Well I don't disagree with the findings but I do disagree with the idea that women do not have a propensity for sexual infidelity. Recent surveys have bourne that out. From what I recall, 52% of men and 47% of women are unfaithful to their partners. I believe the survey was conducted in America...
When I hear the quetion "Are humans evolving?" I often take it to mean evolving in a particular direction; that particular characteristics are being selected for and others are being selected against. If this is what you mean then I think that a case could be made that we are not.
If you are...
Well first of all I don't believe there is any such thing as an "American gene-pool" since America is not a sexually isolated population. Second of all I don't believe that America is the most genetically varied population. I would say that accolade would go to Greater Europe.
One word: Parasites
If you consider the human genome to be an elaborate set of locks and parasites (eg. virus, bacteria, etc) as safe crackers who are constantly evolving keys to open the locks and exploit it's host. Sexual reproduction is a means of changing the combination of a series of...
Intelligence doesn't exist? Please explain.
in·tel·li·gence n.
1. The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge.
2. The faculty of thought and reason.
I'm pretty sure that I have the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge. I'm also sure that I have the faculty of thought and reason...
SSRI's allow more Serotonin to flood a synapse. Serotonin does not travel from one end of a neuron to another. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that effects post synaptic AP firing. As to any long effects of SSRI I'd have to say there must be some. Chemicals that effect the global chemistry of...
Yes but I think the point that was being made was that for every sample of 100 men from the population, statistically one would be a match for your child. In short, not particulary accurate.
That website would be funny if it wasn't so damaging to any child who comes across. I love the impartial analysis:
Evolution is a Lie
Not evolution is false, or flawed or wrong but it's actually a LIE. There are thousands of evolutionary biologists, zoologist, ecologist, etc all around the...
I haven't read this whole thread, I just don't have the patience so if this has already been discussed then I apologise.
First I voted yes because I believe that, for the most part, Descartes got it right.
Descartes application of systematic doubt to the world that he saw around him was...
I'd be interested in hearing about it if you can dig something up. Given the germline is sectioned off after 52 days of embryo development I'd find that sort of discovery very interesting.
No that is not wrong. I said "The only feedback that effects a genes proliferation is differential survival and reproduction."
Please tell me how that is wrong.
That's commonly referred to a Lamarkian Evolution and it's false. There is no feedback from the environment that alters an organisms germline (cosmic and nuclear radiation can do but that's not feedback)
The only feedback that effect a genes proliferation is differential survival and...
As Damgo has pointed out, Neuro-peptides are just very simple neuro-transmitters that are involved in the normal firing of neurons.
As to the contention that consciousness is spread thoughout the body, loosley speaking you could say that it is but only in the sense that the body is necessary...
I tend to agree. But then the question becomes "why the personality difference"? Why do some people have so much trouble adopting new ideas and others don't? Do they have a more dynamic autobiographical consciousness? Why the difference?
Peace and long life.
Well as far as I'm concerned an hallucination involves (but is not limited to) the distortion of the cognitive maps that form a representation of reality built from core consciousness and the various perceptual functions. Given that spiders don't possesses core consciousness or cognitive maps I...
It seems to me that key feature of human nature is denial. There are some things that many people just refuse to believe despite all the evidence in the world to back it up.
This denial appears to be a result of serious perceived incompatibilities between existing beliefs and new...
On second thoughts I cannot present a synopsis that would add to the discussion or that I could defend without going into rigorous detail. I'm not prepared to make that effort, even if I were capable, but I'm happy to discuss it if you read the book.
I'm not trying to be evasive but it takes...
I think it is important to first identify whether we are autonomous agents in a strict unified sense. This is a variation on the question of free will but I think it's important to make the distinction. In my opinion we are not and are instead at the mercy of a collective of potential executive...
I think that Antonio Damasio gives a very plausible account of what you deny. I could reply with my synopsis of his explanation but it's much easier to tell you to read "The Feeling of What Happens". It should only take you a couple of days and all your doubts should evaporate. :smile:
I have a few questions. :smile:
Could someone explain to me the pharmacological and biological mechanisms involved in general anesthesia?
It would appear that under general anesthesia consciousness is completely "turned off". To what extent is brain function reduced. Do general...
So far, from what I can tell, nothing can have a meaning in and of itself. Meaning is ascribed to an object or entity through it's relationship with other objects and entities. What is the meaning of a fork? Ask the knife. What is the meaning of life? Ask the Universe. How do you ask the...
Not in my opinion. My simple interpretation was:
Strong=Intelligent Design
Weak=Necessary Structure
EDIT: Actually I now see what Turtle was getting at but I believe he/she has it the wrong way around. Strong would imply one universe weak would imply an infinite number.
Only in thermonuclear devices...realising fusion reactors has remained elusive. What's the saying "Fusion power is 5 years away, and it will always be so"
Devices like those used at Hiroshima (Gun-type Uranium device) and Nagasaki (Implosion-type Plutonium device) are based on chain reactions in fissionable material. Fission chain reactions take place when a fissionable material of a certain size goes critical. An atom of U238, when decaying...
Can someone please explain this to me and the apparent mystery it's suppose to offer with regard to absolute acceleration.
I don't see it, a spinning pail of water that results in a curved surface is meant to somehow reveal an insight into relative mass and absolute acceleration. As far as I...
If we use 10% of our brain I'd be awestruck by the explanation. Why don't we hear about the idea that we use 10% of of our lung capacity or 10% of our pancreas capacity?
Did you know that humans use 10% of our liver capacity? It's all rather silly.
I've mentioned before that it's quite predominent in the non-tertiary teaching profession. I guess this is another example of it.
I wish I have been equipped with a good command of evolutionary biology when I first encountered this rubbish at the age of 10.
Question for you Mentat and zk4586:
Is Godel, Escher and Bach a tough read? It's on my bookshelf but I've sort of been putting it off because it looks like a behemoth.
This proof explains evolution in terms of a particular ecological niche or adapative landscape. Given there are a miriad of ecological niches and that adaptive lanscapes are constantly changing, an similar number of species will result.