Design metaphors, analogies, and scaling strategies

Assignment for Scientific Literacy Writing Course at UCSB

Part A:

Scientific concept: Nature vs. Nurture

One-word metaphors

1. Soul

2. Chameleons

How applied: The soul can represent both nature and nurture because the soul is something a person is born with (nature) and dependent on religious beliefs, many believe the soul can change as one goes through life experiences (nurture). Chameleons have the DNA that make them the animal they are. They are also known for being able to adapt to their environments and be able to change colors in order to blend in. If they want to hide from a predator, they can match a tree’s color. This is where the nurture part of a chameleon comes into play.The ability of a chameleon to change colors comes from its genes, but also its learned behavioral choices. A chameleon and a person's soul are good demonstrations of the interaction between nature and nurture.

Analogies:

1. Nature is to the components that make up a robot (aluminum/steel that are made from natural resources) as nurture is to the human trainer.

2. Nature is to a block of clay as nurture is to the sculptor chiseling their masterpiece.

Part B:

Concept: DNA Strand (Nature)

Size: Strands of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) make up genes; which help define human’s physical appearances and mental characteristics. A single DNA strand is 2 nanometers long. For comparison, imagine taking a single strand of hair off one’s head, that would be 30,000-50,000 times bigger than that of a strand of DNA [a strand of hair is 60,000-100,000 nanometers wide (NNCI, 2020)]. This relationship is similar to a marathon compared to one meter. A marathon is 26.2 miles, which is equal to 42,165 meters. A marathon is roughly 42,000 times longer than a meter, just as a strand of hair is about 40,000 times longer than a strand of DNA.

Concept: Brain Development (Nature and Nurture)

Time: The brain starts developing in the womb and continues to develop until around age 25 based upon experiences, relationships and what individuals are taught (Mental Health Daily, 2015). Before birth, a fetus’s brain development is mostly forming because of biological factors. However, smoking or other negative behaviors of the mother can cause improper brain development. After birth, the brain continues to grow and adds neurological connections established through personal experiences. There are four main stages where the brain progresses: myelination, which is where fatty matters protect the brain and help brain cells send signals to other cells; synaptic pruning, which elicits better performance; amplified connectivity, where communication improves as connections become stronger; and executive functions, which involves prefrontal cortex evolution that develops through daily experiences (Mental Health Daily, 2015).

References

How Small is Nano | NNCI. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.nnci.net/how-small-nano

At What Age Is The Brain Fully Developed?. (2015). Retrieved from https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/02/18/at-what-age-is-the-brain-fully-developed/