- published: 12 Oct 2006
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An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation. Adaptations contribute to the fitness and survival of individuals. Organisms face a succession of environmental challenges as they grow and develop and are equipped with an adaptive plasticity as the phenotype of traits develop in response to the imposed conditions. The developmental norm of reaction for any given trait is essential to the correction of adaptation as it affords a kind of biological insurance or resilience to varying environments.
The significance of an adaptation can only be understood in relation to the total biology of the species.
Adaptation is, first of all, a process, rather than a physical part of a body. An internal parasite (such as a fluke) can illustrate the distinction: such a parasite may have a very simple bodily structure, but nevertheless the organism is highly adapted to its specific environment. From this we see that adaptation is not just a matter of visible traits: in such parasites critical adaptations take place in the life-cycle, which is often quite complex. However, as a practical term, adaptation is often used for the product: those features of a species which result from the process. Many aspects of an animal or plant can be correctly called adaptations, though there are always some features whose function is in doubt. By using the term adaptation for the evolutionary process, and adaptive trait for the bodily part or function (the product), the two senses of the word may be distinguished.
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television, and film. She is widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of all time.
Streep made her professional stage debut in The Playboy of Seville (1971), before her screen debut in the television movie Deadliest Season (1977). In that same year, she made her film debut with Julia (1977). Both critical and commercial success came quickly with roles in The Deer Hunter (1978) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), the former giving Streep her first Academy Award nomination and the latter her first win. She later won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in Sophie's Choice (1982) and The Iron Lady (2011).
Streep has received 17 Academy Award nominations, winning three, and 26 Golden Globe nominations, winning eight, more nominations than any other actor in the history of either award. Her work has also earned her two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Cannes Film Festival award, five New York Film Critics Circle Awards, two BAFTA awards, an Australian Film Institute Award, five Grammy Award nominations, and a Tony Award nomination, amongst others. She was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2004 and the Kennedy Center Honor in 2009 for her contribution to American culture through performing arts, the youngest actress in each award's history.
“Adaptation”
Adaptation the process
Environments changing
I’m looking for the foothold
I never quite found it
Food stamps catering your wedding
Wal-Mart stylist
Aiding and abetting
With the riot police in the streets patrolling
The kids in strollers but the tanks keep pressing on through
My eyes never ever blink twice
They open and they close from the morning to the night
And yes you can pay with plastic
But you keep your money in the bank
Your a pawn big brother no thanks
Always vicious and suspicious here
Watch a numb hand shake another
It is business as usual in here
Drop bombs on the dark skinned people
You can claim to be a Christian but the killing is offensive
Sinning and winning right to the top
Zoloft and Paxil and Prozax but still no pot
What kind of legislation is that?
Response
My brain can’t function
Diluted
I’m already past the negative assumptions
The consequences never arrive late
They alter the mind state
Driving the man into madness
One foot falls as one foot catches it
One sin exits as one sin enters it
The cycle is intoxicating it’s not worth debating
Why cut me short there’s so much more to be said
Like was the missing link really ever missing?
Is there really any truth with paranoid suspicion?
Always vicious and suspicious here
Watch a numb hand shake another