The Common Fruit Fly Drosophila Melanogaster - 913 Words

Name: Hussain Naeem PS ID #: 1401609 BIOL 3311 Fall 2014 Lab Section: 15833 Date: 9/28/15 TA Instructor Name: Esra Unsal Writing Assignment 3: Eyes in flies: An overview of the cinnabar gene and its relation to Huntington s disease† Introduction The common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is often regarded as the model organism for genetic testing due to many factors such as its short reproductive cycle, its similarities to humans, or the ease of tracking mutations in Drosophila melanogaster. The Drosophila melanogaster is used to model diseases such as Cancer, Diabetes, and Huntington’s Disease. By studying the changes in how the proteins interact, the origin of such disease can be found providing a deeper understanding of how to cure these fatal ailments. Since Drosophila melanogaster is 70% similar to the human genome mutation in humans can easily be replicated in the flies. Due to their short lifespan, the Drosophila melanogaster allow for the progression of the mutations to occur rapidly and allow tracing of the mutation into subsequent generations. Drosophila melanogaster generally has a phenotypic change associated with mutated genes that control the coding of certain proteins. A mutation in the cinnabar gene, which causes the ocelli to become colorless and the eyes to become a bright red color, was originally discovered by Roy Clausen, a professor at the University of California in 1918. The cinnabar gene is a protein coder gene which controls how theShow MoreRelatedThe Common Fruit Fly By Gregor Mendel1404 Words   |  6 Pagesbe studied on a multitude of organisms, some more than others. Drosophila melanogaster or the common fruit fly has been studied in depth for its great advantages, such as size, reproduction rate, ease of care and inexpensive room and board. In this experiment we tested to see what the offspring of an unknown cross of an F1 generation would produce. After observing the F2 generation and recording the data we found some of the Drosophila showed mutations, two in particular. The mutations were the apterusRead MoreA Study On Drosophila Melanogaster1742 Words   |  7 Pages Abstract Drosophila melanogaster was used for this study for their fast reproduction cycles, fast regenerations, large amounts of offspring for each generation and their capability of living in a small limited space. The dominant or recessive genotype could be determining by the used of Mendelian genetic ratios for wild-type to mutant’s genes. The mutation that this study focuses on is the defects of the phenotypes in the common fruit fly, example; wing shape, wing sizes, body color and whatRead MoreExamination Of Cell Division And Dna Replication956 Words   |  4 Pagestraits that hinder survival, otherwise known as natural selection. Drosophila melanogaster, more commonly known as the fruit fly, has been used for over 100 years to research genetics. All organisms have a common genetic systems. Therefore, studying sequences in fruit flies helps with the understanding of these sequences in other eukaryotes, namely humans. There are many reasons for using this particular organism. Originally, the fruit fly was probably chosen for its simplicity. They are small and canRead MoreGenetic Mutations And Sex Linked Crosses That Each Generation Of The Fruit Fly Can Make1152 Words   |  5 Pages Drosophila melanogaster is an important model organism in biological research and has been prevalent for over one hundred years. Fruit flies are used by researchers because they having many qualities that make them favorable in research including their genetics, size, and reproductive capacity. The goal of the experiment is to test the different genetic mutations and sex linked crosses that each generation of the fruit fly can make . This lab sets up crosses of flies that reproduce in two-week spanRead MoreMolecular Physiology And Developmental Biology962 Words   |  4 Pagessteroid hormone ecdysone, which directly controls Drosophila germline stem cell activity. These studies expanded her ability to design experiments significant for explaining gene function, and provided her with extensive experience in the use of the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster. D. melanogaster is known to be widely used for biological research in genetics, physiology, microbial pathogenesis, and many other disciplines of Biology. Drosophila is typically used in research because it can be readilyRead MoreExplaining The Mendelian Theory On Genetics1079 Words   |  5 Pagestheory on genetics. An experiment done on the common fruit fly shows how the dominant and recessive traits appear in the generation tested. The data collected and found by using a chi-square and Punnett square that allowed a hypothesis to be made and the decision to be accepted or rejected. Drosophila Melanogaster, the common fruit fly is an essential organism to use for genetic research because of its simple living requirements and choice of diet. The fly can also be easily sedated and obtains manyRead MoreDrosophila Melanogaster Lab Experiment2429 Words   |  10 PagesInvestigation | May 28 2013 | Drosophila melanogaster lab experiment Question:  How do the dominant or recessive genes in particular traits in a cross between a male and female Drosophila determine the traits of its offspring? Aim: to establish whether characteristics produced from the offspring of a drosophila cross are recessive or dominant traits. Hypothesis: If certain phenotypes are expressed in the offspring from the cross of certain Drosophila, then the determination or justificationRead MoreNatural and Sexual Selection of Vestigial and Wild Type Drosophila Melanogaster2428 Words   |  10 PagesSelection of Vestigial and Wild Type Drosophila melanogaster Abstract In this experiment, vestigial flies as well as wild type flies were used to create some diversity as well as test one of our hypotheses. Our hypotheses are as follows; 1) The wild type flies will have a greater relative fitness compared to the vestigial flies based on only sexual selection.   The wild type has a relative fitness of 1 since it has fully functional wings.   Vestigial Winged flies are not as sexually appealing sinceRead MoreDrosophila Melanogaster : A Model Organism Within Genetics Research Essay2081 Words   |  9 PagesDrosophila melanogaster is a species of fruit fly, used as a model organism in genetics research. We used this species to test the pattern of inheritance of two traits; eye color and wing type. With Mendelian Genetics, we assume genes are not linked. Thus, our hypothesis is that the genes are not linked. We ran two crosses, one with a wild type female and mutant male, and one with a mutant female and wild type male. We then proceeded to look at th e two generations following this original cross; theRead MoreThree Point Test Cross and Gene Mapping in Drosophila Melanogaster560 Words   |  2 PagesThree Point Test Cross and Gene Mapping in Drosophila Melanogaster Many traits incorporated into the design of the Drosophila, commonly known as the fruit fly, make it an optimal specimen for scientific research. Their short life cycle, averaging between twelve and fourteen days, and ability to be easily manipulated through controlled mating allows scientist the opportunity to create large sample sizes with great ease. Although these tiny creatures have been around since the days of ancient Greece

The Kite Runner Redemption Free Essays

What is the worst thing you have done to a friend or family member? Have you lied to them? Stolen from them? After the dreadful deed, did they forgive you? More importantly, did you forgive yourself? Regret and redemption are very important themes in the book The Kite Runner. Having regret for something can affect your whole life, as seen with the character, Amir. Through the development of Amir and his childhood friend, Hassan, Amir has to live with his regret and hope for redemption for the rest of his life. We will write a custom essay sample on The Kite Runner Redemption or any similar topic only for you Order Now From the beginning of the story The Kite Runner, it is apparent that Amir did something wrong from the very first page. Amir says, â€Å"Standing in the kitchen with the receiver to my ear, I knew it wasn’t just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins. † (1). The reader understands that Amir had done something wrong in the winter of 1975. Later, we figure out what this â€Å"something† was; he watched Hassan get raped. It was after Amir had just won his kite race and Hassan had gone to fetch the winning kite. He then came across the bullies of the neighborhood: Assef, Kamal, and Wali. Assef tried to take the kite, but like a loyal friend, Hassan would not let him. Assef then let Hassan keep the kite, but only to pay the price of being raped. Amir stood behind a wall and watched it all happen without saying one word. This is probably one of the most important scenes in the whole book; Amir’s actions from this shaped how he grew up and lived the rest of his life with regret. After Amir watched Hassan get raped, nothing was the same. He was filled with guilt and regret. He felt like a coward. â€Å"I ran because I was a coward. I was afraid of Assef and what he would do to me. I was afraid of getting hurt. † (77). He could not turn and help his friend because he was scared, and he wanted the approval of his father for once; he thought bringing home the kite would win Baba over. Little did he know that he ruined the rest of his life by doing this. Amir was filled with such regret that he had to get rid of Hassan one way or another. He could not stand the secret that he had from that night and wanted the pain to go away. Amir changed his and Hassan’s relationship that night. Even after Amir framed Hassan and got him to leave, Amir’s guilt did not go away and he was forever regretting all the decisions he had been making up to this point. Amir and Baba ended up going to America to try to get away from their past and get the redemption they both were longing for. After living life in America, Amir received a phone call from his old friend, Rahim Khan. Rahim Khan had been looking for some redemption of his own because he had been keeping a secret from Amir his whole life; Hassan was actually Baba’s son and Amir’s half brother. Hassan had died and Rahim wanted Amir to retrieve Hassan’s son, Sohrab. Amir still carried around the guilt from the winter of 1975 and decided this was his chance to redeem himself. As Rahim Khan said, â€Å"There was a way to be good again. † (2). This was Amir’s way to be good again. Amir had been looking for redemption his whole life. Retrieving Sohrab would rid himself of this. Amir also outstepped his coward personality when he was faced to a battle with Assef. This part of the book was one of the other most important scenes. Amir came out with Sohrab and he finally got the redemption that he was seeking for since the day he watched Hassan get raped. Throughout the book there were many examples of redemption. It mostly occurred in Amir as we saw his relationship with Hassan grow throughout the book. Amir had such guilt that he had to drive Hassan away; this proved how much of a coward he really was. After that day, he always carried around the guilt of betraying his friend and finally absolved himself by finding his redemption when retrieving Sohrab. Even though his decision of being a coward affected his life miserably, it still shaped him into the man that he was at the end of the book. Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead Books, 2003. How to cite The Kite Runner Redemption, Papers

Implementation Of Innovative Processes of AC Gilbert †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Implementation Of Innovative Processes of AC Gilbert. Answer: Implementation plan for the new process The case study is based on John Jones, who is the Production Manager at A.C. Gilbert. he has formulated an idea related to the improvement of the efficiency within the process of manufacturing in A.C. Gilbert. The idea was developed by him based on the innovative ideas program and it has been successful in the trial on a single line of the plant of processing. The program was evaluated and was declared as successful and the process in now to be implemented in the entire organization. The main goal related to the implementation of the program is mainly increasing the productivity, improving the sustainability, reducing waste and reducing the errors in the line of production by around 20% (Elzahar et al. 2015). Another goal is to reduce the turnover of the staff to improve the levels of efficiencies and skills related to the employees of the plant and thereby reduction of the costs that are incurred by the organization for performing activities related to recruitment. Transition Activities, objectives and the timeframes Activities - The employees are divided into two groups, the process workers and the production staff. These two groups will be further divided into five teams, and each of the teams will take the responsibility of a single production line. The employees will be allocated for 12 hour shifts so that the requirement for staff is met. The staff will be involved in the setting of goals and the objectives for the production lines in which they are working. Objectives To include the employees in the decision making process of the organization. To reduce the turnover of the employees and increasing their productivity. Timeframe The timeframe selected for this program is two months. The new program will be implemented and tested within this eight weeks timeframe (Gimenez-Espin, Jimnez-Jimnez and Martnez-Costa 2013). Activities related to the promotion The implementation of the new process will be promoted to the employees by motivating them for the new changes in their work process and the profitability related to the implementation. The process implementation will be sustainable in nature if the employees are trained properly before the process is implemented in the production line. Activities to reduce negative impact The negative impact of the process will be reduced with the training provided by the supervisors who will be present in during the training implementation. The production lines will be stopped for a duration of 48 hours to facilitate re-tooling for the training purposes. Communication: Activities, objectives and the timeframes The staff will be communicated regarding the training process by the supervisor who is assigned to each team. The objective of the communication process will be to educate the staff regarding the processes of the new production lines so that they can adapt to the changes that have occurred due to implementation of the new processes. Activities related to the promotion The changes in the processes will be promoted by the supervisors so that the employees take part in the process willingly and thereby use their expertise to adapt to the new line of production (Kibira et al. 2017). Activities to reduce negative impact The supervisors will take that the changes in the process are properly communicated to the employees and the changes can be implemented successfully. Two contingency plans related to the implementation The implementation plan is associated with risks related to the problems that can take place during the changes in the production line. The two contingency plans that can be implemented in case of emergency are as follows: The major risk associated with the implementation of the plan is the failure of the new production line and delayed production. This will affect the productivity and revenues of the company. The company needs to arrange an alternative unit for production where the production can be continued if there is a failure. The other major risk associated to the implementation process of the changes is the injury of an employee that can occur while training. This situation can be handled by arranging for emergency services like ambulance and doctors on site (ONeill, Sohal and Teng 2016). Analysis of the implementation and failures The implementation of the changes in the production has depicted a failure as is evident from the data that is available. The production of the factory has gone down by 6% and the delays have increased in the line of production by around 10%. However, the error rates have gone down by around 2%. Some the staff have resigned due to the changes in the program. After around 16 weeks of implementation the productivity has remained the same, the delay in the lines of production have improved. The level of staff has been steady (Zeng, Phan and Matsui 2015). Amendment of the action plans and contingency plans: Transition Activities - The training was found to be inadequate after the analysis of the failure was done. The training supervisor should be replaced and adequate training should be provided to the employees. Objectives The objectives of the implementation process are to increase the productivity of the factory and thereby decreasing the error rates. The performance of the employees will be measured based on the increase in the productivity levels, rate of decrease of the waste and checking the staff turnover (Sabella, Kashou and Omran 2014). Timeframe - The timeframe required for the next training will be set at three months. Activities related to the promotion The changes in the previous process will be promoted in such a way so that the employees are able to understand their role in the sustainability of the organization. The shifts of 12 hours can be reduced to 8 hours each and three shifts can be given each day. This will reduce the tiredness of the employees. Activities to reduce negative impact The negative impact caused by the plans includes the injuries and the reluctance of the employees to accept the new changes (Sahno et al. 2015). Communication The changes that are being made to the implementation process will be communicated to the employees by the new training supervisor. The plans need to be communicated in such a way so that the employees can understand their role in the whole process and thereby execute the plan. Changes in the contingency plans The contingency plans can be changed so that the new changes can be addressed. The extra production that is maintained should also be in shifts. The emergency situations can be handled by appointing doctors in a shift basis (Varasquin, Vieira and Balbinotti 2015). Schedule for evaluation and improvement The employees will be evaluated by the supervisor based on their performance and efficiency. The timeframe required for evaluation will be set at three months on a regular basis. The employees will learn about sustainable processes and their role in the process. The supervisors need to keep track of the performance of the employees. References Elzahar, H., Hussainey, K., Mazzi, F. and Tsalavoutas, I., 2015. Economic consequences of key performance indicators' disclosure quality.International Review of Financial Analysis,39, pp.96-112. Gimenez-Espin, J.A., Jimnez-Jimnez, D. and Martnez-Costa, M., 2013. Organizational culture for total quality management.Total QualityManagement Business Excellence,24(5-6), pp.678-692. Kibira, D., Brundage, M.P., Feng, S. and Morris, K.C., 2018. Procedure for selecting key performance indicators for sustainable manufacturing.Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering,140(1), p.011005. ONeill, P., Sohal, A. and Teng, C.W., 2016. Qualitymanagement approaches and their impact on firms? financial performanceAn Australian study.International Journal of Production Economics,171, pp.381-393. Sabella, A., Kashou, R. and Omran, O., 2014. Qualitymanagement practices and their relationship to organizational performance.International Journal of Operations Production Management,34(12), pp.1487-1505. Sahno, J., Shevtshenko, E., Karaulova, T. and Tahera, K., 2015. Framework for continuous improvement of production processes.Engineering Economics,26(2), pp.169-180. Varasquin, A., Vieira, L.V. and Balbinotti, G., 2015. Use of Work Routines of Observation Tool to Promote Continuous Improvement in a Production Line.Procedia Manufacturing,3, pp.5800-5805. Zeng, J., Phan, C.A. and Matsui, Y., 2015. The impact of hard and soft quality management on quality and innovation performance: An empirical study.International journal of production economics,162, pp.216-226.

The Secret Garden Essays - English-language Films, The Secret Garden

The Secret Garden The Secret Garden By Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett takes place in a dreary Misselthwaite manor in England during the Victorian era. The protagonist is Mary Lennox a selfish and spoilt 11 year old. The other major characters are Master Colin Craven her sickly cousin, Dickon Sowerby the animal charmer, Master Archibald Craven her reclusive uncle, Martha Sowerby a hearty housekeeper, a dour gardener, a cheerful robin and the secret garden. The tone is melodramatic and is told in the third person omniscient. The message about life to be learned from the story is that its never too late to change, no matter how terrible, you can make the best of things. Face the problems instead of cowering from them because if your don't they'll never go away. Have a positive attitude, live life and share it with the people around. Alienating yourself is not the solution. Mary, Colin and Archibald Craven are examples of this. Mary didn't care for anything, she was so spoilt that nothing and no one meant anythi ng to he; she was so used to everybody hating her. Colin is also spoilt and filled with ideas that he's going to die. Archibald is the coward that can't face reality or the hope for a better tomorrow. The one thing they all have in common is negatively, you get the sense that they would rather be dead and in reality it's like they are because they don't care about anything. Mary is tossed around like a rag doll nobody wants; Colin is expecting to die and Master Craven runs from the possibilities of getting to know his son. In The Secret Garden there is person vs. society and person vs. her/himself. In person vs. society Mary is unloved by her parents and by most of those who she encounters. Her parents ignore her existence and leave her to the care of a hateful ayah. After her parents die she moves to live with her uncle and is greeted by Mrs. Medlock who finds her a disagreeable child. She and others don't give Mary a chance; they judge and sentence her. They do the same to Colin; they don't give him hopes of living and expect him to die soon. Person vs. her/himself is found when Mary, Colin and Master Craven have to find the courage to face the harsh world. They all fear this loneliness which they bring amongst themselves by withdrawing themselves from the world The climax in the story would have to be when Mary can't handle Colins tantrums and all his ranting and raving about the lump on his back that's going to kill him. She realizes that the way that Colin acts was the same way she used to be and she sets him straight. She doesn't give in to his hysterics and proves to him that the only lumps on his back are his bones. From that day on things change, Mary tells him about the garden and Colin gets a sudden interest in life. After that Mary takes him to the garden and this view on life changes, he says I shall live for ever- and ever- and ever. It's a combination of events with the help of different characters that bring this story to its conclusion. But it all starts with Mary's arrival to the manor and her curiosity about the secret garden. Mary was used to being served and being alone, neglected by her parents she becomes bitter. Full of disagreeable thoughts about her dislikes and sour opinions of people and her determination not to be pleased by or interested in anything. There was no meaning in Mary's life and that's why she was bitter, that changed when she moved to Misselthwaite where she discovers the secret garden with fantastic healing powers. The garden is walled up and has been locked up for years. With the gardener's apprentice, Dickon, Mary coaxes the garden back to life. The garden seems to have a wonderful, magical effect on all those who come into it, allowing Mary to help restore Colin to health and a reunion with his father. It's a story where faith restores health, flowers refresh the spirit and the

Essay Topics in IIT HSEE

Essay Topics in IIT HSEEDo you know what the most common iIT HSEE essay topics are? There is a large amount of people who do not know or understand the rules that govern the different topics in the second year of IIT. The topics covered in the course of a year should be researched well so that you are able to make a good mark on your IIT HSEE score.It would be useless if you are the only one doing the research and finding the best ones. You should take the help of someone who is a regular in the course so that you can have all the knowledge about the topics that are required for your school entrance exam.While it may seem like a daunting task to find one, there are many who are willing to do the job for you. It would be helpful if you ask the professors for references and people who have taken the same courses as you. You should also look for students who have been accepted to iIT and ask them about the topics they used in their essays.After you have found a few names of students, yo u can compare the material that you will find in their essays. You should be able to tell from the very start whether the topics that they use are suitable for you or not. You can then choose the most suitable one for you and ensure that it reflects well on your IIT HSEE result.One thing you should bear in mind while choosing your topic is that it should fit well with your syllabus. The topics which are used by your teacher and a number of other students will naturally reflect well on you. The topics that fit well with your syllabus are those which have a lot of relevance to the subject you are taking.It is very important to write a clear and concise essay. While the topic is important, you should also ensure that you are able to deliver a well-written article on time. If you cannot write a concise and clear essay, you should find another essay topic to work on.The best iIT HSEE essay topics are the ones which are used by a number of students. Therefore, you should ensure that you d o not use more than one topic at a time. If you are able to do so, you will not end up wasting your time researching multiple topics.These are some of the basic guidelines that can help you achieve the high score that you want on your IIT HSEE. You should make the most of the research that you have done so that you can earn the best marks.

Poppaea Sabina, Mistress Then Wife of Emperor Nero

Poppaea Sabina, Mistress Then Wife of Emperor Nero Poppaea Sabina was the mistress and second wife of the Roman emperor Nero.  Neros bad acts are often attributed to her influence.  Her birth year is unknown, but we know she died in 65 C.E. Family and Marriages Poppaea Sabina was born the daughter of a woman with the same name who committed suicide. Her father was Titus Ollius. Her paternal grandfather,  Poppaeus Sabinus, was a Roman Consul and a friend of several emperors.  Her family was wealthy, and Poppaea herself owned a villa outside Pompeii. Poppaea was married first to Rufrius Crispinus of the Preaetorian Guard, and they had a son.  Agrippina the Younger, as empress, removed him from his position, as he was too close to a previous empress, Messalina.   Poppaeas next husband was Otho, a childhood friend of Nero.  Otho would go on after Neros death to briefly become emperor. Then Poppaea became mistress of the emperor Nero, Othos friend, and about seven years younger than she was. Nero appointed Otho to an important post as governor of Lusitai (Lusitania).  Nero divorced his wife, Octavia, who was the daughter of his predecessor, the Emperor Claudius.  This caused a rift with his mother, Agrippina the Younger. Nero married Poppaea, and Poppaea was given the title Augusta when they had a daughter, Claudia. Claudia did not live long. Murder Plots According to the stories told of her, Poppaea had urged Nero to kill his mother, Agrippina the Younger, and to divorce and later murder his first wife, Octavia. She is also reported to have persuaded Nero to kill the philosopher Seneca, who had supported Neros previous mistress, Acte Claudia. Poppaea is believed to have stirred Nero to attack Christians after the Fire of Rome and to have helped free Jewish priests at the request of Josephus. She also advocated for her home town of Pompeii, and helped it gain considerable autonomy from the Empires rule.  In archaeological study of the city of Pompeii, where volcanic tragedy preserved the city within 15 years of Poppaeas death, scholars have found evidence that during her lifetime, she was considered a virtuous woman, with many statues in her honor. Nero and Poppaea were, according to some contemporaries, happy in their marriage, but Nero had a temper and became more and more erratic.  Nero reportedly kicked her during an argument when she was pregnant in 65 C.E., resulting in her death, possibly from the effects of the subsequent miscarriage. Nero gave her a public funeral and proclaimed her virtues.  Her body was embalmed and buried in the Mausoleum of Augustus. Nero proclaimed her divine. He was even said to have dressed one of his males slaves as Poppaea so he could believe she had not died.  He had Poppaeas son by her first marriage killed. In 66, Nero remarried. His new wife was  Statilia Messallina. Otho, Poppaeas first husband, helped in Galbas successful revolt against Nero, and made himself emperor after Galba was killed.  Otho was then defeated by Vitellius forces, and he subsequently killed himself. Poppaea Sabina and the Jews The Jewish historian Josephus (who also died in 65 BCE) tells us that Poppaea Sabina interceded on behalf of Jews twice. The first time was to free priests; Josephus went to Rome to plead their case, meeting with Poppaea and then receiving many gifts from her. In the second instance, a different delegation won Poppaeas influence in its cause to keep standing a wall at the temple that would keep the emperor from seeing the Temples proceedings. Tacitus The main source for information about Poppaea is the Roman writer Tacitus.  He does not depict kind acts, such as those reported by Josephus, but instead depicts her as corrupt.  Tacitus, for instance, asserts that Poppaea engineered her marriage with Otho specifically to get closer to, and eventually marry, Nero. Tacitus does assert that she was quite beautiful but shows how she used her beauty and sexuality as a way of gaining power and prestige. Cassius Dio This Roman historian also villified Poppaea in his writing about her. The Coronation of Poppaea The Coronation of Poppaea, or LIncoronazione di Poppea, is an opera in a prologue and three acts by Monteverdi, libretto by G. F. Busenello. The opera focuses on the replacement of Neros wife Octavia by Poppaea. The opera was first performed in Venice in 1642. Also known as:  Poppea (Italianized spelling),  Poppaea Augusta Sabina, Poppaea Sabina the Younger (to differentiate from her mother)

Origins and Symbolism of the German National Flag

Origins and Symbolism of the German National Flag These days, when you come across a larger number of German flags, you are probably running into a bunch of soccer fans or walking through an allot settlement. But as many state flags, also the German one has quite an interesting history. Even though the Federal Republic of Germany wasn’t founded until 1949, the countrys flag, bearing the tricolors black, red, and gold, is actually much older than the year 1949. The flag was created as a symbol of hope for a united state, that didn’t even exist at that time. 1848: A Symbol of Revolution The year 1848 was probably one of the most influential years in European history. It brought revolutions and massive change in many areas of daily and political life all over the continent. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, hopes for a united non-authoritarian German state were quickly disappointed as Austria in the South and Prussia in the North achieved practical domination over the patchwork of dozens of smaller kingdoms and realms that were Germany back then. Shaped by the traumatic experience of French occupation, in the following years, the incrementally educated middle classes, especially the younger people, were appalled by the autocratic rule from the outside. After the German revolution in 1848, the National Assembly in Frankfurt declared the constitution of a new, free, and united Germany. The colors of this country, or rather its people, were to be black, red, and gold. Why Black, Red, and Gold? The tricolor dates back to the Prussian resistance against Napoleonic Rule. A squad of voluntary fighters wore black uniforms with red buttons and golden trimmings. Originating there, the colors were soon used as a symbol of freedom and nation. From 1830 onwards, more and more black, red, and gold flags could be found, even though it was mostly illegal to fly them openly as the people were not allowed to defy their respective rulers. With the beginning of the revolution in 1848, the people took to the flag as the emblem of their cause.   Some Prussian cities were practically painted in its colors. Their inhabitants were fully aware of the fact that this would humiliate the government. The idea behind the use of the flag was, that a united Germany should be constituted by the people: One nation, including all of the different realms and territories. But the high hopes of the revolutionaries didn’t last long. The Frankfurt parliament basically dismantled itself in 1850, Austria and Prussia once more took over effective power. The hard-won constitutions were weakened and the flag was once again forbidden. A Short Return in 1918 The later German Empire under Otto von  Bismarck and the emperors, that did unite Germany after all, chose a different tricolor as its national flag (the Prussian colors black, white and red). After World War I, the Weimar Republic emerged from the rubble. The parliament was trying to set up a democratic constitution and found its ideals represented in the old revolutionary flag of 1848. The democratic values this flag stands for could of course not be tolerated by the National Socialists (die Nationalsozialisten) and after they seized the power, the black, red, and gold was again replaced. Two Versions from 1949 But the old tricolor returned in 1949, twice even. As the Federal Republic and the GDR were formed, they reclaimed the black, red, and gold for their emblems. The Federal Republic clung to the traditional version of the flag while the GDR changed theirs in 1959. Their  new variant bore a hammer and a compass within a ring of rye. It was not until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of Germany in 1990, that the one national flag of a united Germany should finally be the old symbol of the democratic revolution of 1848. Interesting Fact Like in many other countries, burning the German flag or even trying so, is illegal according to  §90 Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) and can be punished with up to three years in prison or a fine. But you might get away with burning the flags of other countries. In the USA though, the burning of flags isnt illegal per se. What do you think? Should burning or damaging flags be illegal?