Mouse evolution observed and documented

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8225000/8225219.stm

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I'm nowhere near an expert regarding evolution, but I have a question.

What is the difference between evolution and adaptation?

dbismyname · Posted: Aug 28, 2009 10:50 am Post subject:

I think adaptation is not generational. Such as one mouse adapts to its environment but its species evolves to it over time

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

adaptation is part of the process of evolution, an adaptation is a thing that results from the process. This is where a lot of people get confused though, as it is easy to misunderstand and think that the organism makes something happen that makes it better suited, whereas it is only the result of chance genetic mutations, right mutation meets right time and place.

Tbonez · Posted: Aug 28, 2009 11:22 am Post subject:

I saw evolution today...I watched apples being put into a dish that contained dough and then put into the oven..I then watched the oven be opened and what do you know - A FRIGGIN PIE came out!

Yes still on my cut
Yes craving food
Yes about to gnaw my arm off
Yes I probably hallucinated that a pie was actually made in my kitchen

I have decided that every post I make for the next week and a half will contain a food reference to make me feel better.

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

^ agree.

recombinant DNA + tiny percentage of genetic mutation = variability or adaptation between parents and offspring

with predation and scarcity of resources (known as selection pressure), variation allows some individuals to thrive and reproduce ahead of their peers/competitors = selection (those best suited to the current environment are "selected" to pass those genetic traits on to offspring). Everytime the environment changes enough to create a change in selection pressure, new adaptations are selected.

adaptation traced over time and generations = evolution

I contend that for the time being, humans have ceased to evolve because there is little to no selection pressure. Almost any moron can get laid and have a child. Eventually, overpopulation will strain some part of our needs and those best equipped to deal with those constraints (mentally or physically) will be the ones most likely to pass on their genetic makeup. The herd will be culled and we'll start again. WOLVERINES!!!

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

dbismyname · Posted: Aug 28, 2009 11:37 am Post subject:

I think welfare payouts put pressure on the disimprovement.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

I think humans are actually beginning to degenerate. Did anyone check out that Wal-Mart thread?

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

So in this case the mice adapted and it eventually changed their DNA and the "light colored" gene became dominant? The adaptation became evolution?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

you have the cart before the horse again, oakie.

the mice didn't adapt and then their dna changed. There was mutation in at least one mouse's DNA that made their fur blend in. PURE chance, not the result of any pressure, any adaptation, just PURE CHANCE. By pure chance, it happened to give this/these mouse/mice an advantage: in this case, predators didn't catch them as easily as the mice that didn't blend in, so they made more babies. By PURE CHANCE, this mutation was either a dominant trait or mixed with another recessive trait (this is WAY simplified, genetics is very complex....) and it got passed on, which made the babies better avoiders of predators... pretty soon, enough mice were born with the more advantagous fur, and enough old school fur mice were killed and didn't reproduce as much, that the new fur is now the norm for the genetics of this population of mice.

This doesn't mean that the light colored gene is dominant at all. It could still be recessive. it just exists in the entire sub species now in that area.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Oh. I guess I've always looked at it backwards. Interesting.

How do you KNOW it's PURE CHANCE? Mr. Green

dbismyname · Posted: Aug 28, 2009 12:00 pm Post subject:

basically a bunch of dudes live in the snow. One dude happens to be born albino. That dude lives longer because of his camo. He gets tail and reproduces because all the other dudes are runnin from chewbacca's cousin the yetti. Next thing you know all the dudes livin around there are albino.

Pretty good summary CB??

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

GnarShredd · Posted: Aug 28, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject:

Anyone see 'Idiocracy'?

Human regression at its finest. Very Happy

_bruky · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 1201

jason_ssr · Posted: Aug 29, 2009 5:12 am Post subject:

Mouse evoution is obvious. 10 years ago, mine only had two buttons and a rubber ball on the bottom. The rubber ball on bottom is now a rubber wheel on top and the bottom is now a freakin laser.

DJew Jake · Posted: Aug 29, 2009 6:20 am Post subject:

A better proof of evolution then deer mice is the speckled moth... Native to brittain this white with black dot moth evolved to become nearly pure black during the industrial revolution.. And then now that the air is clean it has been reverting to its white colour.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

jason_ssr, Laughing

taitrt · Soul Rider Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 413