Questions About The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time

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We are seeing wheat that is developing a resistance to Round Up herbicide and worms (in horses) that are developing a resistance to the worming medications we use. I wonder- are these above things considered evolution? Are these plants are worms evolving to survive despite the onslaught of the chemicals designed to kill them?

Catherine YES! Great question! This is a perfect example of humans accelerating evolutionary arms race. What we do with our overuse of these herbicides and medi…moreYES! Great question! This is a perfect example of humans accelerating evolutionary arms race. What we do with our overuse of these herbicides and medications is to artificially 'select' for resistant strains that end up becoming the majority of the population. We see the same effect with bacterial diseases evolving resistance to modern antibiotics. We are in our own 'arms race' to develop medications to combat resistant strains that we essentially drove to success by our own interference.(less)

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I am curious if you have been to the Galapagos are the animals and birds as tame as they are depicted in Weiner's book? And is tameness or wariness a trait that evolves--is it an evolutionary trait?

Cathy If you mean tame as in lacking "fear" or the need to flee from humans, then many animals in the Galapagos are "tame." I think things like lizards were…moreIf you mean tame as in lacking "fear" or the need to flee from humans, then many animals in the Galapagos are "tame." I think things like lizards were less so, but birds and sea lions were considerably less wary than I have seen anywhere else, except for perhaps in the Antarctic. I saw someone almost step on an inert sea lion and birds would stay on their nests as you walked right by them. I had a mockingbird hop right up and peck at my sandal.(less)

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