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Author
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Topic: Incipient Stages.
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Frodo
Member
Member # 360
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posted 18. September 2002 18:09
Can it be considered plausible to assume that a fish slowly developed legs for a chance at better survival (fish to reptiles)? Would the first mutational stage be adaptively advantageous? Why? Why not?
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Evan
Member
Member # 164
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posted 18. September 2002 19:45
Sure. Even now some bottom dwelling fish use their fins to walk on the bottom of ponds, and mudskippers can travel short distances over land to get to a new puddle. I think this is a clear example of where a whole series of small changes would each have some selctive advantages.
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Frodo
Member
Member # 360
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posted 18. September 2002 21:11
Evan,
thanks for your reply.
quote:
...mudskippers can travel short distances over land to get to a new puddle.
Are there any observations of mudskippers migrating to other land dwellings?
quote:
I think this is a clear example of where a whole series of small changes would each have some selctive advantages.
What caused these transformations? Biologists have been trying to grow just the "beginnings" of legs on fish, but to no avail.
[ 18 September 2002, 21:11: Message edited by: Frodo ]
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Evan
Member
Member # 164
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posted 18. September 2002 22:09
This probably isn't the right forum for this conversation, Frodo, but I don't think it's right to say that "biologists have been trying to grow legs on fish." Scientists do sometimes manipulate genes in order to produce gross changes in organisms, but their goal is learn about the role of those genes, not to imitate evolution.
Evolution takes literally ten and thousands of generations. Probably you should first study some basic biology books about evolution and, even if you don't believe, become familiar with the details of what science thinks is the answer to your question.
My 2¢. My apologies to the moderator - I know this is not ISCID material.
P.S. Although neither is the "Truth in Science" post, IMO.
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Moderator
Administrator
Member # 1
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posted 19. September 2002 01:25
Evan is right. This thread is to general and vague to be "on topic" for ISCID.
But I'm leaving it open for now because it has genuine possibility. I can see this thread becoming a useful discussion of limb development if someone wants to direct it toward more specific genetic mechanisms or possible evolutionary scenarios: give us some specific details that we can get our teeth into.
If this thread stays general and vague, I will shut it down in a few days.
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