• Variation: Differences among individuals in a population
• Natural Selection: Survival of the fittest
• Adaptation: Traits that improve survival and reproduction
• Speciation: Formation of new species

Human: A Mechanical Machine

• We are just molecules, who can replicate themselves
• Combined together by coincidence
• Self replicating cells (mitosis)

A genome is basically a long sequence of the four DNA letters

Mechanical Machine

• Heart attack
  

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• Melanin (color of skin)
  

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• Caffeine
  

Craig Venter’s synthetic cell experiment

Fully computer-designed genome was inserted into a living bacterium to create a cell controlled entirely by synthetic DNA

• Good
• Bad

GOOD vs BAD (survival)

• Illegal activities
• Respect, Devotion, Kindness, Honesty, Courage, Loyalty, Justice, Responsibility, Gratitude

Extensions of survival

• Money
• Power
• Fame
• Status
• Influence
• Authority
• Beauty
• Achievement

survival of the fittest

What is a Neuron?

A specialized cell that sends electrical and chemical signals.
Basic parts:

• Dendrites – receive signals
• Axon – sends signals
• Synapse – junction where neurons communicate

How Neurons Communicate

• Electrical impulse travels down the axon
• Neurotransmitters released at synapse
• Neighboring neuron activated or inhibited

The brain is plastic. Its just neuron structures, firing at a cue, and you take action

• A valid environment
• Many repetitions (Consistency)
• Immediate, accurate feedback
• Deliberate practice

• Basal Ganglia
• Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

IT DOESN'T MATTER

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g&pp=ygUNcGFsZSBibHVlIGRvdA%3D%3D
• Voyager 1
• Last picture