How Did Light and Oxygen Influence the Evolution of Eyes and Lungs?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores how light and environmental factors, such as air density, humidity, and temperature, may have influenced the evolution of eyes and lungs in various life forms. It touches on concepts of adaptation and homeostasis within biological systems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the evolution of the eye may have involved interactions with specific frequencies of light.
  • Others suggest that the evolution of lungs could be linked to environmental factors like air density, humidity, and temperature.
  • One participant mentions that homeostasis plays a significant role in how life adapts to its environment, implying a complex interplay of factors in evolutionary processes.
  • A later reply discusses the diversity of gaseous exchange mechanisms in different life forms, using the example of damselfly larvae with caudal gills to illustrate evolutionary adaptations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the specific influences of light and environmental conditions on evolution, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on specific definitions of terms like "homeostasis" and may depend on further clarification of the mechanisms involved in evolutionary adaptations.

Mazeikas
Did the evolution of the eye include interaction/reaction with a specific frequency of light? Did the evolution of the lung include interaction/reaction with the air density, humidity, and temperature of its environment?
 
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Mazeikas said:
Did the evolution of the eye include interaction/reaction with a specific frequency of light? Did the evolution of the lung include interaction/reaction with the air density, humidity, and temperature of its environment?
Well - yes. But those are just a small part of the way life adapts to the environment. Homeostasis got cleverer and cleverer as the species got more and more advanced.
 
I see. "Homeostasis". Forgive my ignorance, you gave me something to look up! :)
 
That's just a word for 'control system' in any other circumstance. (Biologists just had to get a look in with their long words).
If you think about the way different life forms have different ways of achieving gaseous exchange then evolution had to come into it. I was looking at a damselfly larva in my garden pond the other day. It has little gills sticking back out of its tail. "Caudal Gills", apparently. The go the Biologists again. I could think of a much more descriptive word. They are obviously there and just that size for a reason.
 

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