http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/ One man's struggle with impermanence Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:21:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/comment-page-1/#comment-25417 Simea mirans Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:55:42 +0000 http://evolvethink.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/#comment-25417 It's amazing that the snake was actually using its leg, according to the source story ("she discovered the reptile clinging to the wall of her bedroom with its talons in the middle of the night"). Is it common for an atavistic feature to come back with all the neural and behavioral infrastructure necessary for its use? (Or is it common for witnesses and journalists to get details like this wrong?) It’s amazing that the snake was actually using its leg, according to the source story (“she discovered the reptile clinging to the wall of her bedroom with its talons in the middle of the night”). Is it common for an atavistic feature to come back with all the neural and behavioral infrastructure necessary for its use? (Or is it common for witnesses and journalists to get details like this wrong?)

]]> http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/comment-page-1/#comment-25415 Mike Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:24:31 +0000 http://evolvethink.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/#comment-25415 Is this related to genes which never get expressed because the hox genes don't activate them? I am thinking of genes for fingers and toes in sharks. Is this related to genes which never get expressed because the hox genes don’t activate them? I am thinking of genes for fingers and toes in sharks.

]]> http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/comment-page-1/#comment-25411 Christopher Taylor Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:49:21 +0000 http://evolvethink.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/#comment-25411 So do many chickens, and in fact quite a number of birds. So do many chickens, and in fact quite a number of birds.

]]> http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/comment-page-1/#comment-25410 Neil Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:04:19 +0000 http://evolvethink.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/#comment-25410 <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XhUTu6L4GYU/RX8-AnuW77I/AAAAAAAAABA/8pQ_CfuFVCg/s400/Emu%2Bwing%2Bfeathers.jpg" rel="nofollow">Ratites retain claws on their wings into adulthood.</a> Ratites retain claws on their wings into adulthood.

]]> http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/comment-page-1/#comment-25409 John Wilkins Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:53:18 +0000 http://evolvethink.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/#comment-25409 And a quick Google, which I should have done from the start, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2005-06-10-wonderquest_x.htm" rel="nofollow">suggests</a> that it is a change in <i>Hox</i> regulation. And a quick Google, which I should have done from the start, suggests that it is a change in Hox regulation.

]]> http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/comment-page-1/#comment-25408 John Wilkins Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:50:03 +0000 http://evolvethink.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/#comment-25408 That's an uninformed guess. Either way, snakes don't have legs but have leg-producing mechanisms. That’s an uninformed guess. Either way, snakes don’t have legs but have leg-producing mechanisms.

]]> http://evolvingthoughts.net/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/comment-page-1/#comment-25407 Margaret Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:47:31 +0000 http://evolvethink.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/atavisms-and-phylogeny/#comment-25407 From your last paragraph, are you hinting that snakes don't have legs in the adult form as a result of post-transcriptional mechanisms? From your last paragraph, are you hinting that snakes don’t have legs in the adult form as a result of post-transcriptional mechanisms?

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