Nope…didn’t need to look that up. That’s an old school evolutionist excuse. What they invented when it was obvious that their billions of years narrative was a fail.
it is too early in the morning (for me) to decipher words with so many prefixes. And, as this is probably something that has not yet, and probably will never, come up in a conversation it’s to early in my life to do more than realize it’s a concept that exists. Thank heavens for Wikipedia, huh?
Punctuated equilibrium is more likely to be correct, because all living things (except maybe archaea) have a genetic buffering mechanism whih means that minor mutations often are only expressed in times of great stress. This means that when there’s an environmental change, mutations which were already present but hiden are suddenly expressed, increasing the species’ range of options for dealing with the stress by increasing the number of different forms.
If, however, you live somethwere where the climate is changing constantly but slowly – such as a river delta which is silting up – then you’ll get gradualism.
Back around 1980 I read a recent article about the punctuated equilibria theory to my biology students. They didn’t believe it was real, because as one put it, “That says that every once in awhile one animal has another animal for a baby.” Another student added “What are the odds that another animal has the same ‘other’ animal at the same time, close enough that the new animals can start a new species.” I pointed out that there were nearly 200 of the top scientists from the various fields of biology that had changed Gould’s Hopeful Monster theory into Punctuated Equilibrium. So it was scientific. They disagreed.
Yes, I had to look it up, and was pleasantly surprised to discover whole concepts about details of evolutionary theory that I had never thought about before. I told my wife and daughter about it, and neither of them had heard of either this or gradualism before. That led to a discussion of the ideas, and a posting on Facebook, which led to more discussions. I love it when a comic strip can lead to greater education!
xiaruili over 7 years ago
Nope…didn’t need to look that up. That’s an old school evolutionist excuse. What they invented when it was obvious that their billions of years narrative was a fail.
stamps over 7 years ago
Maybe he could go as a colon.
Lyons Group, Inc. over 7 years ago
After what their ancestor did to Eve in the Garden of Eden, there no chance of any snake having legs ever again…
Chithing Premium Member over 7 years ago
Phyletic gradualism makes more sense to me, but what the heck do I know…
David Wolfson Premium Member over 7 years ago
How is she turning the pages???
celeconecca over 7 years ago
it is too early in the morning (for me) to decipher words with so many prefixes. And, as this is probably something that has not yet, and probably will never, come up in a conversation it’s to early in my life to do more than realize it’s a concept that exists. Thank heavens for Wikipedia, huh?
What? Me worried ? over 7 years ago
OOOOH Big words hurt !
Claire Jordan over 7 years ago
Punctuated equilibrium is more likely to be correct, because all living things (except maybe archaea) have a genetic buffering mechanism whih means that minor mutations often are only expressed in times of great stress. This means that when there’s an environmental change, mutations which were already present but hiden are suddenly expressed, increasing the species’ range of options for dealing with the stress by increasing the number of different forms.
If, however, you live somethwere where the climate is changing constantly but slowly – such as a river delta which is silting up – then you’ll get gradualism.
zeexenon over 7 years ago
I saw this and had to hit them by tossing a pinch of salt over my shoulder. This sped things up.
neverenoughgold over 7 years ago
Okay, okay, most of you know I don’t like cats; but just for the record, I’m not fond of snakes either…
Albertaguy over 7 years ago
Both gradualism and punctuated equilibrium are valid and and not mutually exclusive.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 7 years ago
It doesn’t matter he says, the fat chick is still going to clobber him.
jbruins84341 over 7 years ago
Snakes got families?
JastMe over 7 years ago
Back around 1980 I read a recent article about the punctuated equilibria theory to my biology students. They didn’t believe it was real, because as one put it, “That says that every once in awhile one animal has another animal for a baby.” Another student added “What are the odds that another animal has the same ‘other’ animal at the same time, close enough that the new animals can start a new species.” I pointed out that there were nearly 200 of the top scientists from the various fields of biology that had changed Gould’s Hopeful Monster theory into Punctuated Equilibrium. So it was scientific. They disagreed.
LeeMost Premium Member over 7 years ago
Yes, I had to look it up, and was pleasantly surprised to discover whole concepts about details of evolutionary theory that I had never thought about before. I told my wife and daughter about it, and neither of them had heard of either this or gradualism before. That led to a discussion of the ideas, and a posting on Facebook, which led to more discussions. I love it when a comic strip can lead to greater education!