Short proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Short proposal - Essay Example I also do have confidence that my group members will provide me help. Conclusion Parking lots are an important part of institutions but their mismanagement or their use by other customers can make institutional implications. The outcome for this parking dilemma appears as a burden both on community managers and on parking lots. It consumes time, waste energy, enforce financial burdens, and increase the management of traffic. Many customers, students, and passengers have to make their parking after a cumbersome travel in the vicinities of the main parking lots and sometimes, this become a real dilemma. Some vicinity areas are so plagued and there is chance to be obstructed by someone trying to rob passengers. The situation also becomes highly vulnerable for people with disabilities. Students of University of Colorado Denver and Metro State College are really in trouble as they even paid to RTD parking but still can’t get transited through mass transit. I would like to request M rs. Zambon, to provide permission so that we can implement our study design to investigate on the RTD parking issues. The study is very feasible and has instrumented every aspect to make results an invaluable contribution to the community development.

Bats Definition Essay Essay Example for Free

Bats Definition Essay Essay Bats are defined as flying mammals of the order Chiroptera . They have a worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate regions and have modified forelimbs that serve as wings and are covered with a membranous skin extending to the hind limbs that allows them to fly. The bat’s the only mammal capable of true flight. They use echolocation to find their prey by emitting sound waves that bounce off objects in front of them and echo back to them. By using their highly advanced hearing they can determine an object’s size, shape, location and even texture Bats are good at keeping insect populations in control by hunting Different bats live through the winter in a variety of ways. Some types of bats migrate while others hibernate. Some even go into Torpor (a state of controlled hypothermia). Bats in the wild usually find places like hollow trees or caves to hibernate in, but they also find comfort in man made locations. It’s during the winter that most homeowners need to be aware of bat activity surrounding their homes. It’s not uncommon for bats to move into homes to stay warm, dry and secure during the winter months. They’re especially fond of places like attics, crawlspaces and unused chimneys. Bats are commonly thought of as carriers of rabies. While bats can get rabies the percentage of bats with the disease is less than one percent, so there is no reason to fear a bat more than other animals. However, it is recommended that bats found in houses or bats that come in contact with humans be taken to a local health department vet or police for rabies testing to rule out the presence of the disease. Signs of a bat infestation can include the smell of urine or feces (or guano) in strange places (usually near walls or fire places) or maybe even the physical presence of animal waste. Another, more obvious sign includes scratching and squeaking in the walls or ceiling. Occasionally bats may find their way into the inner sanctum of your household. There are many rights and wrongs to getting a bat out of the house First of all, it is important to know your foe and be aware of a bat’s abilities. When trapped indoors bats have the tendency to swoop back and forth through a room quickly. When this happens the best thing to do is to contain the bat in one room and open any doors or screenless windows leading to the outdoors. If this is possible simply stand back and wait for it to land or fly out the window. If you have some sort of net you could try catching it as it swoops by. Bats cannot take off from the ground, so they have to climb and take off from high places like walls or furniture, so when a bat is grounded you have the opportunity to catch the bat. This can be done in several ways. Regardless of how you catch a bat you must always be very careful to not touch the bat to prevent being bitten or scratched. Cornered bats can be quite vicious if provoked. You can use gloves, a thick towel or net to capture the bat. If you prefer not to use your hand you could use a box, can, or Tupperware container by trapping the bat and then sliding a piece of cardboard under it. Regardless of how you choose to approach a bat, it is always a good idea to at least wear thick gloves to avoid being bitten. Any bat suspected of having physical contact with a person should be captured and submitted for rabies testing. Your local health department, animal control office or veterinarian can help you submit the bat to a laboratory for rabies testing. If the bat tests negative, rabies treatment can be avoided. If a bat bites or has physical contact with a person, the wound or contact area should be washed immediately with soap and water. Unfortunately, bat bites and scratches are small and may go unnoticed. In certain situations it may be impossible to know if contact with a bat has occurred. These situations occur when a bat is found in the same room with a sleeping person, infant or young child, a person with a disease that reduces mental capacity, or persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Whenever a bat has physical contact with a person, or is suspected of coming in contact with a person, the bat should be captured and tested, if possible, and the incident should be reported immediately to a physician and local health authority to assess the need for rabies treatment. Bats are good for the environment and should not be feared but respected. Bats good for the environment and keep the mosquito population down preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and West-Nile Virus. Bats are often viewed in culture as evil

DNA Transformation in Bacteria

DNA Transformation in Bacteria 1.0 Introduction and Objectives The ability of bacteria to incorporate DNA from external sources is the primary reason for their survival and proliferation. Bacteria can take DNA from their surroundings or from other bacterial cells by cell wall-transfer. While an interesting phenomenon to examine for scientists, practically it is of great concern for the human race and a source of constant challenge for the Pharmaceutical Industry. The ability of bacteria to modify their genetic information has given rise to problems such as antibiotic resistance wherein bacteria become resistant to medications that were once effective in eliminating them. In this experiment, we examine the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Circular DNA called plasmids are introduced in bacteria whose cells have been modified to promote uptake of plasmid DNA. This plasmid DNA will give rise to antibiotic resistance in the bacteria, which can be observed by allowing the bacteria to proliferate in an environment containing the antibi otic. Modification of genetic information in bacteria may be a source of concern, but that ability in the hands of humans has always been coveted. Genetic engineering is an increasingly popular research area given the breakthroughs made in recent years and the potential for commercial application. Various applications require large quantities of specific DNA sequences and this is where the bacterial ability to uptake DNA and reproduce it is beneficial. Introducing plasmids containing desired sequences into bacteria, allowing bacteria to reproduce and then isolating the required DNA is a common method used to obtain large quantities of particular DNA sequences. This aspect is also explored in this experiment. 1.1 Objectives The objectives of this experiment are to: a) Observe and examine the phenomenon of DNA Transformation. b) Observe the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria through the process of gene transformation. c) Inculcate proper Sterile Technique for laboratory procedures involving bacterial strains. 2.0 Principles This section explores the underlying concept behind the experiment. Genetic Transformation is a process of horizontal gene transfer whereby DNA from the environment is taken up by a host cell. In this experiment bacterial cells are transformed. Escherichia Coli bacteria, which are generally non pathogenic are used in this experiment. The plasmids which constitute the external DNA contain a gene that makes the cell ampicillin resistant. Ampicillin is a bacteriostatic and will normally prevent the reproduction of E. Coli bacteria. This provides us with an easy way to test if gene transformation has occurred and to what extent by means of calculating the transformation efficiency. The introduction of genetic material within the bacterial cell is done by the process of electroporation. Electroporation involves applying an electrical voltage across the bacterial cells containing the plasmids. The ionic concentration of the DNA is kept low to prevent arcing. When the voltage is applied, holes open up in the walls of the bacteria. The plasmids can then enter the bacterial cells through these holes. Application of the voltage is done for a very short period of time. As soon as electric current stops flowing, the holes in the cell wall begin to close. A nutrient rich medium is then added to the bacterial cells, some of which will have transformed, to aid cell recovery. Incubation is then carried out, after which the cell suspension is diluted further and applied to agar plates containing the antibiotic. The cells are left to incubate for up to 24 hours and then the number of colonies determined. Calculating the transformation efficiency gives us a method to determine the extent to which the transformation occurred. 3.0 Methods and Materials 3.1 Materials The equipment and materials required for this experiment are outlined in this section. Equipment Required: A shaking incubator operating at 37ÃÅ'Ã…  C A non-shaking incubator An electroporator Materials Required: Cells treated for competency 2 agar plates with ampicillin with a concentration of 100 Â µg/ml pUC-19 plasmids 0.1 cm cuvettes Ice in an ice-box Deionised ultrapure water S.O.C. medium at room temperature 2 tubes with snap caps with a volume of 15 ml 3.2 Sterile Technique Sterile Technique is a must when handling pathogenic strains of bacteria. In this experiment, nonpathogenic bacterial strains are employed. However, using sterile technique is still good experimental procedure and promotes safety. Using sterile technique prevents errors in experimental results by preventing contamination from the surroundings. It also prevents contamination of the surrounding environment by the bacterial strain. Steps employed to prevent contamination included: Carrying out the experiment in an uncluttered area. Utilizing a fume hood to perform all procedures involving the bacteria. Washing hands both before as well as after the experiment Disposing off all bacterial waste in the appropriate container for bio-hazardous materials. 3.3 Procedure 3.3.1 Preparation for Electroporation The 0.1 cm cuvettes were cooled on ice. The electroporator was prepared based on prescribed settings. In order to bring the S.O.C. medium to room temperature, it was removed from the ice box. The cells and plasmids were allowed to thaw in the ice-box. Plates were heated at 37ÃÅ'Ã…  C to prepare for the incubation process. 3.3.2 Procedures I Â µl of pUC19 control DNA and 1 Â µl of ultrapure water were added to 2 separate microcentrifuge tubes with the aid of a pipette. The tube was then placed in the ice-box. 25 Â µl of competent cells were added to each of the microcentrifuge tubes. The contents of the tubes were gently mixed. Care was taken to avoid usage of the pipette for mixing. The tubes were then returned to the ice-box for 1 minute. The contents of each microcentrifuge tube were transferred to a cuvette using a pipette. It was ensured that the cells made contact with the cuvette walls and that no air-bubbles were present. This step was done rapidly to prevent heating up of the cells. The cuvettes were then electroporated. 250 Â µl of S.O.C. medium was added to the cells immediately after electroporation. Each of the two suspensions was transferred to a 15 ml tube. The shaking incubator was then set to 225rpm and used to incubate the cells for an hour to allow expression of the acquired antibiotic resistance. 10 Â µl of the transformed sample was then added to 90 Â µl of S.O.C. medium. The plates containing the ampicillin were then used. 20 Â µl of each of the two diluted samples from step 7 was added to a plate. Even spreading of the sample on the agar medium was ensured. Using the non-shaking incubator, the plates were incubated at 37 ÃÅ'Ã…  C for a day and the results recorded. 4.0 Results and Discussion 4.1 Results Answers to Questions (1) Schematic of observations of the agar plates: Figure 1: Results as Indicated by the Agar Plates (2) Count the colonies and calculate the transformation efficiency. Number of colonies observed = 13 Figure 2: Calculation of Transformation Efficiency Using the formula shown in figure 2, Transformation efficiency = 1.78 1010 transformants/Â µg plasmid DNA 4.2 Discussion Answers to Questions (1) Define the vocabulary used in this experiment: transformation, electroporation, host, plasmid, and competent. -Transformation Transformation is a process of horizontal gene transfer whereby DNA present in the environment of a cell is taken up by the cell. In this experiment the transformation involves the uptake of a plasmid containing a marker that results in ampicillin resistance by E. Coli bacteria through electroporation. -Electroporation Electroporation involves subjecting cells to an electric voltage to create holes in the cell wall. External material can then enter the cell through these holes. Natural processes then cause the hole to close and return the cell to its original state. -Host An organism that harbours a parasite is called a host. -Plasmid A plasmid is circular extra-chromosomal DNA. -Competent A competent cell is one which can internalise DNA present in its external environment. Competence can either be natural or artificial. (2) State why E. coli is used in many genetic engineering experiments. The popularity of Escherichia Coli for genetic experiments is due to various reasons. Firstly, most E. Coli strains are non-pathogenic and pose no harm to humans. Safety is a significant factor in the laboratory and E. Coli use is generally safe. Secondly, E. Coli grow easily and can be duplicated through metagenics. Thirdly, their genetic make-up is relatively simple and can be manipulated with ease. Fourthly they have been extensively studied and a lot is known about them. This makes it easier for researchers and they therefore prefer to use E. Coli for genetic engineering experiments. (3) Explain why competent cells, ampicillin, and S.O.C. medium were used for the transformation. Competent cells are necessary as transformation involves taking external genetic material into the cell. If cells are not competent this cannot happen and the experiment cannot be carried out successfully. Ampicillin is an antibiotic. Specifically, it is a bacteriostatic for E. Coli. It helps distinguish between bacteria that have taken up the plasmid and those that have not. This is because the plasmid contains a marker that causes ampicillin resistance. E. Coli cells do not naturally contain the genetic sequence that causes ampicillin resistance. Thus, ampicillin selection is possible to distinguish between transformed cells and untransformed cells. S.O.C. medium contains the nutrients required to help cells stabilise after electroporation. Electroporation introduces holes into the cell wall of the cell and therefore causes destabilisation of the cell. S.O.C medium contains yeast extract and other nutrient sources that help the cell recover. Once the cell has recovered and if the plasmid has entered the cell during electroporation, the cell will multiply and give rise to a colony during the incubation period. (4) Explain the purpose of the controls in this experiment. The control in this experiment constitutes bacteria without the plasmid that inculcates antibiotic resistance. Without this extra piece of genetic information to enable the bacteria to mount defences against the attack of the antibiotic, ampicillin is this case, the bacterial cells will be unable to multiply in a medium that contains the antibiotic. The cells that were treated such that they could incorporate the plasmid DNA into their genetic make-up will be able to multiply in a medium where ampicillin is present as long as there are enough nutrients available for growth. Thus, the control helps us show that the DNA plasmid was indeed taken up and incorporated into their genetic make-up by the bacteria. The only way for E. coli to have survived with ampicillin present is if they had taken up the plasmid and transmitted it to all generations when they reproduced after uptake of the plasmid. Hence, the control serves to confirm uptake of the plasmid as well as its transmission to fol lowing generations by comparing it to cells in the control that did not have the extra DNA. (5) Explain how the colony growth relates to gene transformation. A colony of bacteria stems from the binary fission of one single bacterial cell. When bacteria reproduce vertical genetic transfer occurs whereby the offspring has the exact copy of the genetic material of the parent. In this experiment, bacteria are introduced into a medium containing the antibiotic ampicillin. E. Coli bacteria with their original genetic make-up will be unable to reproduce due to the presence of the antibiotic as they do not have the means necessary to resist antibiotic attack. This is what is expected in the control sample as ampicillin is a bacteriostatic.. The positive sample on the other hand has bacteria which have undergone horizontal gene transfer by transformation. The plasmid DNA that was used for the transformation process contains genetic code that results in E.Coli developing ampicillin resistance. Thus, bacteria that can incorporate this plasmid and pass it on to their offspring by vertical gene transfer can grow in the environment. This is how colony growth relates to gene transformation. (6) Describe how ionic strength of DNA solution affects electroporation. The ionic strength of DNA solution comes into play due to the electroporation stage where holes are created in the bacterial cell wall to allow uptake of the plasmid by transmission of an electric voltage. For this step, the ionic strength of the solution must be low. If the ionic strength is high, arcing will occur. Arcing is visible during the experiment by sparks and a sound like a micro-scale thunderclap. It can cause cell death as well as equipment damage. Thus, for the experiment to be carried out successfully and to safeguard the apparatus, the DNA solution must be of low ionic strength. (7) If your transformation efficiency is lower than 1 109 cfu/ÃŽ ¼g, conjecture and explain potential reasons for the low efficiency. The transformation efficiency is greater than the benchmark stated above. This corresponds to good transformation efficiency and indicates a successful transformation process. However, the close clustering of the colonies makes it possible that some of the colonies are satellite colonies rather than transformed colonies. The experiment could be repeated with a higher concentration of ampicillin to obtain more reliable results. (8) Discuss current and potential applications of gene transformation techniques in biotechnology. Gene transformation techniques play a crucial role in biotechnology. This is because gene transformation provides a method to produce copies of desired DNA sequences. This is especially useful in the pharmaceutical industry to develop medications that are target specific. Also, this could potentially lead the way to genetic engineering, where defects to the genetic code could be repaired and desired traits inserted through addition of the corresponding DNA sequences. Gene replacement therapy could prove to be the cure for nearly all diseases that take human lives contemporarily. In the future gene transformation could be used to engineer human beings and other animals and plants according to desired specifications. Genetic transformation is also used in the development of pest-resistant crops, which could potentially increase the productivity of the land. This could be key to feed the ever-growing population as the quantity of agricultural land decreases. Understanding the evolution of drug resistance could help us devise ways of preventing drug resistance as well as developing drugs that can overcome resistance. In this arena gene transformation plays an important role horizontal genetic transfer is a natural process in bacteria. 4.3 Sources of Error and Suggestions for Improvement There are a few sources of error that could result in incorrect conclusion being drawn from experimental results. (i) The number of colonies seen need not correspond to the bacteria that transformed. This could be due to the growth of satellite colonies. Large bacterial colonies will secrete beta lactamase, which is what causes ampicillin resistance. Thus, the area around the colony will contain this secretion and be ampicillin-free. A satellite colony could grow in this area from untransformed cells. To avoid this problem, the incubation period should strictly be restricted to 24 hours. Satellite colonies emerge after a delay. By ensuring that results arr recorded promptly, the interference in results brought about by satellite colonies can be minimised. Another method is to use a higher concentration of ampicillin. More time will be required to create a antibiotic-free zone around a colony if the concentration of antibiotic is high. (ii) Identifying the number of colonies can be difficult, especially if the size of the colony is miniscule. This could result in an incorrect calculation of transformation efficiency. In order to increase accuracy of results, a different selection marker can be used. Some selection markers have properties that can be distinguished by shining UV light and other such techniques which result in a high contrast. Using these markers may result in higher reliability of results. (iii) Distinguishing between colonies can be difficult if they grow close to one another and appear to be one large colony. Also, closer colonies would also result in a higher chance of there being satellite colonies. To minimise this problem, crowding on the plate must be minimised. For that, a higher concentration of ampicillin could be used, carbenicillin selection could be used instead of ampicillin selection (although expensive) or the nutrient dilution could be adjusted such that it discourages very rapid proliferation. 5.0 Conclusions The objectives of this experiment were to explore the phenomenon of gene transformation and the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria as well as to inculcate the practice of sterile technique for handling bacteria. Gene transformation was observed with the development of ampicillin resistance in transformed Escherichia Coli bacteria. The bacteria not exposed to the plasmids containing the genes for antibiotic resistance did not grow in an environment containing the antibiotic while the transformed bacteria formed colonies in the same environment. A calculation of transformation efficiency returned a value of 1.78 1010 transformants/Â µg of plasmid DNA, which is greater than the threshold of 109, indicative of a successful experiment. However, the possibility of some of the 13 colonies of bacteria being satellite colonies as opposed to transformed colonies reduces the reliability of the results. Methods to increase reliability of results were therefore suggested. References 1. Port, Tami. (2008, June 14). Bacteria Horizontal Gene Transfer. suite101.com. Retrieved 3rd April, 2010 from http://bacteriology.suite101.com/article.cfm/bacteria_horizontal_gene_transfer 2. Metzenberg, Stan. (2002). Bacterial Plasmids. California State University Northridge Department of Biology. Retrieved 4th April, 2010 from http://escience.ws/b572/L2/L2.htm

Leni Riefenstahl Essay -- essays research papers fc

Leni Riefenstahl Leni Riefenstahl, a dazzling individual that has lived through and experienced many things that no other person may have. She has lived through the World War One, Great Depression, Nazi Germany, World War Two, the Cold war and September 11. However, what fascinates historians and people all over was her involvement and relationship with Hitler and the Nazis party. This report will look over Leni’s early to role as director of her Infamous films Triumph of the Will and Olympia and her involvement and view of Nazism and Hitler. Helene Bertha Amelie (Leni) was born on 22 August 1902 in Berlin. Leni lived in a comfortable middle-class family. Since a young age Leni has had a passion for dance. Leni’s dancing career began in the 1920s, during the Weimar republic that saw the birth of a culturally and politically diverse nation. Max Reinhardt, a prominent producer hired Leni as a dancer. Leni soon extended her talents to choreography. Her dancing career suffered due to a continuos knee injuries and one in particular in 1925, when she performed Prague. However, her life was going to under go a dramatic change that would lead her to acting and finally directing. Suddenly the image of a man climbing a jagged mountain came into focus. The colourful poster was promoting a movie with predictive name â€Å"Mountain of Destiny†. Leni instantly became entranced with the movie and soon went off to meet Arnold Fanck who would open the world of cinema to Leni. She stared in six of his movies, such as The Holy Mountain, The Big Jump and the White Hell of Pitz Palu, where she was portrayed as the hero and where her physical proficiency was displayed (which has always been a male domain). Franck had become her mentor and it been his opening scene of the ‘The magic mountain’ that Hitler admired. In 1932 the political situation in Germany was intensifying. The Republic was crumbling and the great depression was taking its toll on the German people. Leni was not greatly affected by the depression and saw little of the violence that was occurring. In Berlin she was persuaded by friends to attend a political rally at Sportsplatz where Hitler would give an address. Instantly Leni had become spellbound by Hitler as he did upon thousands-‘He radiated something very powerful,’ she later observed, ‘something which had a kind of hypotonic effect.’ Inspired by Hitler, Leni ... ...after the event. Bibliography Republic to Reich: A history of Germany 1918-1945 (K.J. Mason) 2003 This text was useful for my research, because it gave a good overview of the life of Leni Riefenstahl and it examined her two controversial films Triumph of the Will and Olympia. It also gives names of Historians and of the historical debates. I used the text through understanding what it was saying and compared it to my opinion of Leni. I used quotes from the text, which it had taken from historians, or other texts. A Portrait of Leni Riefenstahl (Audrey Salkeld) 1996 The text was quite and interesting as it presented the views of not only Audrey but of other historians. The text gave me both views of the debate over Leni. It also helped me in determining my standing over the debates surrounding Riefenstahl. I used quotes from the text and used it in my reports. http://www.thesportjournal.org/2001Journal/fall/olympia.htm http://courses.washington.edu/ger371/riefenstahl/biography.html http://womenshistory.about.com/od/riefenstahl/ Teaching History: Leni Riefenstahl Sources and Debates (Andrew G. Bonnell) 2001 http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1038696,00.html

Coca-Cola or Pepsi: The True King of Pop Essay -- essays research pap

He lets out an ahhh of satisfaction as he sets down the cup. There is an excited silence to the crowd as they wait to hear the verdict. Will he choose Pepsi or will it be Coca-Cola? It is a question that many wonder about and can be a very tricky question. Both sides say that theirs taste’s better and both have strong proof to back that up. But I am here to help settle the issue once and for all and show to you that taste isn’t everything one should judge. When all is done I will prove to you that in the end there can be no doubt that Coca-Cola is the king of pop.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To truly understand the complexities of what makes a soft drink one of the best you must first take a look at the appearance and package of said drink. Pepsi has always tried to go with the flashy look and now tries to play on American patriotism by having a red, white, and blue can. While this may be a nice touch, Coke doesn’t need to rely on playing on the people’s feelings. They have stayed with a classic look of red with white writing. This simple yet elegant stance shows to the world that they don’t need to spice up their appearance to entice customers, because they know it what’s on the inside that counts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now if you are a true beverage coinsure, you will of course take notice of the initial reaction of carbonation and air when you pop open your can. I know that some will argue that all pop sounds the same at this action, but you just need to listen ...

Offshoring Paper Essay

This article talks about a trend that started as far back as the 1980’s when companies began sending many jobs abroad mainly because of cheap labor. However, that trend is quickly changing. Companies are discovering that the wage gap is narrowing and many of the disadvantages are now starting to outweigh benefits of sending jobs abroad. One of the points mentioned in the article is that wages in china have risen 10-20% in the last 10 years, whereas wages in America and Europe have remained about the same. Also, another disadvantage of send production abroad is that shipping can be very expensive. In recent years shipping costs have gotten higher such that the cost of producing elsewhere and shipping to the US is no longer as cheap as it used to be. The time factor is also a big issue. Many times transit takes as long as six weeks which makes it hard for companies to fulfill their orders in a timely manner. In conclusion, the article makes a note that a lot of companies are now rethinking their decision about going offshore. Opinion Most of the companies went offshore to save money, and I can see where they are coming from after all the whole goal of having a business is to make profits however in my opinion many of the companies did not take the time to properly analyze the other costs involved in moving jobs offshore. Many also forgot to consider how it will affect the quality of their service when it comes to shipping time and sometimes the quality of the product. I am very happy that many jobs are coming back and I think the government needs to do more to encourage the companies. They should offer tax reductions where necessary so that America will be able to compete in the global market. I also like the point the article makes, that just because companies are tending towards reducing offshoring does not mean they will be less global, infact distributing their activities more evenly around the globe will make most companies more efficient.

Cortes Conquers the Aztecs: Spanish Conquest or Indian Civil War Essay

The Spanish conquests of Montezuma and the Aztecs were both a Spanish conquest as well as an Indian civil war. The thing that ties them both together is the Conquistador Hernan Cortes. You could argue for both sides as to which played a more significant part in the fall of the Aztecs, however, I feel they both played an equal role in the defeat of the Aztecs and the fall of Tenochititlan to the Spaniards. When Cortes first came to Mexico, he did not know the language spoken by the Indian tribes. He was fortunate enough to have two interpreters; Aguilar, a shipwrecked Spaniard who had learned the Maya language, and Malinche. Malinche was a young maiden â€Å"given† to Cortes as an offering. Between her and Aguilar, Cortes was able to become familiar with the way the Aztecs lived, thought, and fought. He used this tactic to aid in expedition and to guard against any attacks. By far, one of the biggest downfalls of Montezuma and the Aztecs was the role of the God Quetzalcoatl. The majority of the Aztecs’ lives and beliefs was centered on their Gods. One of their biggest beliefs was of the God Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent. Montezuma believed that Cortes was the human version of Quetzalcoatl. The legend of Quetzalcoatl depicted a bearded, white God who looked similar to Cortes. Quetzalcoatl was prominent during the Toltec rule and had supposedly left the valley because he was unhappy with the way things were. The Aztecs believed he was expected to return and bring back good times and good fortune. Cortes took advantage of their beliefs and immersed himself into the Aztecs lives. Against the advice of his royal family, Montezuma welcomed Cortes and the Spaniards with open arms. They wanted Montezuma to kill the foreigners. The Aztecs tried giving the Spaniards gold and other riches to get them to leave their city. This only fueled their desire and ambitions for more, and they refused to leave. The more they gave, the more the Spaniards wanted. Cortes made Montezuma a prisoner of his own city, which led to an uprising by the Aztecs known as â€Å"La Noche Triste†, or The Sad Night. Many lives were lost on both sides. Many other factors contributed to Cortes’ victory over the Aztecs. His soldiers had far more superior weapons and they had horses. The Aztecs were very afraid of the horses because they had never seen anything like them before. Disease also played a huge part in the defeat of the Aztecs. The Spanish brought ailments that the Aztecs had no immunities for. Three-fourths died from either violence or diseases such as small-pox and the measles in just the first century of the conquests. The Aztecs’ tactics of war were quite different from those of the Spaniards, and this was also a point in the Spaniards’ favor. The Spaniards fought to kill. The Aztecs did not. The Aztecs fought to capture and get prisoners so they could later use them as human sacrifices to their Gods. In fact, Cortes himself was captured several times but was re-captured by his men and rescued. The most important factor by far in the defeat of the Aztecs by Cortes, according to some historians, is the help he received from the other suppressed Indian tribes in the area. This is why I believe one could view this as not only a Spanish conquest, but also as an Indian civil war. These other Indian tribes chose to help Cortes fight because they felt they would benefit greatly from the defeat of the Aztecs. They were tired of living under the Aztecs’ rule and saw Cortes as a type of hero, or liberator. They were more than happy to help wage a war against the Aztecs if it meant they could have better lives. After many deaths on both sides, The Aztec capitol fell in August of 1521. After capturing Tenochititlan, the Spaniards destroyed the city and on top of it built was is now present day Mexico City. I believe the preceding statements support my argument that the most important factors in the demise of Montezuma and the Aztecs were from the equal combination of having to deal with a Spanish conquest and an Indian civil war. Sources: Vigil, James Diego From Indians to Chicano Internet site, Then Again Info World History Chronology Project; www.thenagaininfo Matthew, Roy T. and F. DeWitt Platt Western Humanities Sullivan, Richard E., Dennis Sherman and John B. Harrison A Short history of Western Civilization Wood, Michael A Legacy- The Search for Ancient Cultures