Comments on Michael's Meanderings: Devolvoing.

Scientific Chick: In the span of a day, she went ...

2009-12-19T19:58:55.353-08:00

Scientific Chick: In the span of a day, she went from bird to elephant to frog. Tonight she went to bed on her lily pad.

Clare: I've always thought of evolution as more of a grassy knoll. The grass sends out runners that develop into new tufts of grass. Some of the old tufts remain, but some die off (Although I suppose this is easier to convey on a tree if you draw lines through it to mark the passage of time - assuming that time is linear, of course). By the way, have you ever thought about changing the name of your blog to "The Fundamentalist Darwinian"?

My guess? Octopus.

2009-12-19T11:04:00.187-08:00

My guess? Octopus.

I read the title, and thought you'd sold your 77 V...

2009-12-19T10:10:35.448-08:00

I read the title, and thought you'd sold your 77 Volvo Stationwagen.

Plus you're still evolving. We tend to think of evolution as a hierarchy, a ladder if you will. In truth it's more like a branching tree, with the latest tips the latest evolved species. And while its true that there does tend to be an increase in complexity, it isn't necessarily the case.

It ends up how it ends up, there is no ladder.

No way she's just got a great imagination!!! I me...

2009-12-18T21:41:29.186-08:00

No way she's just got a great imagination!!! I mean, who wouldn't want to be in a family of monkeys! I think you should go back to that one myself.

And when you become a family of woolly mammoths or saiga antelopes, you know where to go to feel at home! :)