answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English, spelling and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be four (4) double-spaced pages; refer to the “Assignment Format” page located on the Course Home page for specific format requirements.

Discuss the applications of each of following in biology today and include three examples of each with a brief description.

DNA in forensic science

Population evolution and microbial life

Biological diversity evolution

Plant and animal evolution

Population growth

Biomes and ecosystems

Notes in this lesson:

We will investigate the study of ecology. We’ve learned in previous sections that plants and animals remain in the areas that provide them with the necessary food and environments that aid in their survival. As people expand their territories, boundaries of plants and animals may recede, forcing them to take up residence in other locations.

We will learn about biomes and their individual offerings to wildlife. From temperature to precipitation to available vegetation, each has something to offer different species of animals. While any of these changes may not affect an endangered animal, for example, they may affect prey or predators of this animal population. From our earlier lessons, we learned about competition and the food chain. What would happen if an endangered animal did not have enough of the vegetation or the smaller animals that are part of its diet? Yes, you’re right, this animal couldn’t survive! Alternately, if this endangered animal did not have enough predators, what would be the outcome? Most likely, this population would grow unchecked and proliferate. No matter which outcome occurs, it sets off a chain of events sometimes not anticipated.

We will also discuss population growth. The authors of your textbook have provided some excellent graphs that visually demonstrate concepts such as density of populations and survival rates. These provide us with some easily identifiable ways to understand the main points of the lesson. We will also discuss biological control and how some species remain unchecked. You will discover the reasons for this. Think of your own yard. Why are weeds prevalent? What peak times do we notice specific weeds? When we plant bulbs, what are the reasons they either thrive or do not survive?

Human population growth is presented in detail. We will discuss our ecological footprint. You may remember earlier in this lesson we discussed our carbon footprint. Some ways we can reduce our carbon and ecological footprints include living in smaller spaces and using fewer natural resources. We can live in smaller houses that use solar panels or water conservation systems. We can also walk, ride our bike, carpool, or take public transportation to work or school. In the United States, we are faced with both overpopulation and overconsumption (Simon, Dickey, & Reece, 2013).

Energy flow in ecosystems starts with an energy source, such as the sun. Producers, like plants, use this source for their growth. The pyramid continues with primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. Each is dependent on the preceding level for its survival. Biodiversity is the variety that exists in all living things, and we are interdependent beings and need each other to exist (Simon, Dickey, & Reece, 2013).

Let’s look an example of interdependence in our society. Let’s say we need to receive a vaccination. We begin by making an appointment to see the health care provider who can prescribe the immunization. We rely on the nurse to administer this vaccination after performing the necessary checks on the lot number, the expiration date, and the refrigeration temperature. We also count on the fact that the nurse received appropriate training from his or her nursing school and has passed the state licensing exam and that he or she is competent. We count on the pharmaceutical companies to provide a quality product. Furthermore, we count on our government to inspect the quality of the product the pharmaceutical company has provided. We are counting on each step of the process to be near 100 percent, aren’t we?

This course was designed to enlighten you on the many wonderful offerings of biology, and I hope you have learned the different ways you connect to this world and it connects to you.