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Author Topic:   An unlikely example of convergent evolution at work
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5175 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 16 of 19 (233953)
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 19 (234221)
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 499 days)
Posts: 3645
From: Indianapolis, IN
Joined: 03-29-2004


Message 18 of 19 (234229)
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 19 (247719)
09-30-2005 3:25 PM


Thread copied to the An unlikely example of convergent evolution at work thread in the In The News forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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