> Evolution is a very mechanical process, a process of constantly
accessing
> benefits and costs to every aspect of the body plan of the organisms
it
> evolves, and evolving its forms to exploit untapped resources in the
most
> efficient manner possible.
...and for anybody who's trying to invoke intelligence into this
"design" process, let me point out that evolution happens without any
need of knowing it happens, and there is no "designing" going on -
improvements are simply mistakes that work better than the original.
no ghost in the sky required.
**************************************
Tracy, I've always considered that the plant (grass) that survives
having its top removed via a cow munching on it is not because of some
grand plan (by the plant - or God), but by the fact that there were
trillions of plants being munched on by millions of cows over eons of
time. Eventually, one (or several) of those grass plants evolved, by
accident, a gene sequence that allowed it to continue to grow (dare I
say heal) even after having the larger share of itself devoured. This
accident allowed that plant to live, and thereby reproduce at a greater
rate of overall success.
No magic, just random events that happened over a section of time.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Wirt
> Atmar
> Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:44 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: OT: McCain Running Mate
>
> I just wrote:
>
> > The most primitive of the snakes, the boas, still retain vestigal
hindlimbs,
> > and in the most progressive of the skinks, which are not yet fully
legless,
> > are now found in the process of losing their forelimbs:
> >
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoseps
>
> Let me add that I just found a much better picture of the Sand Skink,
a lizard
> in transition of adopting a snake-like ecology. The image is on this
page:
>
>
http://www.kidsbiology.com/animals-for-children.php?animal=Sand%20Skink
>
> Compare that image to the standard architecture of a skink:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skink
>
> Evolution is a very mechanical process, a process of constantly
accessing
> benefits and costs to every aspect of the body plan of the organisms
it
> evolves, and evolving its forms to exploit untapped resources in the
most
> efficient manner possible.
>
> Wirt Atmar
>
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