Andrew Parker: Zoologist or Crackpot?

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In summary, Andrew Parker, a zoologist at Oxford, has written a book promoting the idea that the evolution of vision played a crucial role in subsequent evolution. He suggests that the ability to see danger led to the development of protective mechanisms. However, Simon Conway Morris, a paleontologist at the University of Cambridge, published a critical review of Parker's book, In the Blink of an Eye, in the journal American Scientist. Morris argues against Parker's theory.
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Mentat
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Andrew Parker is a zoologist at Oxford. Apparently, he has put out a book that promotes that idea that the evolution of vision played a key role in the evolution that came afterward. I don't know, since I've never read the book, but only a summary, but it appears that he thinks that seeing danger has something to do with evolving to protect yourself from it...in short, I think he's a total crackpot.

Does anyone know something about his actual theory?

Any corrections, additions, or comments, are appreciated :smile:.
 
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Simon Conway Morris, a paleontologist at the University of Cambridge, published a critical review of Parker's book In the Blink of an Eye in the journal American Scientist.

American Scientist. Vol. 91, No. 4 (JULY-AUGUST 2003), pp. 365-367 (3 pages)

Available online at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27858252 (requires access to jstor)
 

1. Who is Andrew Parker?

Andrew Parker is a zoologist and evolutionary biologist who has published several books and research papers on the evolution of animals and their sensory systems.

2. What is Andrew Parker's theory about animal evolution?

Parker's theory, known as the "light switch hypothesis," proposes that the evolution of vision in animals was a key driver for the Cambrian explosion, a period of rapid diversification of animal life on Earth.

3. Is Andrew Parker's theory widely accepted in the scientific community?

Parker's theory has received mixed reactions from scientists. While some support his ideas, others have criticized his methodology and evidence. Generally, his theory is still considered a controversial topic in the scientific community.

4. What evidence does Andrew Parker use to support his theory?

Parker's theory is primarily based on fossil evidence, particularly the presence of complex eyes in animals during the Cambrian period. He also uses modern genetic and developmental studies to support his hypothesis.

5. What are some potential implications of Andrew Parker's theory?

If Parker's theory is proven to be true, it could change our understanding of how and why animal life diversified during the Cambrian explosion. It could also have implications for our understanding of the evolution of vision and other sensory systems in animals.

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