Check out my new blog at www.cherylynthejazzgurl.blogspot.com

 

 

I was reading the newspaper this morning and i came across this article about a komodo dragon laying eggs. I was particularly interested aboiut the way it reproduce because it is an asexual. Fortunately, there was a term for it: parthenogenesis, reproducing without the help of sperms. Imagine that happening to humans.

Parthenogenesis or virgin birth (from the Greek παρθενος parthenos, "virgin", + γενεσις genesis, "birth") describes the growth and development of an embryo or seed without fertilization by a male. Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some species, including lower plants (called agamospermy), invertebrates (e.g. water fleas, aphids, honey bees), and vertebrates (e.g. some reptiles,^[1] fish, and, very rarely, birds^[2]). Parthenogenetic populations must be all-female because there is no contribution from a male. The offspring may be capable of sexual reproduction, however, if that exists in the species. As with all types of asexual reproduction, there are both costs and benefits associated with parthenogenesis.

Parthenogenesis has nothing to do with artificial animal cloning, a process where the new organism is identical to the cell donor. Parthenogenesis is truly a reproductive process which creates a new individual or individuals from the naturally varied genetic material contained in the eggs of the mother. A litter of animals resulting from parthenogenesis may contain all unique siblings without any twins or multiple numbers from the same genetic material, but they would all be female.

In April 2004, scientists at Tokyo University of Agriculture used parthenogenesis to successfully create fatherless mice. The process could be used to reproduce humans. The alternation between parthenogenesis and sexual reproduction is called heterogamy. Forms of reproduction related to parthenogenesis but that require the presence of sperm are known as gynogenesis and hybridogenesis.

Asexual reproduction versus sexual reproduction

Asexual reproduction is relatively rare among multicellular organisms, for reasons that are not completely understood. Current hypotheses suggest that, while asexual reproduction may have short term benefits when rapid population growth is important or in stable environments, over the long term sexual reproduction offers a net advantage by allowing more rapid adaptation to changing environments.

Asexual lineages can increase their numbers rapidly because all members are female and can therefore produce viable eggs. In sexual populations, some of the individuals are male and cannot themselves produce offspring. This means that an asexual lineage will have roughly double the rate of population growth under ideal conditions when compared with a sexual population half composed of males. This is known as the two-fold cost of sex.

Also, organisms that can reproduce through parthenogenesis are more able to settle isolated habitats like oceanic islands, as a single (female) member of the species is enough to start a population.

Another consequence of asexual reproduction, which may have both benefits and costs, is that offspring are typically genetically similar to their parent, with as broad a range as that animal receives from one parent. Fewer genetic alternatives result than with sexual reproduction. This genetic similarity may be beneficial if the genotype is well-suited to a stable environment, but disadvantageous if the environment is changing. For example, if a new predator or pathogen appears and a genotype is particularly defenseless against it, an asexual lineage is more likely to be completely wiped out by it. In contrast, a lineage that reproduces sexually has a higher probability of having more members survive due to the genetic recombination that produces a novel genotype in each individual. Similar arguments apply to changes in the physical environment.

Some species alternate between the sexual and asexual strategies, an ability known as heterogamy, depending on conditions. For example, the freshwater crustacean Daphnia reproduces by parthenogenesis in the spring to rapidly populate ponds, then switches to sexual reproduction as the intensity of competition and predation increases.

Parthenogenesis

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which females produce eggs that develop without fertilization. Parthenogenesis is seen in aphids, daphnia, rotifers, and some other invertebrates, as well as in some plants. Among vertebrates, there are several genera of fish, amphibians, and reptiles that exhibit differing forms of asexual reproduction, including true parthenogenesis, gynogenesis, and hybridogenesis (an incomplete form of parthenogenesis).

Most reptiles reproduce sexually, but parthenogenesis has been observed in certain species of rock lizards, geckos, and whiptails^[1]. Parthenogenesis has been extensively studied in the New Mexico whiptail (genus Cnemidophorus), of which 15 species reproduce exclusively by parthenogenesis. These lizards live in the dry and sometimes harsh climate of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. All these asexual species appear to have arisen through the hybridization of two or three of the sexual species in the genus leading to polyploid individuals. The mechanism by which the mixing of chromosomes from two or three species can lead to parthenogenetic reproduction is unknown. Because multiple hybridization events can occur, individual parthenogenetic whiptail species can consist of multiple, independent asexual lineages. Within lineages, there is very little genetic diversity, but different lineages may have quite different genotypes.

An interesting aspect to reproduction in these asexual lizards is that mating behaviors are still seen even though the populations are entirely female. One female plays the role formerly played by the male and mounts the female that is about to produce eggs. This behavior is due to the hormonal cycles of the animals, which cause them to mate like males shortly after laying eggs, when levels of progesterone are high, and to take the female role in mating before laying eggs, when estrogen dominates. Lizards that act out the courtship ritual have greater fecundity than those kept in isolation, due to the increase in hormones that accompanies the mounting. So, although the populations lack males, they still require sexual stimuli for maximum reproductive success.

An example of non-viable parthenogenesis is common among honeybees. The queen bee is the only fertile female in the hive; if she dies without the possibility for a viable replacement queen, it is not uncommon for the worker bees to lay eggs. Worker bees are unable to mate, and the unfertilized eggs produce only drones (males), which can only mate with a queen. Thus, in a relatively short period, all the worker bees die off, and the new drones follow. Presumably, in some predecessor of the honeybee, the workers were less specialized, and were able to mate with the drones and revive the colony, though this is speculation.

Gynogenesis

A form of asexual reproduction related to parthenogenesis is gynogenesis. Here offspring are produced by the same mechanism as in parthenogenesis, but with the requirement that the egg be stimulated by the presence of sperm in order to develop. However, the sperm cell does not contribute any genetic material to the offspring. Since gynogenetic species lack males, activation of the egg requires mating with males of a closely related species. Some salamanders of the genus Ambystoma are gynogenetic and appear to have been so for over a million years. It is believed that the success of those salamanders may be due to the rare (perhaps only one mating out of a million) actual fertilization of eggs by a male, introducing new material to the gene pool.

Hybridogenesis

In hybridogenesis reproduction is not completely asexual but instead hemiclonal: half the genome passes intact to the next generation while the other half is replaced. Females mate with males and both contribute genetic material to the offspring. But when the female offspring produce their own eggs, the eggs contain no genetic material from their father, only the chromosomes from the offspring's own mother. This process continues, so that each generation is half (or hemi-) clonal on the mother's side and half new genetic material from the father's side. This form of reproduction is seen in some livebearing fish of the genus Poeciliopsis and in the waterfrog Rana esculenta.

Recently it was seen that little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) can fertilize but males can cause the female genetic material to be ablated from the zygote, in a process called ameiotic parthenogenesis. [Fournier et al. 2005 Nature] In this way, males can reproduce themselves. This is the first example of an animal species where both females and males can reproduce themselves. Females can reproduce themselves by conventional parthenogenesis.

 

i found out there has been a problem printing the music sheet.

 

sheet music can be printed but the image is as small as a name card.

 

When you open the pdf file(music sheet):

 

1. Click on the Select icon

2. Click one of the music pages(for starters, just click the first page).

3. The selected page will turn blue

 

 

After that, you can just open your file where ever you placed it and print it out. Hopefully, this solution can applied to everyone.

I can't gurantee that it will come out the way it did for me but you can always try printing a page and see what happens.

 

Unfortunately, this solution applies to every single page in the music sheet

So, you have to take your time and do this one by one. Unless, you have a better solution that you would like to share.

---

If you want to escape all this hassle, email me for the files then.

I'm still doing the same process as stated above in The Solution.

 

 

 

 

piano music lovers and HSM fanatics!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you just can't miss this!!!!

behold the website with all the HSM piano music sheet

 

 

 

 

 

"The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value."

 This is quoted by Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States.

 

 

I would like to point out in this post that our great Mother Nature would soon die in a terrible way if don't learn to take care of our atmosphere that is the ozone layer. This matter has been very seriously because the hole of the ozone layer is bigger than ever over the past few years. Even after the Montreal Protocol (an international treaty), other factors still contribute to this problem.

 

 

 

 

Ozone depletion

Main article: Ozone depletion

The ozone layer can be depleted by free radical catalysts, including nitric oxide (NO), hydroxyl (OH), and atomic chlorine (Cl) and bromine (Br). While there are natural sources for all of these species, the concentrations of chlorine and bromine have increased markedly in recent years due to the release of large quantities of manmade organohalogen compounds, especially chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and bromofluorocarbons. These highly stable compounds are capable of surviving the rise to the stratosphere, where Cl and Br radicals are liberated by the action of ultraviolet light. Each radical is then free to initiate and catalyze a chain reaction capable of breaking down over 10,000 ozone molecules. Ozone levels, over the northern hemisphere, have been dropping by 4% per decade. Over approximately 5% of the Earth's surface, around the north and south poles, much larger (but seasonal) declines have been seen; these are the ozone holes.

Regulation

On January 23, 1978 Sweden became the first nation to ban CFC-containing aerosol sprays that are thought to damage the ozone layer. A few other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Norway, followed suit later that year, but the European Community rejected an analogous proposal. Even in the U.S., chlorofluorocarbons continued to be used in other applications, such as refrigeration and industrial cleaning, until after the discovery of the antarctic ozone hole in 1985. After negotiation of an international treaty (the Montreal Protocol), CFC production was sharply limited beginning in 1987 and phased out completely by 1996.

On August 2, 2003, scientists announced that the depletion of the ozone layer may be slowing down due to the international ban on chlorofluorocarbons, chemical compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon. ^[1] Three satellites and three ground stations confirmed that the upper atmosphere ozone depletion rate has slowed down significantly during the past decade. The study was organized by the American Geophysical Union. Some breakdown can be expected to continue due to CFCs used by nations which have not banned them, and due to gases which are already in the stratosphere. CFCs have very long atmospheric lifetimes, ranging from 50 to over 100 years, so the final recovery of the ozone layer is expected to require several lifetimes.

Compounds containing C-H bonds are being designed to replace the function of CFC's (such as HFC), since these compounds are more reactive and less likely to survive long enough in the atmosphere to reach the stratosphere where they could affect the ozone layer.

I would like to highlight this great pianist, namely Yundi Li.

Li Yundi (Chinese: 李云迪, pinyin: Lǐ Yúndí) (born October 7, 1982) is a well-known young classical pianist. He is also popularly known by the Western iteration of his name, Yundi Li. Born in Chongqing, China, Li is most well known for being the youngest pianist to win the prestigious International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 18. Li currently resides in Hannover, Germany, where he studies with his teacher Arie Vardi at the Hannover Conservatory of Music.

Childhood

Li first began to learn the accordion at the young age of four. Only one year later, he won the top prize at the Chongqing Children's Accordion Competition. Li began studying piano at the age of seven. Two years later, he began to study with Dan Zhao Yi, one of China's most renowned piano teachers. Li's ambition was to become a professional pianist. In 1994, he entered the junior high school associated with the Sichuan Music Academy.

Awards

Li has received top awards at various competitions. In 1995, he was awarded first place at the Stravinksy International Youth Competition. In 1998, he won the 1998 South Missouri International Youth Piano Competition. The next year, he took Third Prize at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition of Utrecht, as well as being a major winner in the China International Piano Competition. He also won first place at the Gina Bachauer Young Artists International Piano Competition.

In October 2000, Li participated in the 14th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. He was the first participant to be awarded First Prize in 15 years, and at 18 years of age, the youngest winner in the competition's history. Li is also the competition's first Chinese winner. Li was given a Polonaise award by the Chopin Society for his performance at the competition.

Performing and recording career

Li's debut in the United States took place in June 2003 at Carnegie Hall, as part of Steinway and Sons' 150th Anniversary Gala. His United States concerto debut took place the next month, when he performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1. He was also honoured at a special reception at the home of the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, where he performed for various officials of the US State Department.

Currently, Li's performance programmes and records consist exclusively of works by Chopin and Liszt. His second recording of Liszt for Deutsche Grammophon, whom he still—as of 2006—exclusively records for, was released in August 2003 named "Best CD of the Year" by the New York Times. His third recording, comprising Chopin's four Scherzi and three Impromptus, was released in late 2004. Recently, he has also given a recital in the renowned Wiener Musikverein, performing works by Mozart, Scarlatti, Schumann, and Liszt.

Yundi Li is on the roster of Columbia Artists Management under the personal direction of Ronald Wilford and Jean-Jacques Cesbron.

 

visit my friendster profile  and see some interesting slideshows there!!!

thanks for your attention!

The Past and the Future Series

 

Bringing Back the Good Times

1964              My Girl

1966                   Scarborough Fair

                   Ain’t No Mountain Enough

1970               Bridge Over Troubled Water-I’m With You(2002)

                        We’ve Only Just Begun

                     Rainy Days and Mondays

                   (They Long to Be)Close to You

1973              Candle in the Wind

                        Piano Man

1974             You Are So Beautiful

                     She

1975              Dancing queen

1976             Isn’t She Lovely

1977             How Deep is Your Love

                      Dreams

                        We Are the Champions

                        Emotions

                        Wonderful Night

1979                    YMCA

1984               Time After Time

1988                 Listen to Your Heart-Goodbye(1998)

 

Back to the Future

1992                Everybody Hurt---Smooth (1999)

1997               Angels

1998                Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely

2001                Drops of Jupiter

                       I’m Like A Bird---Hero(1993)

2002              Underneath Your Clothes-Speed of Sound(2005)

2003              Invisible

                     If I Ain’t Got You

                     My Immortal

2004             100 Years

                    Accidentally in Love

2005             Ordinary People

                   You’re Beautiful   

My parents bought salt lamps recently and each of the bedrooms has one of these lamps.

My sister was kinda curious whether it was really salt and wanted to taste it, and she did, the lamp was definitely made from salt.

I was wondering how do salt lamps work since my parents can't explain it in a scientific way, so, i got my answers from Answers.com

 

you might be wondering what i'm talking about

oh well, to the music sheet collectors, if you happen to be looking for chinese  music sheet, you are warned

the websites in chinese are not so safe compared to those in english.

i don't why but some smart ass are being funny.

it's either you get a spyware that you can't remove or repeatedly being attacked by viruses

 

my fiasco with my computer is bad enough  and not to mention that i went through it twice.

even if you search engine for a website and if the websites are in the top 10, don't be too happy, they are still unsafe.

i'm unable to tell which website is not safe 'coz i can't remember the web address

then again, i just warned you and you can take your risk.

 

Happy collecting.

 

P.S. So far the websites i introduced are safe and i have no probs with them.

i had a wonderful Sunday by my piano

i closed the main wooden door and the door leading to the kitchen.

switched on lights above the piano(my spotlight...wakaka....) and all the side lamps (yes, i need a dark atmosphere to get in the mood..).

and there i go blasting my piano away with what i have in my books!

dunno how long i was banging on the keys but it was spiritually relieving, like getting into a trance or something.

anyway, i need this like music therapy but with music played by myself.

 

currently enjoying all the songs i printed over the past 24 hours and the new stuff are great!

anyway, music sheet collectors out there feast your eyes in those websites that i linked in my "blog list".

don't just go to the websites and look through there, get your fingers clicking too through the links provided there, it's gonna help your collection expand like mine did in the past 24 hours.

 

"I have music in me"

man...im doomed

i have the supplies for printing (but not sure about that ink yet....) but not enough money to produce books!!!!

the sheets of music is almost as thick as my kamus dewan (exaggerating here but it is really thick)

i can make different genres of books but no money

 

im gonna sing "Money Money Money" by ABBA

 

i found the original score for Breaking Free from High School Musical

okay..........scream!

where the hell i got it?

ask me when you see me...hehe...

 

P.S. I didn't know that "We Are the Champions" is also available in piano arrangement. LOL

 

Reminds you of Ricky Martin, right?

Hahaha... You will be disillusioned.

 

I'm planning lots of stuff that will be dedicated to music and nature.

Exams are over and the plans are on going.

 

Piano marathon is a sure thing, neighbours can complain all they about the music I'm going to blast on my piano.

Yeah, I'm a crazy pianist.

Whatever it is, I will definitely need this marathon for future references.

I'm continuing my grade 8 exams next year and  there's lots of skills to practice.

Yes, I have to eat back my words about nothing taking the big test.

My mom said it will be too costly and my teacher thinks I can do it.

There goes nothing.

 

As for my contribution to nature, I plan to clean that garden of mine. Some alien stuff are growing among the bushes.

Yes, I will be continuing my photography on it too.

I just love taking pictures of clouds and flowers.

I have more chances of taking pictures of the beach and sea during the Raya festival as I'll be going for a 2 day 1 night trip to Port Dickson.

 

P.S. As the days passes by, my iTunes library is constantly updating songs and it's definitely going crazy!

 

 

Currently having a Lime Wire Craze

 

Starting to hate the haze coming across from a neighbouring country.

Causing a lot of respiratory problems for my friends and family.

They will bound to get better soon 'coz i see blue skies.

After much thought and nothing to do, i just came here and decorated this place.

Little did i know it was gonna be very very interesting.

It runs really fast and i have it set up in no time.

 

Remember to check out the music sheet websites that i linked, if you are a music sheet collector.