Costa Rican Rainforests

Costa Rica, located in Central America, is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. It is home to over 12,000 species of plants, 1,200 species of butterflies, 800 species of birds, 400 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 200 species of mammals. Visiting Costa Rica and leaving without a trip into the rainforests is like bypassing the pyramids in Egypt!

Costa Ricans are definitely proud of their beautiful 40 mile forest that runs through 9 ecological zones from sea level to 12,500 feet. It is truly a sight to behold. With moderate temperatures throughout the year, where the high temperature is always between 68 and 86 degrees, you can explore the stunning Costa Rican rainforests anytime. Due to the grandeur and love for their country, Costa Ricans have a conservation program that protects more than 10% of the country. About two-thirds of Costa Rica's remaining rainforests are protected.

Costa Rican rainforests offer the world the most colorful and exotic flora and fauna in existence. Lush and fertile throughout the year, the rainforest offers tourists a chance to connect with nature and all of its natural beauty. The rainforest is a magical place that awes your eyes and rejuvenates your spirit.

For the flower lover, stop and smell the orchids. In all its undeniable beauty, the orchid is the national flower of Costa Rica- home of over 1,200 identified species. With the richest orchid flora, you could orchid watch from the shores to the mountain peaks year-round and not be disappointed. For those who would prefer a garden setting, visit the Lankester Gardens, part of the University of Costa Rica, located seven kilometers east of Catago. Perhaps you could visit Orchid Valley, at La Garita in the Central Highlands. Or Costa Rica Connections in San Jos for the annual orchid show in March.

There are plenty of options for experiencing the rainforests- whether it be hiking, canoe riding, or gliding through the jungle canopy on the world famous rainforest aerial tram (rated one of Costa Rica's top tourist attractions). However you choose to experience Costa Rica's rainforests, a sense of peace and tranquility will consume you.

Can you imagine having the luxury to visit the rainforests year round? Well you can- Check out http://www.BeachClubCostaRica.com , your gateway to prime real estate investments in Costa Rica. Part of the beauty of living in, or visiting Costa Rica is the nature and incredible wildlife that still exists here. Our goal is to support projects and efforts that work towards ensuring that the Costa

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The Paternity of Sperm Donors - A Step Too Far?

Sperm donation is a topical issue, and one which has undoubtedly split national and international opinion down on both sides of the fence. In relation to artificial insemination, the act of a man donating sperm creates a situation whereby couples with fertility problems raise the products of the donated sperm. Whilst this kind of solution can be a godsend to childless families, it nevertheless sparks an emotional and moral debate over the role of the sperm donor to his eventual biological child, dredging up the old issues of nature and nurture and the importance of biological as opposed to artificial family relationships. Furthermore with the potential confusion this can cause for the child in later life, and the advancing relationship between DNA testing and paternity, sperm donation continues to be a hotly contested subject.

Arguments on both sides

On one side of the fence is the argument that a child, regardless of any other factors, has an inherent right to see both of his biological parents. Certain opinions suggest that the natural connection is far stronger than anything that can be artificially created, and that as such both the parent and the child have an in-built right to maintain contact with one another. However this view point has fallen to a number of robust criticisms. Firstly, in the context of sperm donation this produces all kinds of policy problems. Few would argue it desirable to have the ability to trace a sperm donor - sperm donation is not a commitment to fatherhood. Likewise the sperm donor should have no direct link to the child for fear that this may disrupt the family unit and hinder the child's upbringing.

Secondly, rights correlate directly with responsibilities according to the influential theory, albeit in a judicial context, known as the Hohfeld schema. Where then, do the rights of the sperm donor correlate with responsibilities? Whilst there is a genetic link, there is no paternal link - that job's already taken, thus the sperm donor has nothing to contribute to the bargain aside from his common genetic materials.

On the flip side, the suggestion stands that children should be allowed to grow up with their family units, and that biological relationships through sperm donation should be kept anonymous for policy reasons and to prevent eventual issues with tracking in later life. However to counter this, why shouldn't a child's biological father have the right to contact and access, if not at a distance, with his child? Sharing the same genes, the characteristics of the father could be adapted through DNA testing (genetic) to work out whether the child will be subject to the same medical problems or temperament issues, which could be beneficial to treating illnesses.

Sperm donator anonymity and DNA Paternity Testing

Paternity testing and DNA testing in general have become far more widespread in recent years, which could eventually lead to the issues of sperm donator anonymity being further jeopardised since a DNA paternity test will confirm with certainty who the biological father is of the child. Until then, however, the debate over the rights and responsibilities of the sperm donator in relation to his biological child looks set to rage on.

Kevin Camilleri writes articles for dna paternity test. Other articles written by the author related to paternity testing, home paternity test and paternity test kit can be found on the net.

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Good Science Fair Projects - Plants Reaching For Light (Part One)

Let us do a good science fair project to learn about plants reaching for the light to grow.

First I think there is a definition we must learn, it is a Botany term:

Epiphyte: a plant that grows non-parasitically on a tree or other plant.

When looking at a leave, I am sure, you have noticed that the top of the leaf is a darker green then the bottom of the leaf. Have you ever wondered why? Do you know what the green color of the leaves is? What is the function of the "green" in the leaves?

The answer to these questions is the beginning of our interesting science fair project. As with any good science fair project, there are a few basic facts that we have to know before we start. When we know the basics we can start with our science fair projects.

Do you know where to start with your good science fair project? Well, let us start with the basic facts we need to know:

1. The green substance is called chlorophyll and it traps the energy from the sun.

2. Because plants cannot move around they have to make their own food.

3. Like tiny solar panels the leaves combine carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground to produce glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen. (Can you now see how it ties in with our project on trees and the rain forests?) For a really good science fair project you can actually combine the two.

4. This process is called photosynthesis.

The idea of this good science fair project is to show how plants make special efforts to reach the sunlight. Our first science fair project is going to demonstrate how epiphytes in the rainforests live high on branches to get closer to the light. They have to grow on another plant to be able to survive, but they do not draw on the host like a parasite. (Do you know what a parasite is?)

This is what you will need:

* A pair of gardening gloves

* Liquid plant food

* A branch or some driftwood

* Sphagnum moss

* Water spray

* Some cotton thread

* A plant pot

* Some gravel

* A trowel

* Epiphytes (available from garden centers or nurseries)

* Glue

This is what you need to do:

1. To protect your hand, put on the gardening gloves

2. Now you have to wrap one end of your branch or piece of driftwood with your sphagnum moss.

3. Secure your moss on your branch with a piece of cotton thread.

4. Fill your plant pot with gravel until it is almost full. Make sure you use a sturdy pot that will not break easily. There need to be enough gravel in your pot to be able to support your branch. Use your trowel to fill the pot.

5. When you have enough gravel in your pot you can push your branch into your pot until it can stand in your pot without tipping or falling out.

6. Now you have to use your water, with a few drops of liquid fertilizer in it, to spray the moss with water.

7. Arrange your epiphytes on the branch by gently pushing them into the moss.

8. Secure them with a drop of glue at the base.

9. Now you have to remember to spray the epiphytes from time to time to prevent them from drying out.

10. Now come the time to make your observations.

11. Do the epiphytes need soil to grow in?

12. Can the epiphytes grow indoors?

13. Do they need sunlight to grow?

14. How do they grow without soil?

To answer all these questions and to turn this science fair project into a really good science fair project you need to give your self enough time. Remember to do a really good science fair project you cannot start at the last minute. Leave your plants in different locations for a few weeks at a time and make meticulous notes of what happens. Place them in strong sunlight, then in relative dark etc. Remember to keep your moss moist at all times to make very sure that the changes that happen are due to the varying light and not water.

This is a very good science fair project to show how epiphytes grow in the rain forests. The next science fair project that we are going to do will be a good science fair project to demonstrate how plants search for light, be on the lookout for it.

Magriet is a work at home "Gran" with websites on a number of family related subjects such as science fairs, kids crafts and homeschooling. Her webs are: http://www.learnerscience.com and http://www.homeschooling.topknacks.com and http://www.kidscrafts.topknacks.com Get all the excellent information on these subjects in an instant.

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