week eleven: the chemistry of life

*Post your thoughts on the issues raised in "growing brain cells in the laboratory".

a few students mentioned the complexity of this issue. i agree with that assessment. it would be nearly impossible to summarize all the pros and cons in one paragraph.


*Check out and review one of the Definitions of the “Chemistry of Life”.

i reviewed the first definition, "Biochemistry is the chemistry of life." from the attached link, i found a section on the history of biochemistry. the science is only about 400 years old. it's interesting to note that before biochemistry, science did not pertain to life the same way it did to non-life. scientists once believed that living beings were the only substances capable of producing the molecules of life.


*Check out and review one of the Animations.

i watched the boiling water animation. although i hoped to learn more about the molecular dance that occurs in boiling water, the animation offered no explanation in conjunction with the video. unfortunately, i didn't learn much from the slow motion cartoon.