10 Most Expensive Acquisitions By GOOGLE..

Google is one of the biggest behemoths on the Internet, and has a wide presence in almost any industry due to acquiring interesting ventures. Click on this article to find out about the most expensive acquisitions made by GOOGLE.

 

Fact!

Google has acquired about 120 companies more than its closest rivals Apple and Facebook.

Since its inception in 1998, Google has acquired around 170 companies, by buying at least a minimum of 2 companies every year. The reputation of Google as a search engine is well-known, as it changed the landscape of accessing information on the Internet by providing instant results to 3.5 billion people everyday.

Google initially depended on online Ads to earn its revenue, and on trusted partners like Samsung to promote its operating system Android. But why did Google decide to go on a company-buying binge? To gain an edge on its closest rivals Facebook and Apple one might say. Larry Page, the CEO of Google, had always admired Steve Jobs and followed his strategy. Buy those companies that are already in the same domain, and build the existing technology from it. In short, sell the software and hardware related to those devices to control the market.

All the acquisitions so far have helped Google branch out and make its brand presence stand out in the public eye. Here is a list of the biggest acquisitions made by Google.

SkyBox Imaging

Acquired for $500 million
This particular company provides satellite imagery of the Earth's terrain. It also captures high-definition videos at 30 frames per second, which can help predict weather forecasts, accidents, etc. The software will aid Google Maps in depicting more accurate information. It also aids Project Loon, an initiative taken up by Google to provide Internet connectivity in rural parts of the world. It acquired this company in June 2014.

Dropcam

Acquired for $555 million
Dropcam is a company that specializes in video surveillance. It provides its customers with a mobile application which enables them to check the state of their house or surroundings with just their mobile phone. It was bought by Google in June 2014 through Nest Labs (see below for more), which will aid them with their home automation products.

Postini

Acquired for $625 million
Postini was a malware filtering software used in emails and other forms of web security, and was a service used by Google for its email providing service Gmail. Its services include message archiving and data encryption, which secures a company's email. Google bought the company in 2007, and included most of its features in Gmail. Google has stopped providing the service as of 2014, and shifted most of its features to Google Apps.

ITA Software

Acquired for $700 million
ITA Software is a service which provides travel information to customers regarding flight timings and reservations. It was so successful that it was heavily relied by Bing Travel. Google acquired the company in 2011 after a lengthy court battle. It revamped the company under its new service Google Flight, powered by ITA Software. It doesn't let customers book any flights, but just reveals flight information. With this acquisition, Google has entered the travel industry as well.

AdMob

Acquired for $750 million
AdMob, as the name suggests, provides service for displaying Ads on mobiles. Google outbid its biggest rival Apple in acquiring this company in 2010, as more customers shifted to mobiles from the web. This gave Google a chance to spread its influence to display advertising, especially mobile advertising, in which its rivals Yahoo! and Microsoft were far ahead.

Waze

Acquired for $1.1 billion
Waze is a company that provides global-mapping services, in which the customer can update a map in case of accidents or delays in real time, and is the second most popular application after Google. One of the most successful acquisitions made by Google, it serves around 50 million users worldwide. Google successfully bid for this company, beating rivals Facebook and Apple in 2011, and provides GPS (global positioning system) navigation for smartphone users, and is also used by Google Maps.

YouTube

Acquired for $1.65 billion
YouTube is the most popular video-sharing website since its inception in 2005. It was bought by Google a year after its launch in 2006. This gave Google a foothold in online advertising to earn more revenue. The deal coincided with YouTube's agreement with CBS Corp., Universal Music Group, and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, which allowed YouTube to include the music embedded in the video, and gave a share of its advertising revenue to these music publishers. Soon after its acquisition, YouTube became the second-best search engine after Google.

DoubleClick

Acquired for $3.1 billion
DoubleClick is a company that serves online banner Ads on websites. It provides companies such as MySpace and America Online (AOL) with user information and their browsing habits, to let them target specific audience. The company was bought by Google in 2008 for the services which would aid them in search engine optimization and affiliate marketing.

Nest Labs

Acquired for $3.2 billion
Nest Labs was a company that primarily dealt with sensor-driven and Wi-Fi enabled thermostats and smoke detectors, and founded by 2 former Apple employees Tony Fadell (father of the iPod) and Matt Rogers. Google acquired the company in 2014, and ten days later, Nest Labs bought Dropcam and integrated its software in its home automation product line, which would start recording if a smoke alarm went off.

Motorola Mobility

Acquired for $12.5 billion
One of the oldest companies that introduced mobile handsets to the world, Motorola piqued Google's interest for foraying into the mobile phone industry. It was meant to be the launchpad of the Android system made by Google itself. Two years after its purchase in 2011, the company started slipping in its profits, and was sold to Lenovo for $2.9 billion. Although, Google did manage to keep most of the patents owned by Motorola. Till date, it remains one of the biggest acquisitions ever made by Google.
In total, Google has spent $24.5 billion in the last ten years acquiring start-up and innovative ventures. It has even bought 8 robotic companies in 6 months. The next possible acquisitions for Google are predicted to be Spotify or Netflix. How much is Google willing to spend, is anybody's guess!

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Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/most-expensive-acquisitions-by-google.html

What are Environmental Ethics???

Environmental ethics is a branch of environmental philosophy that studies the ethical relationship between human beings and the environment. This field has given a new dimension to the topics of conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment. For more information on environmental ethics,

 

Environmental Ethics Definition

Environmental ethics is the discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and also the value and moral status of, the environment and its nonhuman contents. —Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

The definition of environmental ethics rests on the principle that there is an ethical relationship between human beings and the natural environment. Human beings are a part of the environment and so are the other living beings. When we talk about the philosophical principle that guides our life, we often ignore the fact that even plants and animals are a part of our lives. They are an integral part of the environment and hence cannot be denied their right to live. Since they are an inseparable part of nature and closely associated with our living, the guiding principles of our life and our ethical values should include them. They need to be considered as entities with the right to co-exist with human beings.

Concept

The concept of environmental ethics brings out the fact that all the life forms on Earth have the right to live. By destroying nature, we are denying the life forms this right. This act is unjust and unethical. The food web clearly indicates that human beings, plants, animals, and other natural resources are closely linked with each other. All of us are creations of nature and we depend on one another and the environment. Respecting the existence of not just other humans but also the non-human entities, and recognizing their right to live is our primary duty. With environmental ethics, morality extends to the non-human world.

Environmental Ethics as a Field

The Earth Day celebration of 1970 was also one of the factors which led to the development of environmental ethics as a separate field of study. This field received impetus when it was first discussed in the academic journals in North America and Canada. Around the same time, this field emerged in Australia and Norway. Scientists like Rachel Carson and environmentalists who led philosophers to consider the philosophical aspect of environmental problems, pioneered in the development of environmental ethics as a branch of environmental philosophy. Today, environmental ethics is a widely discussed topic. It covers aspects such as ethical principles that guide our use of natural resources, our duty to take efforts towards environmental protection, and our moral responsibility towards animals.

Issues in Environmental Ethics

Our natural environment is not a storehouse to rob resources from. It is a reserve of resources that are crucial to the existence of life. Their unscrupulous depletion is detrimental to our well-being. We are cutting down forests for making our homes. Our excessive consumption of natural resources continues. The undue use of resources is resulting in their depletion, risking the life of our future generations. Is this ethical? This is an environmental ethics issue.

When industrial processes lead to destruction of resources, is it not the industry's responsibility to restore the depleted resources? Moreover, can a restored environment make up for the original one? Mining processes disrupt the ecological balance in certain areas. They harm the plant and animal life in those regions. Slash-and-burn techniques are used for clearing land, that leads to the destruction of forests and woodland. The land is used for agriculture, but is the loss of so many trees compensated for?

Many human activities lead to environmental pollution. The rising human population is increasing the demand for nature's resources. As the population is exceeding the carrying capacity of our planet, animal and plant habitats are being destroyed to make space for human habitation. Huge constructions (roads and buildings for residential and industrial use) are being made at the cost of the environment. To allow space for these constructions, so many trees have to lose their lives. The animals that thrive in them lose their natural habitats and eventually their lives. However, the cutting down of trees is seldom even considered as loss of lives. Isn't this unethical?

Due to habitat loss, animals may enter human settlements, thus posing a threat to the people living there. In some cases, these animals are killed. Secondly, animals serve as food sources of humans, for which they are killed. Also, animal studies cause harm to animals and even their deaths. This destruction has led to the extinction of many animal species. The reduction in the populations of several other animal species continues. How can we deny the animals their right to live? How are we right in depriving them of their habitat and food? Who gave us the right to harm them for our convenience? These are some of the ethical environmental issues that need to be addressed.

The Inherent Value of Non-human Entities

 

An important point that the field of environmental ethics is concerned with, is whether non-human beings only have an instrumental value or whether they also have an intrinsic value. Aristotle said that "nature has made all things specifically for the sake of man", which means non-human beings only have an instrumental value; they are meant to serve as 'instruments' for human beings. From an anthropocentric point of view (which lays emphasis on human beings), the use of other living elements in nature by humans is only right. Causing them harm or destroying them is wrong only because it eventually affects human life. With this view, cruelty to animals is wrong because it develops insensitivity, and not because animals should not be harmed. Or the felling of trees is wrong because it eventually causes loss of food sources for humans, and not because it is simply unethical.

Historian Lynn White Jr. published an essay in 1967, in which he criticized Judeo-Christian thinking as being a primary factor that led human beings to exploit the environment. According to this line of thinking, man is supreme and the nature has been created for him, which gives him the right to exploit it. White also criticized the Church Fathers who maintained that God created man in his own image and gave him the right to rule every being on Earth. According to White, this view promotes the idea that man is separate from nature and not a part of it. This thought leads human beings to exploit nature without realizing its intrinsic value.

A key figure in modern environmental ethics was Aldo Leopold, an American author, scientist, environmentalist, ecologist, forester, and conservationist. His ecocentric views were dominant in the development of modern environmental ethics. Ecocentrism deems the whole ecosystem as important as opposed to anthropocentrism that believes humans to be the most important in the universe. According to ecocentrism, there are no existential differences between the human and non-human entities in nature, which means humans are not more valuable than any other component of the environment. Humans as well as plants, animals, and other constituents of nature have an inherent value.

Theologian and environmental philosopher Holmes Rolston III says that protection of species is our moral responsibility as they have an intrinsic value. In his view, the loss of a species spells disrespect to nature's process of speciation. According to him, biological processes deserve respect. Thus, any action that translates into disregard for the environment is unethical.

The concept of plant rights is worth discussing in this context. It is the idea of plants having certain rights like humans and animals have. Philosopher Tom Regan argues that animals and human beings are entitled to rights because they are 'aware' of their existence, which does not apply to plants. Philosopher Paul Taylor is of the view that plants have intrinsic value and that they are entitled to respect but not rights. In his 1972 paper "Should Trees Have Standing?", Christopher D. Stone said that if corporations can be assigned rights, so should trees.

Our Moral Responsibility

Another important point in relation to environmental ethics is of our moral responsibility to preserve nature for our future generations. By causing environmental degradation and depletion of resources, we are risking the lives of future generations. Is it not our duty to leave a good environment for them to live in? Non-renewable energy resources are fast-depleting and sadly, it isn't possible to replenish them. This means, they may not be available for the future generations. We need to strike a balance between our needs and the availability of resources, so that the forthcoming generations are also able to benefit from their use.

We are morally obliged to consider the needs of even the other elements of our environment. They include not just other human beings, but also plants and animals. It is only ethical to be fair to these elements and make a responsible use of natural resources. Environmental ethics try to answer the question of whether human beings have any moral obligation towards the non-human entities in nature. For the sake of development and convenience, is it morally right to burn fuels though pollution is caused? Is it morally right to continue with technological advances at the cost of the environment? Climate change is known to have a negative impact on plant diversity. It is a fact that the increasing pollution levels are hazardous for not only humans but also for plants and animals. Given this, isn't it our moral responsibility to protect the environment? We have certain duties towards the environment. Our approach towards other living entities should be based on strong ethical values. Even if the human race is considered as the main constituent of the environment, animals and plants are in no way less important. They have a right to get a fair share of resources and lead a safe life.

Environmental Ethics and Religion

Different religions have their own theories of how the world was created and in their own ways, encourage the ideas of protecting the environment or preserving nature because of the association of natural elements with the Supreme Power that created them. In some religions, certain plants or animals are worshiped considering them as sacred or symbols of a particular deity. Nature worship is a part of many religious and spiritual practices. This goes on to say that all religions express concern towards the environment and lay importance on its non-human constituents.

Radical Ecology

A step further from environmental ethics is radical ecology, which says that it may not be enough to extend ethics to non-human elements of the environment and that it is necessary to bring changes in the way we live and function. Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess classified environmentalism as shallow and deep. While shallow ecologists follow anthropocentrism, deep ecologists recommend the development of a new eco-philosophy. They are of the view that non-human elements have an intrinsic worth which is not dependent on their utility for humans. They believe in the need to implement ways to reduce human intervention in the non-human world that leads to the destruction of biodiversity. According to Naess, humans should broaden their idea of 'self' to include other life forms. In his eco-philosophy, 'transpersonal ecology', Australian philosopher Warwick Fox says that the field of environmental ethics is not limited to realizing our moral obligations towards the environment. It is about realizing what he calls ecological consciousness. Some may think that the principles of deep ecology are not sufficient to address environmental issues, but advocates of this ideology believe that once a state of 'environmental consciousness' is attained, humans will feel obligated to protect the environment.

Be it due to the scientific understanding of our environment or due to religious views that advocate the need for environmental protection, what's most important is that human beings realize their connection with nature.

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Lingual Frenulum Piercing

The lingual frenulum is the underside of one's tongue, that can be pierced, provided there is enough tissue to withstand the penetration. Are you game for such a piercing?

 

A piercing that involves a puncture wound through what is called the frenulum linguae, or lingual frenulum, is known as a tongue web piercing, or a tongue frenulum piercing. It involves a puncture wound that goes right through the frenulum, which is present below one's tongue, forming a connective tissue that is attached to the floor of the mouth. This tissue controls the way we speak, and also prevents one's tongue from rolling inwards. If there is enough of tissue for the piercing to go through, then you can go ahead with this type of tongue piercing.

Oral piercings generally don't take very long to heal, as long as you don't let yourself tease the piercing when it is new. The lingual frenulum is sore at times, due to people constantly toying with their piercings, since it is only natural for the tongue to fidget around something that is present in the mouth. Piercing jewelry involved here includes a low gage piercing, since this area of the mouth cannot be stretched and isn't really an area that consists of a lot of mass. Larger gage jewelry can seriously damage your gums and teeth in the long run, so it is advisable to stick to the former kind, or opt either for barbells or rings. Irritation is the main problem when it comes to a lingual frenulum piercing, but with the right care, it can heal quickly and with no bad effects in the long run.

How to Take Care of a Lingual Frenulum Piercing

Like mentioned earlier, it is better to use barbells or rings as your choice of piercing jewelry to make things easier for yourself during the healing period.

1. Avoid constantly touching your piercing, be it with your hands, a foreign object, or with your tongue. This can seriously impair the healing process and cause even more problems.
2. Rinse your mouth regularly, twice a day, with a non-alcohol based mouthwash solution (don't overdo this act), which is antibacterial or antimicrobial in nature. Whatever your piercer recommends will do the trick for you, so do as he/she instructs to help heal your piercing faster and efficiently.
3. Move the jewelry slowly in and out as the jewelry directs, and lessen any friction between the frenulum and the wound entry point. Clean your hands with an antibacterial soap and make sure it isn't peroxide or alcohol based.
4. Pus looking formation is normal, which signals the healing process is underway. If there is too much of it, consult your piercer for advice on what to do about it. If you experience extreme pain for days on end, consult him/her about this as well, without taking it lightly.
5. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the healing process to end, where the jewelry should be replaced with clean hands, and with smaller, less complicated options, to avoid damage to teeth and gums.
6. Avoid alcohol during this time, and cigarettes. This may be hard, but is of absolute importance during this time.
7. Avoid excessive sexual play that involves the use of the oral cavity during this time. You need your piercing to take it easy for a while until the healing time has reached its end.

The lingual frenulum is a sensitive spot to have a piercing done, but nonetheless people are pushing the boundaries by exploring even more extreme methods of body piercings. Before you actually go for the lingual frenulum piercing, just be sure to go to a trusted piercer, who has a hygienic setting and clean, sterilized equipment and needles on hand.

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History Of The Red Carpet

A red carpet is a long red-colored run rolled out for various dignitaries and celebrities. It is used for many ceremonial and formal events. But now did the red carpet trend start? Scroll down to learn more about the history of the red carpet.

 

Quick Fact!

For every Academy Awards function, it takes two days to install the 16,500 square feet red carpet.

The red carpet has been one of the most renowned and globally acknowledged floors in the world. It can be spotted in all sorts of events such as important diplomatic meetings, The Oscars, award functions, movie premieres, and nowadays it is widely used in high school proms too. Rolling down a red carpet for any important person is considered to be an apt welcome. It gives a feeling of royalty and respect.

Many are of the view that the red carpet theme is used too often. Instead of reserving it for special occasions you can actually see a rolled out red carpet for any large or small show, upon which a guest has to walk towards the auditorium or the building of the event. It is on the red carpet that celebrities pose for their pictures, answer media questions, etc. However, it is not a modern invention. In fact, originally, it was not even related to the entertainment industry. In the upcoming sections of this Buzzle article, we will look at the history behind the red carpet.

► Although the origin of the red carpet tradition is not quite accurately known, its roots can be traced back to as far as the 4th century. The play Agamemnon written by Aeschylus, in 458 BC, had the first reference to walking down a red carpet. Agamemnon, who was perceived to be very egoistic, returned from war, only to see that his wife Clytemnestra had laid down a red carpet to give him a royal welcome. Agamemnon who had his own doubts, was hesitant to walk on the carpet, because he knew that only gods were worthy of that color. He walked down the red carpet to be murdered by his wife.

► Many references claim that the red carpet mentioned in the play was actually purple.

► In the year 1821, a red carpet was rolled out to a river for the then president of United States James Monroe.

► The New York Central Railroad in 1902 used red carpets to welcome passengers onto the train. This was a marketing tactic used, as it made the passengers feel honored.

► The Hollywood red carpet was first used at the Egyptian Theater's premiere of Robin Hood in the year 1922.

► The red carpet found its way to award functions in the year 1961 during the 33rd Academy Awards. However, earlier award functions were not broadcast in color, so only the people attending the award function could see it. Viewers were able to see the red carpet color during the 38th Academy Awards in 1966.

► Walking on the red carpet is not binding on the celebrities but many prefer to do it, as it helps boost their image.

► In the year 2013, many award function organizers inspired by the red carpet theme rolled out carpets of various colors like green, yellow, pink, and white. Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards held in 2013, used an orange carpet to welcome the celebrities.

► The American Turf and Carpet company has been producing red carpets since 1992. They simply don't plain dye the carpet red, but blend the carpet with various colors so that it looks vibrant red on television. Even after all the layering done on top of the carpet to protect it from the wear and tear, it is replaced every two years.

The red carpet history tells us when, where, and why this tradition began. But what's most interesting is that it made its way into the entertainment industry and since then, has been linked to grandeur and glamor.

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Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-the-red-carpet.html

What Does Deleterious Mutation Means???

Any change in the normal sequence of DNA is called a mutation. Most mutation in organisms are deleterious by nature. This article explains this type of mutation in a comprehensive manner

 

Deleterious mutations do not persist in haploid populations, since they only possess one copy of genes, which if mutated, proves to be fatal to the organism. Thus, the mutated gene is not passed onto further generations.

All living beings possess genetic material that is composed of a sequence of nucleotides. Errors in this sequence are known as mutations, and they exist in the genome of all living beings. It is impossible for the genome of a biological entity to be devoid of any mutations. With each new generation, almost 100 - 200 new errors are incorporated into the genome. Considering the vast timeline of the existence of life on Earth, the amount of accumulated mutations is staggering. To put this in perspective, if we consider humans, each generation includes 100 new errors into the human genome, and at the current population growth rate, each generation of humans on the entire planet has a cumulative 100 billion mutations. Over the years, this vast aggregation of mutations has provided the raw material for the development of various genetic alleles, which increase the genetic variation and diversity, thereby providing the groundwork for the process of evolution and natural selection.

Despite the usefulness of mutations with respect to genetic variability, not all of them are desirable with regards to the overall fitness of the organism. Hence, they are segregated into three types: neutral, beneficial, and deleterious. Neutral mutations have no observable effect on the organism. They merely increase the genetic variation. Beneficial mutations provide the organism with a vital advantage for its survival and proliferation. Finally, deleterious mutations, as the name suggests, pose a threat to the fitness of the organism, as they have harmful effects of the general health of the organism. In general, when considering population genetics, mutations are usually deleterious in nature; very few are beneficial or neutral.

Deleterious Mutations

 

As mentioned earlier, these mutations reduce the fitness of an individual. But what is meant by fitness? It refers to the capacity and ability of an individual to carry out normal life activities, to live a relatively disease-free existence, and to pass on their genetic material to the next generation by reproducing. This is applicable to all living beings, from plants to animals, from microorganisms to birds, and from insects to humans. The fitness of the individual enables it to reach maturity, where its healthy constitution is conducive to reproduction, via which its genetic legacy is passed on to the next generation.

However, in case of deleterious mutation, any one or all of these stages may be compromised, causing the individual to be unfit. The mutation may cause health problems, reproductive failure, and even premature death, depending on the gene in which it occurs. With respect to humans, these three effects can be explained by the following examples.

Health Problem - A mutation in the LMNA gene that produces laminin, a protein that provides support to the cellular nucleus, gives rise to a condition called 'progeria'. It is a disease that causes accelerated aging, and is characterized by sclerotic skin, baldness, bone abnormalities, growth impairment, etc. Almost all genetic disorders are caused due to the presence of deleterious mutations.

Reproductive Failure - A mutation in the AZF (azoospermia factor) or the SRY (sex-determining region Y) gene gives rise to a non-functional gene-product, resulting in infertility in case of men, thereby inhibiting that particular male to be able to pass his genes to the next generation.

In case of animals like peacocks, who attract mates by the display of their bright tail feathers, any mutation that adversely affects this phenotype would result in the peacock's failure to attract a mate (peahen) and reproduce.

Premature Death - Mutations that give rise to conditions like spina bifida, metabolic genetic disorders, and Marfan syndrome greatly reduce the quality and length of the affected individual's lifespan, causing that person to die a premature death. Also, some mutations that occur in embryo development genes result in the premature death of the embryo, leading to miscarriages or still births.

 

Persistence of Deleterious Mutations

 

Despite their harmful nature, why do deleterious genes persist in the genome of organisms? This could be due to a number of reasons, such as the rate of elimination of these mutations may be low compared to the rate at which they appear. Other probable reasons are as follows.

Heterozygote Advantage

This is the condition where the possession of two different copies of a gene (wild-type and mutant) is beneficial to the organism, rather than detrimental. An example of this is the mutation that occurs in the hemoglobin gene, resulting in the condition called sickle cell anemia (SCA). In this case, the homozygote for the mutant allele will show a deleterious effect, i.e, the individual will suffer from SCA (all RBCs will be sickle-shaped). However, if the individual is a heterozygote, the recessive nature of the condition will render him a carrier (Partial sickling of RBCs) of the condition. This is beneficial, since the malarial parasite P. falciparum that infects red blood cells and deprives them of oxygen will be unable to infect the sickled cells and lead to a malarial infection. In other words, the partial sickling of RBCs of a carrier render that person immune to malaria. On the other hand, a wild-type homozygote individual would be susceptible to the malarial infection.

No Effect on Reproductive Fitness

In some cases, the deleterious effect of the mutation is exhibited at a later stage in life, by when the reproductive stage of the organism has already elapsed. Hence, the mutations are passed on despite their harmful nature, as the effect does not interfere or exhibit itself during the reproductive stage. An example of this is the trinucleotide repeat mutations seen in the HD gene that causes Huntington's disease. In this case, the effects of the disease are seen after the age of 40, and till then, the individual has already reproduced and passed this deleterious mutation onto the offspring. Despite this affecting the fitness of the individual, it persists, since it does not affect the reproductive fitness of the individual, but merely shortens the lifespan.

Maintained by Mutations

Some mutations may keep arising in certain genes despite the elimination efforts taken by the organisms genome. This may be due to the hypermutable nature of the gene, and also because the gene maybe too vital to tamper with (to prevent the induction of other accidental errors). An example of this is the NF gene, which when mutated, gives rise to a condition called neurofibromatosis, that causes tumors of the nervous system. Here, it may be difficult to remove the mutation, since any unwanted disruption in the gene sequence will only cause further damage. Also, even in case this mutation is eliminated, the gene does have a high tendency to mutate; almost 1 in every 4,000 gametes possesses new mutations of this gene.

Maintained by Gene Flow

This refers to the prevalence of a mutated gene copy in a population to its introduction by another population that has migrated to the same location. As mentioned above, the SCA mutation is beneficial to areas with rampant malaria, as is the case with the regions of the African continent. However, when the carriers residing in this area migrated to other countries with a low incidence of malaria, the SCA mutation was introduced into the populations of those countries. Therefore, human migration brought about the flow of genetic material from Africa to other countries, where this mutation, in the absence of malarial incidence, was purely detrimental.

Polyploidy of Genome

Deleterious mutations are usually recessive in nature. If a haploid organism possesses a deleterious mutation, the effect can be readily observed, crippling the organisms fitness, and resulting in its demise. However, in case the organism is a diploid or polyploid with multiple alleles of a gene, the detrimental effect can be silenced or overridden by the presence of a fully functional wild-type allele. While this prevents the expression of the mutated allele, it does not eliminate it, causing it to persist in the population, till two individuals with the same allele reproduce and give rise to an offspring that will suffer the deleterious effects of the mutation.

Although the cellular repair machinery, along with the proofreading mechanisms, try to eliminate the mutations, certain mutations are not rectified or are actively conserved (as explained above). The accumulation of mutations, by this way, over the course of several generations, leads to an effect called Muller's ratchet, which may lead to the extinction of the species of that organism. This effect is a principle studied in reference to the extinction of species, and the effort to conserve those on the brink of extinction.

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Summary of the 23rd Amendment to the United States Constitution

The right to vote is a privilege bestowed upon a few is not to be taken lightly. many have in fact fought to earn this privilege. Once such grand acts was the 23rd Amendment to the United States Constitution. This post provides a summary and the need for the amendment.

 

Quick Fact

 

 The 23rd Amendment was passed by the Congress on June 16, 1960. It was formally ratified on March 29, 1961 and was one of the key events that took place during John F. Kennedy's presidency.

 

Prior to the adoption of the 23rd Amendment, citizens of the District of Columbia were not entitled to any electors. Which meant that they could not take part in the presidential and vice-presidential election process. This is because D.C. is not a state. Therefore, this amendment gave the residents of District of Columbia the right to elect their chosen presidential candidate by granting them with district electors in the Electoral College, as if it were a state. Following is the summary of the twenty-third amendment.

 

 

               ~ Summary of the 23rd Amendment ~

The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as Congress may direct:

A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

 

The 23rd Amendment gives the people of the District of Columbia, the right to vote for representatives in the Electoral College. It also states that these electors would be entitled to the district as if it were a state. However, the number of these members cannot exceed the number of members of the least populous state. The electors of D.C. will be in addition to the state's electors and will be counted for the electing purposes. These voting member shall meet and vote as per the details mentioned in the 12th Amendment.

The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

 

However, Congress will have the authority to decide how the electors will be chosen and have the power to make the laws and enforce this amendment.

 

Trivia

 

For the 23rd Amendment to become valid, it needed to be ratified by legislatures of 34 states within seven years from submission to the state by Congress. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming were the states that ratified this amendment. While, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia did not participate.

 

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Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/summary-of-the-23rd-amendment-to-the-united-states-constitution.html

Celebrities Who Married Their Fans

Sounds too good to be true right??But yes there are a few celebrities who actually got married to their fans (so what if these 'fans' were also in the movie business?) Lets take a closer look.

"You may be married to a star, but that doesn't mean they'll treat you like one."

― Jess C. Scott

 

A marriage is a marriage, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Celebrity or regular Joe, a marriage is a union of two people who may make it last until they reach their grave, or treat it like the dish of the day.

But what really gets the eyeballs rolling is when a celebrity actually picks a partner who is a relative nobody in terms of fame. Well, hold on to your horses before you channel your inner Cinderella―it doesn't happen as often as you'd expect. Also, dig a little deeper, and you'll notice that these regular Joes and Janes aren't as "ordinary" as the rest of us plebeians. Read this post, and you'll get what I'm trying to say here.

 

 

List of Celebrities Who Married Their Fans

John Travolta | Kelly Preston

Kelly Preston was an aspiring actress and model when she first saw John Travolta do the Greased Lightning. Cupid struck, and she had made up her mind to marry the Danny of her dreams. A few dud relationships (with George Clooney and Charlie Sheen, no less) and a decade later, Preston did get married to the beau of her dreams.

Nicolas Cage | Alice Kim

 

Nicolas Cage's ex list boasts of names like Patricia Arquette and Lisa Marie Presley, but he ultimately found love in Alice Kim, a waitress (and a fan) who worked at a sushi place he frequented.

Luciana Barroso | Matt Damon

 

Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso share a sweet story―she helped him ditch the paparazzi when he was a customer at the watering hole where she worked. It helped that Barroso was an admirer of his work―who wasn't in 2004?―and their marriage is still as strong as ever.

Jillian Fink | Patrick Dempsey

 

 

Patrick Dempsey met his sweetheart-to-be when he booked an appointment at her salon for a haircut. Jillian Fink got the fan girl moment of her life, and went on to become Patrick Dempsey's better half.

Kayte Walsh | Kelsey Grammer

TV's favorite psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, Kelsy Grammer married his fourth wife, Kayte Walsh in 2010. Walsh was a former flight attendant and an avid fan of the classic comedy show where Grammer played the titular role.

 

Jerry Seinfeld | Jessica Sklar

 

Jessica Sklar was a PR executive and a huge Seinfeld fan. She met her hero at the Reebok Sports Club in 1998, and married him in 1999.

Jacqueline Titone | Adam Sandler

 

 

Jackie Sandler started off as a model who featured in bit roles in movies. She met Adam Sandler through actor Rob Schneider, and bagged a role in Sandler's movie, Big Daddy. The couple married in 2003, and Mrs. Sandler now featured frequently in her husband's movies.

Katie Holmes | Tom Cruise

 

Katie Holmes, in hindsight, may have bittersweet memories of her teenage years when she crushed on the Top Gun-era Tom Cruise, and hoped to marry him someday. Their 2006-2012 marriage made news all the while it lasted.

Conan O'Brien | Liza Powel
O'Brien met Liza Powel on the sets of Late Night with Conan O'Brien. She had appeared as a guest on his show, and the acclaimed comic confesses to have been smitten by Powel at first sight.

Julia Roberts | Daniel Moder
How does one marry a gorgeous actress who is also America's Sweetheart? It's really easy, if you ask Mr. Moder―you just become a cameraman on her next film. Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder married in 2002 and share 3 children.

So, you get the drift, don't you? Marrying a celebrity probably involves a lot of right place, right time kind of moments. Like any other marriage, it has its own pros and cons.

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Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/celebrities-who-married-their-fans.html

How to Make a Stinger Coctail

Two is not lonelier than one.

 

As the alcoholic beverage is harmoniously concocted with a spirit and liqueur, it is one of several delicious duo cocktails served and enjoyed by the masses.

Some say the origin of this cocktail is unclear, it was mentioned in Tom Bullock's Ideal Bartender recipe book in 1917, and that it was millionaire Reginald Vanderbilt's preferred drink. All we know, it's called the Stinger.

 

Well, we couldn't help but make a Top Gear-style reference here about this wonderfully-crafted drink. So, please excuse us for that. But all jokes apart, the cocktail was one of the most beloved cocktails for decades that has lost its charm over the years. Which is why, we think it's time to bring back the Stinger to its original glory. Along with the classic recipe, we would like to present a few variations to this lovely cocktail that can be enjoyed after dinner. Even though mint-flavored cocktails are often off-putting for some people, do give this cocktail a try as it brings together a happy union of cognac and white crème de menthe.

 

 

The Classic Recipe

Once prepared, this smooth, mint-flavored cocktail gives a soothing effect. With only 2 key ingredients, you can make the drink depending on your taste preference by altering their exact quantities.

 

THE STINGER

Ingredients

• Cognac, 2 oz.
• White crème de menthe, 1 oz.
• Ice cubes

Directions

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and pour both the ingredients in.
• Shake the mixture lightly.
• Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes and strain the drink on top.
• Serve it immediately.

 

After you've tried the classic, you can experiment with a few variations as well. The simplest way of doing so is by substituting cognac with other liquors. Here, we have provided 2 versions of the classic for you to prepare and enjoy.

VODKA STINGER                                      

 

Ingredients

• Absolut vodka, 1 oz.
• White crème de menthe, 1 oz.
• Ice cubes

Directions

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and pour both the ingredients in.
• Shake the mixture lightly.
• Strain the drink into a chilled martini glass.
• Serve it immediately.

DIXIE STINGER

 

Ingredients

• Peach liqueur, ½ tsp.
• Bourbon whiskey, 3 oz.
• White crème de menthe, ½ oz.
• Ice cubes

 

Directions

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes and pour all three ingredients in.
• Shake the mixture lightly.
• Strain the drink into a chilled martini glass.
• Serve it immediately.

Similar to the vodka and bourbon whiskey versions, you can include other kinds of liquor like rum, tequila, liqueurs, and other flavored spirits. But that's not it. You can substitute white crème de menthe with the green version to obtain a colorful cocktail. As both varieties have a similar flavor, it won't make a difference as to how the cocktails taste.

Whether you fancy the classic or either of the variations, this cocktail is sure to please your senses. Prepare one (or two) to help settle your stomach after you've enjoyed a lovely dinner.

Source>>>

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-make-a-stinger-cocktail.html