Back in the day, random mutant sex was the only known pathway to evolution.
Or, maybe it was more like random mutation passed on through sex. But still...the science got the religious right hot and bothered!
Today's science is still a little bothersome. For one thing, gene mapping says that Neanderthals were not "early man." As it turns out humans and Neanderthals are not the same species although we both have more than 95% of our genes in common with chimpanzees. I don't really get how we can both be that closely related to chimps and yet not related to each other.
What does this new science mean for this new century?
Old school: when environmental pressure is extreme, the fittest survive by mutating at random. Then, when the survivors procreate, they open the one and only window of possibility for passing along their adaptation. After about a gazillion generations, if the mutation has proven its usefulness, then the survivors have "adapted" and evolution has marched forward.
Hip school: environmental pressures act on our biochemistry on a moment to moment basis, triggering the proteins in our cells to express and replicate genes. Under stress, our hormones actually cause unexpressed genes to become an active part of our make-up. And as far as we know, once our dormant genes awake, there is no turning back the clock. We pass our adaptations along to our offspring, and small, permanent changes take place in one generation.
So how about it, how should we adapt in the face of global warming, which promises flood, drought, famine, ice, snow, drought, and famine. What changes do we need to evolve into being?
Given a choice, what biological change would you make in yourself (or the species as a whole) to ensure our survival, (keeping in mind that random mutant sex will still be required to keep the species moving forward)?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Midnight Meeting, Carbon Hogs Anonymous
Welcome to the midnight meeting of Carbon Hogs Anonymous! I'm NeanderGirl, and I am a carbon hog. I gobble up carbon despite my best intentions and commitments. I am powerless.
Carbon Hogs Anonymous is based on the classic 12-step model. And as you undoubtedly know (unless you happen to be signing in from the one glorious place on earth where addiction does not permeate food, drink, sex, shopping and all things human) the first step in the 12-step model is admitting that you are powerless.
Today was a lesson in powerlessness for me.
I was fortunate enough to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak on the topic of compassion. When asked, "How do you and how might we remain hopeful?" the Dalai Lama first suggested that we might be convinced by the media that the world is made of pain and suffering. However, if we look past the nightly news , to "the whole condition of six billion human beings," we will realize the world is actually "getting better."
This should be our source of hope. Specifically, we should be hopeful because the idea of human rights did not even exist--not really--at the beginning of the 20th century, but today that idea is nearly universal.
He went on to say, however, that the world is suffering from two very real problems: global warming and overpopulation. These alone require our attention because of their significance and implications for the whole condition of all six billion human beings on earth.
To me, this perspective put carbon hogging into perspective.
Even while the Dalai Lama was answering this question, a small plane buzzed the open air stadium, dragging along a banner that read: "Dalai Lama Pls Stop Supporting Riots." It had circled the stadium throughout the program, referencing recent Chinese suppression of monks in Tibet, and reminding the world that the Chinese goal is to end the Dalai Lama's influence over his own people.
And yet, the Dalai Lama said, the real problems of the day--those that require our genuine concern--are global warming and overpopulation.
It made me want to be better, even as I gathered up my plastic water bottle (no outside drinks are allowed in the stadium, and the inside vendors use plastic) and headed out to the bus for the long drive home. Clearly, I am powerless despite my intentions and commitments. I am a carbon hog.
Happily, powerlessness in the face of excrutiating compulsion is far removed from blame. So, we won't be doing any blaming here...no discussion of Hummer drivers or corporate greed or even the relationship between Dick Cheney and gas prices. No, we have much more important work to do.
According to the American Psychological Association (and reported by Wikipedia), the 12-steps can be summarized as:
Carbon Hogs Anonymous is based on the classic 12-step model. And as you undoubtedly know (unless you happen to be signing in from the one glorious place on earth where addiction does not permeate food, drink, sex, shopping and all things human) the first step in the 12-step model is admitting that you are powerless.
Today was a lesson in powerlessness for me.
I was fortunate enough to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak on the topic of compassion. When asked, "How do you and how might we remain hopeful?" the Dalai Lama first suggested that we might be convinced by the media that the world is made of pain and suffering. However, if we look past the nightly news , to "the whole condition of six billion human beings," we will realize the world is actually "getting better."
This should be our source of hope. Specifically, we should be hopeful because the idea of human rights did not even exist--not really--at the beginning of the 20th century, but today that idea is nearly universal.
He went on to say, however, that the world is suffering from two very real problems: global warming and overpopulation. These alone require our attention because of their significance and implications for the whole condition of all six billion human beings on earth.
To me, this perspective put carbon hogging into perspective.
Even while the Dalai Lama was answering this question, a small plane buzzed the open air stadium, dragging along a banner that read: "Dalai Lama Pls Stop Supporting Riots." It had circled the stadium throughout the program, referencing recent Chinese suppression of monks in Tibet, and reminding the world that the Chinese goal is to end the Dalai Lama's influence over his own people.
And yet, the Dalai Lama said, the real problems of the day--those that require our genuine concern--are global warming and overpopulation.
It made me want to be better, even as I gathered up my plastic water bottle (no outside drinks are allowed in the stadium, and the inside vendors use plastic) and headed out to the bus for the long drive home. Clearly, I am powerless despite my intentions and commitments. I am a carbon hog.
Happily, powerlessness in the face of excrutiating compulsion is far removed from blame. So, we won't be doing any blaming here...no discussion of Hummer drivers or corporate greed or even the relationship between Dick Cheney and gas prices. No, we have much more important work to do.
According to the American Psychological Association (and reported by Wikipedia), the 12-steps can be summarized as:
- admitting that one cannot control one's addiction or compulsion;
- recognizing a greater power that can give strength;
- examining past errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced member);
- making amends for these errors;
- learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior;
- helping others that suffer from the same addictions or compulsions.
It's time for us really to learn to live a new life with a new code of behavior and to help one another out of carbon hogging as we transition to a new hotter--or colder--life.
We have a few moments left with life as we know it. It really is time to figure out what we love and respect and need for life.
And we need to carry that forward. For, as the Dalai Lama remarked: "Not only humans, but other mammals survive and grow totally dependent on others. This is a biological condition." Our power rests in how we support, nurture and care for one another, including those who will come in the future.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
