SUPPORT DOCUMENT #264 Asexual vs. Sexual - Prokaryotes I have suggested in my theory that when there is a choice an organism will generally choose asexual in times of less stress, and sexual in times of great stress "Another big surprise is that the rate of morphological change is so much slower in microbes than in higher organisms. Cyanobacteria, prokaryotes in general, don't evolve very rapidly morphologically. Their big evolutionary changes happen at the biochemical level. Interview with William Schopf from Biology, Campbell. This may suggest that because prokaryotes do not replicate sexually their morphological change is slower than eukaryotes that reproduce sexually. Another example: "When environmental conditions are favorable, Hydra reproduces asexually by budding, the formation of out growths that pinch off from the parent to live independently. when conditions deteriorate, Hydra reproduces sexually, forming resistant zygotes that remain dormant until the environment improves." Biology, Campbell SUPPORT DOCUMENT #265 Brain and Warmblooded In my theory I have suggested that brain developed out of the alimentary canal (see texts for more) As part of that thread of my theory, I have suggested that becoming warm-blooded required much more brain power: "Brain size is a fairly constant function of body weight among fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, but increases dramatically relative to body size in birds and mammals (warm-blooded) a rodent weighing 100 g would have a much larger brain than a 100 g lizard. But the brain of that lizard and the brain of a 100 g fish would be approximately the same size." Biology, Campbell SUPPORT DOCUMENT #266 Hypothalamus It is not easy to decipher what individual parts of the brain do. They seem to share a lot. Yet the hypothalamus seems to "contain the body's thermostat, centers for regulating hunger and eating, thirst and drinking, and many other basic survival functions. This region also plays a role in sexual response and mating behaviors, the fight or flight response, and pleasure." The text , Biology - Campbell, goes on to talk about how stimulating the pleasure centers in the hypothalamus will cause a rat to continue receiving electrical shocks to this region to the exclusion of eating, drinking, and mating! In my theory MUCH of energy moderation aspects of humans would be centered in the hypothalamus. It , along with the medulla , may even be considered as the subconscious part of the brain (as I use that word in my theory) SUPPORT DOCUMENT #267 More on hypothalamus Here's more on the impact of the hypothalamus in humans. Note how many of its regulatory aspects match the 4 options of energy moderation. Nerve cells controlling thermoregulation, as well as those controlling other aspects of homeostasis, are concentrated in the hypothalamus of the brain. This small brain region has two thermoregulatory areas. One is called the HEATING center because it controls vasoconstriction of superficial vessels, erection of fur, shivering, and nonshivering thermogenesis. The other area is called the COOLING center because it controls vasodilation and sweating (or panting). Nerve cells that sense temperature are located in the skin, the hypothalamus, and some other parts of the nervous system ...Body temperature is thus controlled by feedback mechanisms, with the hypothalamus functioning as a thermostat that triggers heating and cooling responses." Biology, Campbell. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #268 More on bilateral symmetry "Subkingdom Eumetazoa has been divided into two major branches, partly on the basis of body symmetry. Branch Radiata consists of the hydras, jellyfishes, and their relatives, which have radial symmetry. a radial animal has a top and bottom, or an oral and an aboral side, but no front and back and no left and right. Bilateria, the other major branch of eumetazoan evolution, led to animals with bilateral (two-sided) symmetry. a bilateral animal has not only a top and bottom but also a head (anterior) end and tail (posterior) end and a left and right side. Associated with bilateral symmetry is cephalization, an evolutionary trend toward concentration of sensory equipment on the anterior end, the end of a traveling animal that is usually first to encounter food, danger, and other stimuli." ... Branches Radiata and Bilateria probably diverged very early in the history of animal life; indeed, there is some evidence that jellyfishes and their relatives had different protistan ancestors than the eumetazoa of Branch Bilateria." Biology - Campbell I have suggested that for mental development the branch Radiat is a dead end, and that brain evolved out of cephalization ( and an alimentary tract . Note that in the phylum Memertea there is a complete digestive tract - that is a digestive tube with a separate mouth and anus.) By the way, a side note is that the human cerebrum is bilateral, though that fact in itself is not that important. I think it relates to how brain developed out of bilateral symmetry either directly or indirectly. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #268 3 Modes of Natural Selection This is one of my most important series of posts to date. And they tie together almost all the posts before. In it I'm going to set up a loose and broad 3 part structure of life. It is a structure suggesting macroevolution trends but also much more. I will also site examples as I go along. These 3 sections bring together most of the ideas in my Hendricks Health Theory in a way that may be easier to see. And it is based on the 4 options of energy moderation outlined in my theory. After you have read the definitions of the 3 modes of selection, please test them with any evolutionary phase of any species. If I am correct it should fit. I suggest that: ALL LIFE HAS 2 BASIC MODES OF NATURAL SELECTION 1. Stabilizing selection - little change 2. disruptive selection - major change (in one of 2 ways - see below) "Natural selection tends to be stabilizing in a steady environment. However, populations that survive crises may change extensively enough to become new species." (This and other quotes - Biology, Campbell) Now let's look at each mode of selection in detail. STABILIZING SELECTION: "Stabilizing selection acts against extreme phenotypes and favors the more intermediate variants. The trend is toward reduced phenotypic variation and even greater prevalence of phenotypes best suited to a relatively stable environment. " "Natural selection is usually thought of as an agent of change, but it can also act to maintain the status quo. Stabilizing selection probably prevails most of the time, resisting change that may be maladaptive." "The theory of punctuated equilibrium ... accounts for the rarity of gradual transformation by emphasizing stability in the history of each species. The morphology of a species changes little after that species becomes established. Second, the theory implies that most anatomical change is compressed into the reltatively short time it takes for speciation to occur. Of course, the changes aren't sudden from a genetics point of view; we are talking about 5000 to 50,000 years, ample time for the kinds of changes we are talking about. But it is sudden vis-a-vis the typical long histories in the fossil record, where individual species hardly change at all. So most anatomical change in the fossil record seems to be concentrated, to occur in relatively brief bursts punctuating longer periods of relative stability." "For example, if you look at the marine forms of the Paleozoic era, you see that during several periods of time the ecosystems are fairly well established. Certain communities of species keep moving around geographically because they environment keeps changing, but pretty much the same species are forming the same sorts of communities over and over again through millions of years. then all of a sudden the whole community disappears and you get another community with new species. And the greater the precipitating disaster, the greater the difference between the old and new forms. apparently, there has to be a relatively severe ecosystem collapse before anything truly new accumulates. And that is what evolutionary history really is like." Both quotes Niles Eldredge. To sum up - STABILIZING Selection is prevalent most of the time in most species. It sets up a system to preserve the status quo. It seldom leads to extreme change. next post: DISRUPTIVE SELECTION, and more SUPPORT DOCUMENT #269 3 Modes -2 This post continues the discussion started in part 1. In part one I suggested two basic modes of natural selection: 1. stabilizing selection (discussed in the first post) 2. disruptive selection 2. DISRUPTIVE SELECTION "...occurs when environmental conditions are varied in a way that favors individuals on both extremes of a phenotypic range over intermediate phenotypes." " (it) is most common during periods of environmental change or when members of a species migrate to some new habitat with different environmental conditions. (It) shifts the frequency curve for variations in some phenotypic traits in one direction or the other by favoring relatively rare individuals that deviate from the average for that trait. To sum up: DISRUPTIVE SELECTION is rare and seldom occurs in the life of a species. It sets up a system of changing the status quo to better survive the disruption. It almost always leads to change - some extreme. Because almost all change is due to disruptive selection, I will concentrate most of my attention on disruptive selection. I have further divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups according to the availability of energy for that species 1. Scarcity - too little 2. Abundance - too much or excess (note: I am doing this 2 part division based on my Hendricks Health Theory with its 4 options of energy moderation. This aspect has the least scientific support of any aspects of these posts, and may well be the most questioned by readers. IF what follows does fit any species in question THEN that boosts the credibility of my theory. IF NOT then the reason is probably my choice of dividing Disruptive selection into these 2 subgroups.) (also note: From this point on I am going to sometimes substitute for the terms ORGANISM and ENERGY, the terms ANIMAL and FOOD. though it should be clear that this idea works for all life - all 5 kingdoms - all the time.) DISRUPTIVE SELECTION - 2 SUBGROUPS 1. SCARCITY trauma .(too little) There is too little food. The species must take in more food to survive. The organisms that survive from the threatened species will be those who are best suited to finding ways to take in more food or find new sources of food, and to store more food. 2. ABUNDANCE. (too much) Food is abundant. The species is allowed to choose from an abundance of food. Individuals become very selective of the food they eat. They have no need to store food, and thus store little, and often waste much. They become specialized in what food they prefer. ALTOGETHER WE NOW HAVE 3 WAYS OF NATURAL SELECTION: 1. Main Group - Disruptive Selection, subgroup - Scarcity (too little food) 2. Main Group - Stabilizing Selection 3. Main Group - Disruptive Selection, subgroup - Abundance (too much food) Here is a silly analogy that may help visualize the 3 modes of selection. Goldilocks is the organism under question. Before her are 3 bowls of porridge: Bowl 1. empty (Disruptive selection - too little food) Bowl 2. half ful (Stabilizing selection) Bowl 3. overflowing (Disruptive selection - too much food) (Note: that there is a direction in the 3 groups from not enough food to - enough food - to an abundance of food. And as you may have noticed this direction seems to apply to the history of many successful species. They begin with a struggle for food - evolve ways to get and store enough food - then if those ways (or blind luck) allow for an abundance they begin to be selective with specializing behavior. More on this later) next post in this series, how you can apply these definitions to specific species. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #270 3 Modes - 3 In post 1 and 2, I defined the 3 modes of Natural selection. 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much Before I go into detail on each of the 2 disruptive modes of natural selection (and remember these are the ones that cause almost all change in life) I would like to set up a 2 QUESTION TEST that anyone reading this can use to help explain the behavior of any species at any time in its existence. 2 QUESTION TEST: Question 1: Is the species, at this point in time, in the Stabilizing mode of selection or the Disruptive mode of selection If stabilizing mode of selection, then it should act as suggested in the earlier post. If disruptive mode of selection, then ask: Question 2: Is the species, at this point in time, in the disruptive mode of selection subset: Scarcity - too little food or Abundance - too much food If it is in the Scarcity subgroup then it should fit the descriptive phrases listed in the following posts. If it is in the Abundance subgroup then it should fit the descriptive phrases listed in the following posts. Next post a list of descriptive phrases for each subgroup of Disruptive selection. (then things get VERY interesting) SUPPORT DOCUMENT #271 3 Modes - 4 Here is the 4th part of a series of posts on 3 modes of natural selection: I suggested that the 3 types of natural selection are: 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2 Disruptive selection ( lot of changes a. Scarcity (disruptive due to lack of energy/food) b. Abundance (disruptive due to abundance of energy/food) And because it is 2a and 2b that cause almost all the change, I want to look at them in depth here. Note: all terms used here are relative to that species, or that kingdom. Each is loosely correct. When added together they present a picture that is very accurate of any species in disruptive selection (as compared to that species in stabilizing selection) The descriptive terms alternate. Here is the key: Disruptive selection SCARCITY - some descriptive words or phrases Disruptive selection ABUNDANCE - some descriptive words or phrases too little too much eats wide assortment of food very food selective (ex. Pandas, Koalas) holds in all food and excretes out little is very selective, attacks waste inside and excretes it out stores food in good times (Cactus and other desert plants) doesn't store food stores fat lean (not necessary to store when always available - example parasites that have all the food given to them smaller and fatter with reserves when possible bigger and leaner (has all the food it needs to grow to its utmost size) desert, tundra, fierce environments high energy tropics lower metabolism higher metabolism symbiont, will cooperate for food doesn't need to cooperate for food, it is abundant - leader mates freely, selective mating lives on less, can eat more variations lives on as much as it hungers for, begins to specialize in specific foods it prefers - special diets ex. Bristle Cone Pine and Lichens, both grow slowly, very old, low energy, harsh climates ex. trilobites before extinction, dinosaurs before extinction, humans? all extremely specialized and divergent species, successful enough to have all the food they want, least prepared for a catastrophe that would alter there abundance. female male uniformity in species oddness, variety, male ornaments life's beginning, kingdom's beginning, species beginning species at pinnacle tend and befriend fight and flight bloom of new species, much experimentation to get more food species reaches excess food and begins to specialize into social structures low populations, small groups large populations with enough resources to feed all members. prey predator least evolved diversity most evolved diversity more struggle less struggle more to come in the next post. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #272 3 Modes - 5 Here is the 5th part of a series of posts on 3 modes of natural selection: I suggested that the 3 types of natural selection are: 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2 Disruptive selection ( lot of changes) a. Scarcity (disruptive due to lack of energy/food) b. Abundance (disruptive due to abundance of energy/food) Here are more descriptive phrases of each of the 2 disruptive selections (see post 4) Key: a - scarcity b - abundance harsher environment for that species, desert, cold, harsh temperatures, first on land, etc. rich energy/food environments, water , tropics, rain forests, coastlines, etc. younger older easy to change difficult to change, often too complex to change easily, and too dependent on symbiont food supply evolves to get more, changes, experiments evolves by being more selective in food in and waste out, conservative selection excretes out little, uses all excretes out a lot, wastes a lot more passive, less evolved defense mechanisms more aggressive more evolved to defend, more likely to flee less active on less energy more active on all the energy it requires love, supporter in social positions hate, defender, soldier, leader in social positions nearer bloom of that species, kingdom, etc. nearer the end of that species or extinction of that species, single cell multi cell - specialized organs, enough food to specialize body operations Prokaryote Eukaryote simpler more complex founder, bottleneck, species that is large enough and established enough to support diversity in social group (social animals) multiple types of sex (some types of bacteria), multiple partners single type of sex and single mate or fewer mates replicating more, little attention to newborns replicating less, more attention to fewer newborns simple or no mating ritual complex mating ritual few evolved adaptations for survival multiple adaptations for survival bland coloring bright coloring, or multiple coloring parental concern small if existent at all strong parental concern lower development of senses higher development of senses shorter life longer life a simpler ancestor species, stem species branch species much diversified least dependent on any one food source most dependent on any one food source small or uniform size more diversified includes largest animals (most food) but also smallest animals (parasites, least need to store food or anything else). Well there it is so far. Take a look. Take any species that you know well and fill in the blanks. Let me know what fits and what doesn't. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #273 3 Modes - 6 Here are some more terms that help suggest each of the 2 disruptive selection subgroups (see other posts) In earlier posts, I defined the 3 modes of Natural selection. 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much Key = a b smaller brains larger brains poor rich family, small group, herd no pecking order pecking order short parental care long parental care small town major city simple behavior complex behavior try everything until something works refine what works already similar teeth and skin variety of teeth and skin similar shapes variety of shapes nerve net and other nerve/brain regulation systems brain ? Queen bee border populations main populations barbarians civilized and effete outside and peripheral inside and successful SUPPORT DOCUMENT #274 Stabilizing Mode In earlier posts, I defined the 3 modes of Natural selection. 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much Here are 2 examples of stabilizing selection: 1. "The Panamanian land bridge formed about three million years ago, segregating marine life in the Atlantic Ocean from species in the Pacific. The majority of species on opposite sides of the isthmus have not diverged during their three million years of allopatry, apparently because the 2 environments are similar and because most large populations evolve very slowly. New alleles and genetic combinations that arise in a large gene pool are swamped by the huge number of existing alleles." Examples given included: Echinoderms 28 species morphologically identical, Crabs 25 species morphologically identical, Fishes 72 species morphologically identical (both this and the following quotes Biology, Campbell 2. "Their is ample evidence that allopatric speciation is much faster in small populations than in very large ones. The North American sycamore tree and the European sycamore represent large populations that have been allopatric for at least 30 million years, but specimens that are brought together still produce fertile hybrids." SUPPORT DOCUMENT #275 Directive Selection I defined the 3 modes of Natural selection: 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much Kelly Kissane, rightly corrected me by saying I have omitted the directional selection . And I'm glad she did because it ties in a number of ideas that didn't quite fit the disruptive selection modes. "Directional selection shifts the frequency curve for variations in some phenotypic trait in one direction or the other by favoring relatively rare individuals that deviate from the average for that trait." Biology, Campbell I would suggest that this type of selection should be included in the stabilizing mode, because the change is somewhat mild as compared to the 2 types of disruptive selection. Examples include "...there is fossil evidence that the average size of black bears in Europe increased with each glacial period of the ice ages, only to decrease again during the warmer interglacial periods." Titanotheres - "In each of the genera of this extinct family of mammals, species became larger and their horns bigger over a period of 45 million years. But no individual species changes significantly in size for its duration in the fossil record." Another example is in the evolution of horses with trends toward larger size, reduced number of toes, and teeth modified for grazing. Also a change in temperature is important "... average size of many North American species of mammals increases gradually with increasing latitude. Presumably, the reduced ratio of surface area to volume that accompanies larger size is an adaptation that helps animals living in cold environments conserve body heat." "Yarrow plants on the slopes of California's Sierra Nevada mountains gradually decrease in average size at higher and higher elevations." On the temperature of flying moths "I decided to study the temperature of flying moths in Costa Rica from sea level, which is humid tropics, to the top of the mountains (an altitude of 12,000 feet), where it freezes at night. Bernd Heinrich and I started out capturing all different kinds of moths at different altitudes. As we got to measuring the body temperature, which is a physiological attribute of the animal, we realized very quickly that the ones that were hot had small wings and heavy bodies. The ones that were not so hot had great big wings and small bodies. So, even before we analyzed our data, we found out that body temperature was closely correlated with wing loading - the ratio of wing area to the mass of the animal....An insect with small wings can't fly unless he's hot because his muscles won't contract fast enough to generate the force for lifting. However, an insect with very big wings that will flap very slowly doesn't have to be warm - his muscles work just fine at a lower temperature." George Bartholomew And one more point about this type of selection and temperature: "If ocean temperatures fall by a few degrees, many species that are otherwise beautifully adapted will perish." All quotes, Biology - Campbell SUPPORT DOCUMENT #276 Disruptive Selection In earlier posts, I defined the 3 modes of Natural selection. 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much This posts talks of 2 a group - Disruptive selection - subgroup scarcity "The geographical isolation of a small population usually occurs at the fringe of the parent population's range. The splinter population, or peripheral isolate is a good candidate for speciation for three reasons. 1. The gene pool of the peripheral isolate probably differs from that of the parent population form the outset. Living near the border of the range, the peripheral isolate represents the extremes of any genotypic and phenotypic clines that existed in the original sympatric population. And if the peripheral isolate is small, there will be a founder effect,... 2. Until the peripheral isolate becomes a large population (Stabilizing selection then disruptive selection - abundance), genetic drift will continue to change its gene pool at random. 3. Evolution caused by selection is likely to take a different direction in the peripheral isolate than in the parent population. Because the peripheral isolate inhabits a frontier, where the environment is somewhat different, the peripheral isolate will probably encounter selection factors that are different from, and generally more sever than, those operating on the parent population. These factors will cause peripheral isolates to follow an evolutionary course that diverges from that of the parent population so long as the gene pools remain isolated....Life on the frontier is usually harsh, and most pioneer populations probably become extinct . As evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gold puts it; "Status as a peripheral isolate merely gives a lottery ticket to a small population. A population can't win without a ticket, but there are very few winning tickets." (Biology, Campbell) Note 2 peripheral isolate examples that did succeed are many of the speciation on island chains. 2 specific ones illustrate this: Darwin's inspiring Gallapogos Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands some of the most diverse area on the planet. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #277 3 Modes of Selection as a Timeline In earlier posts, I defined the 3 modes of Natural selection. 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much In this post I'd like to show how these 3 modes of selection represent 3 stages in life, or in any kingdom of life, even to any species in life. Examples follow this order Disruptive selection/Scarcity - EVOLVES TO Stabilizing selection - EVOLVES TO Disruptive selection/Abundance The SPECIES ________ through natural selection tries a number of ways to get enough food/energy to stay alive. If successful enough it begins to stabilize - build up a population and preserves the status quo If very successful then there is an abundance of food/energy and the species begins to specialize its needs, refine the aspects of that species. ex. Let's say a small rabbit group finds itself isolated First it eats anything it can to stay alive. It tries a number of ways to get enough food/energy in. One of those is to store food when it's in season. Let's say somewhere along the line the rabbit survives by eating a number of foods which include his favorite, strawberries when they are in season. He is usually hungry and barely survives as a species. This is sink or swim time for the species. And most species don't survive Now the rabbit has evolved to a stable environment. There are strawberries enough in season to sustain the rabbit population that continues to slowly grow, yet they can do little more. The rabbit population begins to stabilize in their lives, and change little. There is no need to innovate new ways to get different foods when their is food enough to sustain them, though it takes most of their time to gather the food. This phase lasts for 1,000's of years. Let's say luck is with the rabbits. The strawberries bloom into vast acres. Now the rabbits have an abundance of food. They become picky, and specialize - only eating the very ripest strawberries (there is always more than enough) and wasting a lot of strawberries - they evolve to have a real refined taste for strawberries until it becomes their only diet (like Koalas, or Pandas with their one food diets). There is so many strawberries that the rabbits reach their greatest populations - they store none because there is no need with strawberries always available. They are big rabbits because they have all the food they want but they are also lean rabbits with little fat because they have no need to store food when it is always available. They have time to refine any and all the other things they do because there is no time wasted gathering food. They may build incredibly complex social behavior. They become refined, and specialize in everything they do. They are an extremely successful species, YET if there comes any kind of disaster to their strawberries they are ill equipped to handle it. (IMO this may have been the evolutionary history of species as vast as the highly successful trilobites and dinosaurs... and humans?) Now the history of all life as the 3 Modes of Natural Selection. DISRUPTIVE SELECTION - SCARCITY Life begins, and begins to bloom in multiple ways to gather energy. All kinds of experiments are tried. Methanogens, extreme halphiles, thermoacidophiles, and then more successful strategies photosynthesis, absorption, digestion. STABILIZING SELECTION Life begins to stabilize as it reaches the point where it has enough food to sustain itself. The period of innovative ways to gather energy/food are over. A long period of stable growth begins. Gradually those most successful ... DISRUPTIVE SELECTION - ABUNDANCE ...have an abundance of food. They no longer innovate new ways of getting food but refine and specialize with the method that led to stabilization. Ex. all plantae are photosynthesizers. With the food supply taken care of, there is incredible variety , specialization, and refinement of exactly how much food is taken in, and exactly how it is best used, but other things as well - how they protect themselves, how they build themselves to live longer with bigger populations, how they reproduce themselves- mating behavior, etc. I suggest that food is the key. But someone might suggest that a better word is successful. If a species is successful in their Disruptive- scarcity phase, then they will build to the stabilizing selection mode. And if successful there, on to the abundance mode. Yet I contend that everything a species does is fueled by its energy source. And remember that 80% of all life history is 1 celled life. Those 2 things together stress energy/food as the key element to life (also see the rest of my theory) I also contend that some species never get out of the first phase and never are successful enough to have enough food to specialize and refine. Many of these seem to be in the most inhospitable climates, live the longest, move the slowest, change the least - some examples MAY include bristlecone pines, lichens, turtles ("turtles have changed little since their evolution from stem reptiles early in the Mesozoic era.") OVERRIDING RULE, you can't diversify until you have enough food/energy. Get enough food - then stabilize - then diversify. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #278 Ex. Of 3 Modes I suggested that the 3 types of natural selection are: 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2 Disruptive selection ( lot of changes) a. Scarcity (disruptive due to lack of energy/food) b. Abundance (disruptive due to abundance of energy/food) And that all life (and all divisions of life) move in this direction - if given enough time and food: Disruptive/Scarcity to enough food for STABILIZING SELECTION to an abundance of food Disruptive/Abundance And that most of the time of all species is in the stabilizing selection mode. Here is a possible example of both types of disruptive selection. Obviously I am going to generalize quite a bit due to the fact that there are many reasons for changes as big as those that exterminated the dinosaurs. But I think, there is something to be gained by looking at both dinosaurs and mammals in terms of the 3 modes of natural selection. I suggest that at the time when dinosaurs were becoming extinct (and it seems the asteroid played a part, though it is also true that evidence points to the fact that the decline of the dinosaurs occurred over 5 - 10 million years), that they were species in the ABUNDANCE mode- they were certainly the dominant vertebrates on Earth for millions of years - That means they had gone through the SCARCITY mode and achieved ways to get enough food to STABILIZE (this period probably covered most of their existence). Then their food/energy source became so abundant that they began to specialize. And this led to great diversity in types of dinosaurs. But because there was now an abundance of food, dinosaurs began to specialize and eat specific foods instead of the wide variety found in species in the SCARCITY mode. "Some scientists speculate that (the) change in vegetation (flowering plants became abundant in the Cretaceous and replaced gymnosperms as the dominant land plants in most locations) contributed to the decline of the dinosaurs, which may have been fixed on gymnosperms for food." -Biology, Campbell Yet at the very same time, mammals were in a different selection mode. They were in the first or SCARCITY MODE. They were small, rat-sized, arboreal, night creatures, etc. All this suggests they were innovating ways just to get enough food. And even though they had been around a long time, they did not have the success of getting abundant food that the dinosaurs had. (one small example is comparing the size of both groups) Yet when hard times hit (climate change? asteroid? end of gymnosperms dominance?) the specialized dinosaurs could not evolve out of there ABUNDANCE MODE which is very limiting - as easily as the mammals could out of their SCARCITY MODE which, by it's definitions is trying to innovate different ways to get enough food. Then with dinosaurs gone, the mammal SCARCITY turns into STABILIZING mode that lasts for most of their history , mammals slowly grow in size, then gradually some evolve to ABUNDANCE MODE. (which as a last note, I tend to think humans are now in, as are perhaps insects, birds, and flowering plants.) And before replying -if you choose to do so, remember the opening remarks on generalization and the cautions phrase, "something to be gained' SUPPORT DOCUMENT #279 Preconceived Notion I wanted to respond to the 'preconceived notion'. One thing when I began this investigation back in 1976 was that I had no preconceived notions whatsoever. I just wanted to find out what makes humans tick. When I got it back to food in or no food in and food kept or waste out I caught a tiger's tail - and it hasn't let go since. I assure you I will accept whatever the facts lead. I have no theory to prove that didn't first force me to accept it over and over and over again. The lucky fact that I didn't know enough to have a preconceived notion helped me to be openminded about whatever nature told me. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #280 Another ex. Of 3 Modes First, to recap - the 3 modes of Natural selection. 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much In this post I will use invertebrates as an example of these 3 types of selection from THE HISTORY OF LIFE by A. McAlester, (-) by me. "The major, phylum-level organizational patterns of invertebrate life were apparently determined in one evolutionary radiation during Late Precambrian and Early Cambrian time. Since then there has been extensive evolutionary change WITHIN the phyla, but, with the exception of the Bryozoa, no appearances of new invertebrate phyla... We shall see that this is a common pattern in the history of the higher categories of life. (And I contend it works for all life at all times of life's history) Usually there is an early experimental stage in which many relatively short-lived and unsuccessful groups arise. (This correlates to the Disruptive/Scarcity type of selection) The best adapted of these early groups then undergo a second radiation that leads to more successful and longer lived groups. (This correlates to the Stabilizing Selection mode) Within the major phyla of invertebrate animals, the Cambrian Period was the time of experimentation (scarcity mode - experimentation to get enough food/energy) and the Early Ordovician Period the time of secondary radiation and modernization. (stabilizing mode - enough food to allow some stabilizing of that group). By Late Ordovician time most of the invertebrate classes that dominate the seas today were well established; since that time, changes in invertebrate life have been mostly smaller-scale evolutionary radiations and extincions WITHIN these classes. (This correlates to the Disruptive/Abundance type of selection. The invertebrate now has not only enough food to subsist but an abundance which allows it to specialize and refine how it gets it's food/energy, etc.) Throughout the entire history of life, relatively few classes of organisms have ever become extinct. Most exceptions to this generalization are invertebrate classes that originated in Early Cambrian time, never became very common, and were extinct by the close of the Paleozoic Era" (I tend to view these as invertebrates that were never able to get enough food to move from Disruptive/Scarcity mode to Stabilizing mode) I interpret this text as showing that there is a pattern in invertebrates, (and perhaps all life) that supports the idea of the 3 modes of natural selection in macroevolution (which in turn reinforces the idea of life as energy moderation with low energy corresponding to Disruptive selection/Scarcity, and high energy - Disruptive selection/Abundance) Life= energy moderation with modification through descent SUPPORT DOCUMENT #281 Autonomic Systerm and 4 Options In this post I suggest that the autonomic nervous system's 2 divisions relate directly to the 4 options of energy moderation in my Hendricks Health Theory: <-> are my comments "The autonomic nervous system, in contrast to the somatic system, regulates the internal environment by controlling the smooth and cardiac muscles and the organs of the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, excretory, and endocrine systems. This control is generally involuntary. The autonomic nervous system consists of two divisions that are anatomically, physiologically, and chemically distinguishable. These two divisions are the SYMPATHETIC and PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEMS. When sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves innervate the same organ, they often (but not always) have antagonistic (opposite) effects. In general, the parasympathetic division enhances activities that gain and conserve energy, such as stimulating digestion and slowing the heart.... The sympathetic division increases energy expenditures and prepares an individual for action by accelerating the heart, increasing metabolic rate, and performing related actions." < I contend that this relates to the options of 2 BLOCK OUT energy, and 4 take in and do not hold in but EXCRETE OUT as waste> Biology, Campbell. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #282 More Updates on Some Main Threads of the Theory Here are some more support quotes of assorted aspects of my Hendricks Health Theory I have suggested that perhaps a part of the development of consciousness is that it may have evolved out of memory and memory out of repetition. "...skill memory (in contrast to fact learning memory ) usually involves motor activities that are learned by repetition without consciously remembering specific information. You perform learned motor skills, such as walking, tying your shoes, riding, a bicycle, or handwriting without consciously recalling the individual steps required to do these tasks correctly. Once a skill memory is learned, it is difficult to 'unlearn." I have suggested that the move on to land was one of the most difficult of all life's history. Here's a quote, "Compared with lakes and seas, terrestrial habitats are generally less stable, with environmental factors such as temperature and water availability fluctuating. Seed dormancy is an adaptation that increases the chances that germination will occur at a time and place most advantageous to success of the seedling." Quotes from Biology, Campbell SUPPORT DOCUMENT #283 The Nerve Some thoughts on nerve development and my 3 modes of natural selection First a DIVERSIFYING MODE/Scarcity - the organisms innovate to find food Next a STABILIZING MODE the organisms has enough food to subsist and begins to stabilize as a species Finally a DIVERSIFYING MODE/ Abundance - the organisms have an abundance of food and can refine and specialize. These 3 modes also work in specific areas of evolution: Lets look at nervous system development in invertebrates. First innovative mode : a number of nervous systems evolve: hydra has a simple nerve net echinoderms have a central nerve ring with radial nerves and a modified nerve net in each arm. Ex. starfish flatworms have small brains that send information along 2 or more parallel nerve trunks. the leech, has both a brain and a ventral nerve cord containing segmental ganglia. the arthropod nervous system exhibits more extensive fusion of ganglia. Next stabilizing mode: Cephalization and an alimentary tract Next refinement and specialization: numerous evolutions of nervous systems based on the stabilizing mode. ALSO a look at brain development. I have suggested that it eventually evolved out of cephalization and an alimentary tract. The first to have cephalization was the flatworm. But it is my contention that flatworms with their parallel nerve trunks were an evolutionary dead end. And that the real evolutionary step to humans was through the annelids and arthropods: "Other invertebrates show increasing centralization of the nervous system. In contrast to the diffuse, ladder like nervous system of flatworms, a well defined ventral nerve cord with a prominent brain at the anterior end occurs in annelids and arthropods. The nerve cords of these segmented animals often contain ganglia in each segment to coordinate the actions of that segment. The brains are much larger and more complex than those of flatworms." One exception to my idea that nervous systems are basically enhanced digestion regulators, was the octopus which has a very large brain yet none of what I suggested was key to brain development (see above). Yet a very important point to make is in this quote: "An aggregate of ganglia surrounding the esophagus, the octopus brain has about a hundred million neurons. Proportional to body size, it is the largest brain of any invertebrate, and probably exceeds the integrative abilities of certain vertebrates, including lampreys and some fishes." And that is that the brain surrounds the mouth - the food in point. In this it supports the point that brain evolved to better get and use food (Much like the hydra with its nerve net most concentrated around the mouth.) In fairness it should also be noted that much brain power helps improve the senses (for instance eyes in octopi) and skill of movement , though I believe these aspects also evolved out of the digestive system Quotes from Biology, Campbell SUPPORT DOCUMENT #284 More Updates Here are some supporting evidence for some of the threads of my Hendricks Health Theory I have suggested that all life slows down in low energy and becomes active in high. Here is a case of anhydrobiosis with the tardigrades, tiny invertebrates less than a millimeter long, as an example: "In their active, hydrated state, these animals contain about 85% water by weight, but can dehydrate to less than 2% water and survive in an inactive state, dry as dust, for a decade or more. Just add water , and within minutes the rehydrated tardigrades are moving about and feeding." One aspect of option # 4 (take in and do not hold in, but excrete out as waste) is to attack 'waste of any kind within the body and excrete it out as waste. This option of energy moderation has evolved to all aspects of the immune system. One key aspect of that is this "The immune system distinguishes between 'self' and 'nonself' cell surface markers, and responds to specific antigens, or foreign molecules, by proliferating cells that either attack the invader or produce antibodies against the antigen Another key development was to be able to stop this during pregnancy; "During fetal development, clones of lymphocytes capable of reacting against one's own chemical markers are apparently destroyed." I have suggested that the first use of ATP may have been for the bulk of heat that radiates out, not the chemical heat that is so important today. In an interesting note, there seems to be some cases today where ATP is used because of the heat it produces: "When brown cells oxidize the stored fat, the specialized mitochondria make little ATP and release most of the energy as heat instead. This quickly raises the body temperature to normal at the end of torpor, a daily period of inactivity when body temperature drop" and "The rate of heat production can be increased in one of two ways; by the increased contraction of muscles (by moving around or by shivering) or by the action of certain hormones (especially epinephrine and thyroxine) that increase metabolic rate. The hormonal triggering of heat production is called nonshivering thermogenesis. The process takes place throughout the body, but some mammals have a tissue called brown fat in the neck and between the shoulders that is specialized for rapid heat production." Some clues to multi-cell life may be seen in the asexual reproduction of some invertebrates. Specifically budding, where a new individual grows out from the body of the original. "The offspring may detach from its' parent, or they may remain joined, eventually forming extensive colonies. Stony corals, which may be more than a meter across, are colonies of several thousand individuals connected to one another." Also interesting variations are fragmentation and regeneration. Asexual vs. sexual. I have suggested that if the organism has a choice, asexual is best in good times when little change is called for and sexual in hard times when change is best. Here is a quote on asexual reproduction in invertebrates: "Because asexual reproduction involves only one parent, it is advantageous to sessile animals that cannot actively seek mates or to more active animals when population densities are low. The mechanisms of asexual reproduction often allow many offspring to be produced in a short amount of time, making this reproductive mode ideal for rapid population growth. Theoretically, asexual reproduction is most advantageous in stable, favorable environments because it perpetuates successful genotypes precisely." All quotes from Biology, Campbell SUPPORT DOCUMENT #285 Asexual vs Sexual - Parmecium "As an example of the relative advantages and disadvantages of different rates of release of diversity, we can look at populations of the ciliated protozoan Paramecium, and asexually and sexually reproducing, predominantly diploid, unicellular eukaryote. One or a few paramecia entering a new habitat for which they are genotypically suited can produce large numbers of identical cells, all with the genotype appropriate for this habitat, by asexual fission. The release of minimum genotypic diversity is ensured by asexual reproduction. If the habitat becomes inhospitable to the parmecia, because of reduced nutrients or some other cause, the limited genotypic diversity is unlikely to allow the continued success of the population. It is at such times of stress that paramecia are triggered to undergo sexual reproduction through meiosis and nuclear exchange to produce new diploid genotypes, one or a few of which may be more successful in the changed conditions. Paramecia are unusual, but not unique, in combining the advantages and disadvantages of high and low levels of released diversity through sexual or asexual reproduction under different living conditions. Species that have undergone genomic alterations that limit the release of diversity have opted for the short term evolutionary benefits of genetic constancy. Species that release a great deal of their potential diversity may produce many offspring with genotypes that are not suited to present conditions, but the populations can face the challenges of change in their environment more effectively over the long term of evolutionary time." Process and Pattern in Evolution C. Avers. But beyond this there is an even more important, all inclusive theory - that being that the 3 modes of natural selection are in themselves outgrowths of energy moderation - low energy on one end , high energy on the other. That's why I say energy moderation with modification through descent SUPPORT DOCUMENT #286 Energy as Reproductive Key "If we were to construct a hypothetical life history that would produce the greatest rate of increase, we might imagine a population of individuals that begin reproducing at an early age, have large clutch sizes, and reproduce many times in a lifetime. However, seldom if ever does natural selection maximize all of these variables simultaneously. This is partly because organisms have a finite energy budget that mandates trade-offs" Biology, Campbell I would suggest that this last sentence be rephrased to read, "This is ... because organisms have a finite energy budget that mandates trade-offs. It is hard to see the importance of energy moderation in very complex life on land. It is easier to see in the 80% of life's history as one-celled marine organisms. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #287 Holding the Baby & Chimp Behavior In my theory, one thread suggests the importance of that period when hominids began to 'hold the baby' or 'carry the baby'. We know that first hominids began to walk upright, then much later they got their incredible brain increase. The question then arises - why the brain development? I have suggested that those who mention tool-making etc. are both correct and incomplete. (There often seems to be a male-bias in much of male written biology). IMO an equally important contribution to human brain development is the care of the mother - that raised the child, and probably was the TEACHER to the child, teaching it everything it would learn. (Also we are now learning of the incredible impact of parents on their children in every aspect of their lives.) But for now I want to concentrate on the tactile advantages of holding or caressing the baby. That is one of the major keys to a mother bonding with the child, and probably a male bonding with a female outside of sex too. Jane Goodall has shown how important social grooming is to chimps. In my opinion this has many of the same advantages of 'holding the baby' though chimp grooming involves all the members: "Social grooming is the singe most important social activity in the chimp community. it improves bad relationships and maintains good ones. A few brief grooming movements serve to reassure, to appease a higher-ranking individual, or to calm a subordinate. A mother pacifies her nervous or hurt child by embracing and then grooming him or her. Adult males enjoy particularly long grooming sessions - this is important. Males do sometimes compete quite vigorously for dominance rank, and their relationships may then become tense. Yet it is crucial that they be able to cooperate in order to jointly protect the territory of their community. It's the long sessions of social grooming, enabling them to spend time in friendly physical contact, that permits them to relax after periods of social tension." Jane Goodall (from Biology, Campbell) It's clear that in social behavior of chimps, the caressing/grooming act is vital to all social interactions. It would suggest that the same is true in humans, though these same caressing behaviors are probably masked in some type of ritual - ex. one aspect of shaking hands etc.) SUPPORT DOCUMENT #288 Human History and the 3 Modes In other posts I defined the 3 modes of Natural selection as: 1. Stabilizing selection (little change) - (and have added directional selection to this group) 2. Disruptive selection (change) I then divided Disruptive selection into 2 subgroups 2. Disruptive selection a. Scarcity - too little b. Abundance - too much I have also suggested that in many histories of species the trend begins with DISRUPTIVE SELECTION/SCARCITY then evolves to STABILIZING SELECTION then evolves to DISRUPTIVE SELECTION/ABUNDANCE Now let's look at Humans and the 3 modes: DISRUPTIVE/SCARCITY MODE; Human history began with a search for food (their energy source) and until they could find enough food they could not stabilize. STABILIZING MODE; Once humans found enough food to subsist on, there was some time for stabilizing their situation and their social group. This period allowed for a slow growth in size, and other protective aspects of the species. DISRUPTIVE/ABUNDANT MODE; Finally with farmers making enough food to feed the entire population (the food taken care of - and now in abundance for some/most) the species could begin to refine and specialize every aspect of their lives. Now with the farmers, we begin to see Kings, full time soldiers, craftsmen etc. With this abundance phase comes continual refinement and specialization. Instead of house builders we have electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc. Instead of artists we have musicians (further divided into all types of special areas) painters, actors, etc. etc. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #289 Social Energy Moderation in Bees In complex animals it is much more difficult to see behavior as an evolved form of energy moderation. Yet sometimes it is blatantly obvious. "Honey bees, ... can cool the inside of their hive on hot days by the collective beating of their wings. During cold periods, they seal the hive, helping to retain the heat generated by their activity inside." Biology, Campbell. All of this social behavior leads to a hive at a more constant temperature which better conserves energy, which allows the hive to better survive and diversify, etc. SUPPORT DOCUMENT #290 Temperature, Metaboism and Diversity "One reason temperature is such an important factor in the distribution of organisms is its effect on metabolism. Few organisms can maintain a sufficiently active metabolism at temperatures close to 0 C, and temperatures above 50 C denature the enzymes of most organisms. Extraordinary adaptations enable some organisms to live outside this temperature range... (then the author gives the ex. of bacteria in hot springs) Biology, Campbell Besides the importance of temperature in all aspects of every species (see my txt files); the quote above suggests that those in moderate temperatures (with enough water, minerals etc.) will spend the least time on adapting to their environment, and have more time to stabilize and specialize. We would then expect the most life and diversity - on land- at the tropical rain forests. "We may now ask why a particular biome develops in a certain area. The general answer seems to be that the prevailing climate, particularly temperature and rainfall, is the most important factor in determining the kind of biome that will develop." Biology, Campbell "The tropical rain forest is the most complex of all communities, harboring more species of plants and animals than any other community in the world." Biology, Campbell. The temperature is so consistent that the species here can begin to diversify and concentrate more on other aspects. Thus "rainfall... is quite variable, and the amount of precipitation, rather than temperature or photoperiod, is the prime determinant of the vegetation growing in an area." Biology,Campbell You then would expect more diversity as you approach the equator (all other conditions being favorable) "There is a general increase in diversity from far northern and southern latitudes toward the equator" biology, Campbell. (the author does list some exceptions - bears and rodents - though I would suggest that they are more diverse at the warm end of their range) I think for the most part, the constant temperature allows all the organisms to work on other concerns. In the 3 modes of natural selection (that I have suggested) this would lead to tropical areas more likely to have species in the stabilizing and/or diversity/abundance mode.