes within the finch species.  Manipulated evolution can be seen with breeders.  Many horse trainers study closely the diff

 Hello my name is Tiffany and I'm a sophmore majoring in English at Bryn Mawr. The type of technology that has affected an aspect of my development would most definitely be my personal mobile phone, my beloved Blackberry.

I was extremely reluctant to buy a smartphone because there is social stigma attached to smartphone users - the zombie like texting fiends who walk into doors and fall into fountains. No really, youtube "woman falls in mall fountain." Smartphone users are typically horrible listeners because their attention is constantly glued to their phones. So the next time you have news to tell a friend be sure they're not on BBM or you might get a "No way! LOL" response when you tell them about your dog of nine years that just passed away.