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shminux comments on Open Thread, October 20 - 26, 2013 - Less Wrong Discussion

2 Post author: Adele_L 21 October 2013 03:11AM

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Comment author: shminux 21 October 2013 05:10:10PM *  -1 points [-]

There have been plenty of evolutionary simulations, surely they provide some testable predictions. I vaguely recall one of them: that new adaptations tend to propagate first in small isolated groups and only then spread through the rest of the species. I don't recall if this has been tested through the fossil records. I am sure there are many more testable predictions. Like how fish locked in a dark cave or murky water tend to lose eyesight. But the exact path is probably too hard to predict. For example, marine mammals did not develop gills. Or that mammals develop intelligence by growing Neocortex, while birds use DVR (dorsal ventricular ridge) or maybe Nidopallium for the same purpose.