1. In the 2012 Summer Olympics that took place in London, the South African delegation included Oscar Pistorius, a double-leg amputee runner who had qualified to participate in the 400-meter sprint and the 400 x 4 relay race. Pistorius was a gifted athlete, but many people in the Olympic world had second thoughts about his participation due to the potential advantage his prosthetic legs could give him over able-bodied athletes. Those who were against his inclusion in Olympic competition argued that allowing him to race would be the first step down a “slippery slope” leading to a situation in which all runners try to gain some sort of mechanical advantage. Do you think this might happen? Why? What would be the implications for competitive sports?
2. Describe the four major steps in the muscle contraction cycle. Within the context of the muscle contraction cycle, investigate and explain the cause of the condition called rigor mortis.
