RE: Hebrew University researchers uncover eight previously unknown species

At 01:12 PM 5/31/2006, Dick Fischer wrote:
>Hi Janice,
>
>"Blind scorpions" is one proof of evolution. Living for millions of
>years in total darkness, eyesight was jettisoned as
>unnecessary. The creationist must argue that God specially created
>blind creatures just to live in caves.

@ They've discussed that on Free Republic, and they are also talking
about the coloration of one of the unique crustacean species found
in the cave which is pictured here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207/posts

These are some of the comments:

Seems the default coloration when coloration is not an evolutionary
advantage (like in a pitch black cave) is icky, pasty, white.

I wonder if coloration is "expensive" evolutionarily.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207/posts?page=12#12
<http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207//~meanwesttexan/>MeanWestTexan

I think the point of losing pigment is just that there's no penalty
in failing to keep it. For most animals, if you subtract pigmentation
evolved for camouflage, display, or whatever, the base material is
some kind of pale greyish translucent protien, maybe pinked up with a
little blood supply showing through.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207/posts?page=15#15
<http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207//~vaderetro/>VadeRetro

"I think the point of losing pigment is just that there's no penalty
in failing to keep it."

Oh, I agree that's why it's not "bad" in a dark cave.

But I would just think the default would be to stay whatever color
the species was when it wandered into the cave.

I mean, why the consistent change?

Instead of just staying whatever color, cave dwellers --- worldwide
--- end up icky, pasty, white.

I would think that there would have to be: (A) an actual advantage in
losing pigment or (B) icky, pasty, white is a dominent gene related
to something else good, but being-eaten keeps the color-part of the
gene from being expressed more often in nature.

Very curious.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207/posts?page=22#22
<http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207//~meanwesttexan/>MeanWestTexan

~ Janice

<http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207/posts>Unique
Underground Ecosystem: Eight Previously Unknown Species [Hebrew Univ]
Hebrew University of Jerusalem ^ | 31 May 2006 | Staff (press release)
Posted on 05/31/2006 11:03:44 AM EDT by PatrickHenry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641207/posts [refresh browser]

>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]
>On Behalf Of Janice Matchett
>Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 10:48 AM
>To: asa@calvin.edu
>Subject: Hebrew University researchers uncover eight previously
>unknown species
>
>Item of interest to those who haven't seen it yet, but are
>interested in the history of ancient bodies of water in the Middle
>East ~ Janice
>
><http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641160/posts>Hebrew
>University researchers uncover eight previously unknown species
>EurekAlert! News ^ | May 31, 2006 |
>Staff http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-05/thuo-hur053106.php
Received on Wed May 31 13:46:12 2006