A person is declared to be dead upon the irreversible
cessation of spontaneous body functions: brain activity, or blood circulation and respiration. However, only about 1% of a persons cells have to die in order for all of these things to happen. How can someone be dead when 99% of his or her cells are still alive? 2. About 200 years ago, Jan Baptista van Helmont wanted to know where growing plants get the materials necessary for increases in size. He planted a tree seedling weighing 5 pounds in a barrel filled with 200 pounds of soil and then watered the tree regularly. After five years, the tree weighed 169 pounds, 3 ounces, and the soil weighed 199 pounds, 14 ounces. Because the tree had gained so much weight and the soil had lost so little, he concluded that the tree had gained all of its additional weight by absorbing the water he had added to the barrel, but of course he was incorrect. What really happened? 3. Suppose you vacation in a developing country where sanitation is poor. Having read about parasitic flagellates in water and damp soil, what would you consider safe to drink? What foods might be best to avoid or which food preparation methods might make them safe to eat? 4. Oscar and Lucinda meet in a tropical rain forest and fall in love, and he carves their initials into the bark of a tiny tree. They never do get together, though. Ten years later, still heartbroken, Oscar searches for the tree. Given what you know about primary and secondary growth, will he find the carved initials higher relative to ground level? If he goes berserk and chops down the tree, what kinds of growth rings will he see? 5. A python can survive by eating a large meal once or twice a year. When it does eat, microvilli in its small intestine lengthen fourfold and its stomach pH drops from 7 to 1. Explain the benefits of these changes. 6. Drinking too much water can be dangerous. When marathoners or other endurance athletes sweat heavily and drink lots of water, their sodium level drops. The resulting water intoxication can be fatal. Why is maintaining sodium balance so important? 7. Rather than using fertilizer, a farmer may rotate crops, planting legumes one year, then another crop, then legumes again. Explain how crop rotation keeps soil fertile. 8. Owners of off-road recreational vehicles would like increased access to government-owned deserts. Some argue that it is the perfect place for off-roaders because Theres nothing there. Do you agree? 9. Suddenly, after very heavy rains, many fish in a local lake begin to die, yet algae in the water seem to be doing very well. You know that the lake receives runoff from local fields and roads. Form a hypothesis about why the fish are dying, and suggest how to stop the deaths. 10. Justify why a doctor would not prescribe an antibiotic to treat the flu.
Backyard Homestead for Beginners: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming a Backyard Homesteader, Start a Mini Farm, Grow Food, Raise Chickens, and Live a More Self-Sufficient Life