Evaluation/Worksheet

Answer the following questions in the space provided. Remember to use complete sentences to demonstrate comprehension and understanding.

Based on the reading “immortality 2.0”, answer the following questions:

1.  Write a brief summary, three to five sentences, indicating the major concepts or ideas that the paper is proposing.
Answer: There are those who think of the human body more in terms of computers than in terms of biology. In comparing the brain to microchips, it has been proposed that technology can extend the lives of humans indefinitely. If the human consciousness and physical processes can be transferred to computers, then many forward thinkers believe that the body can be re-engineered to last forever.
2.  Discuss the potential advancements as well as the concerns regarding the topic of the paper as it relates to the evolution of humans and technology.
Answer: Transhumanism wants to copy people onto programs. Evolution has been our forward movement until today, but evolution seems to have slowed down, and the brain is due for an “upgrade”. If this were possible, then perhaps man might live forever. Concerns that these ideas elicit are that we already have too many people using the resources of the Earth. Singularity leads us to be concerned over machines taking over (like Hollywood and science fiction writers have always predicted). Singularity also allows for the idea that machines may solve problems that we find insurmountable today. Recently, transhumanists have been looking mostly at the adverse effects of singularity. Potentially, artificial body parts can become better than the original. Longevity escape velocity predicts that individuals will stay a decade or so ahead of the research needed to continue extending life and the quality of life. The one really good point the article made was that this research should go on because “It’s not about the fact that aging kills people and
takes lives. It’s about the fact that aging kills people really horribly” and that is just not acceptable any longer if we can help it.

Based on the Lab and microscope Activites, answer the following questions:

3.  Indicate if the following substances are a strong acid, weak acid, strong base, or weak base.
Substance / Answer
a.  Saliva / a.  weak base
b.  Beer / b.  weak acid
c.  NH4 / c.  weak acid
d.  HCl / d.  strong acid
e.  Lye / e.  strong base
4.  The standard binocular microscopes used in labs can typically only magnify up to 1000x. Research and discuss two technological advancements for viewing microscopic objects living or inanimate.
Answer: In 1931 the electron microscope was invented making it possible to view objects as small as the diameter of an atom. While this does not make the atom visible, it does, in effect, isolate individual important molecules. It “magnifies” things up to one million times. Unfortunately, because of the conditions needed for the electron telescope, living cells cannot survive under their high vacuum.
In 1981 the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was invented which allows atomic-scale images to be seen on the surfaces of metal. It is three-dimensional which allows defects to be seen as well as size and conformation of molecules on the surface. It is of use in industrial research.
5.  Identify the following elements according to the atom structure provided. List the name and symbol.
Name / Symbol
a.  Carbon / a.  C
b.  Oxygen / b.  O
c.  Silicon / c.  Si
d.  Neon / d.  Ne
e.  Aluminum / e.  Al

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