Thursday, August 1, 2013

Week #4 Assignment Due 8/8/13....

Wow its August!  3 more weeks of summer!

Read Chapters 7 And 8.

Question 1.  Based on your reading from chapter 7, what are the major types of body plans?  I your opinion which one has been the most successful?

Question 2.  How do body plans and scents... go together?  What are some benefits of being able to detect "scents" .

Question 3:  If no living organism could detect scents(odors), do you would organism like animals and flowers have evolved the ability to have their own distinct odors? (Be sure to elaborate)

This a great link! and an interesting read.... It may help you with #3
http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/the-mystery-of-female-pheromones/30920

42 comments:

  1. Melissa Sybertz Your Inner fish Assignment #4



    Question 1:
    Body plans are plans to make the body. How to make the body’s cells and structures work together in order to make a new organism. One type of body plan is called the Placozoan. The placozoan is a very simple body plan, because there are only four types of cells. A sponge is also a body plan. It is divided into several apartments with cilia extended out of each space, allowing water to flow through. Another form of a body plan is a choanoflagellates. These look like the compartments that are in sponges, so much so people thought they just fell out of sponges. Choanoflagellates are a single-celled microbe. In my opinion the most successful of these three is probably the sponge because it has the same type of cell communication system that we find in our own body so their cells can communicate easily and effectively, its cells also have a division of labor. Sponges array of cells work together to function as one.

    Question 2:
    Body plans and scents go together because in both topics we learn about how different parts of a whole work together to get things done. In body plans we have an array of different types of cells to act as one individual. When talking about scents there is the nose that sends signals to separate parts in the brain in order to decipher between bad smelling things that could get us sick and good smelling things that won’t. Some benefits of being able to detect scents are that you can usually tell if a food is rotten or spoiled because of how it will smell so you won’t eat it and get sick. Smells cause the nerves in our noses to send signals to receptors in our brain. Another benefit could be that if a type of animal gives off a certain scent when it is about to attack a likely prey could get away. Or on the other hand, a hungry animal could give off a sweet smell to attract prey.

    Question 3:
    If no organisms could smell and detect scents I don’t think that flowers would have evolved the ability to have their own distinct odors. Flowers main reason for having an odor is in order to attract other organisms to transfer pollen to them. So if those organisms couldn’t smell there would be no need for flowers to have a specific scent.

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  2. Question One:
    The major types of body plans range from those of single-celled microbes, to those of a sponge, to those of a complex multi-celled creature like a human. Early research showed that, in the simplest of organisms, there is no "machinery" for interaction between cells, but, actually, the genes that are active in the single-celled organisms are active in more complex creatures as well. Sponges are made up of different cells that perform different types of labor. Sponges are composed of smaller parts, such as choanoflagellates(single-celled microbes). The next body plan "up", in terms of complexity, is that of an animal like a human. Unlike sponges, our bodies cannot be cut apart then repair themselves. There is also a division of labor among cells, though on an even more complicated level. It is hard to say which body plan has been the most successful. In their own right, each body plan is successful, as it works for them. The most basic body plan could be considered the most successful because it accomplishes tasks needed for life with the least amount of complication necessary. In other words, it does what it needs to do with only one cell. More complicated organisms have evolved from it, which indicates that it was a good base point.
    Question Two:
    Scents and body plans go together because the genes involved in the sense of smell are present in all human cells but are only active in certain areas. With more complex body plans come the ability to smell. The ability to smell evolved as bodies did, all the way from jawless fish to us. As organisms went from water to land, the ability to smell stayed. Scent became important to survive, as vision, another sense, was weak. Now, our vision is stronger than our ability to smell, but the latter is still useful. We use scents to associate certain objects and people with emotions. We can use scents to protect ourselves from going near hazardous things or use scents to attract other to ourselves(using perfume, for example).
    Question Three:
    Just because an organism before the current generation doesn't possess a certain trait doesn't mean the next generation can't. However, if animals/plants have gone without the sense of smell, it is unlikely they would have their own distinct odor. Why have an odor if no other creature can smell it? It is possible that they would have evolved to have their own distinct odor before gaining the ability to smell because the reason often precedes the ability. For example, the mechanisms to build a body were present before bodies were built. There needed to be a reason for bodies; the same thing goes for animals and plants. Having scents gave a reason for needing to be able to smell.

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  3. 1)Body plans are plans to make the body work. To make all the body’s tissues and structures, cells have to come together to make an entirely new kind of animal. One major body plan is placozoans. Placozoans have four types of cells which form a small plate like structure. They reveal that with a small number or specialized cells they already have a division of labor among their parts. Another major type of body plan is the sponge. Sponges are forms of silica or calcium carbonate. They have collagen, which holds cells and tissues together. Sponges are divided into compartments for water to flow through. One more body plan is the choanoflagellates. Choanoflagellates are single-celled microbes and look like goblet shaped cells in a sponge, but are not. Genes active in choanoflagellates are also active in animals and those genes are part of machinery that builds bodies. I think sponges are the most successful body plan. Sponges have collagen to hold together their cells and tissues and so do we. It is weird to think we have something in common with sponges.

    2)Body plans and scents go together because they are both systems that have to work together. With scents, nerves have to work together to pick up the smell and send it to the brain. While with body plans, cells have to work together to make all of the body’s cells and structures. The sense of smell has stuck with the body through all the years of evolving because it is so important. A benefit of being able to detect scents is to protect ourselves from things that could make us sick or are poisonous to us. For example, the nose can smell when foods are rotten, which saves you from eating them and getting sick.

    3)If no living organisms could detect scents then I do not think they would evolve the ability to have their own odors. If no organisms can smell then what is the point of an animal or plant to have an odor? Animals and plants use their odors to attract other organisms or warn them to stay away. Without a sense of smell animals would need a new way to attract and warn other organisms.

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  4. Question 1:

    A body plan is a plan in which the bodies of organisms follow when forming. The two main types of body plans are unicellular body plans and multicellular body plans. The unicellular body plans are found in organisms such as microbes and bacteria. Multicellular body plans vary depending upon the organism. For example a sponge or jellyfish may only have a few different types of cells that connect to one and other and work in harmony to form a body of multiple cells. However in an organism as complex as a human the multicellular body plan contains trillions of cells working in harmony to form a body. There are both advantages and disadvantages to unicellular and multicellular organisms. For instance a unicellular organism may be easy prey but it has a small need for energy and can thrive in a smaller environment. On the other hand, even though multicellular organisms need more energy to survive they are not easy prey for other organisms and their bodies provide them with the means to get the food they require to continue living. For this reason I believe that organisms with a multicellular body plan are more successful.

    Question 2:

    Body plans and scents both go together because scents are crucial to the structure of the body. Organisms use their sense of smell to detect the odors in the air or water. If the odor is enticing then the body will react to it in a pleasurable manner. If the smell is repulsive then the body will know to stay away from it or be cautious of it. The ability to pick up scents is part of the body plan because the ability to smell are made possible by genes located in the DNA throughout the entire body. The sense of smell in mammals is much better and more acute than fish or reptiles. This is because the ability to smell grows with the complexity of the body plan. In other words our bodies are more complex so we have a more complex ability to smell. Also body plans and scents are connected because the genes in the DNA that make up cells are not only located in the nose. They are located in every cell in the body. The only reason our entire body did not develop the ability to smell scents is because the genes that smell scents were only turned on in the nose, where the scents are taken in.

    Question 3:

    I do not believe that organisms such as animals and flower would have developed their own odor if they were not able to detect scents. I believe this because organisms develop scents for mating, nursing, protection, attraction, defense, caution, and much more. If these scents could not be picked up by other organisms than what would be the point of having them in the first place? This single fact in it of itself would show that an inability to smell would render scents useless. Science tells us that organisms developed scents for a purpose and if no living organism could smell a single scent than the scents have no purpose.

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  5. Alyssa Baldwin
    Mr. Silva
    AP Bio Questions Week 4

    1) In the simplest terms, a body plan is like a blueprint for how a body will be formed. In order for this blueprint to work out correctly, all the cells within the organism must communicate with each other. Some of the major body plans include placozoans, sponges and choanoflagellates. Placozoans are the simplest types of bodies, having only four types of cells and resembling a small plate or a blob. Sponges, though slightly more complex, are still relatively simple, having only the sponge matrix and collagen. However, I believe that these are the most successful body plan because they have the ability to reconstruct themselves, as seen in an experiment done by H.V.P Wilson at the University of North Carolina.

    2)Body plans and scents “go together” because both use many of the genes within the body to work together to form one single cause. Also many (if not all) the cells in the body have these genes for both creating a body and for being able to detect scent. By being able to detect scents, organisms are able to keep themselves safe. For example, a human is hardwired to not eat rotten eggs. Rotten eggs smell bad (if not worse) to people, and therefore, they would rather eat something that smells better, like a hamburger. In animals, the heightened sense of smell allows them to follow prey or to hide when predators are near.

    3)If no living organism could detect scents, then the genes that go into producing scents would become obsolete. The body would spend more time enhancing the other senses (such as sight) because, ultimately, those senses would become more beneficial to the expansion of life. Perhaps flowers would have even brighter colors to attract pollination for it would be useless if they were to send out perfumes that nobody could detect. Already, there have been studies that have shown that organisms that have less of a sense of smell have a better sense of sight. Think of a dog versus a person. Yes, a dog has a more heightened sense of smell and can detect scents that humans can imagine, but because of that, a human’s vision is much better than our four legged friends’.

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  6. Mackenzi Curtin
    Inner Fish #4
    Question 1:
    Body plans are plans to make the body and ensure that it works well together. There are many types of body plans from single celled microbes to multicellular sponges to humans. Every body plan is different because it is specific for that organism. A microbe may not have a body because it is unicellular; however, genes that are contained within this single cell are genes that are used in animals to build the body. Another type of body plan is the placozoan. They only have four types of cells that form their body. Each type of cell has a specialized job. Sponges have another type of body plans. They have a group of cells placed together, each type of cell has a specialized job, cells can communicate with each other, and they stick together to act as one organism. Humans have another type of body plan. They are multicellular with each type of cell having a specific job. Even though there are so many cells they can still communicate with each other. This helps us complete our daily functions. Our body contains cartilage and collagen that fills voids between cells. Also, molecular rivets help hold the cells in our body together. I think the best types of body plans are the multicellular ones. Multicellular body plans need more energy, but they provide more protection. Organisms can defend themselves against their predators. Also, since they are bigger it is easier for them to obtain this energy they need to survive. Multicellular body plans help organisms live for a longer period of time.
    Question 2:
    Body plans and scents go together in such a way that body plans making the tissue used for smelling. Body plans which contain DNA help construct specialized tissues for smelling. These tissues help us detect odors. Another part of the body plan comes in here, communication among cells. Once the odor molecules are trapped in the tissue the molecules become attached to nerve cells which are contained within the tissue. Then these signals are sent to our brain, they are registered as smell. There are many benefits of being able to detect smell. Smells can bring us back to old memories. Also, they can tell us when we are hungry or what can make us sick. Being able to detect smell can help us survive.
    Question 3:
    If no living organism could detect scents organisms like animals and flowers would not have evolved the ability to have their own distinct odors. Flowers evolved to have their own distinct odors so that animals such as bees that pollinate them would be more likely to come to their flower then the flower that is next to them. Once this started flowers evolved to smell the best. They wanted the bees to pollinate them. In order to do this they needed a good smell. Since this process worked and attracted more insects that pollinated, the process was passed on to their offspring. Eventually the flowers that we smell today were created. Animals use their odor to attract their mates. Sometimes they have to smell the best to receive a mate. Also, both animals and flowers use odors to warn other organisms to stay away. If something is rotting once it is dead, chances are animals and plants will try to stay away.

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  7. APBIO assignment #4

    Question 1: A body plan is a plan where bodies put parts together to make a greater whole. The plan of the body is to find the best plan for that certain organism to create a system that works together. One type of body plan is a placozoan, this plan has only four types of cells which makes it the simplest body shaped. The next body plan is a sponge, although they seem to be far from a human body it has many of the most important properties of bodies. A single-celled microbe brings us farther into the body plan but much of the molecular “machinery” for the cells are absent in the body plan. The most successful body plan would have to be the multi-cellular ones. These body plans are more developed and complex. Multi-cellular organisms are often big which help them avoid getting eaten. Although multi-cellular body plans require more energy, they can survive for a longer time then other body plans. Multi-cellular body plans are the most successful.
    Question 2: Body plans and scents go together because these two systems can help work together. In the body plan we talked about cells communicating with each other just how scents are operated by signals getting sent to the brain to detect the smell. Like a body plan made up tons of cells to work as one each cell with one certain DNA locked inside of DNA we detect odors in our environment. The only thing that differs is which DNA is active. The benefit of scents is stated in the book, “As we all know, odors elicit impulses in our brains that can have a profound impact on the way we perceive our world (140).” More importantly smells can help us survive.
    Question 3: I believe if no living organism could detect scents, animals and flowers would never evolved to have their own distinct odors because there would just be no point. With odors flowers and animals use this ability to attract mates and warn off organisms for their own protection. If you could not detect this scent it would be useless to have the ability to make an odor and they would have to a find a better way to attract mates and warn off others.

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  8. Q1
    The major types of body plans are broken down into unicellular and more complex multi-cellular organisms. One type of multicellular organism is the Placozoans which have four cells to complete its’ required functions. Another type of body plan is a sponge. This type of body plans is more primitive and disorganized. Making this type of body plan less successful than more complex multi cellular organisms. Another type of body plan is the choanoflagellates’ body plan.They are ‘single celled microbes’. The Choanoflagellates have functions of cell adhesion as well as cell communication. The choanoflagellates are the most successful body plan out of this group but in general the multicellular organisms are more successful than unicellular organisms.
    Q2
    Body plans and scents go together because the body plan contains DNA that specializes tissue to be able to smell. In a lining of mucus on our nasal passages is a patch of tissue that contains millions of nerve cells. The nerve cells help us smell by sending signals to our brain which records the signals as a smell. Some benefits of being able to detect scents are the smell of food making us hungry, the smell of rotting eggs by making us avoid them, and the smell of sewage makes us feel ill. Smells help humans to survive.
    Q3
    If no living organism could detect scents I think organisms like animals and flowers would not have evolved the ability to have their own distinct odors. I believe this to be true because there would be no real purpose for having the scents. The smell will not attract mates because they can not detect the scents anymore. Predators would not fear the smell so it could not be used for protection purposes like skunks use it for. Therefore I do not believe that evolution would have given organism their own distinct smell because if no other organism could smell it there would be no advantage.

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  9. Answer 1: The major types of body plans are simple organisms without heads, such as jelly fish, and animals with heads, such as humans. I think that organisms with heads have been more successful than organisms without heads. There are many more animals with heads than without, and they are generally higher on the food chain than animals without heads.




    Answer 2: Body plans and scents go together because the sense of smell is very important for interaction between organisms. For example, if a species of bug is continually dwindling due to over predation from predators, it may evolve a bad smell so that the predators will be discouraged from eating it. Scents are also important in some species sexual interaction. The female or male will emit a scent or hormone that attracts opposite gender. Some of the benefits of being able to detects scents are being able to detect danger, help find food, and help to avoid places that could contain lots of bacteria.




    Answer 3: i do not think that organisms would have evolved their own distinct odors if no animal could detect odors. I think that maybe animals would have odors but how would you be able to tell if they had them? I don't believe that animals would evolve odors because there would be no point if no other organisms would not react to the stimuli of scent.

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  10. Alicen Clifford
    Question 1
    Body plans are plans of the way an organism will come together with all of its parts when it is done growing. According to this chapter, the major types of body plans can be categorized as either unicellular or multicellular organisms. A unicellular organism would be the “single-celled microbe” choanoflagellates. I think that the multicellular organism body plans are more successful, however. An example of a multicellular organism would be a sponge, which is also a very simple organism itself. Yet, it shares many properties with other organisms that are classified as bodies. They share similarities with a complex human body because their cells have a division of labor, their cells can communicate with one another, and the array of cells functions as a single individual.
    Question 2
    Body plans and scents go together because the genes that pick up smells are throughout the body, but only active in the tissues used for smelling. Some benefits of being able to detect scents are that you can distinguish one scent from another. You could smell food that you should or should not eat. Or an animal with a better sense of smell might be able to smell a dangerous animal coming, or even their own prey. Animals with a sense of smell use it to help them survive.
    Question 3
    I think that if no organisms could detect scents at all, animals and flowers would not have their own odors. Scents can be used to warn other organisms, or even attract them. Without scents, animals and flowers would need to develop a different way to catch other organisms’ attention to warn or attract them.

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  11. 1. A body plan is a blueprint of the way the body of an organism is laid out. One type of major body plan is multicellular organisms such as the enigmatic living creature called a placozoan. These creatures only have four types of cells, which make up a body shaped like a small plate. The placozoan have some cells specialized for digestion, while others have flagella which allow the creature to move around. The body of placozoans are very simple. Another creature that is mulitcellular is the sponge. Sponges have cells that are able to communicate with each other and form a whole new sponge body. The cells in sponges have a division of labor and different kinds of cells do different things in the sponge. Both of these organism are muliticellular, but the other major body plan is unicellular organisms. An example of a single-celled microbe are choanoflagellates. In my opinion, the mulitcellular body plan has been the most successful and efficient.

    2. Body plans and scents go together because our ability to detect scents is caused by cells within the body. Some benefits of being able to detect all these different scents are being able to smell food to get us hungry, staying away from smells that make us feel sick, and can have an impact on the way we perceive the world. When we smell, we suck in odor molecules that are trapped by the mucus lining of our nasal passages. Inside this lining is tissue containing millions of nerve cells and when molecules in the air bind with the nerve cells, signals are sent to our brain. The ability to smell helps us to survive.

    3. If no organism could detect odors, I don’t think that plants and animals would have evolved the ability to have their own scents. If no organism had the ability to smell, why would animals and plants need to have certain smells? Smells in plants and animals are used to both attract things and protect themselves from predators, but if no organism can smell, the scents would be useless.

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  12. Question 1:
    The three major types of body plans are placozoans, choanoflagellates, and animals/skeletal systems. Placozoans are small, plate-shaped, simple organisms, that only contain four types of cells. Some are built for different tasks or just are built different, with such characteristics as having the cells on the undersurface for digestion, having flagella for escape and speed, or just being blob-shaped, with no purpose until it finds a task to do. Choanoflagellates are extremely simple microbes that make up a sponge (super simple). These single-celled microorganisms are pretty much as small as you can get without getting to the chemical makeup of it. Finally, there are the complex organisms, such as us humans, being comprised of millions of cells, having cells that make tissue, tissue that makes up organs, organs making whole systems, and becoming what we are. Animals are complex, and the entirety of even a single animal still has yet to be fully understood. The most successful body plan in my opinion has been the choanoflagellates, because they are simple enough to last millenniums, and they can end up making full on organisms, or adjust to conditions if needed.

    Question 2:
    Body plans are the layouts of how the parts of our bodies work together to sense and...be. Our bodies work all at once to make up our human bodies. Scents enter the receptors to tell the organism what to smell. If you hold up a flower to someone’s hand, nothing will happen, because the smelling receptors weren’t placed in the hands. The body plans tells the organisms to put the smelling receptors in the nose. The scents allow us to tell if something is toxic, rotten, or acceptable to use or consume. Without scent detection, we probably wouldn’t have exciting lives. Scientists have related nostalgia and memory realizations, such as deja vu, with a common sense of scent. People usually smell something familiar from earlier in their life, and they “flashback” due to that familiar and loving scent.

    Question 3:
    In most situations, when an animal picks its mate, the scent of its mate plays either a large role, or it is the deciding factor when the choice needs to be made. Scents would probably be made and expelled from the body of the organism, but nothing would be able to detect it, so the odor would be useless. Most organisms would probably die off because they rely on their sense of smell to find food or nutrients. For example, sharks use their powerful noses to detect the scent of blood and can smell it from up to 3 miles away. Some other animals use their noses to smell around for fruits, or plants that they can consume, and they also use the scent to determine whether or not it is safe to eat. Without the sense of smell, most organisms would have to make up for it else where. The ability for something to make its own scent would be useless, and the effort would be put into doing something else to ward off predators or attract mates. I believe that if no organism could detect odors, then most organisms would be more colorful, or louder, or something that would attract mates in a way that doesn’t involve scent.

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  13. 1. Body plans are like blueprints that the body follows when forming. There are many different types of body plans; the simplest form is one in which a Placozoan has. Placozoan contain only four cells but each cell serves a specific function for the survival of a placozoan. The next body plan is a bit more complex than the Placozoan is the sponge’s body plan. Unlike the Placozoan, the sponge have groups of cells. The cells all have a specific jobs and they communicate with each other. Another type of body plans are multicellular. Multicellular organisms have many cells that work together and communicate in order for the body to function. In my opinion, I believe that the multicellular body plans are the most successful. Despite needing more energy to function, I believe since they are larger, they are able to prey on more things and have less predators.

    2. Scents and body plans go together because the two work together in order for the body to detect the scent. As a human breathes in the scent molecules, they are trapped by the mucous lining of our nasal passage. The lining has a tissue which contains millions of nerve cells and when the scent molecules lock with the tissues like a “lock-and-key” mechanism, a signal is sent to the brain and a scent is detected. The benefits of being able to detect scents is for survival. A predator could detect a poisonous scent, an organism could detect food, or humans could detect when food has gone bad.

    3. I believe that if scent could not be detected then animals and flowers would not evolve their own distinct odors. The reason I believe this is because that animals or organisms have their odors in order to scare away predators or attract other organisms. If scents could not be detected, animals or flowers would not need to make their own odors, therefore would not evolve their own odors.

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  14. Question 1:
    A body plan is the blueprint in which will be followed in the building of one of few major types of body plans. The toolkit to building all bodies includes the division of labor between all of the cells, communication between the cells, and for all of the cells to work together as one unit. One major type of body plan is called Placozoans. Placozoans have four types of cells and are very organized. They are one of the two simplest body plans there is. The other is the sponge. Sponges are packs of cells that come back together when they are taken apart. The cells communicate and can reorganize back to the way that they should be. The last major type of body plan is the single-celled microbe. These are also known as choanoflagellates. Although they do not have full bodies, they have all the DNA and genes required. All bodies originated from the choanoflagellate. I would say the choanoflagellate is the most successful body plan because it holds all the information necessary to build all bodies.

    Question 2:
    Body plans go together with scents because in both cases, different cells are working together and acting as one. In body plans, the cells communicate and work together to create the body. With scents, the nose sends scents to membranes inside of our skulls in which are picked up by receptors that send signals to our brains about what we are smelling. All of these cells are working together just so we can tell one odor from another. The benefits of being able to detect scents are that we can tell if something may be toxic or rotten by its smell and we can avoid it. For example, food.

    Question 3:
    If no living organism could detect scent, organisms like animals and flowers could still have evolved the ability to have their own distinct odors. However, it would not really matter. If no organism could smell, than you wouldn't be able to tell whether or not anything had its own odor. They could still develop the ability to have their own odors, however it would be pointless. The reason why an animal or flower has its own odor is to either keep predators away or to attract others. If the predators or others could not smell, though, then there is no need to develop an own distinct odor.

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  15. 1. Body plans can be described as a blueprint for all the parts within one’s body that work together to create a whole. The three major types are placozoans, choanoflagellates, and sponges. Placozoans are the simplest types of bodies which only have four types of cells resembling a small plate like structure. With a very simple body, some are built specialized for digestion, while others have flagella which allow them to move around. Whatever task they are built for, it contains great purpose. Next, choanoflagellates are single-celled microbes that resemble goblet shaped cells in a sponge, but are not. Genes active in choanoflagellates are also active in animals and those genes are apart of machinery that builds bodies. Lastly, sponges are complex yet still remain simple, made up of only the sponge matrix and collagen. Collagen holds cells and tissues together and I believe that these are the most successful body plan because as seen in the experiment by H.V.P Wilson, they have the incredible ability to reconstruct themselves.

    2. Body plans and scents go together because they both use many of the same genes within the body to work together and form as one. With scents, nerves have to work together to register the smell and send it to the brain. The ability to smell evolved as bodies did and while with body plans, cells have to work together to make all of the body’s cells and structures. In animals, a heightened sense of smell allows them to keep a close eye on prey or hide from predators. It is crucial for the body to detect scent so it can notice desirable smells that attract us like chocolate or perfume. If we did not have the ability to smell we could easily become sick or even die from rotten foods.

    3. If no organism could detect odors, I believe plants and animals would not have evolved the ability to have their own scents. It would be useless because scents are made to attract and protect animals and plants. Due to recent studies it shows that categories organisms lack in, they appear stronger in another division. Maybe plants would enhance their brightness or grow 3x the size to make up for the loss.

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  16. 1) The purpose of a body plan is to unite cells so they can work as one. One type of multi-cellular body plan is known as a placozoan. Placozoans have only four types of cells which are formed into a simple plate shape. Although it has only four cells these cells each have individual purposes such as digestion or flagella to move the creature around. They, like the sponge, have division of labor among their parts. Sponges are the second type of a multi-cellular body plan. The sponge’s body is made up of a pack of cells shaped like goblets that allow water to pass through. Tiny cilia capture food and trap it in the water. Sponges are organized and each cell has a particular job in a certain spot to perform that unique task. A unicellular body plan is found in the organism known as, choanoflagellates. Choanoflagellates look like the goblet shaped cells found in a sponge. However, they are single-celled microbes. Most of the genes that are active in choanoflagellates are also active in animals. Some of these genes are part of the machinery that builds bodies. Sponges and choanoflagellates contain collagen which holds their cells together but allows them to communicate among each other. I think that multi-cellular body plans are the most successful. Multi-cellular body plans are more practical and efficient.
    2) Body plans and scents go together because our body contains cells that have the ability to smell a scent. Being able to smell helps us survive. When we smell something rotten or gross such as a sewer, we know to stay away because those horrible smells can make us feel sick. However, when you smell something delicious and sweet such as a cupcake, you become hungry. This is possible because inside the nose behind mucus lining of our nasal passage are millions of nerve cells in a patch of tissue. The nerve cells send signals to our brain which records these signals as a smell.
    3) I feel that if no living organism could posses the quality of scent then those living organisms could still possibly give off an odor. Even though other organisms would not be able to smell, that does not mean that the natural process of giving off a distinct odor has to stop. Distinct odors are to help protect organisms against predators or to attract such as a person.

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  17. Jennie Reichenbach
    Week 4 Assignment

    1. Body plans are the plans that the body uses to form itself. It is basically the blueprint or design of how an organism is going to form. Different species follow their own unique body plans. The major types of body plans are placozoans, sponges, and choanoflagellates. Placozoans have four types of cells that make a simple body in the shape of a small plate. Although the “blobs” do not have a great number of specialized cells, the creatures have a system to divide the labor between their few parts. Placozoans actually have versions of tools that are prominent in our own bodies. The sponge is made of a material that is not living. It is a combination of silica or calcium carbonate with collagen. The collagen holds tissues and cells together. Wilson discovered that the sponge’s cells are what make them useful when comparing them to the study of bodies. In order for water to flow through a sponge, they need a special type of cell shaped like a goblet. Cilia come off of this “goblet” to capture food particles. There is also large flagellum which move water through it’s pores. The sponge’s cells help it change shape due to varying water currents. The sponge has all the properties of a body. choanoflagellates are single-celled microbes, yet can still relate to the origin of bodies. They have a goblet shape, just like the cells in the sponge. Collagens, molecular rivets, cell adhesion and cell communication are all present in choanoflagellates. In my opinion, since everything else has developed from single-celled microbes, they are very successful. Although they are small, they can still compare to the human body in many ways which is very interesting. As Shubin writes, “In the fossil record, we see nothing but microbes for the fist 3.5 billion years of earth history. Then, suddenly, over a span of perhaps 40 million years, all kinds of bodies appear: plant bodies, fungal bodies, animal bodies; bodies everywhere.” (135) This fact shows that the single-celled microbes were doing everything right resulting in various types of bodies evolving from them. In my mind, this makes them successful.

    2. Body plans and scents go together because the genes involved in giving the sense of smell are found in tissues which the body makes. They also work together because nerves send a signal to the brain which detects smells. This is an example of our cells communicating. The sense of smell helps us survive. For example, when an awful scent hits you, you choose to stay as far away from it as possible which can prevent sickness. Another benefit of scent is that it can help you sense when you are hungry. Humans also use scent to attract others.

    3. If no living organisms could detect odors, I do not think organisms like animals and flowers would have developed the ability to have their own distinct odors. There would be no point in having an odor if nothing else could smell it. Many animals use their odor as a way to repel other creatures. For example, when a skunk feels it is in danger, it sprays a putrid smelling liquid as a defense mechanism. This keeps other creatures that might harm the skunk far away. The skunk would most likely not develop this special survival skill if other organisms could not detect odors.

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  18. 1.
    The major body plans mentioned in chapter 7 are placozoan, choanoflagellates, sponges, and multi-cellular. The placozoan body plan is simple. They only contain four types of cells. The choanoflagellates body plan looks like the compartments in a sponge body plan. Choanoflagellates are single-celled microbe. The sponge body plan is made up of many different cells that have to preform different types of labor. Another body plan is in a multi-celled organism (like a human). It is one of the more complex body plans. It is not like a sponges body plan where cells can tear and repair themselves. In my opinion I believe that the multi-celled body plan is the most successful. Although multi-cellular organisms are more complex they can make cells last longer and therefore make the organisms live longer.
    2.
    Body plans and scents go together because genes are able to pick up scents throughout the body, but only apply to the tissues used for smelling.Benefits of being able to detect certain scents are to distinguish if food has gone bad or animals are able to smell a predator coming. The body plan and scents help an animal survive.
    3.
    I think that if organisms could not detect scents at all that it would be hard to distinguish if food was good or bad. Also it would be hard for animals to hunt prey or even be aware of a predator. Without the ability to detect odors animals would not be able to protect themselves or survive.

    Brittnee LeRoux

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  19. 1.Body part plans help to make the body work. The tissues and structures of the cells have to work together to make an entirely new individual. Three types of successful body part plans are Placozoan, sponges, and Choanoflagellates. The Placozoan, a multi-cellular body part plan, has four types of cells that make a very simple body shaped like a small plate. The sponges are also an important multi-cellular body part plan. Inside a sponge it is a hollow space where there are many compartments and the cells are shaped like goblets that allow water to flow through. And there are tiny cilia extending from the rim of the goblet beat and capture food particles in the water. Sponges are organized, with different kinds of cells in different places doing different things. Last are Choanoflagellates they look like the goblet-shaped cells inside the sponge, but they are single celled microbes. The genes that are active in choanoflagelllates are also active in animals. I think the multi-cellular are the most successful of the body plans . I also think that the sponges are the most successful of the three because they are capable of working and coming back together to reform themselves.

    2.Body part plans and scents go together because they are both systems that cooperate and work together. In the body part plans the cells have to work together to be able to create a new individual. Scents also work together by smelling something and sending signals to the brain, so that they can recognize this scent next time it is in the air. There are some benefits from being able to detect scents such as being able avoid certain foods because you are able to smell that they are rotten.

    3.If no living organism could detect scents then I don’t think things such as flowers and animals would have evolved to have their own distinct scent. The reason flowers have their own scent is to be able to attract other creatures, and if no other organisms could smell then there would be no reason for flowers to have a smell because no organism would be able to smell them.

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  20. Part one
    The major types of body plans are single-celled bodies and multi-cellular bodies. An example of a single celled organism is the Choanoflagellates. It was discovered that the genes inside the single-celled Choanoflagellates are also active in muliti-cellular organisms. In fact the genes the Choanoflagellates share with animals are part of the blueprint that build bodies. Some examples of multi-cellular organisms are sponges and humans. Although humans and sponges are clearly very different creatures they share similar body blueprints. Both in sponges and humans there is a division of labor between cells and the cells can communicate with each other. The major difference between the body of a sponge and the body of a human is that there are more cells in humans and they are more organized. In my opinion multi-cellular bodies, like humans are more successful because they are more complex and evolved than single-celled organisms.
    Part two
    Scents and body plans are connected because every cell in our body has the same DNA so they all have the scent gene. The scent gene is simply inactive in every cell, except the cells of our nose area. As organisms and bodies evolved so did the ability of an organism to smell. As time went on the ability to smell became better and better. Scent was used to help creatures become aware of their surroundings and detect food or danger because their eyesight was weaker. This explains why humans cannot smell as well as some other organisms, humans have gained better sight in exchange for a weaker sense of smell.
    Part 3
    If organisms did not evolve to have a sense of smell there would be no need for odors. The purpose of odors is either to attract one thing to another or to deter one thing from another. For example flowers give off an odor to attract insects to pollinate it, but if insects couldn’t smell why would the flowers need to give off an odor. I believe that in order for organisms to need to give off an odor other organisms would need the ability to smell. But it is possible that organisms developed the sense of smell due to the fact that some organisms gave off an odor. So which came first the odor or the sense of smell?

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  21. 1. In chapter seven, many different types of body plans were elaborated on. Some of the major body plans are single-celled organisms such as microbes, multi-celled organisms such as sponges, and highly advanced multi-cellular animals (such as mammals). However, each of these types of body plans have adapted to survive in a certain type of environment. Because of this, I do not believe that any one body plan is the most successful. Every organism has the components that are most likely to help them live as long as possible.

    2. Body plans and scents go together because the ability to smell depends on whether or not an organism has that genetic makeup in their body plan. If these genes are present, they will be throughout a body, but only in the tissues used for smelling. They are also similar because with both the ability to smell and the setup of a body plan, cells are working together to meet their goal (as long as it is a multi-cellular organism).

    3. If no living organism had the ability to detect smells, I do not believe that any plant or animal would have developed their own unique odor. The main reason that organisms have specific odors is to alert other animals of what they are. A certain smell could contain the message to stay away, or in the case of a sweet smelling flower, to come closer. However, if no animals could smell, there would be no reason to have an odor because other animals would not receive the message that it was sending.

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  22. Question 1:
    How to make the body work and things in the body to work together like its cells and structures are called body plans. There are a few major types of body plans, one of them being the sponge. The sponge contains several areas where cilia extend out so that water is allowed to flow through. Next is the simplest body plan which is the Placozoan. There are only four different types of cells in this body plan. In my opinion, the most successful or most important body plan would be the simplest one; the placozoan. I choose this one because it achieves the necessary functions in the easiest or least complicating way.

    Question 2:
    Scents and body plans go together because in each respective area we are told about different areas of a species work in sync to get things done. With scents, there is a center called the nose, which reports signals to the brain telling us what type of smell it is we are smelling. It could be a good smell or a foul smell. Being able to detect scents lets us know if a food is rotten. If we didn’t have the ability to do this and detect which foods were bad and rotten, humans would be getting sick more and more often.

    Question 3:
    If no living organisms could detect scents, I don’t think that flowers would have their distinct odors. However, is there any real way to tell or would there be any way to tell? To me it just wouldn’t sense to have a group of organisms with their own distinct odors but no organism in the world would be able to detect the odors.

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  23. 1. To begin a body plan, the structure of the tissue and cells must work together to create a living organism as a result of their organization. Three body plans Shubin mentions in the book are Placozoans, sponges, and choanoflagellates. Placozoans have only four types of cells which results in a small, platelike structure. They contain versions of molecular rivets and communication tools that are visible within the human body we know. The sponge, like the placozoans, are a multicellular body part plan. A sponge body consists of a matrix, silica, and some collagen. Interestingly, sponges have inner hollow spaces which enables water to enter and leave the sponge. The choanoflagellates share a very similar "goblet- shaped" cell appearance like that of the sponge, but unlike the sponge, are single- celled microbes. Shubin wrote, "Most of the genes that are active in choanoflagellates are also active in animals" (pg133). I find that the multi-cellular body plans are most successful because time has shown that though it may require more energy and persistence to construct a multi-cellular body plan, their life span is much longer than that of a single celled organism making them more effective in the long run.

    2. Similarly, body plans and our ability to smell involve multiple cells working with one another to form one single impulse. With smell, the single odor detected was initially created by the transfer of receptors to separate odor molecules. The body plan, in comparison, uses cells which communicated with one another to fit the structure together into one common plan. Due to our ability to smell, we are able to detect when something is acceptable to eat or when it is rotten and expired. Our everyday lives rely upon our sense of smelt to help us decide if we are hungry or not considering when we smell food that we like, we are more apt to feel hungry whereas if we smell something that does not smell quite as tasty, we are more likely to turn away that food. Smell can also help us detect animals or places, for example, you know a skunk is scared or angered when you smell the terrible odor it releases when feeling those particular emotions and to stay away. without our sense of smell, our lives would be greatly altered in a negative way putting us in great danger of situations that could put our lives at risk.

    3. If organisms could not smell, I would see no significance for a flower to exist since their way of attracting animals and insects is through the odor they release. If they could not be smelled by the organisms, most likely, the organisms would not take interest in the flower. Also, the animals would have a hard time finding foods that satisfy their taste buds if they could not first discover an odor that would entice their hunger.

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  24. Question 1. Body plans are plans for the body to come together as a whole. The major types of body plans are unicellular and multicellular. Placozoans are an example of a multicellular organism with four types of cells. Each cell is specialized and do a specific job, such as digestion or moving the organism around. Sponges are also multicellular organisms. Their cells have different jobs and communicate with each other, just like any other multicellular organisms. Their cells can also come back together if they are separated. Choanoflagellates are single celled microbes. Most of the genes active in these organism are active in animals and are used to build bodies. I believe the single celled organisms have been more successful. They were the starting point of multicellular organisms, they first had the genes to build bodies. They also survived as simply as they could with only one cell. Unicellular organisms are the most successful.
    Question 2. Body plans and scent go together because cells are what create the body and also allow organisms to smell. The genes that allow humans to smell are in all cells, but are only activated in the nasal area. Just like body plans, scent has a deep history and has evolved over time. We can detect up to ten thousand smells. Some benefits of scent keep us alive. We can smell when food has spoiled. Something that is bad for us has an ill smell and will keep us away from it, possibly stopping sickness. Food that smells delicious gets us hungry. Scent can also bring up memories. Scent plays a huge role in our lives and helps us survive.
    Question3. If living organism could not detect scents, I do not think organisms such as animals and flowers would have the ability to have their own odors. Organisms have distinct odors to attract or repeal other creatures for survival. If no organism could smell, this ability would be useless. Organisms evolve for survival, so they would not evolve for an ability that cannot help them.

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  25. 1. The major types of bodies are anywhere from a single celled organism to a "bodied" more complex organism like a sponge, to the most complex organisms, humans. I
    would argue that the sponge is the most important body structure because it is the middle step between single celled organisms and us. Though simple in appearance, the sponge has much of the cell adhesion, communication, and scaffolding apparatus that we have.
    Similar, more detailed similarities to us include primitive versions of collagen. The sponge is a seemingly simple organism, but this organism has many of the small aspects that create our larger, more complex bodies. Sponges were the pioneers for more intelligent life.

    2. I think that body plans and scents can be related to the function and origin of the creature. For example, one can trace where a dolphin originated from because they have nasal passages that are not in use currently. Also, you may be able to tell whether an animal is a predator or prey. A predator might depend more on their tracking ability, and their prey would focus more on defense mechanisms. Interestingly enough, scent could be used as a defense mechanism to smell the predator before they are caught. Benefits include tracking prey, smelling your predator, finding food, overall survival, and, smelling dangerous or lethal substances.

    3. If organisms could not smell I don't see the reason to have separate scents for each flower or even scent all together. The aroma of a flower is a mechanism to attract animals to the flower to aide in pollination. It is my guess that flowers would become more drastically colored to attract animals if scents were non existent.

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  26. 1. There are several types of body plans ranging from simple plans such as that of placozoans, which manifests itself as a shapeless blob, to the slightly more complex body plans of sponges which are simple enough to reconstruct themselves but contain hundreds more cells than placozoans, to the highly complicated plan followed by humans, fish, and most other creatures which follows a front-to-back order. In my opinion, the front-to-back plan is the most successful because it is the most recent to have emerged in history, but is also one of the most widely followed body plans in existence. If the shapeless placozoan blob or the simple sponge had been successful plans, then evolutionary pressure would have eased and the more complex plans would never have existed. Likewise, if the front-to-back plan had been unsuccessful, then we would see evidence of more recent improvements upon this plan, or it would exist in very small numbers (like placozoans, which were first found in aquarium tanks and have yet to be discovered in the wild).


    2. The sense of smell and body plans are linked through communication between cells. In the process of smelling, certain molecules activate specific genes and ‘tell’ them to send a signal to the brain about what is being smelled. This process is similar to the process through which molecules travel from cell to cell, activating genes which create specific proteins and compounds so that body plans are followed successfully. The molecular communication is very similar in these two processes. The sense of smell is used to identify predators, attract organisms to a food source, mark territory, and convey to an organism that certain things ought to be avoided.

    3. If no organisms had never developed a sense of smell, it is possible that plants could have developed their own specific scents, although they would have been developed for different reasons. If these specific scents had developed it would have been a ‘side effect’ of other qualities. The chemicals that create fragrances in a flower could potentially be present, but not just for the sake of smelling nice. If these scents had developed without animals being able to smell them, they probably would have faded away with lack of use, like the smell receptors in dolphins and whales did, because they weren’t necessary for survival.

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  27. Andrea Damon
    August 8, 2013
    1.) After reading chapter seven, I believe that body plans are what allows the body to function the way that it has. The first body plans arose shortly after the first bodies did. The body plans are systems that make the separate parts of the body work together as a whole. There are a variety of major body plans that, obviously, correspond to the body; whether that is placozoans or animals. The placozoans consist of four types of cells that combine to form a small plate-like structure. As simple as their body plan is, it shares a commonality with the complex body plan of a human does: cells. The cells have a communication with each other that assures they will divide, reproduce, or die at the right time. The body plan of a human involves more than that of a placozoans, but on the most basic level, the cells do the same. That is why it is difficult to judge which body plan is the most successful. I was quick to say humans, at first, because it is the most complex, but does complexity equate to success? That is what I am unsure of because though different organisms operate differently, at the core they have startling similarities.
    2.)Body plans and scents “go together” because our ability to smell derives from cells which are the base of boy plans. In our sense of smell, though, most cells are deemed “useless”. These cells belong to our nose, yet they do not improve our sense of smell. This is because we have relied on our sense of sight over our sense of smell. Our tendency to treat this sense as less important than sight has made most of the genes functionless, but not all. The genes that still work today are used to our advantage and help us survive as stated on page 140, “The smell of tasty food gets us hungry; the smell of sewage makes us feel ill.”
    3.) I believe that if no living organisms could detect smells, than organisms like animals and flowers would not have distinct smells. I think the reason that these distinct smells came about was for survival, but if organisms could not smell, it would be useless. Yet, as I wrote in the answer above, we do possess genes that are indeed useless. Nevertheless, I still believe that scents would not exist if we did not have a sense of smell, there would be no need.

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  28. Week 4
    1. A body plan is the blueprint followed while the body forms. The major body plans are Placozoans, sponges and choanoflagellats. Placozoans have four types of organized cells. Also, they are the most simple of the three body plans. Sponges are cells that form back together when they are pulled or forced apart. Sponges have collagen to hold together their cells. Lastly, the single celled microbe or the choanoflagellats are not full bodies, but they do have DNA necessary for life. In my opinion I think the choanoflagellats are the most important body plans because they carry necessary DNA a human will need when born. If some humans are not born with the necessary DNA birth defects could be a result.
    2. Body plans and scents go together because they both work together to help one cause. The body plan contains cells that are able to allow us to detect scent. The benefits of these two working together allow the human body to send nerve signals to the brain to detect scents. For example, if a delicious smelling scent hits you, you choose to sniff more or to stay close to the item, because the scent when hit the brain signal, pleased the brain. These two working together may prevent many humans from become sick just because their brain signals and the scent did not agree.
    3. If no organism could detect scent I do not think it would be unique for different things to have their own scent. If all things did not smell like anything, how would it be possible to detect what one thing would smell like? There would be zero way to detect if something had its own specific odor if no organism could detect any odor at all.

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  29. Question #1

    Body plans on how the body is going to work. the major body plans are placozoans, sponges, and humans. Placozoans are the most simple body because they contain only four kinds of cells. Sponges are somewhat more complex with each cell performing it’s own function. But they all come together to make one body. Humans are multicellular. They have many more cells than placozoans and sponges, but they all communicate and work together. Thus humans have a longer lifespan.

    Question #2

    Scents and body plans go together because they work together to make up one function. With our sense of smell, we can detect thousands of odors. Our brain responds to the smell and sends a signal back to the brain of what the smell is. This function can protect us from odors that may cause harm to our bodies.

    Question #3
    If no organisms could detect scents, then I do not think animals or flowers would have the need to evolve their own odors. Animals use pheromones to attract a mate. If the mate cannot smell the pheromones, then what would be the purpose of them?

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  30. 1. The major types of body plans are broken into unicellular and the more complex multicellular organisms. An example of a multicellular organism would be the Placozoans. These organisms have four cells which are needed to complete the functions needed for it to live. Another multicellular organism is a sponge. Though they are a simple organism, they have many similarities with humans. Like humans, their cells have a division of labor and they can communicate with one another. Each group of cells has a specific job. An example of a unicellular organism would be Chanoflagellates which are "single celled microbes". I believe that multicellular body plan has been proven to be more efficient and successful.

    2. Scents and body plans go together because both of these systems work together to hp the body function properly. In order for the body to detect a scent, the nerves have to work to send the smell signal to the brain. With more complex body plans comes the ability to smell. The ability to smell has evolved over millions of years. The sense of smell became very important to the success of an organism. A smell can be associated with certain objects, places, or foods. Scent can also be used to attract us to certain things or to worn us of danger.

    3. If organisms such as animals and flowers did not have the ability to detect scents then I do not believe that these organisms would develop their own scent. Organisms develop their own scents or the purposes of attraction, mating, protection, and many other purposes. So, if these organisms could not detect these different odor signals, than they will not develop their own because they would just be useless.

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  31. 1. Body plans are important because it tells a lot about a creature. one important body plan is the plazocoan. It is plate shaped containing 4 different types of cells that divide the work and get the job done. The next important body plan is the multicellular sponge that has goblet shaped cells that allow water to flow throw and collect food. it Is also different because it can regenerate a piece of its self if it were to be cut. Lastly the sponge can even move around using cilia making it a very successful body plan considering sponge still exist today. The third important body plan is the Choanoflagellates. They are shaped like the inside of sponges but have the ability to divide the work needed to be down among different cells. though they are single celled microbes their genes are also seen in animals. I believe that the multicellular body plans are most successful because they can do many things. Like a sponge, as said before, can regrow a lost section and move around while have certain cells perform different tasks. Humans are also an example of a successful multicellular body plan.

    2.Body plans and scents go together because depending on the body plans the genes and cells will be arranged just so, then odors can be received and nerves can send them to the brain to process. They must work together to do their job. There are many benefits to being able smell like smelling food but also smelling bad things that warn you to stay away. For example when you smell skunk you know that there is a danger or if you smell rotten food you know it will make you sick.

    3. No I believe that animals and plants evolved to have the ability to detect odors and emit them for their benefit not to just do it to so it. Why would a flower go throw the trouble of releasing a pretty smell if no one was there to receive that odor? Why would a stink bug emit a nasty odor urging predators to stay away if the predators never smelt that warning at all? iIt doesn't seem logical and quite frankly energy consuming for organism to create this ability if there was no receiver.

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  32. Answer 1: There are many different body plans in the world today, however only a few body plans stand out as the major blueprints for other organisms to resemble. There are single-celled bodies like those of microbes, algae, bacteria, and amoebae. Next, there are organisms like those of placozoans that only have four types of cells. Then there are those in-between body plans that are evident in sponges. Finally there are the multi-cellular organisms such as humans, like ourselves. Each body plan resembles a completely different and unique way of life, their own build, their own body plan that works for them. Single-celled microbes dominated the earth for quite a long period of time before other types of organisms with different body plans came along. Single-celled microbes and other single-celled creatures do not quite have a body, but they do share the same genes that animals with bodies have, hinting that these unicellular body plans were not there yet but were soon to be developed after a long period of time passed and evolution took its course. Then the placozoans who have four different types of cells came along with a body plan that represents a shapeless blob. The body plan of a placozoan breaks itself down into four types of cells that perform specialized jobs to make the body of a placozoan work. Then there is the body plan of a sponge which is just stuck in the middle of being a single-celled organism like a microbe and a complex multicellular organism like a human. Sponges have a simple body plan, they have hundreds of cells that comprise one organism, and all those cells communicate to act as one and perform necessary jobs. Sponge bodies also have the ability to regenerate their lost limbs or cells if you will since they don’t have distinct limbs. Lastly, there is the major body plan of humans. Humans are complex multicellular organisms that have thousands of cells, working together to help with the successful functioning of the body, helping humans perform activities like no other body plan is capable of. Animals such as amphibians, fish, and other mammals remble this body plan as well. It is no secret that I believe us humans have the most successful body plan. Although we haven’t been around as long, there was obviously a need for bodies to become as complex as they are today, or else there would be no need for evolution to take place. There is a certain comfort with humans and no need for us to change or cave to evolutionary pressure because we are an intelligent enough species to adapt instead of die out. Humans are also the most successful body plan because we are big enough and smart enough to protect ourselves and dominate other species. For example, you don’t usually see a human being hunted down by a sponge or a penguin or a squirrel. Why? Well, it is because we are complex enough to defend ourselves and become bigger so that we are the feared not the ones being hunted as prey.

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  33. Answer Two:
    Body plans and scents go together because the sense of smell and ability to smell is existent in every human cell. However, the ability to smell for every cell in a human body was shut off and confined to the nose, the only place in the human body where DNA to smell is turned on because the shape of our nose and location suits ability to smell best, which explains why the ability to smell isn’t active in any other area of the body. As bodies and organisms evolved so did the sense of smell. From ancient jawless fish to us as humans the body and sense of smell served a more complex and unique function as time went on. Our human bodies coincide with scents because we need smell to have emotions, be able to address a situation, realize caution, attract others, and eat and taste our food. As bodies developed over time into the human body we have today, vision has become more dominant than smell, but the ability to smell and strong sense of smell still lurks in the human body today, just not in as dominant a way.

    Answer Three: If no living organism could detect scents or odors, I do not think there would be a need for organisms like animals and flowers to detect scents or odors. This is because if no organism can smell then there is no need for a body to have specialized cells responsible for scent, therefore the cells would probably keep the ability to smell off. However, organisms like animals and flowers probably would have evolved the ability to have their own distinct odors even if no organism could detect their scent. This is because a need always precedes an ability to perform a function. Us humans wouldn’t have developed a sense of smell if we didn’t need to, but there are needs for scent in organisms such as animals, which includes humans, and flowers. They need scent for attraction, reproducing and pollination for flowers, and many other uses. Which makes me think that organisms like animals and flowers developed a need for having their own distinct scent, just like there was need for all different types of cells before a body could assemble. Once that need was satisfied by the cells finding a way to perform the function,they most likely passed it down to their offspring to carry on, since the ability to detect scents and have an odor became what animals, and flowers especially, thrive on.

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  34. Samantha Cardinal

    1) Body plans are plans that make the body work. One major body plan is placozoans. Placozoans have four types of cells that form a small plate like structure. They show that with a small number or specialized cells they already maintain a division of labor among their parts. Another major type of body plan is the sponge. Sponges are forms of silica or calcium carbonate. They contain collagen, which holds cells and tissues together. One more body plan is the choanoflagellates. Choanoflagellates are single-celled microbes that look like goblet shaped cells in a sponge, but they are not. Genes that are activated in choanoflagellates are also active in animals. I believe that sponges are the most successful body plan. Sponges have collagen to hold together their cells and tissues just like us humans. It is interesting to find out that human beings have something in common with sponges.


    2) Body plans and scents go together because they are both different systems that end up having to work together. With scents, nerves work together and pick up the smell and send it to the brain. While with body plans, cells work together to make all of the body’s cells and structures. The sense of smell has stuck with the body through all the years of evolving because it is such an important factor to human beings. A benefit of being able to detect scents is to protect ourselves from things that could be dangerous to our bodies.


    3) If no living organisms could detect scents I believe that they would not evolve the ability to have their own odors. If no organisms can detect scents then why would an animal or any other organism have an odor? Animals and plants use their odors to attract other organisms or warn them to stay away. Without having this important sense animals would need a new way to attract and warn other organisms.

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  35. Question One:

    The body plan is a blueprint for multicellular and single celled organisms at the beginning of formation. The Placozoans are multicellular organisms that require four cells to work. Another type is the sponge, which is more complex, disorganized and less successful. Another type of body plan is the Choanoflagellates, which are single celled organisms. They are the most successful body plan in my opinion because of their unique cell communication.

    Question Two:

    Body plans and scents go together because the body plan consists of DNA, which causes the tissue to be able to have a sense of smell. In our nasal passages is a section of tissue that has millions of nerve cells in it. The nerve cells provide our sense of smell by signaling our brains. Advantages of this are to be able to figure out scents of food and other smells. Smells help us to detect what we are eating, what’s around us and help us to stay safe.

    Question Three:

    If no living organism could detect scents than there would be no reason for flowers and animals to have their own scents. A fox would not need to have a different scent than a wolf if neither of them could detect a scent. Flowers have their own scent because it makes them different from one another.

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  36. Question 1:

    The body plan is a map for multicellular and single celled organisms at the beginning of formation. One type of body plan is the sponge, which is very complex, unorganized and not very successful. The Placozoans are multicellular organisms that require four cells to function. Another type of body plan is the Choanoflagellates, which are single celled organisms. They are the most successful body plan because of their informative cell communication.

    Question 2:

    Body plans and scents go together because the body plan has DNA, which causes the tissue to be able to smell things. In our nose is a section of tissue that has a bunch of nerve cells in it. The nerve cells provide a sense of smell by telling us what the smell is. Advantages of this are to be able to figure out scents of food. Smells help us to figure out what we are eating.

    Question 3:

    If living organism could not detect scents then there would be no reason for flowers and animals to have their own scents. A bear would not need to have a different scent than a human if neither of them could detect a scent.

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  37. Answer 1: The body plan is the blueprint, of how the body will be constructed and how it will be formed. The major body plans include placozoans, sponges, and choanoflagellates. Plocazoans make up a simple body shape, while sponges are more complex multicellular organisms. Choanoflagellates are single celled microbes that resemble a sponge. I think the most successful body plan would be the placozoans because they are the “base” and simplest form of a living organism. They are able to survive, even though they are very simplistic.
    Answer 2: Body plan and scents go together because our body plan makes up the signal receptors and the tissue that allow us to smell. Communication amongst the cells s very important, because this is how the scent gets transferred to our brain, where it is registered as a smell. We can remember cells, and this is beneficial because it allows us to know when we are hungry. Smelling is essential to survival.
    Answer 3: If no organism could smell, I don’t believe an organism (like a flower) would have its own distinct smell. I think it would be pointless to have its own smell, if no other organism could smell it. A scent of a flower is used for attraction or deterrence, and it wouldn’t be needed if nothing could smell it.

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  38. 1) Body plans are the plans for how a body is formed and how all the cells come together to make a distinct animal. Major plans are unicellular body plans found in organisms like bacteria and microbes or multicellular body plans like those of humans and other more complex animals. A type of body plan is that of a sponge. Multicellular body plans are more successful. For example, the body plan of a sponge is what makes it more "successful" than the body plans of unicellular body plans because a sponge has collagen, which holds the cells and tissues together, and it accomplishes the tasks needed for the life of a sponge.


    2) Body plans and scents go together because the genes needed to detect scent are in all cells of a human but are active only in certain areas (i.e. the nose). Our ability to smell evolved as we did. Our body protects us from things that can harm us by sending signals through the nerves to the brain. Our sense of smell (as well as other mammals) is much sharper than those of fish and reptiles.

    3) If living organisms couldn't detect scent, what would be the purpose of flowers and animals having distinct odors? They would probably still have the odors but with nothing to smell them, "odorless" animal/flowers would start to come about because it we aren't using something, gradually we will evolve without it.

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  39. Kara Marx
    AP Bio work

    1)Body plans are plans to make the body. How to make the body’s )cells and structures work together in order to make a new organism. One type of body plan is called the Placozoan. The Placozoan is a simple body plan, because there are only four types of cells. A sponge is also a body plan. A sponge is divided into several apartments with cilia extended out of each space, allowing water to flow through. Another form of a body plan is a Choanoflagellates. They look like the compartments that are in sponges, so people thought they just fell out of sponges. Choanoflagellates are a single-celled microbe. I think the most successful of these three is the sponge because it has the same type of cell communication system that we find in humans, so their cells can communicate easily and effectively, its cells also have a division of labor. Sponges’ cells work together to function as one cell.

    2)Scents and body plans go together because the genes involved in the sense of smell are present in all human cells but are only active in certain areas. With more complex body plans comes the ability to smell. The ability to smell evolved as organisms did. As organisms went from water to land, the ability to smell stayed. Scent became important to survive because sight was so weak. Now, our vision is stronger than our ability to smell but our latter ability is still very useful. We use scents to associate certain objects and people with emotions. We can use scents to protect ourselves from hazardous things or use scents to attract others.

    3)If no living organism could detect scents organisms like animals and flowers would not have evolved the ability to have their own distinct odors. Flowers evolved to have their own odors so that animals that pollinate them would be more likely to come to their flower. Once this started flowers evolved to smell the best. Since this process worked and attracted more insects that pollinated, the process was passed on to their offspring. Eventually the flowers that we smell today were created. Animals use their odor to attract their mates. Sometimes they have to smell the best to receive a mate. Both animals and flowers use odors to warn other organisms to stay away. If something is rotting once it is dead, animals and plants will stay away.

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  40. Garrett Kane Week 4
    1) Body plans are designed in a similar way to any kind of plan. An organism is formed by a body plan comprised of many genes. I think that organisms with a gene that provides them with a head are most successful because the most complex organisms of today have heads.

    2) All body plans are designed to require different resources and processes to survive. Complex organisms that have the ability to detect scents have a distinct advantage over organisms that do not. Organisms can use scent in many ways, including food procurement and avoiding predators. Organisms with the ability to detect scents can have a body structure designed for detecting scents. Animals that cannot detect scents may find it more challenging to satisfy basic survival needs.

    3) Many organisms capitalize on other organisms' ability to detect scent. A predator could use an odor that is friendly to his prey to make his hunting easier. An organism that could be easy prey for a predator can release an odor that is repulsive to a predator to stay alive. Flowers would not produce a scent if it could not attract bees. A skunk would not carry a spray gene unless his predators could detect it.

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  41. 1. One of the major types of body plans is that of a placozoan. This creature can boast only four kinds of cells in a plate-like body. The small amount of cells have a division of labor in which some work for digestive purposes and others work for mobility reasons. The bodies of placozoans contain certain molecular and cellular tools that are also contained in the bodies of humans. Another major body plan is the sponge, which has a central hollow area, sometime separated into compartments. They have cilia to retrieve food, and flagella to move to sponge. Cells in a sponge’s body communicate with other cells, and as work as a whole. A third body type is a choanoflagellate, a “single-celled microbe”. Originally thought to be a simpler sponge, the choanoflagellate has genes that are also present in animals. These creatures also have cells used for adhesion and communication. In my opinion, that of a sponge is the most successful body plan. This is because if attacked by a predator and divided into pieces, the separated cells of the sponge can then pull themselves together to form a whole body again.

    2. Body plans and scents “go together” in that they have to work together within the organism. The human body is made of trillions of cells which contain DNA. The DNA and cells make up tissues and nerves within the nose. These nasal nerve cells allow the body to detect various scents and odors by sending signals to the brain which tells us what we are smelling. Advantages of being able to detect scents include telling different foods apart, detecting potentially dangerous situations, and the simple luxury of enjoying pleasurable scents.

    3. If no living organisms could detect scents or odors, organisms like animals and flowers would probably not have evolved the ability to have their own distinct scents or odors. Organisms have a need for odors to attract a mate, attract a bee to spread pollen, warn other organisms, tell the difference between predators and prey, and many other purposes. If organisms could not smell these needed scents, they would be pointless. If the odors were unnecessary, then organisms would not have evolved their own distinct scents.

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  42. Question one: the major types of body parts plans are used to make the body work. they consist of placozoans, fou types of cells that come together to make a plate structure. another type of body plan is the sponge, they hold tissues together to form one greater creature. Last but not least there are choanoflagellants, wich are cells loacted inside of a sponge. To me the most successful of the three is the sponge because all the cells have to work, move, and quaperate together to form one living breathing thing.

    Question two: body plans an scents go together because in a body plans many systems and things have to work together to create one major working system. the way your body processes scents works in a similar way becasue many systems in your body ,nerve and brain, have to work together in order to process the scent. some benifits of being able to process scents would be things like being able to smell fire and food that may have gone bad, things that may be dangerous to you.

    Question three: If animals did not have the ability to process scent then flowers would not have developed the ability to give off scent. i beleive this to be true becasue flowers most likely developed the ability to give off a scent to adapt to their surroundings and attract creatures to them, if animals could not smell this scent then their would be no reason for a flower to develop this trait.

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