New Techniques of Genetic Engineering - 1187 Words

New techniques of genetic engineering have spawned a new understanding of medical procedures and have increased biotechnology products that help us answer questions and solve problems that just one generation couldn’t dream of doing. We have taken Caution at every step during the process of creating biotechnology and genetic engineering procedures they have a huge potential impact. But today we have to decide to which degree these procedures and products be regulated and who gets the power to do so. These concerns are part of the larger issue. The issue of science and public policy. What is human genetic screening? It is the process of analyzing blood or skin to search for people with a certain genotype in a population. It is also an important tool of preventive medicine and it has huge potential to lessen the death average of cancer and other diseases of that caliber. The purpose is to help families that are at high risk for genetic diseases. The human race carries 3,000 to 4,000 diseases just in its genes. The one faulty gene will be hard to find because there are 200,000 healthy genes in one person. So in order to find these elusive variations scientist must look for larger pieces of Deoxyribonucleic acid called markers. A marker is a Deoxyribonucleic acid sequence with a known location on a chromosome. Scientists search for faulty markers so it now becomes theoretical to screen individuals from infants to adults. Markers have been found for a number of diseases such asShow MoreRelated Genetic Engineering: Our Key to a Better World Essay1128 Words   |  5 Pages What is genetic engineering one might ask and why is there so much moral controversy surrounding the topic? Genetic engineering as defined by Pete Moore, is the name given to a wide variety of techniques that have one thing in common: they all allow the biologist to take a gene from one cell and insert it into another (SS1). Such techniques included in genetic engineering (both good and bad) are, genetic screening both during the fetal stage and later in life, gene therapy, sex selectionRead MoreBenefits Of Genetically Engineered Crops1626 Words   |  7 PagesPeople opposed to genetically engineered crops believe genetically engineering a crop to have a higher nutritional value will cause problems with a person’s diet. They believe people will then disregard other foods besides the new genetically engineered food, and this will cause other health issues. This does not seem likely because genetically engineered crops with enhanced nutritional value are aimed to help people r each a certain daily value of a vitamin or mineral, not to replace a person’s wholeRead MoreGenetic Engineering : The Field Of Biomedical Research1710 Words   |  7 PagesGenetic engineering is the latest experimental practice used in the world of biomedical research. This practice refers to humans modifying an animals’ genetic component in order to express a particular trait (Dale et al). The scientific community calls the animals produced by this practice as transgenic animals in order to distinguish between its wild type relative. This innovative technology paved ways for medical breakthroughs, along with the expansion of human understanding towards the mechanismsRead MoreThe Animals Of The Pigs1653 Words   |  7 Pagesdeliberate modification of its genome†1. Method of Genetic Engineering to produce pigs with glowing green snouts: These transgenic pigs were produced using a technique called DNA microinjection2. For the very first time, 10 piglets with glowing green snouts were produced using this technique in year 2013 in China. This technique was first developed by reproductive scientists from the University of Hawai`i at MÄ noa s2. Microinjection technique can be explained in two steps as below: †¢ transferRead MoreThe Benefits of Genetic Engineering Essay1459 Words   |  6 Pagesdiagnosis. There are many aspects of genetic engineering and to thoroughly understand it looking into each is absolutely necessary. In order to understand genetic engineering, the key terms in this controversy that must be defined are the following: recombinant DNA technology, cloning, gene therapy, and the humane genome project. Genetic engineering is the alteration of genetic material by direct intervention in the genetic processes with the purpose of producing new substances or improving functionsRead MoreGenetic Engineering : The Technique Of Producing Recombinant Hybrid Dna By Combining Two Different Strands Of Dna1731 Words   |  7 Pagesgroup for their help in improving and reviewing this paper. Finally I would like to thank Abdul Ahad Memon for proof reading my paper. Abstract Genetic engineering is the technique of producing recombinant hybrid DNA by combining two different strands of DNA. The fundamental concept of genetic engineering is gene cloning; the technique of altering the genetic structure of an organism. Gene cloning has four basic processes, namely cutting : the process of isolating the required starnd of DNA, modificationRead MoreAnalyzing Genetic Modification And Gene Technology1279 Words   |  6 PagesSource- Analysis of sources Credibility This article is highly credible as the author of the article is a well-known and has spent years researching genetic modification and gene technology therefore it is expected to have some credibility. The credibility of the publishers cannot be guaranteed as it is not a very well-known publishing company. There is evidence of cross referencing and the article has been updated so it contains up to date information. Bias This article is partially biasedRead MoreGenetic Engineering And The Human Existence1193 Words   |  5 Pages Why is genetic engineering crucial to the human existence? Initially, genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the process of manually adding new unique DNA into an organism. The objective is to add one or numerous new traits that are not already constructed in that particular organism. New DNA inserts in the host genome and immediately isolates and replicates the gene of interest by using molecular cloning methods to synthesize a DNA sequence; then inserting this construct intoRead MoreGenetically Modified Animals : Genetic Engineering1518 Words   |  7 Pagesgene technology I hope to share some understanding in the process of gene transfer in animals, the process of obtaining genetically engineered animals, and analyze the social and moral implications associated with this gene technology in animals. Genetic modification of animals started thirty years ago with the production of genetically modified mice. Gene modification is the process of crossing and selective breeding of animals and has been carried out by breeders for quite some time now. These modificationsRead MoreThe Importance Of Genetic Engineering1282 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic engineering is defined as the modification of the characteristics of an organism by altering its genetic material. Although the definition makes it seems clear and concise, it is far more complicated. This new advancement has caused a huge debate over the ethics and laws of what it is able to do. Genetic engineering is immensely important because of the potential benefits it contains and the advances it allows for in the future. The ultimate goal of genetic engineering is to prevent, treat

I couldn’t wait to get there Free Essays

I couldn’t wait to get there, the Cayman Islands this was. On the tiring plane journey there, every soul was asleep apart from mine, dreaming of what the next two weeks was going to be like for me. The crystal-clear cobalt blue seas and the sandy sun-kissed shore. We will write a custom essay sample on I couldn’t wait to get there or any similar topic only for you Order Now Pure paradise and a path to relaxation! Before I knew it we had touched down in Little Cayman the scenery truly exquisite. All I could see was the suns burning hot rays twinkling off the surface of the calm Caribbean Sea. Before my feet had time to touch the ground I was in the sea with my snorkel admiring the picturesque under water life. Completely unspoiled, blessed with natural treasures and with its fabulous underwater visibility it completely took my breath away. With the healthy reef and exciting marine life, nature lovers would find indigenous wildlife and so did I? I couldn’t resist anymore, I took my last breath and prudently swam into a new world under the sea. I felt so powerful, harmlessly eradicating all the different species from my path as I further descended towards the brightly coloured coral. I felt an unusual sensations pass up my body as the plants and coral gently brushed against me. It was getting cold now so my heart sped up dramatically using up my little reserve oxygen I had in me, so I had to get up for some more soon. Just as I pulled away I felt my ankle get clutched together. I panicked, what was it I thought? Coral! As I spun my head round it was in fact a massive octopus. I yanked my foot but he relentlessly held on. I kicked once again, but still to no avail. I was quickly running out of air and the last reserves I had went straight out my mouth and bubbled to the surface. I was thinking unless he lets go I’m going to die. No one will know where I am or what happened to me. This amazing holiday coming to a tragic end. What will my family do? I slowly eased up and my eyes shut. I was slipping in and out of conciseness whilst my lungs filled up with seawater. I was almost dead! Then without no notice he let go my drenched body slowly floated to the surface and popped up like a Boyd. Choking and spluttering, the water soon evacuated my lungs, replaced with well-needed air. I still had no energy and no idea where I was; I certainly didn’t have the energy to swim to the shore. I was fighting for my life. I fell unconscious again. Several hours later I was awoke on the shore, my mum trying to wake me up. How I got back to the shore, I will never know but thank God I’m still alive! How to cite I couldn’t wait to get there, Papers

The Scoop with Ice Cream free essay sample

Many American movies feature girls crying over a bucket of ice cream with a super-sized spoon, watching netflix or a movie. People seem to eat ice cream when sad, happy, celebrating an event, or a eating a midnight snack. Ice cream has affected our world, in more ways than one might think. Discussing its cool history, the difference between ice cream and other frozen treats, and how ice cream affects our world today will help individuals understand the significance it plays in lives across the world. Let’s scoop into this thing we call ice cream. People today don’t seem to know the difference between ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, and sherbet. According to recipe4living by Kathryn Steed, there are a few distinct differences between these sweet treats. Ice cream is fluffy and uses around 10% milk fat, whereas gelato uses less butterfat and sugar, and is also more dense. We will write a custom essay sample on The Scoop with Ice Cream or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Frozen yogurt is exactly what it sounds like, and has a lower fat content and calories, because it uses milk instead of cream. Lastly, sherbert has a small dairy content, around 1-2% and uses fruit based flavors. The two different styles of ice cream, consist of the French style and Philadelphia. The French style according to thekitchn is made with eggs, whereas the Philadelphia or American style, is not. Traditional flavors include strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla. Vanilla is the most popular, because it acts as a base and has a flavorable outcomein the publics eye. Ice cream can have many toppings, and whether it be in a float, banana split, on a popsicle stick, for a cake, and in a sundae, ice cream can be eaten in many ways. Ice cream has been used for coping mechanisms, for which it seems, since the beginning of time, which brings up a great question. What is the history behind it?The name â€Å"Ice cream† was created after a farmer took the cream from the cow, flavore d it, and froze it, according to foodtimeline by Lynne Olver in 2004. The literal translation means iced cream. Olver goes on to say that the first time the word iced cream showed up, was in 1688 in the Oxford Dictionary, but by 1744, it was changed to ice cream. King Tang of Shang of China, started putting syrup on snow, Alexander the Great put honey in his, and Marco Polo brought his recipe around the world. Jumping forward to 200BC, China started to freeze rice and milk which soon changed ingredients and spread around the world, according to icecreamhistory. By the year 1533 Europe got a taste of the sugary dessert, and in 1744 a Scottish colonist brought the recipe over to North America.George Washington spent over $200 in a summer on just ice cream, which is equal to $3,000 today. In the 17th century, the first ice cream shop opened in France, using milk, butter, and eggs, according to â€Å"Today I Found Out† by Emily Upton on June 16th, 2013. King Henry II, of France s oon passed the recipe to King Charles of England. King Charles loved his recipe so much, that when his chef told the public about it, he was immediately beheaded. The story of the chef being beheaded might make you churn, so instead let’s talk about the machines used to make ice cream. The Industrial Revolution inspired Nancy Johnson to invent a crank ice cream maker, according to inventricity. Her design featured two cylinder containers inside each other. The outside cylinder was used to house ice and rock salt, while the inside cylinder was used to store the ice cream. On top, would be a secure lid and a handle to mix. By mixing the rock salt and ice in the outside cylinder, it forced the ice cream liquid to freeze faster. When the ice cream would freeze faster, it not only made the ice cream colder, it also made it less work for individual making it. The crank model did help make ice cream faster and efficient, but only lasted until the electrical models were invented. Tod ay, there are two main electrical models, which include the self refrigerating and the freezer assisted. First, the self refrigerating model has a built in freezer and though it is normally less expensive, it makes very little ice cream. Next, is the pre frozen container or the freezer assisted, which has an attachable part that goes in your freezer, according to the website Icecreamnation on Dec. 7th, 2011. Another kind of machine used, is for Mexican or fried ice cream. This model is not as common as the the self refrigerating and freezer assisted model. Fried ice cream includes an incredibly cold pan, which they then pour the liquid onto. Now that we’ve talked about the differences between ice cream and many other treats, and the history of ice cream, let’s jump to another spoontaneous topic. Ice cream and ice cream brands, have not only affected history, but also the world we live in today. Brands such as Ben Jerry have taken their profits and used them for local, and not so local, organizations, according to their website. Other popular brands include Blue Bunny and Dreyers, which strive to better their companies. Ice cream brands, such as Ben Jerry, Blue Bunny, and Dreyers, have re-adjusted their prices over the past decade. Meaning a normal half gallon is approximately priced at $4.73 according to statista, whereas in 1960, the average price was 79 cents according to thepeoplehistory. The price of ice cream is growing and so is the amount of ice cream Americans are eating each year. The website fooddemocracy written on June 19th, 2011 says each American eats 24 pound of ice cream each year. Census states that approximatly 324 million people live in the US, which means, Americans combined eat over around 8 billion pounds per year! There are also other countries, oth er than the united states, who eat a lot of ice cream as well. According to quora written in April of 2011, there are 80,000(eighty thousand) privately owned ice cream, gelato, and frozen yogurt shops in the United States, bringing in $18 billion, and an additional $8 billion from the ice cream sold in stores. Each individual ice cream shop has multiple employees, which shows how significant it is to our economy, the workforce, and the rest of the world. The amount spent on ice cream by Americans, doesn’t include the most expensive ice cream sold. Fox News in April of 2015 says the most expensive ice cream sold, was $25,000, meaning $817 per scoop! That ice cream, has edible gold flakes along with many more expensive toppings. In conclusion, ice cream has been around for thousands of years, and is a popular dessert today. The industrial revolution had sparked Nancy Johnson’s mind to create the crank ice cream maker, and before that George Washington would eat $3,000 of ice cream in a summer. Americans eat over 8 billion pounds of it a year, yet some still can’t tell the differences. Whether it is on a cone, popsicle stick, for a cake or in a sundae, everyone seems to enjoy this cool treat. Two popular ice cream makers are the self refrigerating and the pre frozen, and two styles of ice cream are French and Philadelphia, the French with eggs and the American with none. Ice cream has changed a lot, since first showing up in the dictionary in 1688, but one thing that will never change, is the fact that using super sized spoons while watching netflix will always be pretty sweet.

Mysteries Of The World Essays - British Films,

Mysteries of the World Mystery and the study of the unknown has always fascinated people. The search for truth in the "uncomprehensible" has led to many controversies. Some believe in the "supernatural", while others simply do not. Both types of people obviously have their own reasonings for believing or disbelieving in it. There are numerous world famous mysteries that are still controversial and remain "unsolved" to this day. Some of these mysteries include the Loch Ness Monster, the Abominable Snowman, and the Bermuda Triangle. The Loch Ness Monster is a legendary animal that supposedly resides in the depths of Loch Ness, a long narrow lake situated in rural Scotland. Stories concerning the monster date back to the 6th century A.D. The region was in complete isolation until a road was built alongside the lake in 1933. Then large numbers of people travelled through the region for the very first time. Over the years thousands have reported seeing something in the lake. Most reports depict a long neck surging from the water with a small head of a unknown creature. Pictures have even been taken of this "creature", but most scientists however, refuse to believe any creature of this kind lives in the Loch Ness. They claim that most reported cases are simply products of overactive imaginations, and as for the pictures, scientists say they are not lucid enough to distinguish items clearly, and some pictures are dubbed as "fake". A large number of non- scientists believe however, that the Loch Ness is the site of a breeding colony of large unknown aquatic animals, due to the fact that Loch Ness was once an arm of the sea. Yearly summer investigations have been conducted since 1963 in attempt to unravel the mystery. Investigators have obtained films and sonar readings that indicate that there just might be some unknown animal in the depths of the Loch Ness. Evidence however, is inconclusive, and the controversy continues. Along with the Loch Ness monster, the abominable snowman shares fame as one the great mysteries of the world. The abominable snowman is a legendary creature of the Himalaya mountain region. It is reported to live in forested regions near the snow line. This creature is also known to some by the name Yeti. The abominable snowman is said to walk upright and have the appearance of half-man, half-ape. Many of the descriptions given to this creature are based upon the findings of large, unidentified foot prints in the snow, found in the Himalayas. In order to ascertain the truth behind the abominable snowman legends, countless expeditions have been undertaken, and most turned up empty. Today most experts hold the view that the "abominable snowman" is simply a "fairy tale" and don't take the matter seriously. The foot prints used to support the legends, are thought by scientists, to be prints of a bear or markings left my drifting snow and falling rocks. The legend of the abominable snowman has been kept alive 'till this day, mostly by the Sherpa, a tribe of people living in the Himalayas. These people have always kept the belief that the abominable snowman is a true fact of life. To them he is seen as a religious figure, to be feared as well as protected. Without any concise evidence however, no one can prove this legendary animal from the mountains exists, so the mystery continues to baffle. Like the Loch Ness monster and the abominable snowman, the Bermuda triangle presents another intriguing wonder to the world. The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's triangle, is a triangular area of the Atlantic Ocean (305,000 km2) where the disappearances of ships, airplanes, and boats has led to the belief that "supernatural" forces inhabit this area of the sea. More than 200 planes, ships, and boats are believed to have disappeared in this triangle without a trace. This includes over 1,000 seamen and airmen. In most of these disappearances, it is the fact that no distress signal was ever received from the disappearing ships and/or planes that heightens the mystery of what happened to them. Although violent storms and downward air currents frequently occur in the area, scientists have not revealed anything extremely peculiar. Boundaries of the

Sample of an Essay - What is a Sample of an Essay?

Sample of an Essay - What is a Sample of an Essay?Students, whether students at high school or college level, are often asked to complete a sample of an essay. Such a sample is meant to test the student's abilities. A sample of an essay, even if the essay is short, is usually over the course of one page.The sample of an essay may be from a newspaper or magazine article, or a book or short story. Sometimes a teacher asks students to write about a current issue or event that has caught their attention. There are many reasons why students are asked to write about such topics. Usually, it is for marking purposes, for grading purposes, or for evaluating student performance.Another way in which students are given a chance to express themselves is through a different method. Often, the teachers in charge of assigning essays will provide a scenario of what a student might write about. In this scenario, a student is asked to write from the point of view of a student in the situation described .Often, these essay samples do not have to be any longer than a single page. They can be anywhere from five to ten pages long. Some students feel as though they could use the sample of an essay to demonstrate what a student would say. Others believe that it is a waste of time to go back and rewrite what they wrote to make it sound better.As I stated earlier, essay samples are usually over the course of one page. Most students feel that they can fill in the blanks on their own with the help of a dictionary. However, there are also occasions when a student can't remember what the topic of an essay is because the topic of an essay has changed throughout the writing process.In order to be prepared for any type of scenario, there is a need to keep a note book. Keep a few examples of an essay handy. You will find them to be very helpful, even though they won't actually be used for your essay.Finally, if you find yourself having to write a different sample of an essay, don't forget to thro w in a few tips and tricks of the trade. Keep these tips in mind so that you do not put yourself in a hole. If you can remember these tips, you can save yourself the trouble of writing a test or essay.

Teddy Bear Essays - English-language Films, Teddy Bear, Bear

Teddy Bear Essays - English-language Films, Teddy Bear, Bear Teddy Bear A bear, however hard he tries Grows tubby without exercise. Our Teddy Bear is short and fat, Which is not to be wondered at; He gets what exercise he can By falling off the ottoman, But generally seems to lack The energy to clamber back. Now tubbiness is just the thing Which gets a fellow wondering; And Teddy worried lots about The fact that he was rather stout. He thought: "If only I were thin! But how does anyone begin?" He thought: "It really isn't fair To grudge one exercise and air." For many weeks he pressed in vain His nose against the window-pane, And envied those who walked about Reducing their unwanted stout. None of the people he could see "Is quite" (he said) "as fat as me!" Then, with a still more moving sigh, "I mean" (he said) "as fat as I!" Now Teddy, as was only right, Slept in the ottoman at night, And with him crowded in as well More animals than I can tell; Not only these, but books and things, Such as a kind relation brings - Old tales of "Once upon a time," And history retold in rhyme. One night it happened that he took A peep at an old picture-book, Wherein he came across by chance The picture of a King of France (A stoutish man) and, down below, These words: "King Louis So and So, Nicknamed 'The Handsome!'" There he sat, And (think of it!) the man was fat! Our bear rejoiced like anything To read about this famous King, Nicknamed "The Handsome." There he sat, And certainly the man was fat. Nicknamed "The Handsome." Not a doubt The man was definitely stout. Why then, a bear (for all his tub ) Might yet be named "The Handsome Cub!" "Might yet be named." Or did he mean That years ago he "might have been"? For now he felt a slight misgiving: "Is Louis So and So still living? Fashions in beauty have a way Of altering from day to day. Is 'Handsome Louis' with us yet? Unfortunately I forget." Next morning (nose to window-pane) The doubt occurred to him again. One question hammered in his head: "Is he alive or is he dead?" Thus, nose to pane, he pondered; but The lattice window, loosely shut, Swung open. With one startled "Oh!" Our Teddy disappeared below. There happened to be passing by A plump man with a twinkling eye, Who, seeing Teddy in the street, Raised him politely to his feet, And murmured kindly in his ear Soft words of comfort and of cheer: "Well, well!" "Allow me!" "Not at all." "Tut-tut! A very nasty fall." Our Teddy answered not a word; It's doubtful if he even heard. Our bear could only look and look: The stout man in the picture-book! That 'handsome' King - could this be he, This man of adiposity? "Impossible," he thought. "But still, No harm in asking. Yes I will!" "Are you," he said,"by any chance His Majesty the King of France?" The other answered, "I am that," Bowed stiffly, and removed his hat; Then said, "Excuse me," with an air, "But is it Mr Edward Bear?" And Teddy, bending very low, Replied politely, "Even so!" They stood beneath the window there, The King and Mr Edward Bear, And, handsome, if a trifle fat, Talked carelessly of this and that. Then said His Majesty, "Well, well, I must get on," and rang the bell. "Your bear, I think," he smiled. "Good-day!" And turned, and went upon his way. A bear, however hard he tries, Grows tubby without exercise. Our Teddy Bear is short and fat, Which is not to be wondered at. But do you think it worries him To know that he is far from slim? No, just the other way about - He's proud of being short and stout

The History of the Olmec Site of La Venta

The History of the Olmec Site of La Venta The Olmec capital of La Venta is located in the city of Huimanguillo, in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, 15 kilometers (9 miles) inland from the Gulf coast. The site is perched on a narrow natural elevation approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) long which rises above the wetland swamps on the coastal plain. La Venta was first occupied as early as 1750 BC, becoming an Olmec temple-town complex between 1200 and 400 BC. La Venta was the primary center of the Olmec culture and likely the most important regional capital in non-Maya Mesoamerica during the Middle Formative period (approximately 800-400 BC). In its heyday, La Ventas residential zone included an area of ~200 hectares (500 acres), with a population numbering in the thousands. Architecture at La Venta Most of the structures at La Venta were built of wattle-and-daub walls placed atop earthen or adobe mudbrick platforms or mounds  and covered with a thatched roof. Little natural stone was available, and, apart from the massive stone sculptures, the only stone used in public architecture was a few basalt, andesite and limestone foundational support or internal buttresses. The 1.5 km (~1 mi) long civic-ceremonial core of La Venta includes over 30 earthen mounds and platforms. The core is dominated by a 30 meter (100 foot) high clay pyramid (called Mound C-1), which has been heavily eroded  but was likely the largest single building at the time in Mesoamerica. Despite the lack of native stone, La Ventas artisans crafted sculptures including four colossal heads from massive blocks of stone quarried from the Tuxtla Mountains approximately 100 km (62 mi) to the west. The most intensive archaeological investigations at La Venta were conducted in Complex A, a small group of low clay platform mounds and plazas within an area of about 1.4 hectares (3 acres), located immediately north of the tallest pyramidal mound. Most of Complex A was destroyed shortly after the excavations in 1955, by a combination of looters and civic development. However, detailed maps of the area were made by the excavators and, due primarily to the efforts of archaeologist Susan Gillespie, a digital map of the buildings and construction events at Complex A has been made (Gillespie, Gillespie, and Volk). Read more on Complex A at La Venta Subsistence Methods Traditionally, scholars have attributed the rise of Olmec society to the development of maize agriculture. According to recent investigations, however, the people at La Venta subsisted on fish, shellfish and terrestrial faunal remains until about 800 BC, when maize, beans, cotton, palm and other crops were grown in gardens on relict beach ridges, called tierra de primera by maize farmers today, perhaps fueled by long-distance trade networks. Killion (2013) conducted a survey of paleobotanical data from several Olmec period sites including La Venta. He suggests that the initial founders at La Venta and other Early Formative sites such as San Lorenzo were not farmers, but rather were hunter-gatherer-fishers. That dependence on mixed hunting and gathering extends well into the Formative period. Killion suggests that the mixed subsistence worked in the well-watered lowland environments, but that a wetland environment was not suited to intensive agriculture. La Venta and the Cosmos La Venta is oriented 8 degrees west of north, like most Olmec sites, the significance of which is obscure to date. This alignment is echoed in Complex As central avenue, which points to the central mountain. The central bars of each of La Ventas mosaic pavements  and the four elements of the quincunxes in the mosaics are positioned at intercardinal points. Complex D at La Venta is an E-Group configuration, a specific layout of buildings identified at over 70 Maya sites and believed to have been designed to track movements of the sun. Archaeology La Venta was excavated by members of the Smithsonian Institution, including Matthew Stirling, Philip Drucker, Waldo Wedel and Robert Heizer, in three major excavations between 1942 and 1955. Most of this work was focused on Complex A: and the finds from that work were published in popular texts and La Venta quickly became the type site for defining the Olmec culture. Shortly after the 1955 excavations, the site was badly damaged by looting and development, although a brief expedition did retrieve some stratigraphic data. Much was lost in Complex A, which was torn up by bulldozers. A map of Complex A made in 1955 formed the basis for digitizing the field records of the site. Gillespie and Volk worked together to create a three-dimensional map of Complex A, based on archived notes and drawings and published in 2014. The most recent archaeological studies have been undertaken by Rebecca Gonzlez Lauck at the Instituto Nacional de Antropologà ­a e Historia (INAH). Sources Clark JE, and Colman A. 2013. Olmec Things and Identity: A Reassessment of Offerings and Burials at La Venta, Tabasco. Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association  23(1):14-37. doi: 10.1111/apaa.12013 Gillespie S. 2011. Archaeological Drawings as Re-Presentations: The Maps of Complex A, La Venta, Mexico. Latin American Antiquity  22(1):3-36. doi: 10.7183/1045-6635.22.1.3 Gillespie SD, and Volk M. In press. A 3d model of Complex A, La Venta, Mexico. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (in press). doi: 10.1016/j.daach.2014.06.001 Killion TW. 2013. Nonagricultural cultivation and social complexity (with commentary). Current Anthropology 54(5):596-606. doi: 10.2307/276200 Pohl MD, and von Nagy C. 2008. The Olmec and their contemporaries. In: Pearsall DM, editor. Encyclopedia of Archaeology . London: Elsevier Inc. p 217-230. doi: 10.1016/B978-012373962-9.00425-8 Reilly FK. 1989. Enclosed ritual spaces and the watery underworld in Formative period architecture: New observations on the function of La Venta Complex A. In: Robertson MG, and Fields VM, editors. Seventh Palenque Round Table. San Francisco: Pre-Columbian Art Research Institute. Rust WF, and Sharer RJ. 1988. Olmec Settlement Data from La Venta, Tabasco, Mexico. Science 242(4875):102-104. doi: 10.1126/science.242.4875.102