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Being Weird May Help You To Survive
chattahbox ^
| May 13, 2009
Posted on 05/14/2009 7:43:10 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Tennessee (ChattahBox) – Have a weird genetic flaw? Perhaps an ear bigger then the other, or bulging eyes? Well, as it turns out, this may save your life one day.
Tests performed on blue jays and salamanders has shown that predators are less likely to attack any form of their natural prey that is seen as somehow different.
In an interview with LiveScience, Dr, Benjamin Fitzpatrick explained:
“If one form has an advantage, such as being harder to spot, it should replace all others. Likewise, random drift [genetic change that occurs by chance] alone will eventually result in loss of all but one form when there are no fitness differences. There must therefore be some advantage that allows unusual traits to persist.”
Basically, they took a number of salamanders, one set with stripes in odd numbers, one with no strips in even numbers. They placed them in a field, and over the course of the study changed the amount of salamanders that were more prevalent.
The blue jays seemed to attack those that had most frequently been in greater numbers, even if their numbers decreased on that particular day.
It seems to point to an unwillingness (or perhaps inability to recognize) any variation that makes the creature different. In short, predators don’t like weird prey.
TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: autobiographical; weird
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To: JoeProBono
Now why did you have to go and post a Helen Thomas pic?
21
posted on
05/14/2009 11:27:53 AM PDT
by
dfwgator
(1996 2006 2008 - Good Things Come in Threes)
To: ShadowAce
Worse yet, how or why would a hidden creature need to hide when his predators have all died off?
22
posted on
05/14/2009 11:30:55 AM PDT
by
Old Professer
(The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, then writes again.)
To: CougarGA7
23
posted on
05/14/2009 11:32:36 AM PDT
by
Tijeras_Slim
(When I leave this planet, it's gonna know I was here.)
To: dfwgator
24
posted on
05/14/2009 11:32:53 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet)
To: Slings and Arrows
If that’s the case then Laz will have to be beheaded to leave us...
25
posted on
05/14/2009 12:02:15 PM PDT
by
Abathar
(Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
To: Abathar
There can be only one!
26
posted on
05/14/2009 12:20:32 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
(Israel is built on rock. Arabia is built on sand.)
To: Cagey; null and void; Daffynition; Grumpybutt; knarf; OCC; Jersey Republican Biker Chick
27
posted on
05/14/2009 12:38:39 PM PDT
by
DeLaine
(Navy blue)
To: JoeProBono; no one in particular; Darksheare
Darks should outlast us all...
28
posted on
05/14/2009 12:43:59 PM PDT
by
null and void
(We are now in day 115 of our national holiday from reality.)
To: JoeProBono; Slings and Arrows; aculeus; Charles Henrickson; dead; dighton; Ezekiel; Lazamataz; ...
To: Slings and Arrows; a fool in paradise
30
posted on
05/14/2009 1:02:25 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
("If any of you die, can I please have your ammo?" ~ Gator113)
To: DeLaine
Who told you I was weird? 'Sides......I only want to live long enough to be a burden to my children....then I'm outta here ....weird or no.''
31
posted on
05/14/2009 1:08:09 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
("If any of you die, can I please have your ammo?" ~ Gator113)
To: ShadowAce
An erection has no conscience.
32
posted on
05/14/2009 1:09:57 PM PDT
by
CholeraJoe
(Just because I haven't run off and joined the circus, doesn't mean I'm not looking online for jobs.)
To: ShadowAce
I don't buy it.
Preditors look for the odd ball, thinking it is dformed, thus weaker.
My 2 sense worth
33
posted on
05/14/2009 1:24:41 PM PDT
by
knarf
(I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
To: null and void
Don’t worry, I’ll stock up on BBQ sauce.
34
posted on
05/14/2009 1:46:14 PM PDT
by
Darksheare
(Tar is cheap, and feathers are plentiful.)
To: Daffynition
I think we sorta recognize each other, n’est pas???
35
posted on
05/14/2009 1:50:51 PM PDT
by
DeLaine
(Navy blue)
To: null and void
No.. you don’t wanna know why I am stocking up on BBQ sauce.
36
posted on
05/14/2009 2:05:22 PM PDT
by
Darksheare
(Tar is cheap, and feathers are plentiful.)
To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...
For some unknown reason, I feel a sense of relief.
37
posted on
05/14/2009 2:21:09 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: DeLaine
C'est vrai. It only depends on your perspective..
38
posted on
05/14/2009 2:29:39 PM PDT
by
Daffynition
("If any of you die, can I please have your ammo?" ~ Gator113)
To: Darksheare
You’ll notice that I made a point of not asking...
39
posted on
05/14/2009 3:26:57 PM PDT
by
null and void
(We are now in day 115 of our national holiday from reality.)
To: Slings and Arrows
hehehe!
Me too! ...
maybe. :)
40
posted on
05/14/2009 10:30:19 PM PDT
by
MeekOneGOP
(2008: The year the Media died. --Sean Hannity, regarding Barack HUSSEIN ObaMao's treatment ...)
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