Re: survival of species

Needing no introduction "an" Usenet stalwart wrote:

"Bryn" <Scotland-the-Brave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uu4cAmAQ+NBHFw4U@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Needing no introduction "an" Usenet stalwart wrote:
On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:35:13 -0800, bookburn@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I've been playing the computer simulation game, Civilization IV, and
the following words came up.

"It is not the oldest of the species that survives, but the one most
responsive to change." Charles Darwin.

Sorry, got the words wrong. Made me wonder about what they call
"living fossils," like coelacanth, alligators, etc.; and where are all
the species that morphed away?

The quote should say, "It is not the STRONGEST of the species that
survives, but the one most responsive to change." This would seem to
support that fleeing and hiding is a better strategy than fighting, if
"strength" is meant literally.

But Darwin's concept of adaptation/change is only by nature, not
nurture, so it has to get done by reproduction. Can't reproduce if
you don't survive, so it goes. No mechanism to account for nurture,
or change in just one generation through experience, environment,
etc..

But considering the evolution of dog types we have, including
modification of instincts, it does seem to take effect in only a few
generations. Not sure what "the dog whisperer," Cesar Milan, would
say about this. He does say that we should take into account the
nature of the dog to do certain kinds of work, like bulldogs are
"gladiators," labradors are for bird hunting, etc., so we should
prescribe that kind of activity or they'll get frustrated and go bad.

So learned survivalism is not something you can inherit, but allows
you to reproduce. bookburn

I recall that recent research shows that a form of mosquito trapped when
the London Underground was roofed over (100 years ago?) has so completely
adapted to its environment that has become a new species.

100 years is a long time in terms of mosquito generations.

I bet its even longer for midges...




--
Bryn

It takes years of schooling to
knock the intelligence out of a child.
.

Relevant Pages

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    ... >>"It is not the oldest of the species that survives, ... Not sure what "the dog whisperer," Cesar Milan, would ... >you to reproduce. ...
    (soc.culture.scottish)
  • Re: survival of species
    ... "It is not the oldest of the species that survives, ... But considering the evolution of dog types we have, ... you to reproduce. ...
    (soc.culture.scottish)