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Author Topic:   An unlikely example of convergent evolution at work
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5181 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 16 of 20 (233954)
08-17-2005 7:43 AM
Reply to: Message 15 by coffee_addict
08-16-2005 5:54 PM


Re: Back from the Rockies. Stupid mosquitos!
It is convergent evolution.
You are thinking about convergence of morphological features.
The bat and the bird evolved different bone structures to form a wing. In this case, both (immature) insects and arachnids have the ability to spin silk. Silk has multiple uses, but arachnids commonly use it for trapping and securing prey, whereas insect larvae do not - they use it for spinning a proptective coccoon and sometimes for dispersal. So when we find a caterpillar using silk to trap and secure prey, we are inclined to suspect that this particular use of silk has evolved 'de novo' in that particular lineage becuase it is unique in that lineage. It is a convergence of behavior and silk application made possible by the inherent properties of arthropod silk.
Sorry about the mosquitoes - I just spent a week on the coast up there and had great weather.

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bkelly
Inactive Member


Message 17 of 20 (234220)
08-17-2005 6:22 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by arachnophilia
07-24-2005 3:54 PM


Re: one problem
Behaviors are certainly inheritable. Look at very young infant humans, before they have had time to or ability to adapt to their bevaviorial environment. They almost all have different personalities right from birth. Some cry a lot, some cry very little. Some smile and laugh more than others. Some frighten easier than others. The list of differences goes on and on.

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coffee_addict
Member (Idle past 504 days)
Posts: 3645
From: Indianapolis, IN
Joined: 03-29-2004


Message 18 of 20 (234230)
08-17-2005 6:43 PM
Reply to: Message 17 by bkelly
08-17-2005 6:22 PM


Re: one problem
Yeah, and they poop nonstop.

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AdminBen
Inactive Member


Message 19 of 20 (247720)
09-30-2005 3:25 PM


Thread moved here from the Biological Evolution forum.

  
Ben!
Member (Idle past 1425 days)
Posts: 1161
From: Hayward, CA
Joined: 10-14-2004


Message 20 of 20 (247721)
09-30-2005 3:28 PM
Reply to: Message 17 by bkelly
08-17-2005 6:22 PM


Re: one problem
I think you're getting towards what Antonio Damasio calls "emotions"--"innate" behavioral patterns that are used address common issue in animal evolution. Most animals have emotions. In humans (at least), emotions are strongly correlated with what Damasio labels "feelings," which are inner qualatative experiences.
There are lots of other behaviors that are inherited. If it's interesting, I can dig up some info and post it to one of the "Evolution of behavior" threads.
Ben

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