Field Blog Entry #10 - TOK Point in the Cell Theory (IB Class)

The Cell Theory 

I have finally come upon topic 2 in Biology Standard Level, which is about cells. The cell theory states the following: living organisms are composed of cells, cells are the smallest unit of life and cells come from pre-existing cells. This theory has been developed over time as scientists made discoveries, disproved old theories and developed what we currently know as the cell theory. Scientists first looked through the microscope to study the structures of organisms and discovered that all living organisms were made up of small units, now known as cells. Several experiments conducted by the scientists showed that cells removed from tissues can survive independently for short periods of time. For example, in 1839, Theodor Schwann discovered that animals were made up of cells and stated that “all living things are composed of cells and cell products”. This hypothesis was supported by sufficient evidence and thus became part of the cell theory.

Based on this information, the cell theory raises the question of the difference between a scientific theory and the more general use of the word theory. The nature of scientific theories can be introduced by deciding whether a theory should be discarded when there is clear evidence that it does not offer a full explanation and what kind of evidence needs to be collected in order for a theory to be accepted or rejected. This matter talks about the accumulation of evidence that allows a hypothesis to become theory like the cell theory.  

        

Field Blog Entry #9 - Visual Perception (Personal)

Are blue foods as cool as the color implies? 

I came upon this article a few days ago while researching about colors and visual perception. Curry is a famous food that people enjoy. Its colors tend to vary but it stays close to the shades of red and yellow. Blue curry is uncommon and unfamiliar to many people. One restaurant in Japan came up with the idea of blue curry and people were seen to reject automatically. The restaurant assures that the blue color is caused by food coloring and the ingredients are the same. But people become “doused” by the “blindingly blue liquid”. People naturally look for the correspondence between the food and their experiences of color. They feel uncomfortable and foreign towards the curry because the food and the color does not correspond.

Blue-colored food is actually used in many places or restaurants around the world to reduce hunger. It has been proved that people tend to order food with blue coloring because it helps them with their diet. They lose their appetite because of the unfamiliarity of the color of the food and thus be successful in reducing weight. 

During our Theory of Knowledge class, we defined visual perception as the “perceptual process that is not structured to record data but to organize meaning”. Because of cognitive processing people tend to interpret what they visually see. People expect certain colors or characteristics when they see something so their “mind blanks out” when it doesn’t fit their expectations. Sense perception is one of the ways of knowledge but people “tend to look for meaning in what we see and group the perceptual experiences”. This is known as visual grouping as stated by Van de Lagemaat.

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/11/15/bright-blue-curry-and-intense-disgusting-juice-on-the-menu-at-niconico-cafe-not-for-the-faint-of-stomach/

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/19/are-blue-foods-as-cool-as-the-color-implies-we-try-blue-curry-ramen-and-beer/