Who Wants to Live a Million Years: Analysis of a Natural Selection Simulation

1. It took four tries for my species to survive a million years. If my species did not have the needed genes to get through a catastrophic event and could not adapt quickly enough, they would die. I believe this is definitely true for any real species. 
2. The successful phenotypes I chose were long legs, long necks, stripes, fur and fat. These phenotypes showed the widest variety which was necessary since i could not predict what would happen. I knew my species needed to be ready for anything. Long legs and camouflaging stripes allowed the species to run and hide. A long neck helped the species reach fruit high in trees, and the fur and fat kept them warm in cold weather.
3. I do not think that my species would be greatly affected by genetic drift. The species was well rounded enough to be prepared for almost any sudden catastrophic event. 
4. The dominant phenotypes seemed to be fur and long legs. They appeared most commonly, almost always being present. A long neck seemed to be recessive. It randomly appeared even if it was not an original phenotype or had been absent for awhile.
5. A: fat and fur, B: slim with no extra body fat, C: camouflaging stripes and long legs, D: long neck and tall
6. I believe this game would be more realistic if the phenotypes were less predictable. Adding in mutations or harmful phenotypes might enhance the stimulation.

GATTACA Essay

    The question I have chosen to answer is about the symbiotic relationship between Jerome and Vincent, and how it benefits them, what they get out of it, and how this concept defies the rules of biology. Both Vincent and Jerome lack an emotional or physical quality. Jerome being the brawnier of the two, and Vincent the brain. Both men lack the other quality (brawn or brain) and have therefore struggled to accomplish their dreams. Therefore when they become “one person” they create the perfect being.

Vincent has never been especially athletic, while Jerome was a champion swimmer. Unfortunately Jerome became paralyzed from the waist down in a car wreck and has no more use for his remarkable strength, until he gives it to Vincent. Vincent is able to use Jeromes steady heartbeat and perfect genes to disguise his scrawny muscles and weak heart. With his new physical statistics he is able to accomplish his dreams. Jerome is able to feed off of Vincents energy through the experience and get a taste of inspiration and motivation, both being emotional traits he lacked.

Vincent had always been an “in-valid” outsider, and Jerome was now crippled. In other words both men seemed to have no life purpose, until they met each other. Their qualities balanced each other out, they experienced not only success, but also friendship for the first time. This feeling of utter, achievement and fulfilment gave the men more of a purpose in life. For the first time they saw what beauty the world had to offer, they found a spark in life.

The idea that two people can act as one person questions the logic behind biology. The fact that Vincent was able to use Jeromes DNA to disguise as him is quite remarkable. it basically says that your inherited genes don’t matter if you can just find others to use. A person would also be able to easily steal identities with just some DNA. Any biological test could be passed, your hereditary traits would essentially mean nothing.

In conclusion, Jerome and incent are able to complete each other. They physically and emotionally morph into one being. Jerome is able to live out his dream through Vincent, and Vincent can accomplish his thanks to Jerome. Both men give an equal amount and receive an equal amount. They discover both friendship and inspiration.