Animal Planet

[Xjmt]

No no no - Who's the Doctor; Martha's the companion while he's Jonesing for Rose.

Henry

I didn't think we were allowed to say things like that here.

[Henry J]

Fossils older than dinosaurs reveal pattern of early animal evolution on Earth

The abundant diversity of characteristics within species likely helped fuel the proliferation and evolution of an odd-looking creature that emerged from an unprecedented explosion of life on Earth more than 500 million years ago.

Of course, "explosion" isn't really the right terminology for something that took place over several millions of years.

But during the Cambrian Period, more complex creatures with skeletons, eyes and limbs emerged with amazing suddenness.

Methinks it was likely the equivalent of what we call an "arms race" - lots of factions developing various strategies to cope with each other. All at once because once a few started developing more advanced strategies, anybody that didn't cope quickly enough went extinct. Leastwise that's my take on it.

Henry

[Henry J]

Random critter for the week - and this time it's a plant?!

Griselinia

It's parent group Apiales has pictures. Carrots are in this group - rabbit food!

Henry

[brian]

Happy to see new episodes of Meerkat Manor on my Animal Planet lineup every Friday at 8:30 ET.

[Henry J]

Giant panda can survive

The giant panda is not at an “evolutionary dead end” and could have a long term viable future, according to new research involving scientists from Cardiff University.

Previous studies have found that the giant panda’s isolation, unusual dietary requirements and slow reproductive rates have led to a lack of genetic diversity that will inevitably lead the species to extinction.

And they're cute, too!

Henry

[Henry J]

How Snakes Survive Starvation

Starving snakes employ novel survival strategies not seen before in vertebrates, according to research conducted by a University of Arkansas biologist. These findings could be used in conservation strategies to determine the health of snake populations.

Fascinating, huh?

Henry

[Xjmt]

I can see it now: The New Snake Diet. Eat all the snakes you want and lose weight.

[Henry J]

With some people that would amount to not eating - so yeah, I guess it could lead to losing weight?

[lswot]

[Henry J]

Maybe it's like that scene in one of the Indian Jones movies (the one where his girlfriend didn't like elephants).

Henry

[Henry J]

Ultraconserved Elements in the Genome: Are They Indispensable?

Three years ago, "ultraconserved elements" were discovered in the genomes of mice, rats, and humans. These are DNA sequences 200 base pairs in length or longer — some are over 700 base pairs long — showing 100-percent identity among the three species. They have been perfectly conserved since the last common ancestor of mice, rats, and humans, which lived some 85 million years ago.

Squeek!

[Henry J]

Australian skinks show researchers why some species have 'explosively' diversified over time

A new study of finger-sized Australian lizards sheds light on one of the most striking yet largely unexplained patterns in nature: Why is it that some groups of animals have evolved into hundreds, even thousands of species, while other groups include only a few?

(Crikey!)

Henry

[Henry J]

Random critter of the random period of time:

Biblidini (butterfly)

[Henry J]

Beyond A 'Speed Limit' On Mutations, Species Risk Extinction

Harvard University scientists have identified a virtual "speed limit" on the rate of molecular evolution in organisms, and the magic number appears to be 6 mutations per genome per generation -- a level beyond which species run the strong risk of extinction as their genomes lose stability.

[brian]

Did anyone watch Meerkat Manor last week?