Advances in Research on Plant Genetic Resources of Mexico :: Ecology Ecological Nature Mexico Essays

Advances in Research on Plant Genetic Resources of Mexico We read in this book that in Mexico can be found 30,000 of the 250,000 species of higher plants so far described. Between 5,000 to 7,000 of Mexican species are deemed to be of economic use, and of these, 1,000 to 1,500 are edible. According to a conservative estimate cited here, 10% of genera and 52% of species found in Mexico are endemic. This makes Mexico, a country that ranks 14th globally in terms of territorial extension, the fourth country in terms of biodiversity. It is therefore evident that an understanding of Mexican flora, in conjunction with effective strategies for use and preservation, is of first importance for our plant-dependant, agricultural world. Contributors to this work argue for this and more: 1) the urgency of halting degradation of biological and cultural environments that are closely tied to the use and preservation of many important ecotypes, 2) the significance of social issues that affect the viability of ways of life that have created, and that maintain, important stores of the world's genetic diversity, 3) the need for coordinated strategies and action between national initiatives and those of international germplasm agencies. It is satisfying to see Mexican scientists earnestly wrestling with such issues. The book consists of the proceedings of the third meeting on Mexican biodiversity (8-9 February, 1990), organized jointly by the Mexican Society of Plant Genetics (SOMEFI) and the Botanical Garden of Mexico's national university (UNAM). Strongly represented are top researchers from UNAM's Biology department, from the agricultural university of Chapingo, from the national agricultural research agency (INIFAP), and from the PostGraduate College, Mexico's premiere institutions for the study of ecological and agricultural sciences. Significantly, the book is dedicated to one of the foremost authorities on Mexican flora and traditional farming systems, Efraim Hernà ¡ndez Xolocotzi, who was to die a year after presenting the lead paper at this conference. The proceedings have been well edited for book format. Text is in Spanish, with a summary provided for each chapter in Spanish and excellent English. The book is organized into six major sections, including papers on the general philosophy of biodiversity preservation, regional studies, basic studies, the policies of international preservation societies, and a succinct summary of the discussions of the symposium. However, the pith of the book is the third section, consisting of depth reviews of current germplasm status for several major species of useful Mexican plants, including: Zea, Phaseolus, Amaranthus, Capsicum, Cucurbita, Physalis, Sechium, Persea, Crataegus, Agave, and several medicinal species.

High School and Old Cassette Recorder Essay

My hobbies Almost everybody has some kind of hobby. My hobbies are listening to music , watching television and reading books. I am very fond of music. When I am free, I often listen to my favorite songs from an old cassette recorder. At weekends, I usually go to music shops in the downtown areas to buy good CDs. Of the famous pop singers, I prefer Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Madona and Paul MC Cartney. I also spend an hour after dinner watching news and documentary programmes. I particularly enjoy the program â€Å"The World Here and There† because it broadens my knowledge of nature and human civilizations. My favourite book is ‘’Treachery’’. Its author is Elxan Elatli. I think that my hobbies are very useful. They widen my knowledge, relax my mind, and make me feel better about myself. My favorite hobby is playing drums. I spend a lot of my free time playing drums. I started learning to play drums when I was 9 years old. I played in my school’s band. When I was 12, I got a private drum teacher and started to really enjoy playing. My parents bought me a drum set. An important event in my life There are so many events happened in my life and most of them consist to be an important part of my life. They are precious because I can learn much from them or sometimes they can make me feel better when I am sad. I think the event which influent me most is happened at my senior high school. When I was in my third grade of senior high school, I should choose the university and the major which I want to go on my further study after the college entrance examination. After the score came out, I chose doctoring as my first major. But my parents disagreed that strongly. Because I never said that I wanted to do something in the future relative with the medical career before. Both of them let me thought carefully because to be a doctor was very toilsome. Also, doctors always shift their work and they should go to work at night even. That’s a tired job. In addition, the process of being a doctor was difficult, too. My mother wanted me to be a teacher as her. At that time, I was so confuse that I didn’t know which one was suitable for me to choose. I knew what the advice my parents gave was good for me. I also knew my future was belongs me and I should make the choice by myself, not my parents. Maybe to be a teacher was good, but I didn’t like .After this event, I decided all over the things by myself. i chose the tourism. Like the debates, although sometimes our opinions are different, we communicate our thoughts and make the choice depend on our own. If we hesitate to do one thing and do not make up our mind, we can’t do the thing successfully

Celebrating New Years Eve in France

In France, the New Years celebration begins on the evening of December 31 (le rà ©veillon du jour de l’an) and carries through January 1 (le jour de l’an). Traditionally, its a time for people to gather with  family, friends, and community. New Year’s Eve is also known as La Saint-Sylvestre because December 31 is the feast day of Saint Sylvestre. France is predominantly Catholic, and as in most Catholic or Orthodox countries, specific days of the year are designated to celebrate specific saints and are known as feast days. Individuals who share a saints name often celebrate their namesakes feast day like a second birthday. (Another noted French feast day is La Saint-Camille, shorthand for la fà ªte de Saint-Camille.  Its celebrated on July 14, which is also Bastille  Day.) French New Years Eve Traditions There arent too many traditions specific to New Years Eve in France however, one of the most important ones is kissing under the mistletoe (le gui) and counting down to midnight. While theres no equivalent to the ball dropping in Times Square, in larger cities, there may be fireworks or a parade and theres usually a big variety show on television featuring France’s most famous entertainers. New Years Eve is most often spent with friends—and there may be dancing involved. (The French like to dance!) Many towns and communities also organize a ball which is often a dressy or costumed affair. At the stroke of midnight, participants kiss one another on the cheek two  or four times  (unless they are romantically involved). People may also throw des cotillons (confetti and streamers), blow into  un serpentin (a streamer attached to a whistle), shout, applaud, and generally make a lot of noise. And of course, the French make les rà ©solutions du nouvel an (New Years resolutions). Your list will, undoubtedly, include  improving your French, or perhaps maybe even scheduling a trip to France—et pourquoi pas? French New Years Meal Theres no single food tradition for the French New Years celebration. People may choose to serve anything from a formal meal to something buffet style for a party—but no matter whats being served, its sure to be a feast. Champagne is a must, as are good wine, oysters, cheese, and other gourmet delicacies. Just be careful not to drink too much or you may end up with a serious gueule de bois (hangover). Typical New Years Gifts in France In France, people dont generally exchange gifts for the New Year, although some do. However, its traditional to give monetary gifts to postal workers, deliverymen, the police, household employees, and other service workers around Christmas and the New Year. These gratuities are called les à ©trennes, and how much you give varies greatly depending on your generosity, the level of service you got, and your budget. French New Years Vocabulary Its still customary to send out New Years greetings. Typical ones would be: Bonne annà ©e et bonne santà © (Happy New Year and good health)Je vous souhaite une excellente nouvelle annà ©e, pleine de bonheur et de succà ¨s. (I wish you an excellent New Year, full of happiness and success.) Other phrases youre likely to hear during New Years celebrations: Le Jour de lAn—New Years DayLa Saint-Sylvestre—New Years Eve (and the feast day of Saint Sylvester)Une bonne rà ©solution—New Years resolutionLe repas du Nouvel An—New Years mealLe gui (pronounced with a hard G ee)—mistletoeDes confettis—confettiLe cotillon—a ballLes cotillons—party novelties such as confetti and streamersUn serpentin—a streamer attached to a whistleGueule de bois—hangoverLes  Ãƒ ©trennes—Christmas/New Years Day present or gratuityEt pourquoi pas?—And why not?