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Changes in the heritable attributes of populations of organisms over time. The mechanisms of evolution are mutation, migration, drift, and selection.

12 votes
1 answer
1k views

In which order did the cells of the immune system evolve?

Thinking about how complex the interactions between different types of immune system cells (T-helpers, T-Killers, Phagocytes, B-Cells etc.) are, it's fascinating how they all combine to get the desire …
2 votes

Is it possible to make bacteria vulnerable to antibiotics it's resistant to?

The other answers describe the situation well for an individual, however there have been cases in the past where antibiotic resistance has emerged and been outgunned by medical advances to overcome th …
Rory M's user avatar
  • 13.5k
10 votes
1 answer
569 views

What advantage would the initial 'donor' in horizontal gene transfer by conjugation have rec...

I am struggling to think why horizontal gene transfer between bacteria would have persisted during the course of evolution as surely it puts the 'donor' at a disadvantage? …
26 votes

Why did the process of sleep evolve in many animals? What is its evolutionary advantage?

I found this paper by Benington and Heller that expands on the previously mentioned theory of sleep as a mechanism to renew metabolism. They hypothesise that sleep is necessary to replenish glycogen …
Rory M's user avatar
  • 13.5k
6 votes

Did human hairs actually evolve from scales?

One theory displayed in "The evolution of mammalian keratinized structures" (abstract only) is that mammalian hair developed along the following pathway: Hair follicles develop between reptilian like … "Some Speculations on the Evolution of the Vertebrate Integument" (Paul F. A. Maderson) suggests an entirely different origin of hairs. …
Rory M's user avatar
  • 13.5k
6 votes

Why have humans evolved much more quickly than other animals?

The ability to walk on two legs was hugely significant in human evolutionary development. This led to the hands being freed up to develop into precision tools rather than having to be durable for walk …
Rory M's user avatar
  • 13.5k
22 votes
Accepted

Why would stablising selection ever happen?

This leads to selective pressures in both directions, stabilising towards a mean birth weight as shown below: This is an example of evolution not pushing a species forward but ensuring that individuals …
Rory M's user avatar
  • 13.5k
34 votes

Why do plants have green leaves and not red?

I believe it is because of a trade off between absorbing a wide range of photons and not absorbing too much heat. Certainly this is a reason why leaves are not black - the enzymes in photosynthesis a …
Rory M's user avatar
  • 13.5k