In the search for symbolic meaning of the Genesis “fruit”

The desire to determine what the Genesis “fruit” was comes from both its mystery and the fact that it became the source of the fall – as a result of being picked and consumed by a human. Generally speaking, all the known proposals of the interpretation of “the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil” can be divided into a literal interpretation, which refers to a particular natural fruit, and symbolic interpretations, in which the “fruit” is a symbol. The strictly theological proposal of understanding the “fruit” is maintained in the mainstream of moral theology, because it directs the symbolism of the “fruit” to the moral dimension of human behavior and leads to a situation of non-compliance of the prohibition, and so breaking the right given to man by God. This article is attempt to interpret the early chapters of the Book of Genesis which in hermeneutic and biblical philosophy seek deep and universal meanings of the Genesis “fruit” symbol.A questão que subjaz à expressão “fruto proibido” provavelmente atravessou os leitores do livro dos Génesis desde o seu início. O facto de se ter tornado a causa da queda original – por ter sido apanhado e consumido – marcou a interpretação do texto. As propostas de interpretação do “fruto da árvore proibida” podem ser divididas em interpretações literais e simbólicas. A leitura teológica contemporânea prefere as segundas no contexto da história bíblica da queda da humanidade, sendo o fruto identificado com o pecado original. Há que notar que esta leitura tem a marca do contexto teológico de toda a revelação cristã e da respetiva tradição. Por isso, pode ser aceite por parte daqueles que compartilham esta visão teológica das origens, da natureza humana e do destino da humanidade. A estrita proposta teológica de entender este “fruto” é mantida no horizonte principal da teologia moral, pois direciona o fruto para a dimensão moral do comportamento humano, conduzindo a uma situação de não compromisso com a proibição e, desse modo, abandonando o direito concedido por Deus à humanidade. Estes aspetos não permitem captar o nível da interpretação do “fruto”, que se refere à sua essência antropológica e axiológica (e não apenas teológica). Este artigo tenta, assim, interpretar o fruto dos primeiros capítulos dos Génesis no horizonte da filosofia cristã e da filosofia bíblica, tentando aprofundar o significado universal do símbolo genesíaco do “fruto”

Advanced Degrees Pursued by UMR Undergraduates

This study discusses a survey whose website link was sent to 10,000 UMR B.S. graduates since 1970 to collect information about advanced degrees received as well as interest in pursuing further education. The goal was to get a better understanding of the areas of interest in advanced degrees by engineering and science undergraduates. The primary categories of advanced degrees are engineering, science, engineering management and business administration. Information was requested to determine whether the degree choices made by those receiving advanced degrees were influenced significantly by cost, geographical locations, and/or time convenience. In addition, information was requested of those interested in pursuing an advanced degree whether they would be interested in a distance education program offering, i.e., via Internet

Resistance to Phytophthora infestans in diploid and tetraploid potato families. 2. Resistance in tubers

The tuber reaction to Phytophthora infestans was evaluated in individual genotypes of four diploid and four tetraploid potato families, their parents and standard cultivars. The genotypes were tested several times. Two testing methods were used, based on evaluation of tuber slices or whole tubers, respectively. All inoculations were done with MP 245, a fungus isolate with a broad virulence spectrum. If the reaction of tuber slices was evaluated, the distribution of genotypes in several families deviated considerably from a normal one. In some distributions more than one peak was detectable, indicating segregation of major genes. Genotypes transgressive in resistance were found in four families. If the reaction of whole tubers was evaluated, the distribution of genotypes did not deviate significantly from a normal one. Genotypes transgressive in resistance were found in one family. The tuber reaction to P. infestans depended to a large extent on testing conditions

Resistance to Phytophthora infestans in diploid and tetraploid potato families. 3. Correlations between characters

In four diploid and four tetraploid families correlations were evaluated between resistance to Phytophthora infestans of leaflets, tuber slices and whole tubers as well as correlations between three aspects of resistance and maturity or tuber shape regularity. A virulent P. infestans isolate was used for inoculations. Only in the family D4 a significant positive correlation was found between all the three aspects of resistance. Genotypes with susceptible leaflets and resistant tuber slices were not identified in any family. In some families genotypes with resistant whole tubers and susceptible tuber slices were found; the family D5 was found to have genotypes in which resistance of leaflets was associated with susceptibility of tuber slices. The resistance to P. infestans of leaflets or tuber slices tended to be negatively correlated with both early maturity and regularity of tuber shape