LifeCraft Counseling & Coaching of Denver

Is anxiety hurting you at work or in your relationships?

Denver counselor Gideon Killion shares some insights about the impact of anxiety.

We all have moments of anxiety in certain situations, whether it’s a performance review at work or waiting to hear the results of a medical test. But for some of us, it goes beyond that, with anxiety showing up much more often and in more ordinary situations. When it does, this kind of anxiety can have a real impact on your relationships and work (not to mention your ability to enjoy life). If this sounds like it might be you, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 18% of Americans over 18 have experienced the effects of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is something that I have struggled with, so I know what it’s like. I’d to share with you some of the signs of anxiety to watch out for, as well as what you can do to get a handle on it.

Signs of anxiety to watch out for

Here are some of the most common signs that anxiety is interfering with your optimal functioning. One or two of these experiences could be due to other factors, but if you find that multiple items are relevant to you right now, anxiety could be the culprit.

Things to watch for at work:

  • You have intrusive thoughts about your own shortcomings, in which any mistake becomes a catastrophe.
  • You avoid normal interactions with people, such as by procrastinating on returning voicemails.
  • You feel overwhelmed, “out of control,” or like you can’t cope with job expectations.
  • You are extremely nervous about meetings, presentations, etc., to the point of having physical symptoms (such as nausea) or being unable to participate.
  • You find yourself arriving late or leaving early in order to minimize the time spent at work.

Things to watch for in your close relationships:

  • You feel annoyed by or suspicious of the other person with no particular trigger, or your reaction seems out of proportion to what the other person has done.
  • You make excuses to be alone rather than with the other person (for example, saying that you don’t feel well or have to work late).
  • You are rarely able to relax with your partner or have fun together.
  • You are so focused on your own thoughts or worries that you feel emotionally disconnected from your partner.
  • You have feelings of dread or pessimism about the relationship, even though it has previously felt stable and supportive.

If several of these descriptions apply to your experience in a relationship or at work, you may be seeing the side effects of anxiety.

Things that Don’t Help When You’re Anxious

It may be hard to know what to do when anxious feelings come up. These are a few of the most common — but also least effective— responses to anxiety.

Ignoring it: For many people, the natural tendency in trying to cope with anxious feelings is to minimize or deny the problem. You may find yourself hoping that anxiety symptoms will just go away on their own. What often happens, though, is that trying to ignore anxiety can make it worse—either more frequent or more intense.

Isolating: A common side effect of anxiety is self-consciousness. You may worry that you’re acting strangely around others (or that they will guess how anxious you’re feeling). Although trying to stay away from others provides a short-term solution to this problem, isolating yourself can make coping with anxiety more difficult in the long term.

Self-medicating: It’s tempting to use alcohol or drugs to take the edge off your anxiety symptoms, but they come with their own problems, like dependency. There are healthier ways to address the problem.

Handling anxiety on your own

If mild anxiety is having a negative effect on relationships or causing problems at work, you may be able to counter it simply by providing yourself with in-the-moment techniques to reduce anxiety right away. Here are a few things that can be immediately useful at times when you notice you are feeling anxious:

Count blue things. It sounds ridiculous, but this simple trick can be very effective in calming your nervous system. Look around the room and silently identify each thing you see that’s blue: “the spine of a blue book, a blue highlighter, two people wearing blue shirts.” This technique works because it tricks your brain into shifting gears and focusing on a cognitive task.

Listen to the ticking of a clock or analog watch. This has a soothing effect for most people because a clock ticks at about the same speed as your own normal resting heart rate. You don’t even need an actual clock or watch—a virtual one will do. Search for “ticking clock” on YouTube, or download an app like G Clock that replicates the sound of the swinging pendulum of a grandfather clock.

Engage in proprioceptive actions. Proprioception refers to your own physical sense of your body in relation to the things around it. Thus, any action that involves proprioceptive input can help to calm your nervous system. This can be as simple as chewing gum, or as complex as playing a ball game like basketball or football in which your body comes in contact with the ball. Other simple proprioceptive techniques include squeezing a stress ball, pushing your palms against a wall, or eating a crunchy food like pretzels.

Getting help with your anxiety

When your anxious feelings don’t respond to the simple techniques listed above, or if you feel so anxious most of the time that you’re having difficulty functioning in your normal work and home routines, it’s a good idea to get professional help. Anxiety can be treated through counseling as well as through medication, or both.

A medical doctor, like your primary care physician, or a psychiatrist, can evaluate your symptoms and prescribe medication. It can take a few tries to get the right medication and the right dose, and all medications can have side-effects, so it’s important to stay in contact with your doctor during this process.

Counseling is also an effective treatment for anxiety, for most people. Simply talking to a counselor on a regular basis can be helpful for some people, but the treatment can also include things like uncovering subconscious thoughts and feelings, challenging or defusing intrusive thoughts, or practicing mindfulness and relaxation skills. If you are wondering whether counseling might be able to help you with your anxiety, I would be honored to talk to you. Please contact me and we’ll set up a free, 30-minute consultation at one of my Denver counseling locations.

8 Fun Ways to Make New Friends in Denver

Counselor and coach Gideon Killion shares some ideas for getting out there and meeting people.

Picture of bowlersMaking friends and building community can seem daunting when you don’t know where to start. There’s a lot of abstract advice out there about expanding your social circle, but sometimes it’s easier to work from a list of concrete actions.

With that in mind, here are some specific ideas for ways to make new friends in Denver.

1. Find a Church (or Something) That’s Right for You

Regardless of your religious or spiritual persuasion, the Denver area almost certainly has a gathering to suit your needs. I thought of including some links, but there are just too many and I don’t want to favor any one in particular. Start by plugging keywords into Google to find your options. If you’re not sure which religion might be the right fit for you, you can take BeliefNet’s Belief-O-Matic quiz.

What if you don’t consider yourself religious or spiritual? You might want to investigate First Universalist Church of Denver, which honors all paths including atheism and operates from a set of guiding principles rather than a religious creed. Or you could check out Denver Sunday Assembly, a gathering for freethinkers and atheists that describes itself as “a place to go to listen to great music, learn from intelligent speakers (like TED talks), and meet other people in your community.”

2. Get Involved in Politics or a Worthy Cause

A great way to meet like-minded people is to donate your time to a worthy organization, whether that means getting involved in local politics or supporting a cause whose mission you value. If you’re interested in politics, a good starting point would be the Democratic Party of Denver or the Denver GOP.

Looking for a meaningful way to volunteer? Maybe you’d like to help veterans transition back to civilian life through the Helping Veterans program, or lend a hand at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Or you could join Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, which offers opportunities for taking part in outdoor stewardship projects—everything from trail maintenance to fire and flood restoration. If none of those options sound right, try looking for other types of volunteer opportunities in Denver by searching the Volunteer Match database.

3. Join a Sports League

If you enjoying tossing a ball around, you may find that a sports league is the ideal way to connect with others. Denver offers a ton of options, including bowling, pool, softball, and volleyball. In the warmer months, you can play volleyball at Wash Park (here’s a map). There are leagues and pick-up games happening most weekends when the weather is nice. There’s also a meet-up group called Sports Monster that organizes volleyball leagues, outings, and open court events.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more low-key, how about kickball? The Denver Kickball Club organizes league play, pick-up games and day-long tournaments throughout the city.

4. Become a Regular

Here’s another way to make friends: be a regular at a bar frequented by the kind of people you want to meet. (It doesn’t have to be near where you live.) Naturally, there are plenty of bar options in Denver, so you can narrow it down by type. Soccer fan? Try the Three Lions. Want to hang out with a cool eclectic group of regulars? Check out the Thin Man Tavern.

5. Connect through Meet-Ups

No matter what activity you enjoy the most, you’re guaranteed to find a group in the Denver metro area for people who are into the same thing. Here are a few random examples:

  • Denver Medieval Combat Sports is for people who enjoy foam weapon combat (yes, hitting other people with fake swords) and other LARP-related activities.

6. Take Part in a Support Group

If you struggle with any particular issue and want to meet others with similar challenges, you can join a support group. For example, here’s a list of Denver area AA meetings. Also, the Psychology Today website has a searchable database of Denver support groups on a range of topics.

7. Sign Up for a Class

A great way to meet people is to start taking group classes in something you’ve always wanted to try. How about…

8. Start Your Own Group or Cause

Of course, if you don’t find exactly the kind of group you’re looking for, you can always start your own group, cause, meet-up, etc. Who knows? Maybe there are others out there looking for the same thing.

Just remember …

Regardless of which social avenue you decide to pursue, you’ll find greater success in making lasting friends if you keep two principles in mind. First, be persistent and consistent—keep showing up and be a visible part of the group. Second, practice good relational skills, like listening more than talking and making space for conversations to happen. (For a refresher, see my previous blog post on How to Make Friends and Amp Up Your Social Life.)

And last of all, don’t feel bad if getting out there and meeting people seems a little intimidating. I would be willing to bet that most people feel the same. But if you feel so intimidated that it actually stops you, I can help. Drop me a line and I’ll be happy to talk it over with you.

How to Make Your Smartphone an Ally Instead of an Enemy

Denver counselor, therapist, and life coach Gideon Killion shares some thoughts on making technology work for you.

If you’re like most people, you don’t go anywhere without your phone. Unfortunately, if you’re like most people, you have a love/hate relationship with it.

Smartphones can make our lives easier, more efficient, and more fun. They can also turn us into disengaged individuals who can’t look up from a screen to experience the world “in real life.”

For those of who struggle with this complex relationship, here’s some advice that has been effective for my coaching clients.

How to Let Your Phone Help You (Not Hurt You)

By making the most of what technology can offer you, it’s possible to turn your smartphone into a strong ally that support your values and goals. Here’s how:

  • Smartphones exist primarily for communicating with others, so find ways to use it in increasing quality time with friends and family. Have phone or video calls with family members who don’t live nearby. Get in touch with a local friend via text to set up a time for coffee or dinner. Or use your phone to sustain a long-running group email or text conversation.
  • Take advantage of smartphone apps that are designed to help you learn new habits, such as HabitBull, Loop Habit Tracker, or Fabulous. You can also use apps for specific types of activities, such as running, meditation, eating well, doing yoga, learning Mandarin, etc. Even the most basic reminder or timer app can be used to help you take a break from regular activities (especially sitting) to do things like taking a stretch break, drinking some water, checking in to be mindful of your current emotions, or making a call to a friend.
  • Use your phone to listen to books and podcasts while doing housework or driving. These mindless tasks can be enhanced by taking the opportunity to learn something new and connect with the world outside of your daily routine.

Don’t Let Your Smartphone Become Your Enemy

As you probably know, it’s easy to become addicted to the constant stimulation and distraction that your smartphone can offer. That’s because occurrences such getting an email notification or refreshing your social media feed to check for new posts can provide a dopamine rush in the brain—a pleasurable sensation that is comparable to the use of stimulant drugs.

And the idea of being away from your phone might be uncomfortable. In a 2015 study, researchers found that people who were separated from their iPhones for a few minutes actually experienced physical symptoms of anxiety, such as increased blood pressure.

If you don’t want to be dependent on your smartphone to get through your day, there are ways you can regain control:

  • Adjust your settings to turn off audio alerts for most things (other than emergency or weather alerts).
  • Decide which notifications are truly urgent for you, and which information you can wait to manually check at certain times during the day.
  • Set aside specific times of day to manually check voicemail, email, tweets, and so on.
  • Use a feed reader or news aggregator site to curate news from specific sources, then set a limit on how frequently you’ll look at it (and for how many minutes at a time).
  • Make a commitment to stay engaged with the physical world instead of always focusing attention on your phone. This is particularly important when you’re driving, biking, or walking across the street, when it’s not safe to be on your phone. It’s also important in most interactions with another human, when looking at your phone can come across as rude.

Smartphones can either help or hurt us. I believe that most people are happiest when they make conscious choices about how to use their phones and when to put them away. Remember, even when you’re waiting in line, sitting on a bus, or just out walking, there’s plenty out there in the real world to interact with—including other humans. Sometimes you might even use the opportunity to take a deep breath and relax.

How to Make Friends and Amp Up Your Social Life

Denver life coach, counselor, and therapist Gideon Killion shares some thoughts about make friends and improve your relationships.

Modern life can feel really lonely sometimes. It seems like we’re connected 24/7 to social media and our phones, but somehow that doesn’t always translate into a sense of being truly connected with others.

If you’re feeling a social disconnect and want to forge new friendships in real life, you may not be exactly sure how to begin. Here are some suggestions to get you started meeting new people.

snowshoe-conversation_denver_life_coachConnect through Shared Interests

One of the most effective ways to make like-minded friends is to pursue an interest or hobby that involves other people. Whether you’re into foosball tournaments, car shows, or martial arts, there’s sure to be a group or event near you. Or you could take a class to try out a new skill, like improv or beginning guitar. I learned the hard way that many people are put off or intimidated by direct invitations to become friends. But friendships develop naturally when you’re doing things together.

Ask Questions

When you find yourself in a social situation and aren’t sure what to say to someone, it always helps to get curious about them. Most people enjoy talking about themselves. Look for clues in their conversations about what they’re interested in, what they like to do, and what’s important to them so that you have an idea of where to start. If there are no clues offered, ask open-ended questions such as, “What do you do for work?” Then encourage them to provide more detail by asking a follow-up question like, “How’d you end up in that career?”

Build In Time to Meet People

We have a tendency to over-schedule ourselves these days, always rushing to the next meeting or errand. This makes it unlikely that we’ll have time for genuine interactions with anyone outside our usual sphere of work and home. You can change this by deliberately building in time around your activities so that you can meet and talk to people. Arrive early for appointments so that you have an opportunity to chat with someone in the waiting room. When you’re planning a trip to the gym or the grocery store, schedule some cushion time before and after so that you can start up a conversation if the chance arises.

Listen More, Talk Less

In a one-on-one conversation, it’s ideal to be talking about 40% of the time. This is the perfect ratio because it means you’re mostly listening, but you’re also doing enough sharing of your own that the other person can get to know you. If you find yourself talking more than this in a conversation with a new acquaintance, you can shift the balance by asking them a question.

Keep It Positive

Do as little complaining, criticizing, or arguing as you can. It’s also a good idea to keep sarcasm or dark humor to a minimum until you really get to know someone. (This is a place I often over do it!) Even when you do know someone, it’s wise to keep it balanced. Most people want to spend time with someone who is pleasant and positive overall. If you make someone uncomfortable by going too negative, they may avoid hanging out with you in the future.

Share Things Slowly

It’s great to find friends we can be honest with about things that are difficult. On the other hand, it’s tempting to dive in way too soon. Do share your troubles, but wait until you’ve developed some trust. Plan to share at first in small doses, and try to give the other person the chance to do the same with you. It should feel like an even exchange, and the amount of detail or heavy emotion you share is generally going to be comparable to the length of time you’ve known someone.

Pay Your Own Way

This is a simple one, but it’s one that many people overlook, and it’s powerful. In short, always pay your fair share at restaurants, parties, and so on. People will remember if you don’t. Along the same lines, it may feel awkward to new acquaintances if you offer to pick up the check, since the social norm is to stay on equal footing with people you don’t know well. The safest tactic is to expect that everyone will split the bill.

Check Your Skills

If you’re not sure whether your behavior may be a little off, ask for feedback about your social skills from people you know and trust. Tell them you’re looking for constructive criticism so that you can improve anything that might be scaring off new friends.

Remember that It’s Hard for Everyone

Sometimes socializing is just going to feel awkward. Those awkward moments don’t mean you’re doing it wrong; they just mean you’re human. It happens to everyone, even folks who are good at it.

If you think you might need more in-depth assistance with social skills or other friendship issues, give me a call to learn whether counseling or coaching at one of my Denver offices would be able to help. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy learning (sometimes the hard way) how we make and keep friends, and I’d love to share what I’ve learned with you. Contact me to arrange a free consultation and find out how I can help.

5 Factors that Lead to Loneliness

Denver counselor and coach Gideon Killion shares some ideas about loneliness and what to do about it.

denver-counseling-lonely-manThese days, a lot of people — particularly men — struggle with feeling lonely and disconnected. Sometimes loneliness can be a motivator to connect with new people, as when we change jobs or move to a new city. But for many people, loneliness is a chronic problem. We want close friends and meaningful relationships, but we don’t know how to go about finding and building them.

Aside from being a really uncomfortable emotional experience, loneliness also has negative health repercussions. A lack of close friends can contribute to both mental and physical health problems. One study of senior citizens found a tie between loneliness and the likelihood of developing dementia. Chronic feelings of loneliness have also been linked to heart disease and other serious health issues.

Almost everyone experiences periods of loneliness, but it’s helpful to identify the main factors in your particular situation. Which of these statements describe you?

  1. You have tons of friends, but you still feel lonely or like you don’t truly belong anywhere.

It’s common nowadays to have lots of superficial connections that we call “friends” and yet still be lonely. These friendships lack closeness. They are people who will do stuff with us, but not ones who actually care enough to ask how we’re doing. In the end, it’s the quality of friendships that matters most for your health, not quantity. Without close and meaningful friendships, we are emotionally isolated.

  1. You had devoted and emotional friendships as a kid, but your adult friendships aren’t as deep.

In the book “Deep Secrets,” Niobe Way explores the emotional intimacy that young boys often experience with peers—a connection we tend to lose in adulthood in favor of friendships that are activity-based but not emotionally significant. Much like the phenomenon of “work friends” that don’t remain friends after changing jobs, these activity-centered friendships tend to fade out when the shared activity is no longer a priority for both men.

  1. You have several close friends, but none of them are friends with each other.

Most people find that they have lots of one-to-one relationships with people who are not connected to each other. When our key friendships all happen independently, we are more likely to feel lonely. In contrast, when some or most of our closest friends are also friends with each other, we have a greater sense of belonging due to being part of a like-minded group.

  1. Most of your social interactions happen through social media—online, not in person.

The ubiquitous presence of smartphones in our lives means that we constantly have texts, email, Twitter, and Facebook at our fingertips, giving us the illusion of connection with others but in a very superficial way. We may feel as if we’re “connected” 24/7, but there may not be much substantial connection really happening. Meanwhile, we’re missing out on potential real-world connections all the time by never looking up from our phones.

  1. You’ve had successful romantic relationships, but you have no idea how to connect emotionally with male friends.

Our culture is incredibly focused on finding a mate, to the point that all of our energy goes into finding and keeping romantic or intimate relationships. This has taught us not to prioritize finding and keeping friends in the same way, so we haven’t really developed the skills it takes to maintain platonic friendships. Our culture has also made this more difficult by offering a limited notion of what it means to be a man. Many men constrain their expression of emotions with other men out of fear that they may be perceived as “unmanly” or gay. Unfortunately, this keeps us from being able to experience significant friendships in which we can support our male friends on an emotional level and receive that support from them in return. (This narrow understanding of manhood or manliness has many other negative effects both on men, whether gay or straight, and on society in general.)

These are some of the factors in modern life that can lead men to feel lonely. Some men are able to get unstuck from this pattern of aloneness on their own. But sometimes a long-term sense of loneliness can only be untangled with the help of a therapist or life coach as a trusted companion on the journey. Click here to learn about counseling and coaching for men in Denver, or here to learn more about all the services LifeCraft Counseling & Coaching offers men and women in Denver.

The 5 moves of relationship drama – VIDEO

This is a great video. Two experts in the field of relationships and human behavior, Drs. Sue Johnson and Ed Tronick, describe and demonstrate the five basic moves that occur in the dance of attachment and bonding. They show how these moves are present both in the relationship between parent and infant as well as between intimate partners. When I do marriage counseling or couple counseling with clients here in Denver, we identify where these moves occur in their conflicts and try to understand the underlying attachment needs they represent.
The dance begins when one person senses a lack of connection with the other. The first move is to (1) “Reach” for a response. If the person does not get the needed response from the other, he or she may (2) Protest/Push or (3) Turn Away. The other partner may also Protest/Push or Turn Away in response. If the disconnection continues, eventually one or both partners lose the ability to regulate emotion, and a sense of panic, or (4) Melt Down occurs. Finally, in a healthy relationship, the partners make an effort to (5) Reconnect and repair the relationship.
When you watch this video, think about your own relationships, either now or in the past, and see if you can find all five of these steps.

The hidden cost of change

Anyone who has tried to change something big in life — such as giving up a bad habit, or starting a good one — knows that it isn’t easy. There are a lot of reasons why this is the case, and a quick Google search will probably reveal plenty. But one thing that makes it harder is that we often do not see the whole picture. We do not see all the things that we get out of the status quo — things we would lose if change actually happened.

A while back, I was working with a couple in marriage counseling. The big problem in this couple’s relationship was the male partner’s alcohol addiction. His wife wanted him to quit drinking, and he said he wanted to quit, too. Yet over and over, she discovered that he had been drinking and lying about it. We met a number of times, talking about wounds from his past, poor self-esteem, and so on, but after a while, it became clear that under the surface, probably unconsciously, he did not want to change. Promising to change but not actually doing it was actually working well for him.

The costs of the status quo were obvious — pain, shame, fights, fear of losing the relationship. But the benefits of the status quo — and the costs of change — were not. Every time he wept and apologized, and promised to do better, his wife would flood him with forgiveness, affection, and affirmation. She would tell him how much she believed in him, and how much good she saw in him. Now, obviously there is absolutely nothing wrong with forgiveness, affection, and affirmation. But counter-intuitively, his pattern of alcohol addiction had become a very effective means of getting them. And on top of that, he got to keep drinking.

Now, I am certainly not saying that this was the reason for his addiction, or that the addiction ended when the whole picture came into focus. Overcoming substance addiction is usually a long and difficult road. But this man could not begin to walk down that road until both he and his wife saw what he was getting out of staying where he was.

Do we need marriage counseling?

One good reason you and your partner might need marriage counseling or couple counseling is that you have a issue you can’t agree on, or a problem you haven’t been able to solve. And no matter how many times you’ve gone around in circles with each other, having the same conversations or the same fights, it never gets much better. For many couples, these fights create emotional wounds that make it even more difficult to resolve the problem.

During therapy sessions with a marriage counselor or couple counselor, you and your partner will probably gain a deeper understanding of the pattern in which you are stuck. You will probably also learn more about the underlying, basic needs that you are both trying to meet through your relationship. And hopefully, in the process of learning these things, you and your partner will gain greater appreciation and empathy for each other.

Bottom line? If your marriage or relationship seems stuck, think about marriage counseling or couple counseling. Yes, it takes courage to admit you need some help, but isn’t your relationship worth it?


Letters : . . .

Published 3 August 1996

From Alan Dixson, University of Cambridge

As a clinical biochemist, Terence Kealey presumably has good
opportunities to
collaborate with industry in order to fund his research. There are many
areas of
fundamental science which do not so readily appeal to industry, however. If
industry is to be the arbiter of what is scientifically worthwhile and
valid—then heaven help science.

Then there is philanthropy. Kealey labours under the delusion that rich
people are anxious to give handouts for basic research. For some reason he
quotes the case of Charles Darwin as an example of scientific success in the
absence of government funding.

Darwin’s intellectual impetus came from his work during the round-the-world
voyages of The Beagle on a government-funded expedition. Thereafter he was not
supported by philanthropy, but by his personal fortune and that of his
wife Emma
Wedgewood. The notion that a modern, but penniless, Darwin could produce books
about the pollination of orchids or the burrowing of earthworms whilst
by a rich patron (or pharmaceuticals company) is ludicrous.


Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know

Updated: Apr 16

Polluted water causes death to many people every year compared to other forms of calamities experienced worldwide. Water pollution has resulted from various things human activities being among the significant factors.

What is Water Pollution?

Water pollution is caused when dangerous substances such as chemicals and microorganisms contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, and other water bodies, interfering with water quality and offering toxic to human beings and our environment.

Water pollution can have several effects on the health of an individual and also their habitats. The results of water pollution can be calamitous depending on the chemical types, the concentration of the pollutants, and the area they are being polluted. The rampant situation of water pollution is a massive threat to the lives of people today.

Causes Of Water Pollution

Reports show that domestic sewage causes a significant percentage of water pollution, industrial wastes such as sugar, textile, pesticides, paper, and pulp are causing pollution to the water. Rivers that are polluted have strong bad smells affecting the people around.

Worldwide, a more significant percentage of people are experiencing threats to water pollution. Water pollution effects can be experienced in human health and the environment. Water pollution is caused by factors such as:

· Domestic sewage - A more significant percentage of water pollution is as a result of household wastewater. Industrial waste is the leading cause of water pollution. Polluted rivers produce unpleasant smells, and many people in the world are threatened by water security.

· Weak management system

· Urbanization

· Plastic and polythene bag

· Population growth - The increased population has much positive influence but causes harm to pollute water. The high population results in an increased solid waste generation that contributes a lot to water pollution. Both solid and liquid waste is directed into the rivers.

Human excreta also cause water pollution. Contaminated water contains harmful bacteria that can affect the health of human beings. The government is not able to distribute essential needs to people because of an increased population. Plastics and polythene papers contribute positively to polluting water.

· Industrialization- Much domestic sewage is drained in the river, and many sewages are not treated. Domestic sewages have poisonous, solid waste, plastic litters, and bacterial contaminants resulting in water pollution.

Various industrials effluent drained into the water without being treated is the leading cause of water pollution. Dangerous materials released from the industries are responsible for surface water and groundwater contamination. Contamination depends on the nature of the industry. When toxic metals get into the water, their quality reduces. Twenty-five percent of water pollution results from sectors, and this is more dangerous.

· Pesticides and fertilizers- bacteria, pests, and germs are killed using pesticides. Water pollution and its quality are directly affected by chemicals having pesticides. In a case where the pesticides are too many or are not managed well, they can be dangerous to the agricultural ecosystem. Chemical residues mix with river water due to flooding, heavy rainfall, too much irrigation and enter the food chain. Pharmaceutical found in water also causes water pollution, and it is toxic to the health of human beings.

Effect of water pollution

Water pollution affects both human beings and aquatic life. Many water sources available are polluted by garbage and dumping of chemicals.

1. Diseases

Generally, water pollution causes death to many people every year. Contaminated water can also result in one having conditions such as cholera and typhoid. Every year, people experience sickness due to polluted water.

Communities earning meager income are always at higher risks of being affected by water pollution since their homes are still near the polluting industries. Waterborne diseases leading to bacteria and viruses from human and animal waste are the leading cause of sickness from contaminated drinking water. Illnesses resulted from dirty water include cholera, typhoid, and even giardia.

2. Contamination of water

Contamination of water that comes from chemicals and heavy metals from industries and municipals wastewater are dangerous to aquatic life. They reduce the lifespan and ability to give birth and make their way up the food chain as predators feed on prey.

3. Food chain disruption

The food chain is interfered with by moving the toxins from one level to greater levels. In different cases, pollution can wipe out the whole part of the food chain. This will affect the organisms by leading to excessive growth or wipes out the prey in a scenario where the predator dies.

4. Destroys ecosystems

Very many species of plants and animals always depend on water for them to survive. Water pollution can ruin the well-balanced ecosystem and habitats for organisms living in water, such as whales, fish, turtles, and many others.

5. Expensive

Economically, managing and restoring polluted water bodies is very costly. A lot of money is spent on purifying drinking water that takes its source from nutrients polluted water bodies. When there is a depletion of oxygen, the fishing business is greatly affected. In areas where there are water activities or sports, a lot of money is used to clean up the water.

6. Death

Water pollution results in the death of animals. Water animals lose their lives when water is poisoned for different reasons. Water pollution results in damage and deaths of very many animals whose habitats are water. The animals are affected by the solid waste disposed into water bodies as this harms them in various ways.

Ways of reducing water pollution include:

· Reduction of plastic use and reuse or instead recycle them when possible.

· Ensure you dispose of off-well chemicals, cleaners, and oil to avoid them from ending up down the drain.

· Have good maintenance of your car to avoid leakage of oil,

· Always pick up your puppy poops in case you have one.

In conclusion, water pollution is the act of introducing contaminants into water bodies that affect aquatic surroundings. Water pollution affects the whole biosphere, plants, and animals living in water bodies. Water pollution is a primary issue that needs continuous evaluation and revision of water resource policy at every level. Water pollution leads to various factors and has a different effect on the world today; therefore, managing the water pollution issue needs a compelling set of rules, technologies, and scientific advances on different levels.

10 views0 comments


Why No Royal Family Members Could Be In Military Uniform For Prince Philip's Funeral

For all his breeding and royal titles, Prince Philip was apparently an unpretentious man at heart. It was his wish that his funeral service be free of fuss and pomp, and the family is honoring his wishes by skipping the traditional period of lying in state, and by having a simple memorial service on the grounds of Windsor Castle. (The U.K.'s COVID-19-related restrictions on large gatherings also ensure that only 30 close family members and friends will be attending.)

The Duke of Edinburgh's funeral will also be unusual in that his resting place will be only temporary; once the queen dies, his remains will be moved from the Royal Vault to the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St. George's Chapel so he can be interred next to his loving wife of more than seven decades.

This being a royal funeral and a major ceremonial event, many formal traditions will be observed. The duke's family — including son Prince Charles and grandsons William and Harry — will walk in a procession behind his coffin on its way to the church, and his personal flag will be laid on his casket. But one surprising change will stand out from the rest, and it has to do with the attire of the royal family.

The queen wants to show family unity on the day

The royal family is rightly proud of its tradition of military service. Prince Philip served in the Royal Navy during World War II, and his sons, daughter, and grandsons are all veterans. Even Queen Elizabeth herself was the first woman royal to join the armed forces, as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (via the royals' website). Although protocol dictates that members of the military wear their dress uniforms to official ceremonial events, this would not apply to Prince Harry and his uncle Prince Andrew, who both lost their military titles and privileges when they stepped back from their royal duties.

According to the Daily Mail and other sources, the queen has approved the decision for all senior royals to wear dark mourning suits rather than dress uniforms, putting everyone on equal wardrobe footing and showing a picture of a family united in their grief. One might imagine that Her Majesty wants to avoid distracting attention from her husband on a day devoted to him. This decision also takes some weight off Harry's mind during an emotional time; in addition to mourning his grandfather, he and Prince William are seeing each other for the first time since he became a non-working royal and moved to California with wife Meghan Markle.

The Queen will have to wear unusual funeral attire

According to The Sunthere was also reportedly some "serious Navy displeasure" at being dragged into a row over the possibility of Prince Andrew wearing an admiral's uniform during the funeral ceremony. However, speaking to the publication, a military source said the Queen's personal intervention to suggest all male members of the royal family wear suits and ties is "the most eloquent solution to the problem."

The Queen's decision also resolves another potentially awkward situation. Having lost his military privileges, Prince Harry would not have been allowed to salute Prince Philip's casket. Now, all the family will skip this traditional military show of respect. According to the British site Forces, "Armed Forces personnel only salute when wearing regimental headdress."

Elsewhere, strict UK coronavirus guidelines mean Her Majesty the Queen will be forced to sit alone during what promises to be an emotional service, and will be required to wear a face mask throughout (via Bustle).


Distinguish between acids and bases on the basis of their physical properties?

Asked by  | 19th Aug, 2010, 12:00: AM

Expert Answer:

Physical Property

Non - metals

Physical state

They are generally solids.

Exception: Mercury is a liquid

They are either solids or gases. Exception: Bromine is a liquid

They have a shiny lustre which is called metallic lustre

They do not have a shiny lustre

Exception – graphite, iodine

They generally produce a sound on striking a hard surface

They are non - sonorous

Some metals can be beaten into thin sheets.

Most malleable gold and silver

Non – metals are not malleable

The ability of metals to be drawn into thin wires is called ductility

Gold is the most ductile metal

Exception: Lead, sodium or potassium

Non – metals are not ductile

Electrical conductivity

They are good conductors of electricity

Best conductors: Silver and copper.

Non- metals are generally poor conductors of electricity

Exception: Graphite

Thermal conductivity

They are good conductors of heat

Best conductors: Silver and

Poor conductors : Lead and mercury

They are poor conductors of heat

They are generally hard

Exception – alkali metals like sodium, potassium

They are generally soft

Exception : Diamond is the hardest substance known

Melting point

They generally have high melting points

Exception – gallium , alkali metals like sodium, potassium

Gallium and caesium will melt if you keep them on your palm

They generally have low melting points

Answered by  | 20th Aug, 2010, 09:13: AM


Quick Answer: Who Is The 3 Times Prime Minister Of India?

Who was prime minister 3 times?

Stanley Baldwin is the only Prime Minister to have served three sovereigns, in succession – King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI..

Who became prime minister of India 3 times?

List of Prime ministers by length of tenureNo.NameLength of termTotal years of premiership1Jawaharlal Nehru16 years, 286 days2Indira Gandhi15 years, 350 days3Manmohan Singh10 years, 4 days11 more rows

Who is India’s 1 day Prime Minister?

Shri Narendra Modi was sworn-in as India’s Prime Minister on 30th May 2019, marking the start of his second term in office. The first ever Prime Minister to be born after Independence, Shri Modi has previously served as the Prime Minister of India from 2014 to 2019.

Who is the salary of Prime Minister?

Prime Minister of IndiaInaugural holderJawaharlal NehruFormation15 August 1947DeputyVacant, Deputy Prime Minister of IndiaSalary₹20 lakh (US$28,000) (annual, including ₹960,000 (US$13,000) MP’s salary)16 more rows

How many prime ministers has Queen Elizabeth?

The Queen has had over 170 individuals serve as her realms’ prime ministers throughout her reign, the first new appointment being Dudley Senanayake as Prime Minister of Ceylon and the most recent being Kausea Natano as Prime Minister of Tuvalu; some of these individuals have served multiple non-consecutive terms in …

How many prime ministers has Queen Elizabeth II had?

14 Prime MinistersHow many Prime Ministers have served during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign? In total 14 Prime Ministers have allegiance to the Queen, since she ascended the throne aged 25 on 6 February, 1952 – including Boris Johnson.

Who is the First Lady citizen of India?

Savita Kovind has been the First Lady of India since 25 July 2017.

Has a British PM died in office?

Indeed, four twentieth-century Prime Ministers (Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home and James Callaghan) made it into their 90s. But seven British Prime Ministers died in office and a further nine died within two-and-a-half years of leaving Number 10.

Does the Queen have a passport?

When travelling overseas, The Queen does not require a British passport. As a British passport is issued in the name of Her Majesty, it is unnecessary for The Queen to possess one. … All other members of the Royal Family, including The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales, have passports.

Who is the best British prime minister?

27,000 people responded, and decided that Winston Churchill was the greatest, with Attlee second. The full results were: Winston Churchill.

Who is powerful man in India?

Top ten nomineesRankNameState1B. R. Ambedkar (1891–1956)Maharashtra2A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015)Tamil Nadu3Vallabhbhai Patel (1875–1950)Gujarat4Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964)Uttar Pradesh6 more rows

Which number pm is Modi?

Prime Ministers of India#Prime MinisterLength of Retirement11H. D. Deve Gowda23 years, 198 days12I. K. Gujral14 years, 256 days13Dr. Manmohan Singh6 years, 163 days14Narendra ModiIncumbent10 more rows


JMS is developing a Reviewer System like Submission System. However, it is still under construction processes and is expected to be finalised by the end of the article submission deadline. Please follow this page in order to be informed about the status of the Reviewer System. To be a JMS reviewer, you can fill the following form.


hOw to arrive aT 3030 Gandeg

In summer the Gandegg Hut can be reached on foot in 20-30 minutes from the Trockener Steg cable car station. Take the cable car from Zermatt to Furi and then Furi - Trockener Steg.

Alternatively, you can also hike up from Zermatt directly to the hut or, for example, starting from the Schwarzsee.

3030 Gandegg
Gandegghütte | 3920 Zermatt

By ski / snowboard: Coming from the Gandegg cable car or Plateau Rosa, a junction to the right (signposted) leads over a side slope directly to the
Gandegg Hut.

On foot: From Trockener Steg, a winter hiking trail takes you to the Gandegg Hut in 30 minutes.


What do Always sanitary products, X-pression braids, Thinx period-proof underwear, and DevaCurl have in common? While the uses of these products are as different from each other as day is from night, they have all come under fire for having toxic chemicals or causing harmful side effects on women’s bodies all around the world.

Source: Popular Science

Since January 2019, consumers from countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Pakistan have been asking questions about the quality of Proctor and Gamble’s (P&G) Always sanitary pads under the hashtag #MyAlwaysExperience on different social media platforms. Many menstruating people around the world have complained of getting rashes, burns, and vaginal infections as a result of using Always sanitary pads. Thinx period-proof menstrual underwear, on the other hand, was discovered to contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are “chemicals associated with cancer, decreased immune response to vaccines, decreased fertility, and more”(PFASCentral.org. 2019). Exposure to PFAS at even the lowest concentrations has been shown to harm human health(PFASCentral.org. 2019). This shocking discovery was made when Ms. Jessian Choy, a blogger for a Sierra Club sustainability living column, sent period-proof underwear from different manufacturers to Notre Dame University researchers to test whether they were as eco-friendly as the manufacturers claimed(Choy,2020). X-pression hair extensions used braids, on the other hand, have, over the years, been cited as the cause of itchy and tender scalps among the myriads of black women who are the majority patrons of the brand. Lastly, DevaCurl, a hair product marketed to curly-haired women of color in the United States of America (USA) is said to have caused hair damage and loss, and other injuries to their hair and scalps(Diaz,2020).

How are brands responding?

Some of the companies in question have denied that their products are causing harm among consumers, while others have reformulated them because of public pressure. For instance, at first, P&G denied that their sanitary products delivered to Global South countries were of less quality than ones provided to Global North countries. This theory was debunked when Twitter users shared pictures of Always pads from countries like Kenya, South Africa, and Pakistan and compared them to images of pads from the US and Belgium. Additionally, journalist April Zhu made a viral Twitter thread about P&G using polyethylene (PE) film in their pads as opposed to alternatives called non-wovens(Zhu,2019). She then described that PE film was chosen for pads manufactured for Global South markets because they were cheaper than non-wovens(Zhu,2019). The PE film is what is said to be the cause of itching, burning, and rashes that people who menstruate are complaining about. After mounting public pressure globally, the company announced the launch of new pads for the affected markets and promised to have reformulated them. Thinx, on the other hand, denied the allegations by Jessian Choy with Thinx CEO Maria Molland, insisting that the tests the company did on their products did not show any presence of PFAS chemicals in their products(Segran,2020). Deva Curl, too, has insisted that their products did not cause any damage and that they had found no safety issues with their formula, contrary to allegations by thousands of women in the US (Diaz, 2020). The X-pression brand, however, has not made any statement on concerns aired by users of their products.

The relationship between women and pain

The denial of women’s pain by corporations is hardly a new phenomenon. Historically, women’s pain is not merely met with doubt but suspicion(Cote,2018). Women’s pain is often dismissed as psychological and, further trivialized as an inconvenience that they choose to complain about (Lozie,2017). Studies on chronic pain have shown that while women make up 70% of patients dealing with chronic pain, 86% of studies on pain are done on male mice and humans. This points to the fact that there is a dearth of information on women’s bodies and pain. Women are encultured to be uncomfortable and even ignore their discomfort (Cote, 2018; Loofbourow, 2018). There is also a notion that since women face a lot of pain that comes with biological functions such as menstruation and childbirth, it should be normal to them. Complaining about this pain is often seen as weak. This bias is not only in the medical community but in other spaces, too, like the beauty industry where tropes such as one that states that beauty must come with pain are perpetuated.

Source Unknown

Hence when corporations deny women’s allegations, they are only just continuing the culture of diminishing and ignoring women’s pain. When it comes to men, however, the case is different. Studies show that men’s pain is taken more seriously, and they are more likely to be prescribed pain medication for chronic pain than women (Kiesel,2017). One case that could paint this picture is how a male injective contraceptive was pulled out of trials because men in the trial reported side effects such as acne, mood swings, and depression (NPR,2016). It is ironic that women’s contraceptives, which cause the same side effects and even worse ones like blood clots, have not been pulled out of the market even after decades of complaints from women. When it comes to pain, women are screaming into the void, and nobody is listening, not even corporations that make profit off their backs.

New media as a way of validating women’s experiences and eliminating gaslighting

While corporations like P&G, Thinx, and DevaCurl may try and gaslight consumers off their own experiences, they are finding ways to support and affirm each other’s allegations. And social media platforms are at the core of it. Before the advent of new media, traditional media was complicit in furthering the silencing narratives about female bodies. Topics such as menstruation were a taboo in public spaces, and traditional media kept it that way by steering off those topics. However, new media has given people a platform to talk about issues that were once deemed shameful without censorship(Nyabola,2018). It is for this reason that thousands of people who menstruate were able to share their narratives on experiences with Always pads off of what started with one tweet ranting about the sanitary pads. Consumers who shared their stories recalled horror stories about Always pads that have been whispered amongst peers for years and years.
Additionally, when P&G denied that their pads for Global South were not different, the networked nature of social media enabled people to collect evidence suggesting otherwise, from countries far and wide. Similarly, on Youtube, beauty influencers like Ayesha Malik denounced their partnerships with Deva Curl and talked extensively about their horror stories about using the products. This caused a ripple effect where people who used Deva Curl products, including Nigerian-Tamil author Akwaeke Emezi, also shared their negative experiences with Deva Curl on social media. It is also on YouTube that black women have been sharing tips and tutorials on how to prevent the itchiness brought about by braiding hair with X-pression braids. Soaking the X-pression hair extensions in a solution of water and apple cider vinegar neutralizes the harsh alkaline chemicals that manufacturers use to preserve the hair extensions; these chemicals are the culprits that cause the itching (Adesina,2019). Blogs like the Sierra Club are also platforms where women connect and share stories in the comment sections of posts. New media platforms are also crucial for archival purposes. Time may pass, but evidence will remain online on how specific brands ignored women’s pain and discomfort. In an age where brand reputation and perception matters, women have found the one way brands will acknowledge the pain inflicted on them by their products. And they are not stopping any time soon.

  1. Adesina, P., 2019. Braids Are Causing Unbearable Itching For Black Women & The Reason Behind It Is Highly Suspicious. [online] Refinery29.com. Available at: <https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/itchy-braids-hair> [Accessed 8 May 2020].
  2. Choy, J., 2020. My Menstrual Underwear Has Toxic Chemicals In It. [online] Sierra Club. Available at: <https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ask-ms-green/my-menstrual-underwear-has-toxic-chemicals-it> [Accessed 21 April 2020].
  3. Cote, R., 2018. The Reality Of Women’S Pain. [online] The New Republic. Available at: <https://newrepublic.com/article/147303/reality-womens-pain> [Accessed 8 May 2020].
  4. Diaz, T., 2020. Devacurl Creates “Curl Care Council” Following Hair-Loss Allegations. [online] Refinery29.com. Available at: <https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/02/9363703/devacurl-hair-loss-damage-controversy> [Accessed 7 May 2020].
  5. Kiesel, L., 2017. Women And Pain: Disparities In Experience And Treatment – Harvard Health Blog. [online] Harvard Health Blog. Available at: <https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-and-pain-disparities-in-experience-and-treatment-2017100912562> [Accessed 7 May 2020].
  6. NPR. 2016. NPR Choice Page. [online] Available at: <https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/11/03/500549503/male-birth-control-study-killed-after-men-complain-about-side-effects> [Accessed 8 May 2020].
  7. Lozie, C., 2017. The Erasure Of Female Pain. [online] The Republic. Available at: <https://republic.com.ng/vol1-no1/the-erasure-of-female-pain/> [Accessed 7 May 2020].
  8. PFASCentral.org. 2019. EWG Investigates – The Science On PFAS: Rebuttal To 3M’S Claims – PFAS Central. [online] Available at: <https://pfascentral.org/news/ewg-invenstigates-the-science-on-pfas-rebuttal-to-3ms-claims> [Accessed 21 April 2020].
  9. Segran, E., 2020. Report: Thinx Menstrual Underwear Has Toxic Chemicals In The Crotch. [online] Fast Company. Available at: <https://www.fastcompany.com/90450618/report-thinx-menstrual-underwear-has-toxic-chemicals-in-the-crotch> [Accessed 7 May 2020].


Patterned bowl

Patterned bowl, 900 CE, Igbo-Ukwu

Patterned bowl is an Igbo Bronze Sculpture created between c.800 CE and 900 CE. The image is tagged Vessels and Pattern. Source


How to insert spaces/tabs in text using HTML/CSS? This is because when you use methods of the Array object such as array.shift() or array.unshift(), each element’s index changes. An array is a type of data structure where we store the elements of a similar data type. Storage of 2-D array elements are rowed by row in a contiguous memory location. generate link and share the link here. His expert areas are ASP.NET, ADO.NET, C# .NET and WPF. (array.pop() and array.push() may change the length of the array, but they don’t change the existing array element’s index numbers because you are dealing with th… There are two major types of arrays: ind e xed array and associative array. For example, you can declare an array using a "square bracket syntax" that will look very familiar to JavaScript developers. The array is specified by adding a square bracket after the type. An array is an object that contains one or more items called elements. This means that an array once initialized cannot be resized. How to calculate the number of days between two dates in javascript? If the specified employee name is present in the array then it returns the employee information and if the employee name is not present in the array list then it shows the NO Information message. Example: Using TypeScript ‘Spread’ operator Mahesh has been. contributions to the developer community. Then you can pass the array you want to lookup, the property you’re looking for and its value. There are many ways in TypeScript to type a property as an array, or contains an array of “something”. How to remove array elements . What is a Dictionary Type Whether coming from Node.js, Python, C# or any other programming language you’ve probably heard of using one of the following: Associative ArrayMapSymbol TableDictionary These are actually all referring to the same thing – that is: “an abstract data type composed of a collection of (key, value) pairs, such that each possible key appears at most … How to set the default value for an HTML


Vitellogenin and Common Ancestry

Dennis Venema
on February 25, 2016

#Does BioLogos have egg on its face?

In my role at BioLogos, I frequently explore the diverse and extensive evidence for common ancestry – the evolutionary idea that species we see in the present day share common ancestors in the past. One such line of evidence is the presence of mutated genes that no longer perform their original function. These sorts of sequences, called pseudogenes, are widespread. Moreover, for many of these defective genes, we share identical mutations with other species – most often with chimpanzees, then with gorillas, then with orang-utans, and so on. The pattern of these shared mutations forms what is known as a nested hierarchy. Shared mutations in pseudogenes that form nested hierarchies are an excellent way to determine how species are related to one another. For example, prior to genome sequencing that provided these data, there were a few scientists that maintained that gorillas were a closer relative to humans than chimpanzees. They based their argument on anatomical evidence, though their views were very much a minority view. Genome sequencing helped resolve this question, in part by examining shared mutations in pseudogenes.

The nose knew

An example that illustrates this well is olfactory receptor pseudogenes. Olfactory receptors are proteins present on nasal surfaces (the olfactory epithelium) that bind on chemicals in the air we breathe, change their shape in response to that binding, and then use their changed shape to transmit signals to our nervous system that we perceive as smell. Humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas have lost the function of many olfactory receptor genes, and we share many identical mutations in common with these other apes. If humans are more closely related to chimpanzees, this means that we share a longer common ancestral lineage with them than we do with gorillas. If we are more closely related to gorillas, the converse is true. These two hypotheses predict one of two patterns for olfactory receptor pseudogenes. If we are closer relatives to chimpanzees, we should observe some mutations in olfactory receptor pseudogenes that we share with chimpanzees but not with gorillas. Conversely, if we are more closely related to gorillas, we should see some mutations that are shared between humans and gorillas but not with chimpanzees:

Figure 1: When we examine genome sequencing data, we see many identical mutations shared by all three species, but more importantly some mutations shared between humans and chimpanzees that gorillas do not have. This evidence (which also happens to line up with all other genome sequence evidence) shows us that chimpanzees are our closest relatives.

You’ve come a long way, baby

While it’s not too surprising to see olfactory receptor pseudogenes in mammals, pseudogene sequences can persist for a very long time in a lineage – long enough that their presence can become incongruous with the lifestyle of the organism that harbors them. One example that I have discussed several times in the past is the curious case of vitellogenin pseudogenes in placental mammals. Vitellogenins are large proteins used by egg-laying organisms to provide a store of nutrition to their embryos in egg yolk. Since vitellogenins are so large, they are a good source of amino acids when digested (proteins are made of amino acids linked together). Many of the amino acids in vitellogenins have sugars attached to them as well, so they also serve as a source of carbohydrates. The three-dimensional shape of vitellogenin proteins also acts as a carrier for lipids. As such, vitellogenins can be synthesized in the mother and transferred to the yolk as a ready-made supply of amino acids, sugars, and lipids for the developing embryo.

Placental mammals, on the other hand, use a different strategy for nourishing their embryos during development: the placenta. This connection between the mother and embryo allows for nutrient transfer right up until birth. As such, there is no need for vitellogenins, or storing up a supply in the egg yolk for the embryo to use. Evolutionary biology predicts that placental mammals descend from egg-laying ancestors, however – and one good line of evidence in support of that hypothesis (among many) is that placental mammals, humans included, have the remains of vitellogenin gene sequences in their genomes.

Looking for Answers

Not surprisingly, this evidence is problematic for those holding an anti-evolutionary perspective. Back in 2012, I surveyed the websites of anti-evolutionary groups to examine how they handled this evidence – but came up empty-handed. Though young-earth groups (such as the Institute for Creation Research and Answers in Genesis), old-earth groups (such as Reasons to Believe), and supporters of Intelligent Design (such as the Discovery Institute) all had articles discussing pseudogene evidence in general, as well as the particular case of the GULO pseudogene that makes humans and other apes dependent on dietary vitamin C, none specifically dealt with vitellogenin pseudogenes in particular:

Interestingly, this situation has now changed. Though the Discovery Institute and Reasons to Believe remain silent on the topic, a paper has now been published by young-earth creationist (YEC) researcher Jeffery Tomkins that claims to debunk the vitellogenin pseudogene story. The paper is published in Answers Research Journal (a journal owned and operated by Answers in Genesis), though Tomkins works for ICR. In a blog post entitled “Evolutionists Lay an Egg: Vitellogenin Pseudogene Debunked.” Tomkins introduces his work on the ICR website as follows (where he abbreviates vitellogenin as “vtg”):

One study claimed to have found genetic evidence of an ancient vtg gene in the human genome. Because the actual data for this discovery were questionable, the evolutionary community in general did not actively popularize the alleged finding. However, BioLogos, a religious group of evolutionary scientists and liberal Christian theologians, has been promoting the so-called egg-laying pseudogene discovery as evidence of evolution. Because this type of propaganda is targeted to the Christian community, the claim should be more thoroughly investigated.

Tomkins goes on to claim that he has overturned the evidence that the human genome has a vitellogenin pseudogene, claiming rather that it is part of a functional gene. As such, he claims the evidence shows that the “so-called egg-laying pseudogene” is not evidence for evolution, and that BioLogos is in error in presenting it as such. Since I am the primary BioLogos author who uses this example, and since I am committed to representing scientific evidence as accurately as possible for the BioLogos community, I was naturally interested in Tomkins’ claims. Do I have vitellogenin on my face, as it were?

In a nutshell, I do not think the case Tomkins makes stands up to scrutiny – but explaining why will require some effort. As we undertake a careful analysis of his work, we will also have opportunity to delve more fully into the science related to how placental reproduction came to be within our lineage – an area of biology that is fascinating in its own right.

In the following section, we’ll start by examining the vitellogenin sequences found in the human genome, and begin to discuss the lines of evidence that support their evolutionary history.

#Understanding Synteny

In C.S. Lewis’s book Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children find themselves, upon their unexpected return to Narnia, in the ruins of their former palace, Cair Paravel. Unaware that they are several hundred years beyond “their time” as kings and queens as recounted in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, they at first do not recognize the ruins. Over time, however, they begin to notice similarities. Though Cair Paravel was not on an island, nor was an apple orchard planted up to the walls, there were too many similarities to ignore. The great hall, with its dais, was the correct size and shape, though now roofless. The well was in the correct location, and also the correct shape. Near the well, Susan had found a gold chess piece, exactly alike to the ones they remembered using. Though at first difficult to imagine, more and more pieces fit into place, strengthening their conviction that they are, in fact, in the ruins of their once glorious home. As they begin to “see” it as it was, Lucy hits upon an idea that will settle the matter readily:

‘There’s one thing,’ said Lucy. ‘If this is Cair Paravel there ought to be a door at the end of this dais. In fact we ought to be sitting with our backs against it at this moment. You know – the door that led down to the treasure chamber.’

‘I suppose there isn’t a door,’ said Peter, getting up. The wall behind them was a mass of ivy.

‘We can soon find out,’ said Edmund…

C.S.Lewis, Prince Caspian

As those who have read the story know, the children soon discover beyond doubt that they are indeed in the ruins of Cair Paravel: they find the treasure chamber, and within it the gifts that Aslan had given them hundreds of years before.

The reason that Cair Paravel remained recognizable, even after hundreds of years, was that several of its features were resistant to the effects of long spans of time. Though the original peninsula could become an island, an orchard overgrow, and a roof fall in, other features would not shift: the shape, size, and relative placement of the walls and rooms persisted.

Like buildings, the DNA sequences in an organism’s genome can retain features for very long spans of time even after their original function is lost. These features can be used to make predictions about what we should find, and where. One such feature is the organization of genes along a chromosome. For example, consider two closely related species. Since these species recently shared a common ancestral population, and thus the same genome, we would expect the majority of genes in these two species to remain in the same locations relative to each other (Figure 2):

Figure 2. Closely related species have not only highly similar genes and inter-gene sequences, but have their genes conserved in the same spatial arrangement: in other words, they have large blocks of genes with shared synteny.

This conserved gene order along chromosomes is known as shared synteny: “syn” here means “together” and “teny” means “held”, so “synteny” means “held together” – genes held together in the same pattern in related organisms. Genes in closely related organisms can be present in blocks of synteny that are thousands of genes long. Over time, gene order can be rearranged through chromosome breakage and rejoining – slowly erasing shared synteny in separate lineages. Despite these processes, however, shared synteny can persist for a very long time in distantly related species. Like the ruins of Cair Paravel, it takes a long time to remove the overall pattern to the point where it is not recognizable.

Going on an egg hunt

The knowledge that shared synteny can persist in separate lineages for a very long time was useful when looking for vitellogenin gene fragments in the human genome. As we saw in Part 1 of this series, placental mammals do not require vitellogenin genes to supply their embryos with yolk. Converging lines of evidence, however, indicate that placental mammals are the descendants of egg-laying ancestors. For example, placental mammals and birds (a group of modern-day, egg-laying organisms) are thought to have shared a common ancestral population about 310 million years ago. If this is the case, then it is possible that vitellogenin gene sequences, however fragmentary, might remain in the human genome. The scientists interested in this question used synteny to find the regions of the human genome worth examining.

Modern birds (such as chickens) have three vitellogenin genes: VIT1, VIT2, and VIT3. The latter ones sit side by side in the chicken genome, with VIT1 in a different location. The three VIT genes sit next to other genes in the chicken genome: VIT1 sits next to a gene called “ELTD1”, and VIT2 and VIT3 sit between genes named “SSX2IP” and “CTBS”. These genes are not involved in making egg yolk – they just happen to be the closest neighbors of the VIT genes (Figure 3):

Figure 3. The genomic context for the three VIT genes in chicken.

With these data in hand, the researchers then searched the human genome for the genes near the chicken VIT genes. These three genes (ELTD1, SSX2IP, and CTBS) are also found as functional genes in humans – and as expected, these genes have the same spatial arrangement in the human genome as they do in chickens (Figure 4):

Figure 4. The genes flanking the VIT genes in chicken are present in the human genome in the same spatial pattern.

The researchers then did a careful sequence comparison between these regions in the human and chicken genomes. The gene sequences for ELTD1, SSX2IP, and CTBS were already known to be highly similar, but they found that other sequences in this region matched as well. We can represent sequence matches between the two genomes as a black bar between them to show what they found (Figure 5):

Figure 5. Shared synteny between humans and chickens spanning the regions with functional chicken VIT genes. Black bars between the two chromosomes indicate sequence matches. The match between humans and chickens is statistically significant at the site of VIT1, but the fragments at VIT2 and VIT3 are too short to support statistical significance. This figure is based on data from Brawand et al., 2008.

What is important to note is that not only did the researchers find evidence of fragmentary remains of all three VIT genes in the human genome (though the human VIT1 sequence was the best preserved of the three) they also found sequence matches that span both regions on either side of the genes in question. This evidence increases our confidence that we are indeed looking at regions with shared synteny: in other words, a region in two present-day species that was once a region in the genome of their common ancestral population. The human VIT sequences, as expected, are far too fragmentary to act as functional VIT genes.

In the following section, we’ll begin to explore how Jeffery Tomkins examines this evidence in his attempt to refute it.

#Reading Tomkins

In the previous section, we examined the evidence for shared synteny between the human and chicken genomes for the regions with functional vitellogenin (VIT) genes in chickens. (Recall that shared synteny is merely the technical term for two or more genes in the same spatial pattern – i.e. order along a chromosome –  in two or more organisms). What we saw in Figure 5 is that there is good evidence that the regions containing VIT pseudogene fragments in the human genome once shared common ancestral sequences with the VIT regions in chickens: the regions have the same sequences in the same overall pattern, even though changes have occurred since these sequences went their separate ways:

But, you might ask – what about the other houses?

Reading Tomkins

In the next section, we’ll see that even Tomkins’ treatment of this small VIT1 fragment has several problems.

#Tomkins’ false dichotomy

In the last post in this series, we saw how Tomkins – in his attempt to refute the striking evidence for common ancestry that human vitellogenin (VIT) pseudogenes provide – chose to ignore the entirety of the evidence except for one fragment, 150  base pairs long, of the human VIT1 pseudogene. From this starting point, he then attempts to convince his readership that this fragment is not a VIT pseudogene fragment at all, but rather part of a gene with a function unrelated to egg yolk formation.

Even as we turn to evaluating that argument, it’s important to remember that doing so is secondary to what we have already addressed: Tomkins has chosen to ignore almost all of the evidence for human VIT pseudogenes, and all of the evidence for VIT pseudogenes in other placental and marsupial mammals. Even if Tomkins’ case for the one fragment he chooses to address was airtight, it would not even begin to be a satisfactory rebuttal of the evidence for a scientifically informed audience.

Tomkins on shared synteny

As we have seen in prior posts, the shared synteny between the human and chicken genomes for the VIT1 region is an important piece of evidence for their common ancestry.  Though Tomkins is aware of the importance of this line of evidence, he addresses it dismissively:

One of the supporting arguments for the vtg pseudogene fragment being authentic is that it shares gene neighborhood synteny with chicken. When this was investigated, it was found that gene synteny surrounding the chicken vtg1 gene (~360,000 bases) compared to the region surrounding the alleged vit1 fragment in human, was completely different except for the presence of the LTD1 [sic, what Brawand et. al call ELTD1] gene which was about three times the distance (~100,000 bases) from the alleged vit fragment as its homolog is in chicken (~38,000 bases). [Emphasis mine]

Tomkins is recognizing that the ELTD1 gene is the same in humans and chickens, but he claims that the rest of the surrounding area is “completely different” and that it is further away from VIT1 in humans than in chickens. Of course, admitting that the ELTD1 gene sits beside the functional VIT1 gene in chickens and the VIT1 pseudogene fragment in humans is a concession to shared synteny – but notice how Tomkins treats this evidence. His primary claim is that aside from the ELTD1 gene sequences, these regions are “completely different” in humans and chickens. (Additionally, he points out that the number of base pairs between the human and chicken sequences and ELTD1 differs – though I am unclear why he would think this supports his case, unless he is not willing to consider that insertion and/or deletion mutations in this region may have altered the distances over time.) His primary claim – that these regions are “completely different” is incorrect, as we can see from the data in the original paper, and diagrammed here:

Figure 7: ABOVE: Shared synteny between humans and chickens spanning the VIT1 region. Black bars between the two chromosomes indicate sequence matches. There are several matches between the functional VIT1 in chicken and the human genome, though the human VIT1 sequences are fragmentary. This figure is based on data from Brawand et al., 2008.

Not only are there several sequence matches in the region between the VIT1 fragment and the ELTD1 gene, some of those sequences are VIT1 pseudogene fragments that Tomkins is ignoring. Additionally, there are matches that extend beyond the ELTD1 gene and the VIT1 fragments, which establish that these sequences share synteny.

I am not exactly sure why Tomkins would claim that these sequences, which do indeed have matches, are completely different. It may be that they are “completely different” under the particular (and highly idiosyncratic) methods he has used to do genome comparisons in the past, for which he has been criticized, even by other young-earth creationists and supporters of Intelligent Design (see here and here, for example). In any case, Tomkins’ claim in this instance is simply wrong, and would greatly mislead a non-specialist audience.

Pseudogene or functional gene?

Having rebutted the synteny evidence to his satisfaction, the rest of the case that Tomkins attempts to make is straightforward to understand: He argues that the 150 base pair fragment of VIT1 is “not a real pseudogene” but rather regulatory DNA for an unrelated gene – DNA that functions to direct where and when another gene is transcribed. This gene falls into a class of genes known as “long non-coding RNAs” – genes that are transcribed into RNA but do not code for proteins. These genes are thought to arise quite easily over the course of evolution, and many are thought to have little or no function (for a good but technical review, see here). Specifically, the VIT1 fragment Tomkins acknowledges sits in an intron of this gene (part of the gene that is spliced out of the RNA copy after it is transcribed from DNA). Tomkins summarizes the evidence – such as it is – that suggests this sequence might have a regulatory function. If this fragment is a functional part of an unrelated gene, he argues, it makes sense to understand it as the result of special creation, rather than the evolutionary remnant of a once-functional VIT1 gene in the lineage leading to humans.

The major problem with this argument is that it subscribes to a false dichotomy: that this sequence is either a VIT1 pseudogene fragment or a functional part of another gene. From an evolutionary perspective, there is no issue with it being both. Part of evolutionary theory is the expectation that occasionally some sequences, after losing their original function, may come under natural selection to be repurposed to another function. The technical term for this process is exaptation, and many examples of it are known. Certainly a long, non-coding RNA gene could arise at this location in the human genome and this sequence could be exapted as a regulatory sequence – but there is no hint of admitting this possibility in Tomkins’ work. Once again we are reminded that he is not writing for a scientifically informed audience, but rather for a lay audience that will not know about the possibility of exaptation and expect him to provide evidence that it is not a factor in this situation. Rather, it seems enough to Tomkins to suggest that the sequence is functional – and that this alone will be enough for him to convince his readership that this fragment is “not a real pseudogene.”

Cair Paravel, prefab houses, and exaptation

Perhaps returning to our prior analogies of synteny will be helpful here. Recall that when the Pevensie children (of Chronicles of Narnia fame) were coming to the realization that they were in the ruins of Cair Paravel, they had to clear away a mass of ivy from a wall before they could access the door to the treasure chamber. This wall had previously held up the roof of the great hall above the dais, but now it was a support for the ivy, and undoubtedly a host of animal life within it. The “function” of the wall, then, had changed over time. None of the children, of course, pointed to this “new function” as incompatible with their hypothesis that the wall had formerly been used for a different purpose. The observation that the wall was now a home for plants, insects and perhaps even birds was not a problem, since the children understood that these new properties could have been accumulated over time as the original function was diminished. Moreover, they correctly understood that the weight of the evidence around them strongly suggested that this transformation indeed had taken place.

Our second analogy was the neighborhood of prefabricated houses in my hometown – originally constructed as identical, and gradually becoming more distinct over time as each house has its independent history shaped by renovations and alterations. Suppose in this neighborhood one homeowner decided to relocate the bathroom into an addition, and repurpose the original bathroom into a laundry room. Careful examination of the laundry room might show how the plumbing was adapted from its original function to serve in this new capacity. Imagine, for example, that the drain for the toilet remained in its original position, but was capped and recessed under the floor. Though the room might have been converted to a new function, it still would retain some features that indicated its prior history – and examining other houses in the neighborhood would only confirm our suspicions. Merely discussing how the washing machine was hooked up properly (perhaps where the sink had once been) would do nothing to convince us that the toilet drain under the tiles was anything other than the clear sign the room had once been a bathroom.

Put more simply, evidence of function does not erase the evidence for prior history.

Even though the evidence that this sequence is functional in humans is rather thin, the main issue is that even if its function were convincingly demonstrated in the future, it would not remove the evidence that this sequence was once part of a functional VIT gene – evidence that Tomkins has either not addressed, or denied outright.

In the next section, we’ll leave Tomkins behind and delve into the biology of how a lineage might shift from laying eggs to placental reproduction – a shift that has also occurred in lineages other than the one leading to placental mammals.

#From Egg to Placenta

In the first four sections of this article, we have seen that there is strong genetic evidence to support the hypothesis that placental mammals descend from egg-laying ancestors. One such line of evidence is the remains of three vitellogenin genes in the genomes of placental mammals exactly where common ancestry predicts them to be. Vitellogenins, as we have seen, are necessary for forming egg yolk. In placental mammals, yolk is not made, and embryos are connected to the mother to receive direct nourishment throughout development.

Often when I present on these lines of evidence, questions arise: how is it that an organism could suddenly stop laying eggs and switch to live birth? How could a placenta suddenly appear? Many of these questions are rooted in the misconception that evolution is a sudden process, perhaps requiring large mutations that dramatically alter one organism. Rather, evolution is a gradual process where average characteristics of a population shift over time. As such, evolution predicts that the transition to live birth and a placental connection was a gradual one. Even with these understandings in place, however, the gap from one form of reproduction to the other seems too far for evolution to bridge.

As Tompkins puts it:

The grand evolutionary story claims that egg-laying creatures share a common ancestry with placental mammals. Non-mammalian vertebrates, such as birds and reptiles, lay eggs with nutritional reserves in the egg yolk to nourish the growing embryo inside. In contrast, the embryos of placental mammals are nourished through the placenta, a specialized organ attached to the uterine wall of the mother. Placental mammals are born alive and do not hatch from eggs.

The supposed transition from an egg-laying reproductive system to a placenta-based system is notoriously difficult for evolutionists to explain.

So, is this transition “notoriously difficult” to explain, as Tompkins claims? No, actually, it’s not. Let’s take a look.

Placental reptiles?

One thing to keep in mind in this discussion is that mammals, as a group, are nested within reptiles. In other words, mammals are modified reptiles. There are numerous transitional fossils linking reptiles to mammals, and the now out-dated names for these groups were once “mammal-like reptiles” and “reptile-like mammals” with no clear dividing line between them, illustrating the gradual shift from reptile to mammal.

So, present-day reptiles and present-day mammals are close relatives. Hold that thought.

Those who have read my Evolution Basics series will also be familiar with the idea of convergent evolution – the observation that evolution often “repeats itself” in lineages. We see fish and dolphins arrive at very similar body shapes, for example – shapes that were not inherited from their last common ancestral population.

One way to explore the possibility of an egg-laying to live-birth to live-birth-with-placental-development transition in the placental mammal lineage is to see if other lineages have also – convergently – arrived at something like placental development from an egg-laying starting point. The place to look for such transitions would be among mammalian relatives, such as reptiles.

When we do this, we find numerous examples of reptiles that have shifted from egg laying to live birth. We also find examples of live-bearing reptiles that have placentas. Moreover, there are even examples of reptiles (skinks, as it happens) of the same species that can either lay eggs, or bear live young, depending on the environmental conditions they find themselves in. In challenging conditions, they retain their embryos for live birth. In easier conditions, they lay eggs. All that is required for live birth in these “dual mode” species is an eggshell that progressively becomes thinner and thinner as development proceeds, such that it is merely a thin membrane at the time of birth.

Ironically, the young-earth creationist organization Answers in Genesis has commented on these observations, and concluded that the ability to switch between egg laying and bearing live young in reptiles (and the various types of placentas seen in reptiles) is consistent with their view of “created kinds”:

Extant live-bearing lizards and other reptiles display an array of placental morphologies. Furthermore, at least two species of skinks contain both egg-laying and live-bearing members. While touted as evidence for evolution, these species are actually good illustrations not of evolution but of genetic variation within created kinds. Those dual-mode skink species exist in different climates, each variety being well-adapted to the challenges of its environment. And there is no evidence that those skink populations are changing their reproductive habits at all or evolving into new kinds of creatures.

While we cannot know for certain how many created kinds of lizards God made in the beginning, we could postulate that the genetic ability for egg-laying and live-birth co-existed at least in skinks of the dual-mode types …  the diversity of placental morphology among reptiles is consistent with the biblical concept that the created kinds of creatures diversified to fill the ecological niches of the world. Natural selection (and other mechanisms) would have allowed the best-adapted populations to survive in each habitat.

So, from a young-earth perspective, these sorts of shifts in reproductive strategy simply reflect the “genetic variation within created kinds”. Why such (repeated) transitions within reptiles is viewed as trivial, but such a transition within mammals would be “notoriously difficult” is not explained.

From egg to placenta

The evidence we see from present-day reptiles thus gives us ideas about how this transition may have occurred in the placental mammal lineage:

  1. An egg-laying species shifts towards being able to either lay eggs, or retain them for live birth with a thinned shell, depending on the conditions present. Vitellogenins would be needed and useful at this point.
  2. This lineage then becomes increasingly committed to live-bearing, still with intact vitellogenins. Eggs have yolk as per normal, but are not laid any longer.
  3. Once committed to live-bearing, embryos receiving nourishment from the uterine wall during the time they are being held becomes advantageous – such as uptake of calcium from the mother, as seen in present-day “dual mode” skinks.
  4. Over time, variation and selection allows for the connection between embryos and the uterine wall to become more elaborate – the beginning of a placenta (such as the varied “placentas” we observe in present-day live-bearing reptiles).
  5. As a stronger placental connection evolves, there is correspondingly less need for egg yolk to nourish the embryo. Eventually, the vitellogenins are lost, but without impact, since the placental connection has replaced their function.

Of course, these are ideas – hypotheses – about how this transition may have taken place. The point is not that we have determined exactly how it took place, but that it is a probable path based on what we see in other organisms. The point is that this transition seems readily accessible to present-day reptiles – and thus was likely possible for their close mammalian relatives as well. As such, the evidence for vitellogenin pseudogenes we see in placental mammal genomes should come as no surprise.

Notes & References

Dennis Venema
About the Author

Dennis Venema

God's Word. God's World. Delivered to your inbox.

What is BioLogos?

Table of Contents


Please enter your keyword:

Sign up to our newsletter

360 Feedback Isn't A Relic Of The Nineties

April 27, 2018 Alison Pate

Whether or not you experienced it for yourself, the nineties were an era of acid-washed jeans, slouchy socks, and compact cassettes. Several professional publications related to HR and L&D have likened 360 assessments to other fads of the early nineties - best tucked away and forgotten. Compact cassettes will probably not be making a comeback anytime soon, but a quality 360 can help you understand how you see yourself and how others see you.

Never Say Never in Science

Scientists typically shy aware from strong words such as 'never.' There's nowhere to go from never, after all. Saying never is akin to saying 'throw the baby out with the bathwater.' Using a term like never is potentially throwing out valuable information that may not be found once the ultimatum is issued.

Google provides many examples of titles that state you should never use 360 feedback, or why such programs fail. Each author gives varying reasons for the doom and gloom of 360 assessments, but common criticisms include the bias of rater feedback, selection of raters, or that the data may be used for other means, outside of the intended scope.

Several articles state that anonymous 360s are a problem, and their widespread use lets raters hide behind the veil of anonymity. Accordingly, anonymous assessments don't allow for 'face-to-face' conversation, so there aren't courageous conversations about performance. But, the idea that people should drop anonymous 360 feedback and go straight to a face-to-face format because they build trust, openness, discomfort, and vulnerability is naive.

Trust Doesn't Magically Happen Overnight

It takes effort and time to have a culture of trust, openness, and vulnerability. Leaders must create the conditions where the trust required to jump into a courageous conversation is already present. That type of confidence takes some time to develop, and this is one of the biggest tests of leadership. It means that you as the leader will do as you say you will. You will show integrity and prove that you are worthy of trust.

Statistics in recent years underscore why the trusting environment needed for candid and direct feedback is elusive.

  • Only 36% of U.S. employees believe that their leaders act with integrity.

  • 76% of employees admit they have observed illegal or unethical conduct at work.

  • 77% of Americans lack confidence in their leaders.

Only a select few are fortunate enough to work in an environment where trust and openness are business as usual. As we move into the Imagination Age, successful companies will realise that trust and integrity are crucial. A quality 360 is a useful tool, no matter your work environment, and it can provide insights that help promote positive changes.

The i4 Neuroleader 360˚ Feedback Assessment measures competencies and includes inputs from clients, suppliers, family, and friends to provide meaningful data that will show how the person is developing at work, at home, and in the community. Individuals who are assessed may experience a new awareness of themselves, which can lead to career and even life-changing shifts.

Elon Musk

Avoid Homegrown 360 Tools

One criticism of anonymous 360 assessments is the poor quality of the evaluations. If the tool in question is poorly researched, validated and constructed, it typically focuses on accomplishing tasks with a narrow focus and provides little meaningful information to the individual.

Any person or organisation should carefully consider what criteria make up a 360 feedback assessment. It is important to invest the time and financial costs to deliver meaningful results to both the employee and the organisation.

A quality assessment:

  1. Is relevant to the 21st Century business climate and useful to the individual
  2. Provides content and outcomes that could be applied throughout the organisation to develop the personal leadership qualities of every employee
  3. Is strengths-focused and is customisable to fit the needs of individuals and teams
  4. Helps reverse the 'trust' deficit in many businesses and set the stage for face-to-face feedback
  5. 360 Assessments can still provide meaningful feedback (in the same way than a Fitbit band does and more!)

Don't lose valuable information that could benefit both employees and the organisation as a whole. 360s aren't just relics from the past. The right assessment tool, which is aligned with the right business issues, should provide employees with personal benefit. A positive experience with tangible outcomes leads to improvements for the organisation.

Leadership ability should not be taken for granted. It ebbs and flows by position, organisation, and life circumstance. It requires vigilance and discipline, and regular feedback to track how you are doing. The i4 Assessments can help you have a new understanding of how you are 'seen' by your peers, managers, and even those in your personal life.

Alison Pate

Alison Pate

Alison Pate is an executive coach and mentor with over 25 years of global leadership experience. With specialist expertise in leadership development, team effectiveness and client service delivery, she has assisted major corporations in numerous industries to elevate their leadership teams and operations to exceptional standards.

Alison uses her learned skills and holistic approach to increase self-awareness and enhance both performance and wellbeing to ensure that the desired behavioural change and transformation becomes intrinsic to her clients’ success as leaders.