Individuality at a cellular level.

We as people sometimes doubt how special we are. We wonder what makes us special when there are 7 billion plus people on this planet. Well the truth of the matter is, YOU are special becuase you won the race the moment a diploid cell was made. Let me explain. In order for the process of human growth to start, we must start with two different types of cells. A mother carries the egg cell, while the father carries the fertalizing cell. Each cell type carries exactly 23 chromosomes which encode for traits from your mother and your father. These types of cells are called haploid cells because they contain only half the genetic data needed to make an embryo. The tricky part of this is that there are hundreds of cells all racing towards the female ovulate, and the cell that one is what made you. Each cell racing towards the other carries different alleles that encode for the same gene. To clarify, all cells encode for hair, eyes, skin pigment, and more, but the alleles are the specific details of those traits. Each person is special because they are the outcome of two diploid cells uniting into a haploid cell to make an embryo. It is truly fascinating to think that all of us developed from a miniscule cell, who in its most basic form still displayed complexity within its inner workings. People don't often think of themselves as "special", but the reality is, the moment you are born, you have already survived various hazards. So enjoy life, and be thankful of being who you are, for it may have not been you.

-Ivan

Sources:

http://www.visembryo.com/