Hi!
I was talking to one of my science teacher housemates about what scientific fact we'd most benefit from being told early in development (inspired by Feynman, who said basic atomic theory). We got to evolution, and he argued that benefits of knowing about evolution are only really there for battling disease after germ theory and antibiotics. I was pretty sure I'd seen posts about lots of uses of evolutionary theory, but I couldn't remember any....
Can anyone help?
Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
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GenesForLife
- Bertie Wooster
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Evolutionary algorithms in computing, evolutionary modelling for disease analysis, evo-devo for understanding embryonic and cellular development, appreciating biodiversity, demonstrating the nature of interactions and competition in the environment, studying the evolution of new viruses, and of course, there is that question of cancer, which is the really big one, and by all means the progression of cancer IS an evolutionary process...
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Reverend Blair
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Understanding nature in any real way...it looks pretty bizarre without a basic grounding in evolution.
I also can't imagine plant and animal husbandry without evolution. That may be because I learned about both at the same time, but I'm always baffled by farmers who can build a prize-winning herd and still not believe in evolution.
I also can't imagine plant and animal husbandry without evolution. That may be because I learned about both at the same time, but I'm always baffled by farmers who can build a prize-winning herd and still not believe in evolution.
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Gawdzilla Sama
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Ein Ubootsoldat wrote:“Ich melde mich ab. Grüssen Sie bitte meine Kameraden.”
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Pappa
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
It makes plant breeding a lot less hit and miss.
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Gawdzilla Sama
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Some English guy mentioned in a book (forgot the name) that it helps pigeon breeders, even if they don't realize that's what they're implements. (I wish I could remember his name, just saw a movie about him I think.)Pappa wrote:It makes plant breeding a lot less hit and miss.
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
How about you name any field and I show a practical application of studying evolution relevant to that field? Anyone up for a little game?
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Gawdzilla Sama
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Astronomy.natselrox wrote:How about you name any field and I show a practical application of studying evolution relevant to that field? Anyone up for a little game?
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
That's easy!Gawdzilla wrote:Astronomy.natselrox wrote:How about you name any field and I show a practical application of studying evolution relevant to that field? Anyone up for a little game?
Understanding life on earth and its origins gives us a clue as to what the possibilities of life on other planets might be and where to look for extraterrestrials. (exobio)
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Gawdzilla Sama
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Good show.natselrox wrote:That's easy!Gawdzilla wrote:Astronomy.natselrox wrote:How about you name any field and I show a practical application of studying evolution relevant to that field? Anyone up for a little game?
Understanding life on earth and its origins gives us a clue as to what the possibilities of life on other planets might be and where to look for extraterrestrials. (exobio)
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Pappa
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
OK... how about evolutionary genetics?
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Ok! I lose!Pappa wrote:OK... how about evolutionary genetics?
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Pappa
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Sorry, I'll get my coat.natselrox wrote:Ok! I lose!Pappa wrote:OK... how about evolutionary genetics?
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
I was about to give you the name of an actual field somewhere.natselrox wrote:How about you name any field and I show a practical application of studying evolution relevant to that field? Anyone up for a little game?
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Re: Practical benefit of knowing about evolution
Since it is already a field of evolutionary biology...evolution is an integral part of itPappa wrote:OK... how about evolutionary genetics?
, in other words, it's also called the "Modern Synthesis"Who is online
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