Darwiniana

Jerry Coyne, Ken Miller Revive a “Fishy Story” | Evolution News

Coyne is sure this is going to come as a rude shock, to our colleague and contributor Dr. Behe in particular, “a slap in the face of IDers like Michael Behe — a fish slap like the one below.”

Source: Jerry Coyne, Ken Miller Revive a “Fishy Story” | Evolution News

How Understanding Evolution Can Help Us to Be Happy

A new book looks at how our evolutionary past influences our present behavior, good and bad.

Source: How Understanding Evolution Can Help Us to Be Happy

Proofs of parallel evolution between cognition, tool development, and social complexity

A study has used eye-tracking techniques to analyze the processes of selective attention that determine the way in which we explore and interact with our environment. Researchers studied the movements of the eyes when observing different decorative patterns represented in prehistoric ceramic objects. The results indicate that there is a parallel evolution between the cognitive processes, the development of material culture, and social complexity.

Source: Proofs of parallel evolution between cognition, tool development, and social complexity: A study analyses the selective attention processes that determine how we explore and interact with our environment — ScienceDaily

With single gene insertion, blind mice regain sight: Opsins make ‘blind’ cells light-sensitive; potential human treatment within three years — ScienceDaily

People left blind by retinal degeneration have one option: electronic eye implants. Neuroscientists have now developed an alternative: gene therapy that, in tests, restored vision in blind mice. A gene for green opsin delivered via virus gave blind mice enough sight to discern patterns on an iPad at a resolution sufficient for humans to read. Given existing AAV eye therapies already approved, this new therapy could be ready for clinical trials in three years.

Source: With single gene insertion, blind mice regain sight: Opsins make ‘blind’ cells light-sensitive; potential human treatment within three years — ScienceDaily

Using Thoreau, scientists measure the impact of climate change on wildflowers — ScienceDaily

A new study is using observations made by Henry David Thoreau — 19th-century American naturalist, social reformer, and philosopher — to explore the effects of climate change on tree leaf-out and, as a result, the emergence of spring wildflowers.

Source: Using Thoreau, scientists measure the impact of climate change on wildflowers — ScienceDaily