Blog Post Module 7

 I have learned more about thinking deeply and critically from this class. I have also learned to apply this to interpreting data sets and figures. Even if something appears to be a certain way based on a curve or statistic there is often much more that goes into it. It was a real breakthrough for me when we created a simulation to understand heritability of traits in cave mollies. Looking at the graph for body size, it appeared that it was not heritable. However, that didn't really seem right to me. In class when I realized that environmental factors of food availability were actually impacting the size these organisms could grow to despite their genes, it blew my mind. A big part of me wanted to take the easy way out and say well this trait obviously isn't heritable, but finding out the meaning behind the trend changed my perspective. It might sound silly, but after that I really had to evaluate myself and get my priorities back in line. This circumstance made me remember the kind of scientist I want to be. I don't want to blindly follow data without deep thought. I want to always question things and work to discover the best explanation, not just the easiest one. And that's one reason I really enjoy this class. It pushes me to use areas of my brain I typically try to avoid stretching. Evolution is no where near simple. It's awesome and annoying at the same time. In terms of how my view of evolution has changed, I would just say I've gained a greater appreciation for the complexity of this topic. I have seen in multiple ways how natural selection is more of a mechanism of evolution rather than a synonymous term. I have viewed and contemplated results that have completely baffled me. Overall, evolution is a hell of a lot more confusing than I initially believed it to be. 

I would say I'm still struggling to understand the concept of molecular clocks and coalescence. The powerpoint for evolution of DNA sequences that we recently went over kind of went in one ear and out the other. I am curious about disorders and diseases that arise from mutation/evolution and how they do so. I find the majority of what we have learned so far to be very interesting and I'm excited to learn more. 

Comments

  1. Evolution: Haley JonesOctober 13, 2021 at 2:44 PM

    Hi Emily,
    I like how you talk about looking at the data to really analyze and understand the why behind the statistics. In that R exercise I really learned a lot from looking at the relative sizes because prior to this course I would not have thought to control for the body size when looking at the eye size to make sure that we aren't just accounting for bigger fish having bigger eyes since they are larger. I would also agree that there is a much greater complexity to evolution than I understood before this course which has allowed me to appreciate these effects of nature.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Emmary's Blog: EvolutionOctober 14, 2021 at 11:38 AM

    Hi Emily!

    I am glad I am not the only one who is super into disorders and diseases that arise from mutation/evolution and how they do so. I hope this past module was as enjoyable for you as it was for me, due to the fact that we discussed a virus that is super well known. I also appreciate you trying to find the meaning behind something. Too many times, (in several of my classes), I have just tried finding the answer without realizing WHY it is the answer. I feel like we learn so much better when we discuss the answer throughly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kaitlyn ChappelOctober 15, 2021 at 6:33 PM

    Hi Emily,

    Thank you for being honest in this post. I also think that the concept of molecular clocks and coalescence is confusing and hard to wrap your head around. These last few weeks have gone by in a blink of an eye so I too feel like a lot of these power points are going in one ear and out the other. I think part of it is senioritis and getting to the half-way point of the semester is always pretty rough. You are doing great and I hope you have a great rest of your semester!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blog Post Module 8

 Although selection is a major mechanism by which evolution functions, it is not even close to the only one. Selection, genetic drift, migration, mutation, non-random mating, and more play a role in creating the composition of populations. Selection may favor specific traits in organisms and then allow those to be passed on, but at any point in time the environment could shift causing those same traits to be unfavorable. And then selection will kick in once again and the allelic frequencies of that population will shift to better fit with the current circumstances. Short-term, selection might reduce genetic variation, but if you look at the big picture it really doesn't. Certain places might stay somewhat constant, but the world as a whole is constantly shifting and changing. One slight change could have major ramifications for selection and therefore the population as a whole. This isn't a one and done kind of thing.  Additionally, as I stated before, selection is only one pi...
Read more

Blog Post Module 10

 In most species we see males being colorful and displaying mating acts to court the females. In that case females are most often a drab dull color. However, in  Microphis deocata the exact opposite situation occurs. The female in these pipefish extend their colorful bellies when they are in breeding condition and make an accordion like movement to attract/choose a male mate. The male is actually the more drab individual. I believe the reason something like this evolves is related to the fact that male Rainbow Belly Pipefish, just like seahorses, are the ones that carry the eggs until they hatch. The male is responsible for a role that in most other species is almost always carried out by the female. The female deposits her eggs in an area on the male's underside where they will stay until they hatch. From the research I've done I found out that  Microphis deocata are actually related to seahorses. Both species belong to the  Syngnathidae family. I think it makes sen...
Read more

Blog Post Module 9

Option 2: This is a huge question to begin to consider. I'm definitely not sure of the answer but I will give it my best shot. An example where phenotypic plasticity could slow down evolutionary change could be the hares that are white in the winter and brown in the warmer months. These animals' ability to change their phenotype kind of cheats the system of selection in a way. Instead of either adapting to blend in or sticking out and therefore not surviving attacks from predators, they just shift back and forth between what is favorable without any hereditary aspect. Here, they don't have to evolve so the trait is stagnant. The ability to change might be passed on but the fur being brown or white is not adaptive.  An example where phenotypic plasticity could actually potentiate evolutionary change is developmental plasticity. Different offspring could be exposed to different cues at different times, therefore changes the course/speed of their development. This variation in...
Read more