Reading a recent article posted on the Eyeonspain website by Mark Wilkins of The Rights Group, I felt that I just had to make some comments. Whilst I agree with many of Marks comments, I do disagree with the advice he gives to prospective property buyers that they should rent a property for 3 to 6 months prior to making a decision to purchase.
Here’s what Mark has to say: “Is that totally correct or would it be right to say that the purchasers looking to buy in Spain have changed? ..The numbers may be less but the quality of the buyer is definitely up. It’s excellent to see an educated and informed public who roughly know where they want to buy and largely what they are looking for. They are internet savvy, ask loads of relevant questions and have clearly done their homework. These purchasers take time to seek the RIGHT property, in the RIGHT location and – most importantly at the RIGHT price…” Yes, it’s true, Spanish property sales have declined in the past few years and many of those intending to purchase are more informed than they have been in the past years – due to the internet revolution a wealth of information is now available on-line, something that just wasn’t there a mere 10 years ago.
“Why this demand? aks Mark” “Amid the tales of woe about the Spanish property market why are they still looking at Spain! Open any publication over the last year or so and see the wailing and beating of chests about the Spanish market. Don’t they know! Hasn’t anyone told them! Do they need their heads examined!! The answer is they have voted with their feet – as have many before- in search of a new and different direction in life.The demand is simply there because no where else in Europe delivers better weather, better year round sports, better medical and communications infrastructure – all in all Spain delivers A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE. Don’t take my word for it” he goes on to say. “In research conducted by UKForex nearly eight out of 10 Expats are happier living abroad than they were living in the UK. Of those who spend time out of the UK and choose Spain as their home they appear to be the happiest of all, with more than 90 per cent saying they are happy with their lives here. The survey showed that most people – around a third – moved to seek a better quality of life and according to the research it seems that many have found it in Spain.”
“Moving away from the UK, for many is not something that they would undertake lightly” says Mark.”Losing day to day contact with friends and family at a later stage in life can be a strain… many new clients are seeking to combine life in the UK – or other home country – and spend perhaps six months of the year in Spain. October to March seem to be the preferred months in Spain for a variety of reasons primarily related to the weather.”
But it’s not just the sun that’s the constant lure for those struggling to heat an ageing and now partially unused family home in one of those spots around the UK or other parts of Northern Europe that have seen substantial growth in value over the last ten plus years, Mark goes on “In the days of under performing equities, the “credit crunch” and fears of recession stemming from the continued “sub prime” fallout from the US, there is actually some sound retirement planning at play.”He goes on to comment on how living circumstances for many has now changed in the UK: “A non-existent or materially diminished mortgage that can be easily paid off on sale opens a Pandora’s Box of wonders for those whose children have left home to make their way in the world. That four bed roomed house which was an essential when they were growing up may have become a millstone. The recent rises in the Council Tax bill, above inflation rate rises in utility bills and generally the costs burden of maintaining a too large property has prompted many to look at alternatives. It’s now usual for them to see the kids for Sunday lunch when they load up on a Roast and collect their now clean washing deposited the week before.” Sounds familiar?
Another big change Mark notes is in the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren. He was talking to a couple of golfing grandparents recently and they told him how their kids and grandkids actually look forward to coming to Spain to spend some quality time with them. “Oh no, not another trip to Granny’s” turns into a playground brag “We are spending summer with Granny in Spain”! they explained. I can vouch for that too. We have a 4 yerar old grandaughter back in the UK and even at the tender age of four years we are already subject to comments like ” I haven’t been to see you for a long time have ?” “I want to come to your house.” “When am I coming to see you?” I’m sure we will be bombarded with these requests as she grows as she (and her parents) have a great time when they are over here. And yes, although we don’t see her as often as we would if we were back in the UK, the time spent together is quality time and the relationships very are strong.
Mark picks up on what he sees as another recent trend – rental enquiries soaring over the last few weeks with many applicants seeking an early foothold in Spain whilst they try on the Spanish way of life – but I hardly see a snapshot of activity over a brief few weeks period as a “trend.” This needs to be viewd over a longer period.
Now here’s the point that I disagree with Mark over. He advises people to rent for a period of three to six months before they buy. “Until you have had the experience of day to day life in Spain, after the first blush of the love affair may have waned a little, you’ll not know whether you are happy to commit to the reality as opposed to the dream. In our experience, it also gives the potential buyer time to really look around. To find favourite locations, golf courses, restaurants, clubs, friends etc.”
But I would argue that 3 to 6 months is hardly enough time to decide whether Spain is the place for you and renting instead of buying straight away can bring its own problems. Whilst some people settle in straight away, others can take much longer. What’s 3 or 6 months out of your life when you can be talking of spending maybe the rest of your life here? I would recommend a minimum of about one year. And I would not always advise on renting a property first. This can have negative effects. Many people don’t settle because they can’t settle into a home that isn’t their own and return back home disappointed, whereas they may have settled in straight away if they were in their own home.
Also, on the question of renting whilst seeking out a property to buy.I have seen many people in the past who have taken this approach – and many who have gone back to the UK in tears, having spent months and months driving around and seeing that much that they just cannot make up their minds,or they have tried to find a property off their own back without the help of a trusted agent – which for all sorts of reasons can be an impossible task to achieve.
With all the information that is available on the internet today, is is almost achieveable to find the perfect home in the perfect location without even leaving the comfort of your home in the UK.
Most businesspeople do not know much about the fine art of printing. They simple design their advertising literature, and send it off to their commercial printer, where they will work their magic and produce the amazing results. However, it is a good idea to get a good grasp of the basics of printing, because doing so can help you make better designs for your marketing materials.
Paper stock
There are two primary types of paper stock: text and cover. Text stock is more transparent (easier to see through) than cover stock. Within those two classifications, there is a further division based on the weight (or thickness) of the paper. There is an 80# Gloss Text stock for example, and an 80# Gloss Cover stock. Most promotional material, including flyers, is printed in either 80# or 100# text or cover stock.
Spread
The spread of a print design is often misunderstood by businesspeople. Spread is a term used to describe how the page is looked at. There are two kinds of spread: reader spread and printer spread. Basically, reader spread is how the reader sees the page, while printer spread is how the printer sees the page. For example, think of a normal magazine. When you open it, you may see page 15 on one side and page 16 on the other. As you are looking at those pages that is reader spread. However, page 15 is not on the same piece of paper as page 16, due to the folding and stapling of the pages. If you took the staples out of the magazine, and laid the pages out, that would be printer spread.
It is important to know the basics of spread because it can save you money when you have your designs printed. If you are printing something that will be arranged in magazine form, you must deliver the design to the printer in printer spread. Otherwise, the printer will have to rearrange the pages, which will cost you more time and money.
Signature
The signature is basically a large piece of paper upon which several pages are printed. This is then divided up into the standard pages that you see in the finished product. The number of pages that are on a signature depends on a number of factors, including the printer’s supplies and the size of your pages.
Imposition
The imposition is just the orientation of the pages on a signature. If you were to look at a signature, you would see some pages upside down, while others are turned sideways, and still others are in normal orientation. In the finished product, however, they will (hopefully) all be in the normal, readable format.
These are just a few basic terms in the world of printing. They are good to know, though, even for businesspeople who are not intimately involved in the printing process. You are still overseeing the design of your color printing efforts, and having an understanding of the process will help you maximize your time and money.
Travelers everywhere seeking to satisfy their craving for interactive trips now have adventure travel to turn to. It is taking time off that lets individuals savor every minute of his travel window while not overstepping his limitations and physical capabilities. Travelers seek out adventure travel because it is not difficult to customize according to the fitness level and needs of someone. Tips in this piece will tell you whether or not an adventure tour suits you.
With adventure travel you do not stand still for long periods. The trip focuses on direct integration of participants with the environment using exhilarating and thrilling activities. It takes a place open to further observation as well as study for these kinds of tours. Underwater swimming along with a bit of skiing and climbing or kayaking are usually done which is why natural habitats are prime places for such vacations. A bunch of these vacations assist in turning the underprivileged into independent human beings. You can find adventure travel right in your own backyard or head to faraway places for the adventure of a lifetime.
There is no one age group and fitness ranking that adventure travel is limited to. This is because the vacation can be customized to the traveler’s unique needs and abilities. With an Antarctic tour activities range from scuba diving to camping ashore to hiking. But people unwilling to rough it out can still have a good time in the arctic just by taking in the scenery while relaxing on deck. It is the best way to experience the scenic landscape and impressive wildlife minus having to risk your safety doing stuff your body may not be able to handle.
With adventure travel there is lots to learn. There is plenty to learn and experience as you sit in classes that talk about the location aboard the ship or take part in new activities and surroundings. Adventure travel often means taking chances once in a while to try new things. When you put concerns behind and dive into your adventure travel, you may learn and experience things you never thought possible before. Once you have a taste of this kind of vacation you never want to go back to your old ones.
It is not right however to say that adventure travel is purely doing stuff. It has to do with experiencing new sights and sounds as well as bumping into people of different nationalities too. Adventure travel is the way to go for those on an endless quest for knowledge and a desire to explore the unknown. If you are interested in finding out how it is to survive in the wild or the desert or simply want to reach the top of a mountain then this is the trip for you. Vacations like these suit people who want to spice up their life. He is someone who is a certified thrill seeker eager for some hands on experience that lets him enjoy the world even more.
These days the situation does need to be excessively uncomfortable or bumpy to be considered adventure travel. Rest your aching muscles and joints after the workout you got from hiking in luxury. Cruise vacations are known for providing this convenience to travelers. Get immersed in the rich culture and explore exotic locations while cruising. Upon your return you are treated to an awesome dinner and after that there is other entertainment aboard ship. R and R combines with activity filled days during these vacations.
Arthritis is a word that includes a group of disorders that have an result on your combined and muscles. Arthritis symptoms comprise combined pain, irritation and limited collection of joint. When a combined is reddened it might be swollen, tender, temperate to the stroke. Nearby every joint is a defensive capsule holding a lubricate liquid to aid in movement. Cartilage, a slippery flat matter, cover the majority joints to promise a still, fluid movement of the joint. With joint arthritis, the cartilage may be injured, tapering and lost by a degenerative procedure or by irritation creation group painful.
Arthritis factually means ‘inflammation of the joints’. The word has been consequential from two Greek words, ‘athron’ and ‘its’ (which means inflammation). A constant disease, arthritis can be secret into a variety of type, two life form the the majority usually establish – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The previous frequently occur in the big people, when their joints grow to be week. The latter is a grim disease, which affect not simply the joints of the fingers, wrists, hips, knees, and feet, but also the muscles, tendons and additional tissues of the body.
Causes of Arthritis
You are additional probable flat to Knee arthritis if:
Over 50 years of age
Being Plump is a huge issue
Shock to the knee
Meniscus Moan or ligament injure
Bone wound
Innate, if it run in your family
Symptoms of Arthritis Pain
Symptoms of arthritis comprise ache and limited purpose of joints. irritation of the joints as of arthritis is characterize by joint rigidity, puffiness, rosiness, and warmness. Gentleness of the reddened joint can be there.
Many of the form of arthritis, because they are rheumatic disease, can reason symptoms moving various organs of the body that do not unswervingly engage the joints. So, symptoms in a number of patients with sure forms of arthritis can also comprise fever, gland puffiness, weight loss, Exhaustion, feeling in poor health, and still symptoms from abnormality of organs such because the lungs, heart, or kidneys.
Natural Treatment of Arthritis
The action of arthritis depends on which exacting form of arthritis is there, its site, harshness, perseverance, and any fundamental backdrop medical circumstances of the enduring. Every treatment program have to be modified for the person patient. Treatment programs can slot in home remedies, nonprescription and instruction medications, joint injection, and surgical operation. A few treatment programs engage weight decrease and avoid behaviors that use too much strain on the joint. The aim of treatment of arthritis is to decrease joint ache and irritation while prevent injure and civilizing and maintain joint purpose
Some Effective Home Remedies to get relief from Arthritis pain
a.Vapor baths and body manipulate have too prove worthwhile for people pain from arthritis.
b.The person pain from arthritis should eat food items wealthy in calcium, zinc and vitamin C.
c.An competent home remedy for arthritis would be to have new potato juice in the morning. The juice should include of 50 percent potato juice and 50 percent water.
d.The simplest home medicine for arthritis would be to massage the exaggerated region with temperate vinegar, now previous to sleeping.
Read more on Arthritis remedy and Relief from arthritis pain and Herbal Supplements
What Promotional Umbrellas Say About Your Business
Promotional umbrellas are, according to the PPAI, the international association to which most promotional products companies belong, one of those items that are very popular with customers. High quality umbrellas are always welcome gifts. One salesman reports that he frequently is asked by clients if he has any more of those “great umbrellas” when he makes his sales rounds. If you’re looking for a quality promotional gift that will impress your clients and entice your customers, promotional umbrellas are an excellent choice for a number of reasons.
Promotional umbrellas have an extremely high perceived value.
Most people have a notion how much a high quality umbrella costs in a high street store. Chances are good, in fact, that most of your customers have bought – and lost – quite a few of them over the years. When you choose promotional umbrellas as earned incentives or customer giveaways, you’re choosing an advertising gift that your clients and customers would buy for themselves – and they’ll appreciate that.
Promotional umbrellas are a “rescue” gift.
It’s an odd little trick our minds play, associating a gift with its giver. When something or someone comes to our rescue, we tend to value them far more highly. When you put your name on an umbrella, you are associating yourself with an item that is very likely to be that “oh, thank goodness I had this with me!” item. That gives your customers a very good feeling about you. They really can believe that you’ll be there for them through any weather – because your promotional umbrellas are.
Promotional umbrellas are one of the most visible of all promo products.
When the rain comes down, your name goes up – all over town. Umbrellas may not get out and about as often as travel mugs do, but they’re real stars when it comes to being seen. When you choose an eye-catching and distinctive promotional umbrella and put your logo on it, you’re increasing your business visibility enormously.
Promotional umbrellas last for years.
Presuming that you’ve chosen high quality umbrellas – and why would you choose anything less to carry your company’s reputation – you’ll get years worth of publicity from your relatively small investment. When you consider that the average radio spot last 15-30 seconds, may run a few times a day over the course of a month or two, and is nearly always tuned out by the listener, you’ll see that the money you invest in promotional umbrellas will keep earning its worth over and over.
Promotional umbrellas make for great advertising.
One key to making your promotional advertising memorable is to associate a catchy slogan with the promotional products that you choose as giveaways or incentives. Umbrellas lend themselves to so many marvelous, punny slogans that they’re hard to pass up. “Bob’s Insurance – The Best Cover for Rainy Days”. “Save for a Rainy Day with Our Bank”. “Quality Day Care Service – We’ve Got Your Child Care Needs Covered.” See what we mean?
You’ll find many styles and ranges of promotional umbrellas available. From novelty mini-umbrellas to full-size golf umbrellas by the best name brands in the business, there’s bound to be a range of promotional umbrellas that will suit your advertising campaign.
For further information on promotional umbrellas, golf umbrellas, business gifts, items and custom printed advertising marketing products why not visit the market leading online suppliers today. Top promotional gifts suppliers online can provide a fast and efficient service and more often than not can provide highly competitive quotations unlike the offline promotional products companies.
Gareth Parkin is the co-founder of Ideasbynet, the UK’s leading online promotional umbrellas, custom printed promotional umbrellas and promotional products company.
By WebProNews Staff 0
Think Partnership will acquire the blog search engine IceRocket from billionaire NBA owner Mark Cuban.
Cuban and IceRocket CEO Blake Rhodes co-own the blog search site, and have announced a letter of intent from Think Partnership (THK), a Northbrook, IL-based technology solutions provider, to acquire IceRocket. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“I am thrilled that IceRocket is uniting with Think Partnership, enabling us to connect the huge and growing blogging community to the business opportunities and network provided by Think Partnership, especially Litmus Media’s Valid Click network and PrimaryAds’ affiliate marketing network,” Rhodes said in a statement.
Also, Rhodes will remain on as CEO after the deal closes. Various tasks, including due diligence and negotiations with Wachovia Bank (WB) over its loan agreement with Think, remain pending.
“Both of our companies are focused on providing the highest integrity services to our users and building core enabling technology that can eliminate click fraud and “splogging” on our networks in real time.” Cuban said in the announcement.
Think’s president, Scott Mitchell, likewise extolled the anti-splogging capabilities developed by IceRocket. Splogging, or spam blogging, refers to blogs created solely as holders of keywords and advertisements. They exist solely to collect advertising “clicks” and benefit the splog owner without providing any actual value to readers.
With Think’s technologies, IceRocket could become a revenue generator for blogs. Efforts by privately held BlogAds and Federated Media provide advertising for blog publishers; the Think services referenced by Rhodes could enable IceRocket to build a similar position.
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David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.
At 3:50 Nov. 10 The Whys and Wherefores That Will Impel Excoriation to Your aigo iphone charger 19, at a warm-up match, finally Italy bears down visitor Sweden by 1-0. Halfback Chiellini of Juventus heads the winning score.
This was the first 50 games for Italy coach Marcello Lippi served as a coach. Last Saturday the members of Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluca Zambrotta who played with the Netherlands, had returned to the club, Lippi used of warm-up opportunity to examine the candidate members. Pazzini, who had scored 7 goals in Italian Series A this season, was in the starting line-up. Marchionni, Biondini, Candreva, Kelixituo and Marchetti also got the starting chance. After being cleaned out in the World Cup qualifiers, the Swedish coach Lars Lagerback’s resignated. It was the first match since its new coach Hanlon took over the team’s first match. Top player Zlatan was not selected, and the Hamburg striker Berry also absent due to colds. Hanlon selected seven players from Sweden U21 youth team.
At the 105 second after the opening, Legrottaglie failed in offside, and the vanguard Hassan got a dibgle-tool, he propelled with his left foot on the forbidden zone line but been hold back to the right doorpost by Marchetti with his single hand. On the right corner is damaged, the Swedish right-sided re-transmission, the volley before the point hook shot was again resolved. The first 8 minutes, Mellberg foul on Pazzini, the left side of any hit the ball be Isaacson, Captain Antonio volley picked transmission edge of the area. Chiellini`s header 7 meters in front of the goal was blockedf by Isaacson. Before long, a corner kick from the left side of Italy was aslo blocked by him.
Then Candreva got Marchioni`s pass, at 18 meters in front of gate he shot a curve ball, but it was away from left goal post. At the eighteenth minute, Dinatale passed a long ball on left, Candreva volley shot missing at 15 meters in front of gate. In 20th minute, Macho delivered the ball from right side but Dinatale`s small-angle shoot was blocked out by Isaacson and Biondini`s second shoot mishit. In 22nd minute, after taking the pass from right side, Elman`s ground shot past by left post.
Italian was taking the lead in the 28th minut. Candreva made a right corner kick. Pacini made a header against the last point, Chiellini made it clother in the 5 meters away from the gate. 1 to 0! This was his second international goal. In the 33rd minute, Candreva mad a low shot in the left wing 28 meters away and was confiscated by Isaacson. Majstorovic collided with Chiellini and received a yellow card. In the 41th minute, Svensson made volley shot 30 meters away and missed. In injoureing time of former ropund, major member kicked the corner ball on left side but shot out by Isaksson, shot in the air 12 meters in front of the door but again stopped, Sweden reacted quickly, Chiellini rushed return and catch, spaded the shot from Hesen off low line.
In the second half, Lippi replaces Marjorie, Biondini and Candreva with Cassani, Rossi and Galloppa. At 48th minute, Giampaolo Pazzini falls to the ground for a shoot on the left edge of the area, but it is confiscated by Isaacson. In 51 minutes, Dinatala shot the ball above the goal 20 meters from it, in 54 minutes, the corner ball from Swenden was got by goalkeeper Marcadi when Mastolovic shot the ball 6 meters from the goal.
Bocchetti replaced Kelixituo. In 57th minute, Rossi took the ball past from left side 22 meters away from the goal but the shot by his left feet mishit. Palombo replaced Montolivo. The 68th minute, Di Natale accurately transfer to the left, no one restricted the right of man-mark, Marchioni did not stop well, miss the opportunity to expand the score, Sebastian – Larson got the yellow card. In 78th minute, Lippi alternated Marchioni with Camoranesi. In 81st minute, Pacini was put down onto the ground and Genopa`s free kick 22 meters away from the goal again flied past the upper post. At the 84th minute, the low shoot of Pacini Di She on the front edge of the area is blocked out of the left gate post by Mellberg. At the 86th minute, Chiellini shows dissatisfaction to the referee and is given a yellow card. Subsequently Galloppa also gets a yellow card. Italy eventually wins by a score of 1 to 0.
The endosymbiotic theory concerns the origins of mitochondria and plastids (e.g. chloroplasts), which are organelles of eukaryotic cells. According to this theory, these organelles originated as separate prokaryotic organisms that were taken inside the cell as endosymbionts. Mitochondria developed from proteobacteria and chloroplasts from cyanobacteria.
The endosymbiotic theory was first formulated by the Russian botanist Konstantin Mereschkowski in 1905. Mereschkowsky was familiar with work by botanist Andreas Schimper, who had observed in 1883 that the division of chloroplasts in green plants closely resembled that of free-living cyanobacteria, and who had himself tentatively proposed that green plants had arisen from a symbiotic union of two organisms. Ivan Wallin extended the idea of an endosymbiotic origin to mitochondria in the 1920s. These theories were initially dismissed or ignored. More detailed electron microscopic comparisons between cyanobacteria and chloroplasts (Hans Ris), combined with the discovery that plastids and mitochondria contain their own DNA (which by that stage was recognized to be the hereditary material of organisms) led to a resurrection of the idea in the 1960s.
The endosymbiotic hypothesis was popularized by Lynn Margulis. In her 1981 work Symbiosis in Cell Evolution she argued that eukaryotic cells originated as communities of interacting entities, including endosymbiotic spirochaetes that developed into eukaryotic flagella and cilia. This last idea has not received much acceptance, because flagella lack DNA and do not show ultrastructural similarities to prokaryotes.
The possibility that peroxisomes may have an endosymbiotic origin has also been considered, although they lack DNA. Christian de Duve proposed that they may have been the first endosymbionts, allowing cells to withstand growing amounts of free molecular oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere. However, it now appears that they may be formed de novo, contradicting the idea that they have a symbiotic origin (Gabaldón et al. 2006).
It is also believed that these endosymbionts transferred some of their own DNA to the host cell’s nucleus during the evolutionary transition from a symbiotic community to an instituted eukaryotic cell. This hypothesis is thought to be possible because it is known today from scientific observation that transfer of DNA occurs between prokaryotic species, even if they are not closely related. Prokaryotes can take up DNA from their surroundings and have a limited ability to incorporate it into their own genome.
Evidence that mitochondria and plastids arose from ancient endosymbiosis of bacteria is as follows:
New mitochondria and plastids are formed only through a process similar to binary fission. In some algae, such as Euglena, the plastids can be destroyed by certain chemicals or prolonged absence of light without otherwise affecting the cell. In such a case, the plastids will not regenerate.
They are surrounded by two or more membranes, and the innermost of these shows differences in composition from the other membranes of the cell. The composition is like that of a prokaryotic cell membrane.
Both mitochondria and plastids contain DNA that is different from that of the cell nucleus and that is similar to that of bacteria (in being circular in shape and in its size).
DNA sequence analysis and phylogenetic estimates suggests that nuclear DNA contains genes that probably came from plastids.
These organelles ribosomes are like those found in bacteria (70s).
Much of the internal structure and biochemistry of plastids, for instance the presence of thylakoids and particular chlorophylls, is very similar to that of cyanobacteria. Phylogenetic estimates constructed with bacteria, plastids, and eukaryotic genomes also suggest that plastids are most closely related to cyanobacteria.
Mitochondria have several enzymes and transport systems similar to those of prokaryotes.
Some proteins encoded in the nucleus are transported to the organelle, and both mitochondria and plastids have small genomes compared to bacteria. This is consistent with an increased dependence on the eukaryotic host after forming an endosymbiosis. Most genes on the organellar genomes have been lost or moved to the nucleus. Most genes needed for mitochondrial and plastid functions are located in the nucleus. Many originate from the bacterial endosymbionts.
Plastids are present in very different groups of protists, some of which are closely related to forms lacking plastids. This suggests that if chloroplasts originated de novo, they did so multiple times, in which case their close similarity to each other is difficult to explain.
Many of these protists contain “secondary” plastids that have been acquired from other plastid-containing eukaryotes, not from cyanobacteria directly.
Among the eukaryotes that acquired their plastids directly from bacteria (known as Primoplantae), the glaucophyte algae have chloroplasts that strongly resemble cyanobacteria. In particular, they have a peptidoglycan cell wall between their two membranes.
Mitochondria and plastids are just about the same size as bacteria
There are certain reasons that are contradicting with this hypothesis as follow:
Neither mitochondria nor plastids can survive in oxygen or outside the cell, having lost many essential genes required for survival. The standard counterargument points to the large time span that the mitochondria/plastids have co-existed with their hosts. In this view, genes and systems that were no longer necessary were simply deleted, or in many cases, transferred into the host genome instead
The transfer of genes from mitochondria and plastids to the “host genome” or cell nucleus raises a further problem: why were all genes not transferred? In other words, why do any genes at all remain in mitochondria and plastids?
A large cell, especially one equipped for phagocytosis, has vast energetic requirements, which cannot be achieved without the internalization of energy production.
This implies that, for the cell to gain mitochondria, it could not have been a primitive eukaryote, but instead a prokaryotic cell. This in turn implies that the emergence of the eukaryotes and the formation of mitochondria were achieved simultaneously.
References:
Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and Peter Walter, Molecular Biology of the Cell, Garland Science, New York, 2002. ISBN 0-8153-3218-1. (General textbook)
Jeffrey L. Blanchard and Michael Lynch (2000), “Organellar genes: why do they end up in the nucleus?”, Trends in Genetics, 16 (7), pp. 315–320.
Paul Jarvis (2001), “Intracellular signalling: The chloroplast talks!”, Current Biology, 11 (8), pp. R307-R310.
Fiona S.L. Brinkman, Jeffrey L. Blanchard, Artem Cherkasov, Yossef Av-Gay, Robert C. Brunham, Rachel C. Fernandez, B. Brett Finlay, Sarah P. Otto, B.F. Francis Ouellette, Patrick J. Keeling, Ann M. Rose, Robert E.W. Hancock, and Steven J.M. Jones (2002,) Evidence That Plant-Like Genes in Chlamydia Species Reflect an Ancestral Relationship between Chlamydiaceae, Cyanobacteria, and the Chloroplast Genome Res., 12: pp 1159 – 1167.
Okamoto, N. & Inouye, I. (2005), “A Secondary Symbiosis in Progress?”, Science, 310, p. 287
Guenther Witzany (2006), “Serial Endosymbiotic Theory (SET): The Biosemiotic Update”, Acta Biotheoretica, 54(1), pp. 103–117
Gabaldón T. et al. (2006), “Origin and evolution of the peroxisomal proteome”, Biology Direct, 1 (8).
Cohen, W.D. & Gardner, R.S. (1959), “Viral Theory and Endosymbiosis”
Thursday, April 3, 2008By Nick Welsh (Contact)Article Tools Print friendly
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The same weekend Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger closed escrow on a property he’s bought in the Carpinteria foothills, nearly 500 people braved cool March weather to voice their opposition to his plans to close down La Pur-sima Mission State Historic Park, located just outside Lompoc. Schwarzenegger proposed cutting La Pur-sima’s funding as well as funding for many other parks statewide in response to California’s $8-billion budget deficit.
Dubbed “Mission Possible” by organizers with CoastHills Federal Credit Union, Saturday’s protest also attracted local politicos like Lompoc Mayor Dick DeWees, representatives for incumbent 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray and her challenger John Sterling, and from the offices of State Senator Abel Maldonado and Assemblymember Sam Blakeslee. The 2,000-acre park serves as prime space for Lompoc residents seeking recreation as well as a popular destination for field tripping fourth-graders from throughout the Central Coast whose teachers are hoping to convey a sense of what life was like during California’s Spanish colonial era.
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Niger doesn’t get in the news much. This landlocked Saharan nation doesn’t have much in the way of national resources, is listed by the UN as one of the world’s least developed countries, and yet it has a serious attitude towards conservation.
Niger is home to a unique subspecies of giraffe, pictured here. Poaching and desertification had reduced its numbers to only fifty individuals a decade ago, but then the people of Niger realized what they were about to lose, banned hunting, and launched a conservation program. Now thanks to these efforts the giraffes’ numbers have risen to two hundred. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation has been working with the Niger government and people to keep this positive trend going.
Strangely, the giraffes are congregating around the capital Niamey, where they can be seen wandering across farmers’ fields and drinking from troughs set out for cattle.
The government hopes the giraffes will promote tourism. While Niger is beneath most travelers’ radar, its very remoteness could be a draw for people interested in visiting traditional societies and seeing the Sahara’s harsh beauty. A night camping under the full moon in the Sahara is one of my favorite travel memories. A few giraffes walking across the silvered landscape would have made it even better.