PDA

View Full Version : The Chameleon - Earth's Strangest Inhabitant?



Ewan
5th May 2018, 18:30
Darwin may have a lot to answer for, his Theory of Evolution, which was transduced in its simplest form to "Survival of the Fittest (https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13671-evolution-myths-survival-of-the-fittest-justifies-everyone-for-themselves/)" may have set the phsychological growth of humanity back by thousands of years. The wealthy elite of the time latched on to this basest of reductions as proof-positive that they ruled by divine intention rather than considering that mere wealth granted them the power they so clearly coveted.

It was also a massive challenge to the church. Here we had a query raised regarding the creation theory (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creationism) that had prevailed for so long. Transduced to that simplistic form "Survival of the Fittest" was perhaps at odds with the existence of a divine creator.

Personally I always had a problem with Darwin's Theory from my earliest intoduction to it as a young teenager. I couldn't see how evolution, as suggested by Darwin, could have possible produced some of the amazing designs that were apparent in nature. To me, the odds were stacked against such a series of random changes leading to dominance. It always seemed to me that too much time was required for a particular genetic modification to prove beneficial when compared to geological and climatic changes. A lottery would be a more apt solution.

Allow me to introduce the Chameleon.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp9W-_W8rCM

How does something like that evolve by chance?

The tongue, as witnessed in the next short clip, is utterly unique and defied science up until a relatively short time ago - they're still speculating now as to how exactly it all works.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E76YBF3P0K0

At the risk of offending everyone of a sensitive nature, it reminded me of an ejaculation in its explosive force, yet one that was confined within a sheath and connected to a muliplicity of fine tendons that allowed for rapid expansion and the necessary contraction to return the prey for consumption.

Really, can you imagine a scenario where this evolved by chance, over time. The skin, the tongue.

Now I'm hoping Hervé will chip in with a confirmation that Madagascar really has separated from Africa and it just doesn't look like it from the map. If so, it must have happened in antiquity? and could be a glimpse of nature on the planet thousands and thousands of years ago?

Now here is the lengthy documentary, I hope you are all intrigued enough to continue learning more about this fascinating, and I believe, ancient inhabitant of Earth.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvt_fIctCHQ

Imagine the dinosaurs, everything we 'know' about them is born of speculation from the currently favoured experts, what if they could all change skin pattern and colour. The Chameleon being the last surviving example of a long past history.

This evolved by chance, random mutations? No, I don't think so. This was the pièce de résistance of design. If humans ever get over their own arrogance we might find the signature of the designer within some yet to be found code.

From the National Geographic of Sept, 2015.


Thanks to DNA testing, some chameleons that look nearly identical have been found to be genetically different.

Evolution has nothing to do with it. :)

PS: If you realy want to laugh at this crazy world we live in you should try to get a hold of some Terry Pratchett books. He really had a handle on all the insanity. I'd particularly recommend Small Gods and Thief of Time but they are all the pinnacle of truth revealed through humour.

sijohn
5th May 2018, 20:01
I totaly agree about Terry Pratchets books , the disc world novels really do reveal the madness and truth of the world , universe and everything while reducing you to fits of laughter

A great tonic

Bill Ryan
5th May 2018, 22:32
Evolution has nothing to do with it. :)



Right. Natural selection is at best a very minor factor in all this.

See this fascinating thread, about the work of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Lamarck): the inheritance of acquired characteristics.


Lamarckism (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?10863-Lamarckism)

Hervé
6th May 2018, 00:05
...

http://www.pasttime.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Madagascar-and-India-from-Africa.jpg

Valerie Villars
6th May 2018, 19:49
Evolution has nothing to do with it. :)



Right. Natural selection is at best a very minor factor in all this.

See this fascinating thread, about the work of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Lamarck): the inheritance of acquired characteristics.


Lamarckism (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?10863-Lamarckism)


I skimmed this fascinating subject and realized I have always thought this to be so. It seems rather obvious to me. Can I explain it scientifically? Nope. But it was communicated to me internally from what I would consider a divine source.

Ewan, what a thoughtful and beautiful post. Thanks.

shaberon
6th May 2018, 23:21
Agreed that Darwin and "The Big Bang" have been re-packaged for "religious purposes" and are questionable. Also "continental plate drift" -- I am not sure this has ever been observed, and is mostly anecdotal from the "puzzle piece" look and from finding similar things in different places. While they might slip off to the side several meters, nothing actually says they go swimming for thousands of miles.

I would love to have the "aquatic chameleon", a cuttlefish!