Research discovers oldest bee, evolutionary link

Eurekalert ^ | 25-Oct-2006 | David Stauth

[Boxen]

And here's the photograph:

[Rennes Templar]

So, all the buzz about?

[Coyoteman]

Cool!

[Jaysun]

100 million years ago? Why are there still bees then? Or worms? Or single-cell amoebas? Shouldn't they have evolved into birds, or dogs, or elephants, or whatever by now? It's all nonsense.

[MonroeDNA]

Very cool.

[elcid1970]

What's yellow and black, and goes zub-zub-zub?

A 100 million year old bee flying backwards.

[taxesareforever]

The specimen, at least 35-45 million years older than any other known bee fossil

You ever wonder how they come up with these numbers? Do they sit at a table having coffee and say I think it should be "x" years and then they have a vote?

[somniferum]

Fascinating stuff.. great post!

[Junior]

100 million years ago? Why are there still bees then? Or worms? Or single-cell amoebas? Shouldn't they have evolved into birds, or dogs, or elephants, or whatever by now? It's all nonsense.

You had me going for a minute there. You really ought to include a /sarcasm tag, otherwise folks will get the idea you're a complete idiot.

[Junior]

You ever wonder how they come up with these numbers? Do they sit at a table having coffee and say I think it should be "x" years and then they have a vote?

There are a number of dating methods used to date these finds -- each accurate to a greater or lesser degree. We'll have to read the paper to determine the methods used (they usually use more than one to eliminate any errors).

Instead of being sarcastic, you might do a little research on dating methods. That way, next time you spout off at least you might know something about which you speak.

[Jaysun]

You had me going for a minute there. You really ought to include a /sarcasm tag, otherwise folks will get the idea you're a complete idiot.

Right Junior. Only "smart" folks allow "scientist" to build complete skeletons out of a single pig's tooth or a skullcap and call it "intelligent" or "proof". You can kiss my tail-fin, sir.

By the way, you forgot to answer the question. Why are there still worms? Moths? Fish? Turtles? Birds? Monkeys? Frogs? After all, didn't they have to "evolve" to survive?

[Coyoteman]

By the way, you forgot to answer the question. Why are there still worms? Moths? Fish? Turtles? Birds? Monkeys? Frogs? After all, didn't they have to "evolve" to survive?

That's a simple question to answer. The answer is the same as this question: Why, if Americans are largely descended from Europeans, are there still Europeans?

The two groups split, and each went its own way.

At the point where our ancestors split from the apes, they stayed in the forests while our ancestors expanded (or were pushed) into the grasslands. From there the two groups diverged, with the ape line changing little (as they were already well-adapted) and the grassland group (us) changing considerably to meet the new conditions.

[Jaysun]

That's a simple question to answer. The answer is the same as this question: Why, if Americans are largely descended from Europeans, are there still Europeans? The two groups split, and each went its own way.

At the point where our ancestors split from the apes, they stayed in the forests while our ancestors expanded (or were pushed) into the grasslands. From there the two groups diverged, with the ape line changing little (as they were already well-adapted) and the grassland group (us) changing considerably to meet the new conditions.

No. Worms, fish, turtles, birds, giraffes. We're talking apples and oranges here (which, by the way must have come from fish - or is it apes). No, you're trying to dodge the question. Europeans and Americans are very much alike. Americans and worms are very different than say, Europeans and dirt. Thanks for reply, but it doesn't hold muster.

[RightWhale]

Biggest bug I ever saw was a praying mantis. Must have been a foot tall, green. When it took off it flew right at me and I had to duck.

[Junior]

Which scientist built a complete skeleton from a skullcap or pig's tooth. Be specific now, as we wouldn't want folks to think you were just making stuff up.

As for why there are still worms, etc., those critters are specifically adapted for their particular ecological niches. Part of evolution is adaptation to an environment.

[Jaysun]

As for why there are still worms, etc., those critters are specifically adapted for their particular ecological niches. Part of evolution is adaptation to an environment.

That part is stupid on its face. Why aren't worms secluded to the one place that they could survive? And if they could survive anywhere, why evolve? As to the other part, give me a minute.....

[Coyoteman]

No. Worms, fish, turtles, birds, giraffes. We're talking apples and oranges here (which, by the way must have come from fish - or is it apes). No, you're trying to dodge the question. Europeans and Americans are very much alike. Americans and worms are very different than say, Europeans and dirt. Thanks for reply, but it doesn't hold muster.

I am not trying to dodge the question, because it is the same. My training happens to be more in the fields of fossil man and bones than worms and turtles, so that is what I used in my answer.

(My guess from the tone of your questions is that you don't agree with evolution for some reason. I don't think you really want an answer to your question.)

[Jaysun]

Which scientist built a complete skeleton from a skullcap or pig's tooth. Be specific now, as we wouldn't want folks to think you were just making stuff up.

Pigs tooth = "Nebraska man".

Skullcap = "Java man", initially discovered by Eugene Dubois, a Dutchman, in 1891.

[Jaysun]

I am not trying to dodge the question, because it is the same. My training happens to be more in the fields of fossil man and bones than worms and turtles, so that is what I used in my answer.

Sir, Europeans and Americans are the same species. We can, and often do, breed. Can you not see the difference between that and say, birds and butterflies (both of which fly and sometimes display beautiful colors)?

[Junior]

Worms aren't everywhere, though they are in a lot of environments. Note that not all worms are identical. There are 5500 species of earthworms in the world alone. There are dozens of other types of worms, with thousands of different species, inhabiting environments ranging from the sea floor to the leaf mould of northern forests. And each of those species is specifically adapted for its environment.