Evolution, Morphology and Exobiology

Dog breeders have produced a broad range of morphological variation within the species variety Canis lupus familiaris . See attached chart from American Kennel Club. But no one, so far as I know, is claiming that selective breeding has produced a new species within the genus Canis. No natural environment would pull as much phenotypic plasticity out of a species genome as is shown in this chart. And yet, nature is credited with producing all the various species of creatures, despite nature's ability to produce only a much narrower range of phenotypic variability from a given species genome, If dog breeders haven't yet produced a new species (or if they have, please …

This discussion was started by SamCogar in the thread "Evidence of Human Common Ancestry". It doesn't belong there because it has nothing to do with human ancestry. Hypertilly stated "But like djmacarro I believe that all animals have souls. my question to him was how do we know that they do not possess the intelligience to understand their own souls. " My response to this was: "By noting that the required intelligence requires a large and complex brain in order to contemplate abstract thought. Dogs don't have the required brain. AND "You don't know dogs have souls, because the only reason we think humans have souls is because humans can discuss the subj…

I was just curious as to the question stated on whether or not insects develop cancer? If anyone has any information on this topic or has an opinion, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Hi guys, I am studying a schematic diagram given here: https://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/34067/are-there-fishes-with-a-double-circulatory-system/34071 I don't know what book is this picture taken from, but I hope it accurately describes the african lungfish circulatory system. If I understand that correctly, the main differences between a fish circulatory system and this, are following: lungs output directly into a separate atrium, instead of mixing output together with other organs that do not contribute to oxygenation into a single atrium lungs have separate input from gills through pulmonary artery, instead of through dorsal aorta that br…

What evolutionary advantage does sodomy give to animals which choose to engage in this activity?

What possible evolutionary advantage could be gained for an organism by dying? aguy2

This is one question I have been pondering over for a while; why were the dinosaurs so dumb? I mean, from evidence so far, we can speculate that they first really started roaming the earth 230 million years ago and then obliterated 65 million years ago. Now, they had 165 million years to walk the Earth and evolve into smarter creatures but they didn't. As far as we can tell, all they did was eat, sleep and breed. Not a bad life - except having to run for it every now and again - but why didn't they gain intelligence? The only knowledge of fire they had was that lightning and lava made it (and that it was hot). Humans (Homo Sapiens) have only really been around for 20…

For nearly forty years I have been working on a personal project to somehow reconcile two seemingly incompatible ideas. On the one hand there is now overwhelming evidence that we (and other species) carry within us biological "circuitry" that if triggered, induces low mood which brings in its train physiological effects that, particularly in the natural world, would lead to a rapid exit from the gene pool. On the other, there is the impelling logic implicit within selfish gene theory that natural selection will winnow out any behaviors which do not serve to ensure the repeated replication of the genes defining them. Put another way, major depressive episodes are known, fo…

It is most ironic that although I have never seen a "theory of evolution", I'm entitled to be called an "evolutionist". This will take some getting-used-to. Meanwhile, here's what I'm talking about: {1} I have presented this issue elsewhere and nobody has shown me what I require. "News theory" http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/theoryc/ "Car and tractor theory" http://www.dsa.gov.uk/ "Music theory" http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/theory/theory.htm "Feminist theory" http://www.cddc.vt.edu/feminism/ Enough with the sources. "Opening theory" "Number theory" "Particle theory" "Graph theory" "Game theory" {2} The dictionary doesn't …

My book provides a little knowledge about this. It says acquired traits can't be inherited. But the theory of evolution is based on it. Isn't it. Haven't homologous organs arise due to change in environment and other factors. I mean to say the once a trait is acquired, it may be inherited in the further generations.

Evolution by natural selection has been effective at producing increasinlgy more complex creatures. However, humans may now be able to continue evolving by means other than natural selection, which, let's face it, is a very slow process. We can now evolve via a developmental singularity process which means that more intellectual sophistication will be achieved quicker, and more efficiently, in the same individual. The consequence of this is that death by ageing will become unecessary. For full reasons and a discussion see here: https://acrobat.com/#d=MAgyT1rkdwono-lQL6thBQ

Can someone explain NS (in detail) to me? From what I read it seems to be missing a specific explaination...that being design. Is there a simulation that can explain how NS changes an organism over-time in relationship to enviroment/etc. To me as it stands, I gather that it "choses" a design (kinda) rather then naturally evolving, and that's frustrating.

What prompted primitive man to become bipedal? I mean, what were the environmental pressures that made it necessary to stop swinging from trees and start walking upright? Note I'm not asking what advantage it gave us (freeing our hands to use tools), I'm asking what prompted it.

Are we born to be lean mean fighting machines in the wild? To be hunter gatherers? To be the best as possible at sex? What are our human bodies evolutionarily designed for up until this point in time?

I just thought of something this morning regarding biology in women, and female gorillas. Women have 2 breasts, not 4 teats like on a cow's utter. Were women meant to give birth to twins? It seems to make more sense considering they only have 2 breasts. If that's the case, why can cattle only have 1 calve each year when they have 4 teats?

Silkworm is a chem major at a college in Kansas (not sure about details) where the student Creationists have an organization CORR that sponsors debate, or maybe something besides debate that passes for debate. I read about this at his blog, which he just moved to a new location and is getting settled in. http://silkworm.wordpress.com/ As I understand it, he is going up against a Dr. William Lucas in a closed circuit TV debate. Do you have any RESOURCES, LINKS, advice on points to make, or whatever kind of support to offer? Here is some dope on Lucas http://silkworm.wordpress.com/2006/04/05/3/ click on the CORR publicity poster which has a snapshot of Lucas …

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After watching Extraterrestrials, I was wondering whether can a plant take in water from the top like collect it in a basin like this strange plant? PAGODA TREE Distinguishing Features: Abundant carbon dioxide means the pagoda trees grow to more than half a mile tall. Cuplike crowns above the canopy collect rainwater to keep the uppermost limbs hydrated. Closest Earth Cousin: Giant sequoias, but their growth is limited by the ability of the tree's vascular system to deliver water hundreds of feet up.

I'm still debating with the same guy and tearing apart his arguments, but I have a second question. He posted this Sure, scientists created a few proteins from amino acids in a lab under extremely impossible conditions for what the first cell would have undergone. However, take into account that life must have water to survive, yet amino acids are destroyed instantly in water. So the cell would have to overcome extreme odds of left hand amino acids matching up perfectly with right hand amino acids (also virtually impossible) in completely waterless conditions and then IMEDIATELY be taken to water to survive, despite the fact that the cell would have to create, from nothin…

Alright, i've been pondering about this text i have noticed on a different website. What would be your response to this statement? I really do not understand what they are trying to put out. This...just doesn't sound right, I can't put my finger on it but i find something strange about it, thus, i decided to ask it here. For a side-note: I believe he is talking about The Big Bang Theory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cro-Magnon also what was there blood type and halopgroup. please provide links and references. someone must know

Question: 'Can you tell me anything you know about evolution, any one thing that is true?'

Well, i dont feel that way. however i was wondering how scientists alike respond to the statement that for a cell to create spontaneously would take 1 x 10 to the 40000th years. I feel this view pigeon holes the listener into thinking it requires every step up to the final step of the cell's creation to be valid. While, if we look at that statement being a logical assertion, a cell that fell slightly short, lets say to the 39999 years would be irrelevant, as per their reasoning. They compare this to the construction of a boeing 747 (as im sure we've all heard this) and that the possibility for the atoms to construct this mass in its entirety is identical. I feel this is a…

Hi! This is my first post here on SFN. I'm wondering about the evolution of the female breast. The reason why I'm thinking about this is because my field is psychology, and I'm trying to form an opinion regarding if the sexual appeal of breasts for men is more a cultural thing than an inherent preference. For example, its quite obvious that men should be drawn to younger females since they, among other things, are less likely to have a miscarriage. But what about the preference for big, up-pointing breasts? Some initial questions: Does breast size has anything to do with milk production capacity? Why does women's breast swell during pregnancy? I assume…

Most male fish spread their sperm over female eggs just because they have come into proximity with the eggs. The female may even have departed, and there is no contact with her. So what is it about just seeing (or tasting?) the female eggs spread out before him that induces the male fish to produce sperm? Does he experience something like sexual excitation or is his sperm spreading just a deliberate act induced by seeing the eggs?