Being Against Gay Marriage Doesnt Make You A Monster Essay Example
Before 1977, it was widely believed that the sun provided all essential energy for life on Earth. However, while studying plate tectonics in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, scientists discovered something intriguing near the thermal springs of the Galapagos Rift. They encountered thriving communities made up of multiple previously unidentified species. As a result, the Federal Government has allocated over $10 million to study these communities and their evolutionary history. Nonetheless, this funding pales in comparison to the $8.5 billion dedicated to space exploration in 1992. It is disconcerting how our knowledge of outer space surpasses our understanding of our own planet.
The ocean floor is the largest and least understood ecosystem on Earth, remaining largely unexplored. Despite previous beliefs that the sea's harsh conditions are inhospitable to life, studies have shown that unique energy sources can
...sustain ecosystems. Among these energy sources, hydrothermal vents harbor fascinating and significant creatures. These organisms have a distinct structure that has led to the identification of a new kingdom. Until now, scientists classified living beings into two kingdoms based on genetics: bacteria (prokaryotes) and eukaryotes (plants and animals). However, recently discovered animals possess DNA that sets them apart from both kingdoms.
The animals known as archaea have been difficult to study in a laboratory setting due to their inability to grow and thrive. These organisms can withstand extremely high temperatures, surpassing 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and are even found in boiling water, which challenges current health standards. The discovery of these remarkable organisms significantly changes our understanding of life on earth. In these vents, various communities of invertebrates live, including tube worms, mussels, clams, and shrimp
Without light or photosynthetic plankton for food, these animals have developed alternative survival strategies by forming symbiotic relationships with bacteria that can thrive on sulfide present in the vent water (hydrogen sulfide). The dynamics of this relationship are incredibly fascinating.
The bacteria residing within the invertebrate use the chemical energy of sulfide instead of light energy to create organic carbon compounds. This process, called chemosynthesis, was once believed to be uncommon. The invertebrate supplies the necessary chemicals for chemosynthesis and serves as a habitat for the bacteria. In return, the bacteria provide organic carbon compounds to the invertebrate, ensuring its survival without requiring much effort to obtain food. Tubeworms discovered in submarine mountain ranges off Mexico and South America serve as an illustration of this symbiotic relationship.
The Rose Garden in the Galapagos Rift is home to a unique worm that is long and white, with a bright red plume. What sets this worm apart is its lack of a mouth, stomach, or digestive system. Instead, it survives by extending its plume into the vent fluids and absorbing various compounds like sulfide. These compounds are then passed on to bacteria which serve as food for the worm. The symbiotic relationship between this invertebrate and the bacteria is truly remarkable as they depend on each other to survive. Both the worm and bacteria need oxygen to live, which also plays an important role in the essential functions of vent bacteria. This reliance on oxygen creates an exceptional connection between these communities and the world beyond the vent. This discovery has significant implications for understanding life's origins and future.
The advancements in biotechnology for
crime scene investigations and the exploration of the origins of life are significant breakthroughs that will greatly enhance our comprehension of the world. Nevertheless, limitations in our current understanding, funding, and imagination leave the true potential and direction of this newfound knowledge uncertain. Our progress has been impeded by past misconceptions such as believing in a flat Earth, attributing lightning to angry gods, and assuming life without sunlight was impossible at ocean depths. Henceforth, we must undertake the formidable task of delving into the intricacies of our intricate universe by commencing with studying our own planet.
REFERENCES
"Clues to Fiery Origin of Life Sought in Hothouse Microbes" by William J. Broad from The New York Times, May 09, 1995 (Vol. 144, p. B7(N), p. C1(L), col 5, 48 col in.)
"Depths of Ignorance" by Cindy Lee Van Dover from Discover, September 1993 (Vol. 14, No. 9, p. 37(3))
"Hydrothermal-Vent Communities of the Deep Sea" by Verena Tunnicliffe from American Scientist, July/August 1992 (Vol. 80, No. 4, p. 336(14))
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