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From: bpvanstr@yoho.uwaterloo.ca (Brian Van Straalen)
Subject: Re: Darwinian selection for intelligence
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Date: Mon, 29 May 1995 15:23:32 GMT
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In article <3q774h$jva@usenet.rpi.edu>,
Michael Andrew Turton <turtom@magritte.its.rpi.edu> wrote:
>In article <D93CBK.90K@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca>,
>Brian Van Straalen <bpvanstr@yoho.uwaterloo.ca> wrote:
>>In article <JASON.95May22133315@wratting.harlqn.co.uk>,
>
>>
>>It does seem too large.  There has been a recent upshoot in the theory
>>of micro-evolution (in conjunction with gradual evolution theories):
>> Where measurable physiological changes occur in just three
>>or four generations (Experimental evidence circa 1993 from , where else,
>>Darwin's finch populations).  The type of physical attribute which
>>can evolve in this fashion has not been pinned down (They were studying
>>beak length, shape, feather size, toe angles etc.), some attributes seem

>	I'm curious about the finches.  Changes in beak structure over a
>generation or two must reflect a switch in the diet.  Did the researchers
>who worked on the finches discover any rapid cognitive modifications to
>go along with the physical ones -- IMHO the change in diet implies a set
>of cognitive modifications as well.
>

A change in beak morphology should indicate diet changes, which could
be the result of behaviour changes or environmental pressure.  It is
also possible that we are seeing the intermediate steps of an optimization
process; in which case there could be neither behaviour nor environmental
changes occuring currently.

I would like to think that cognition is a readily evolved characteristic
(Since cognitive skill allows for rapid adaption to environment) and
hence, the finches are experiencing cognitive modification.  
Unfortunately, this is tough to measure (well, tough to get funding to
hire graduate students to measure  :) and still compile decent statistics.


