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  #1  
Old 07-13-2007, 08:49 PM
Stu Pidasso Stu Pidasso is offline
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Default Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

They've been around for at least 250 million years. Why haven't they evolved intellect? Why has their evolution been for all intents and purposes stagnant for the the last 65 million years?

Stu
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Old 07-13-2007, 08:58 PM
chezlaw chezlaw is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

[ QUOTE ]
They've been around for at least 250 million years. Why haven't they evolved intellect? Why has their evolution been for all intents and purposes stagnant for the the last 65 million years?
Stu

[/ QUOTE ]
That they've done so well without it more or less answers your question.

chez
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  #3  
Old 07-13-2007, 09:08 PM
Sephus Sephus is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

intelligence isn't free
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  #4  
Old 07-13-2007, 09:11 PM
yukoncpa yukoncpa is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

Not sure about crocodiles, but alligators are immortal, they have no finite life span. This seems like a neat evolutionary trick. I’d sacrifice some of my brain power for this ability. Lol, it probably wouldn't be much of a sacrifice.

Kaku
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  #5  
Old 07-13-2007, 09:51 PM
luckyme luckyme is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

[ QUOTE ]
intelligence isn't free

[/ QUOTE ]

That, plus it isn't all that valuable.
There are a lot of life forms that haven't changed much for long periods of time. A natural expression of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." slogan.

Evolving isn't mandatory, it's a necessity if the pressure is on or if the opportunity arises.

luckyme
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  #6  
Old 07-13-2007, 10:04 PM
Stu Pidasso Stu Pidasso is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

[ QUOTE ]
That they've done so well without it more or less answers your question.

[/ QUOTE ]

The ideal that once an animal is adequately suited to its environment evolution pauses and staglution starts seems like a bunch of bunk to me. Is there some "magic" that kicks and stops random mutations from happening or a force which stops beneficial mutations from being passed on?

Stu
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Old 07-13-2007, 10:12 PM
chezlaw chezlaw is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That they've done so well without it more or less answers your question.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



The ideal that once an animal is adequately suited to its environment evolution pauses and staglution starts seems like a bunch of bunk to me.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's not the idea. The idea is that you only might expect adaptation if it provides an advantage. The fact the species is stunningly sucessful suggest it wouldn't be much of an advantage and, as others pointed out its expensive so need to provide a big advantage.

[ QUOTE ]
Is there some "magic" that kicks and stops random mutations from happening

[/ QUOTE ]
no magic, it's simply not relevent.

[ QUOTE ]
or a force which stops beneficial mutations from being passed on?

[/ QUOTE ]
No but what if they're not beneficial?

chez
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  #8  
Old 07-13-2007, 10:21 PM
luckyme luckyme is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That they've done so well without it more or less answers your question.

[/ QUOTE ]

The ideal that once an animal is adequately suited to its environment evolution pauses and staglution starts seems like a bunch of bunk to me. Is there some "magic" that kicks and stops random mutations from happening or a force which stops beneficial mutations from being passed on?

Stu

[/ QUOTE ]

Random mutation has nothing to do with evolution by natural selection. Evolution by NS would still occur if the mutations were non-random or planned or designed.
Nothing demands that a beneficial mutation must be passed on, but NS will catch a decent amount of them. Most mutations aren't beneficial and in those cases it's harder to see NS at work, but it is in there slugging away. It's still selecting the better choices of those offered, even though the 'better' are the status quo.

Evolution by natural selection never 'pauses', but it can only work with what shows up, and it won't even catch all of those for obvious reasons.

luckyme
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  #9  
Old 07-13-2007, 10:24 PM
Nielsio Nielsio is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

The fact that they still exist is quite a feat.




But let me ask you this:

Why do cars still exist instead of flying saucers? Is there some magic that stops cars from evolving to flying saucers? Or a force which stops beneficial mutations? The idea that cars are suited to its environment and evolution pauses seems like a bunch of bunk to me.
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  #10  
Old 07-13-2007, 10:32 PM
Stu Pidasso Stu Pidasso is offline
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Default Re: Crocodiles, why arn\'t they smart?

[ QUOTE ]
Why do cars still exist instead of flying saucers? Is there some magic that stops cars from evolving to flying saucers? Or a force which stops beneficial mutations? The idea that cars are suited to its environment and evolution pauses seems like a bunch of bunk to me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Nielsio

Cars continue to improve, the crocodile doesn't(at least over the last 65 million years).

For what it worth, heres the link between car and flying saucer.



Stu
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