What Caused the Sudden Rise of New Species?

[Rade]

See this recent paper on hypothesis of sudden origins of species:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060126194000.htm

I start this thread to open discussion on the paper.

 

[Reality_Patrol]

I thought it was quite interesting and well written. Much needs to be tested. A couple of quotes I really liked:

{If an organisms features are not adaptations to specific environmental circumstances, we can decouple "evolution" and "adaptation".}

and

{The lack of something (DNA homeostasis), rather than a persistent mechanism (constant mutation rate or natural selection), permits "evolution"...}

Their model isn't wholly novel but the specific mechanism they propose might be. Still, I don't think it covers everything, e.g. they don't do a very good job of explaining how environmental factors, other than temperature, could provoke/overwhelm the HSR. They mention other conditions, but only really explain temperature-invoked mutations.

Overall a nice read, 2 thumbs up!

 

[ravenprp]

The sudden rise of new species is a complex and ongoing debate in the scientific community. The paper referenced presents a hypothesis for the sudden origins of species, but it is important to note that this is just one potential explanation and more research and evidence is needed to fully understand this phenomenon.

The hypothesis presented in the paper suggests that a series of environmental changes, such as climate shifts and geological events, may have triggered rapid speciation events. These changes would have led to the fragmentation of populations, isolation, and subsequent divergent evolution, ultimately resulting in the formation of new species.

While this hypothesis offers a potential explanation for the sudden rise of new species, it is important to consider other factors such as genetic mutations, natural selection, and competition for resources. Additionally, the concept of "sudden" is subjective and could vary depending on the timescale being considered.

Further research and evidence will be crucial in fully understanding the processes behind the sudden rise of new species. It is also important to recognize that the formation of new species is a continuous and ongoing process, rather than a one-time event. As our understanding of evolution and speciation continues to evolve, it is important to remain open to new ideas and evidence.