Purpose: The purpose of the comparative anatomy project was to discuss and classify each phylum: Sponge (Porifera), Jellyfish (Cnidaria), Squid (mollusca), Worms (annelida), Fish ( chordata-osteichthyes), and Frog (Chordata-amphibia-anura). The main reason though was because we wanted to see the connections between all the animals and how they evolved from each other and are related to humans. Some start with a more simple digestive system, then move into a more complex digestive system. What we did was dissect animals to see the different things that they each had in common. Some of the things that were similar to each other were changed a little so that the animal could function more smoothly and better in its habitat.
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Overall Reflection:
This was a very new project that I've never experienced before. It was very interesting to dissect so many animals in a few weeks. I learned many new things and how certain organisms evolved into humans and other animals we see today. I want to know more about how fishes were entered into this world and how my favorite animal, the lion was evolved and how it became such a powerful animal. The things we did well, was working together on our document and staying calm when things were tough working together. We also did the dissection perfectly, each one. It was sorta difficult in the beginning with our group because we did not get along at all, we had to overcome that and become a better group. Also cutting into the animals were hard especially the fish and all of the scales, but we also overcame it and did them all correctly. The fish I think were the grossest animal to dissect because it looked the most normal. The frog was just different colors on the internal organs so it wasn't as interesting. the squid was sad to dissect because my group had a pregnant one that still had all of its unhatched babies inside of it. I really liked dissecting because I don't get grossed out that easily, and want to become a doctor one day. i also really liked the hands-on procedures we got to do and how fun it was working with my group. What i didn't like was how many animals needed to die in order for us to dissect it, even though we all could've just dissected one animal for each class. I also didn't like the way the other classes left their gross dissected tools and trays with guts still on them and it made the whole room smell awful. I really enjoyed learning about how certain organisms evolved and how the external and internal came to be.
Socratic Seminar Reflection:
I've always grown up believing in God, so it was interesting to see the different points of views of people in class. I also have never met so many people that don't believe in God, it's weird to me. I probably will get over it but it is kind of sad because it is such a hard concept to wrap your brain around. I guess I just like knowing there is something after death and someone's watching over me. But it usually freaks me out thinking about death so I rarely think about it. I wish that there were more answers to how the Earth began and we will be better off.