Comments on: The Origin of the Future http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/12/04/the-origin-of-the-future/ Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:13:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Oroboros http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/12/04/the-origin-of-the-future/#comment-12943 Oroboros Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:29:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=2067#comment-12943 Earlier this year this story caught my eye: <a HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8115464.stm" rel="nofollow">Evolution faster when it's warmer</A>. It does seem reasonable that if global temperatures continue to rise, the overall rate of germ cell division will increase, leading to a corresponding increase in the background rate of mutations. Also on human impacts to evolution: <a HREF="http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2009/1203/1" rel="nofollow">RNA Silencer Shows Promise for Hepatitis C</A>. I think it's fascinating that we might cure some diseases by modifying our own RNA so that it is no longer useful to the virus. On a slightly different but still related note, earlier today I noticed this story: <a HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8393000/8393611.stm" rel="nofollow">Iron Curtain kept out alien birds</A>. It is interesting that arbitrary political divisions might create large enough barriers that, if maintained long enough, might ultimately lead to isolation and the evolution of new species. It sure seems counter-intuitive that a wall would keep out birds. I contrast that to the <a HREF="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/4736472/The-mathematics-of-murmurating-starlings.html" rel="nofollow">blame that some fans of Shakespeare had</A> for introducing Starlings to the U.S. I'm probably over link quota... Earlier this year this story caught my eye: Evolution faster when it’s warmer. It does seem reasonable that if global temperatures continue to rise, the overall rate of germ cell division will increase, leading to a corresponding increase in the background rate of mutations.

Also on human impacts to evolution: RNA Silencer Shows Promise for Hepatitis C. I think it’s fascinating that we might cure some diseases by modifying our own RNA so that it is no longer useful to the virus.

On a slightly different but still related note, earlier today I noticed this story: Iron Curtain kept out alien birds. It is interesting that arbitrary political divisions might create large enough barriers that, if maintained long enough, might ultimately lead to isolation and the evolution of new species. It sure seems counter-intuitive that a wall would keep out birds. I contrast that to the blame that some fans of Shakespeare had for introducing Starlings to the U.S.

I’m probably over link quota…

]]> By: Gabe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/12/04/the-origin-of-the-future/#comment-12942 Gabe Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:53:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=2067#comment-12942 I'm glad you mentioned health care as blunting human evolution. I always seem to be mentioning that to friends. Now I'll have a scholarly article to point to! Excellent read. I’m glad you mentioned health care as blunting human evolution. I always seem to be mentioning that to friends. Now I’ll have a scholarly article to point to! Excellent read.

]]> By: gregorylent http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2009/12/04/the-origin-of-the-future/#comment-12941 gregorylent Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:28:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/?p=2067#comment-12941 structuralists vs. functionalists is the interesting place in the evolution dance .. where is it going? yogis know, because they are structuralists to the max structuralists vs. functionalists is the interesting place in the evolution dance .. where is it going? yogis know, because they are structuralists to the max

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