We have spent a lot of time learning about the human body. Take just a moment to consider all of the
chemicals and chemical reactions occurring right now in your body. Metabolism (anabolism and catabolism) is
going on rapidly in every cell! Neurons are firing at alarming speeds; muscles are contracting and relaxing
constantly; hormones are being secreted into circulation. And most likely you are calmly sitting down reading
this assignment.
You are more than familiar with all the processes going on all at once to produce seemingly instantaneous
results. Sodium and potassium are moving in and out of neurons in order to manufacture the outwardly simple
movements necessary to read this sentence. While it is being read, your incredible brain is processing what
your eyes are seeing and formulating your thoughts, attitudes, and responses. Neurotransmitters are being
triggered to leave the terminal axons and enter the synapse. All this is orchestrated in order to produce a
chemical and electrical response in the postsynaptic cell.
ATP is producing energy in the trillions of mitochondria in the trillions of cells just so your extrinsic eye muscles
(controlled by different cranial nerves) can contract and relax in a completely synchronized fashion. Calcium is
flooding through those muscle fibers at precisely the right time just so you can take it all in and read about an
It is truly a spectacular phenomenon that you can understand the words on this page. So much precision and
exact detail is needed just to read this sentence and realize exactly what it means. And, we haven’t even
considered all of the other things going on in your body at this very same moment. Food is being digested and
nutrients are being absorbed. Almost every cell is making proteins through the complicated processes of
transcription and translation. Your respiratory system is hard at work keeping your pH, oxygen, and carbon
dioxide levels within precise homeostatic levels. Your urinary system is maintaining blood pressure, hormones,
and electrolyte levels within their normal ranges.
And this life, as we have learned throughout this course, is all possible because of chemicals and chemical
reactions. Would you agree or disagree?
We haven’t even mentioned the emotions and attitudes one encounters. Just take a moment to consider all the
things that a living human being experiences (emotions, movements, responses and reactions, etc.) that are
dictated by chemicals and chemical reactions.
Considering this, one might conclude (and some do) that we humans are simply the product of trillions of
chemical reactions occurring constantly all throughout the body. We are nothing more than a bag of chemicals
and the reactions they undergo. Would you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts on this?
Instructions: Write a two to three page research paper that addresses your thoughts on a few of the following
topics in light of the information we have studied.
Considering the levels of organization in anatomy, how do we go from atoms (considered to be non-life) to a
living, thinking, human being with a soul and a spirit? At what point does life enter into the picture?
What does it mean to be human? Many controversial, hot topic issues (environmentalism, scientific advances
in health and medicine, assisted suicide, marriage, sexuality, abortion, etc.) stem from how this question is
answered.
Along these same lines, what makes a human different than an animal? How are we different…or are we?
Research Robot Sophia from Saudi Arabia. Artificial intelligence is a huge controversial topic right now. What
makes a human different than a machine or a robot. How are we different…or are we?
Research Phineas Gage. Are we just a product of the chemical reactions going on in our bodies? Is our
behavior and attitude simply a result of the chemical reactions occurring in our frontal lobes at any given
moment? Along these same lines, emotions are greatly affected by hormones and brain chemistry. Are we just
a result of those chemical reactions? Do we have any control over those chemical reactions?
Evolution…
What if it was proven to be true? Would it change the way you lived and made your choices? How?
What if it was proven to be false? Would that change the way you lived and made your choices? How?
Why are we here? What is our purpose? Where are we going? Who determines all this?
Who is God? The Bible says in Genesis 1:27 that we humans are created in His image. What does that entail?
What exactly does that mean?
There are numerous ideas in these topics and writing about all of them is beyond the scope of this assignment.
As long as deep thought and honesty is provided in your paper, you will be fine. Make sure it is well written,
organized, and between two and three pages long. Spend time contemplating all the topics above and dig
deep into your worldview and beliefs. Share your thoughts on the subject of your choice. Feel free to use one
or more topics listed above or maybe even go in a different direction. Relate anatomy and physiology to your
worldview and answer the question, “What is a human?”