Re: The scientific method and the AAH
Rod Hagen (rodhagen@insane.apana.org.au)
Sat, 10 Dec 1994 22:06:19 +1000
In article <3c0s1a$cfn@newsbf01.news.aol.com>, patdooley@aol.com (Pat
Dooley) wrote:
>
> Hairlessness a simple mutation? So how come we can just about divide
> mammals into three categories:
>
>
> 1. Hairy land dwellers.
> 2. Large hairless aquatic and wallowing mammals.
> 3. Small oily haired, multi-coated semi-aquatic mammals.
>
> For a savannah animal, hairlessness is just about the stupidest mutation
> possible. It removes protection from the tropical sun; it reduces the
> efficiency of sweating, and it removes thermal insulation against
> surprisingly frigid savannah
> nights.
>
>
> The savannah theory, in all its mutations, has never actually come up with a
> plausible explanation for hairlessness.
Somebody better tell the rhinos and the elephants about this. Or have they
both just jumped out of the pool too? Both seemed to have survived "just
about the stupidest mutation possible" pretty well (at least until we got
them.)
--
Rod Hagen
rodhagen@insanity.apana.org.au
Rod_Hagen@maccontent.apana.org.au
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