More biology nerd stuff

[farmerbillpony]

I have recently come to marvel at the human need to explain the world around us, particularly when there is no obvious benefit.  At the moment I am writing a paper on cooperative breeding in birds (when kids stick around and help their parents raise the next clutch instead of going off and breeding on their own).  Only 3.7% of bird species do this

Comments

[j1bunny]

no, it makes sense. scientists and going nuts over figuring it out because they want to know. they seek out the knowledge for the sake of knowledge. maybe it will never help human beings as a society. instead, they're asking the eternal question (as are you): why?

[farmerbillpony]

That makes sense in its own way. I think that my problem is that I have to look at everything from an evolutionary perspective. Basically, traits that help us survive and mate get passed on and those that hinder those two things eventually get weeded out. Every time. So why? Why! ugh...

[michelletimshel]

Your question reminds me of a story Mike once told me about this scientist who spent his entire career trying to figure out why spiders make a particular type of web. Mike was reading all of the information the guy had compiled for days and his research ended with it being inconclusive. Imagine if you spent your whole life trying to figure out why birds did this and never found an answer... how depressing.

[xand_onex]

Wow, Katie. That's a very good question... Now I want to know the answer! I think it's just how our brains are biologically set up... I mean, if we never asked the question "Why?" then we may never have found out the answers to many questions. Who knows, maybe by figuring out the answer to your question, a whole new world will unlock, you never know! You can always call me and talk to me about this type of stuff, even if I do not have the knowledge to give you someone to really bounce ideas off of.

P.S. I just got this DVD called Evolution: Fossils, Genes, and Mousetraps. I haven't watched it yet, but I probably will try it tonight. If it's any good, do you want me to send it to you so that you can watch it? Just an offer. :) I hope you're having a good day. Take care! Love you!

[farmerbillpony]

yay! Tina's back on LJ! Actually, that movie sounds like it would be amazing!

[xand_onex]

Lol I've always been lurking... just not posting. :) Where should I send it? Should I send it to your parents' house? Do you have an address to send it to?

I Miss you like crazy! I really need to catch up with you!

[farmerbillpony]

Probably to Trevors house. He stays in one place longer than me. I will send you his address in Facebook.