Microevolution - extrapolating to Macro

Discussion in 'Biology & Genetics' started by synthesizer-patel, May 13, 2008.

  1. synthesizer-patel Sweep the leg Johnny! Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
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    http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/ebfi/2006/00000075/00000003/00000027;jsessionid=yoqu0aslb713.alice?format=print

    so basically these:
    http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/images/thumbimg/400/5330_1.JPG

    are being replaced by these:

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Pterois_volitans_Manado-e.jpg/800px-Pterois_volitans_Manado-e.jpg

    Now clearly this is evolution within the species and its a relatively insignificant change - however - extrapolate individual events like this this over a geolocial timescale and it's pretty easy to see how something like this:

    http://www.ryanphotographic.com/images/JPEGS/Eptatretis%20cirrhatus%20New%20Zealand%20hagfish.jpg

    could become something like this:

    http://www.divegallery.com/Leafy_Sea_Dragon__1.jpg

    No doubt I'm mostly preaching to the choir here, but I still thought it made quite a nice real-time illustration of micro evolution, and how it leads to speciation.
     

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