Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:16:23 GMT

I am Convinced that It is the Light and the Way

This comment on natural selection is the last sentence of Adaptation and Natural Selection, George Williams' masterpiece about evolution. An evolutionary biologist I know (who shall remain anonymous to spare him/her public shaming) claimed not to know who was George Williams. I was/still am aghast. This anonymous evolutionary biologist is the inspiration for this post, indeed for this series of citation classics. Williams is a professor emeritus at SUNY: Stony Brook, author of numerous influential books, and recipient of the 1999 Crawfoord Prize. In the words of no less a luminary than Stephen Pinker, "George Williams was instrumental in making natural selection an intellectually rigorous theory".

Today's citation classic is Williams, G.C. 1957. Pleiotropy, natural selection, and the evolution of senescence. Evolution, 11: 398-411. It was Williams' first significant paper and considered by many to be a cornerstone of modern evolutionary theory. At the time, aging was a major problem in biology (actually, it still is). In 1956, Alex Comfort wrote in The Biology of Senescence*, "In almost any other biological field, it is possible to .... show a steady progression from a large number of speculative, to one or two highly probable, main hypotheses. In the case of senescence this cannot profitably be done."

At the time of publication of Williams' Evolution of Senescence, many biologists considered aging an evolutionary adaptation. In an article in Science, Carl Zimmer (The Loom) wrote, "Williams recalls a lecture he heard by Alfred Emerson, a zoologist at the University of Chicago, about why people age and die. 'He said growing old and dying is a good thing,' Williams says. 'We’ve evolved to do it so we get out of the way, so the young people can go on maintaining the species. I thought it was absolute nonsense,' says Williams."

Williams' Evolution of Senescence paper was his opening salvo in his war against this "nonsense", this fuzzy-headed, group selectionist thinking. Views such as those held by Emerson were common. They culminated in V.C. Wynne-Edwards' book, Animal Dispersion in Relation to Social Behavior, where it was argued, for example, that many animals formed groups so that they could assess population density, and regulate their own numbers to avoid overpopulation. Balderdash! Humans, even with all our intellectual gifts, can hardly regulate our own population. Most adaptations benefit the individual, or more correctly, the gene producing the trait, not the group or any other higher level of biological organization. W.D. Hamilton later wrote "Geometry for the selfish herd" (a classic in its own right) to show that animals often grouped to reduce their own risks of being preyed upon.

In "Pleiotropy, natural selection, and the evolution of senescence", Williams argued that senescence was not an adaptation to remove old-folks to make room for young'uns. Rather senescence was the result of an evolutionary trade-off. Selection favored genes that enhanced reproduction in youth even though they were deleterious in old age. In Williams' words, "So natural selection will frequently maximize vigor in youth at the expense of vigor later on and thereby produce a declining vigor (senescence) during adult life..... The rate of senescence shown by any species will reflect the balance between this direct, adverse selection of senescence as an unfavorable character, and indirect, favorable selection through age-related bias in the selection of pleiotropic genes." In other words, genes for vigor late, as opposed to early, in life aren't favored because one's reproductive probability is at its maximum at reproductive maturity and subsequently declines as the cumulative probability of death increases. Less formally, better hurry up and reproduce, kid, before you get hit by a bus or something.

There is no biological law that says the body must wear out, that we must age, that we must die. Hypothetically, it should be easy enough to live forever as the energy expenditure for maintaining the present structure pales in comparison to the expenditure required to make a new body from scratch. What we observe as senescence, then, is just the consequence of genes selected for the reproductive advantages they provide during youth. As Zimmer writes, "Ironically, cancer, declining stamina, deteriorating vision and various diseases of old age could all be the result of natural selection". They simply have to make you more fecund at reproductive maturity.

*During the George Williams symposium at SUNY: Stony Brook, I happened, as is my wont, to visit a local bookstore, and was delighted to find a 1st Edition copy of Comfort's The Biology of Senescence with Williams' stamp inside and annotated by Williams himself. Posted by: Dennehy      Read more     Source

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:16:46 GMT

Lead plant

Here was another new flower for me to find at Roundrock on our last visit. This, I’ve since learned, is lead plant, and I found it in many places on the forest edge on the south-facing slope over the pecan plantation.

I used the close-up function on Libby’s camera to take this shot. That photo is larger than life size, and I had a hard time getting even one good shot given their long shape (and the breeze that seems to freshen every time I try to take a picture).

Lead plant (Amorpha canescens) is a Missouri native I’m happy to report, and I’d hate to try to eradicate this if it weren’t. The plant was seemingly “everywhere”, and I understand that its roots run deep. As I said above, this was a new plant to me. Even though it should flower through the summer, I had never seen it before at Roundrock. And it is supposed to be a favorite of butterflies, so that should have attracted me to them long before now. I must learn to pay better attention.

Missouri calendar:

• Bobcat kittens are born through the month.

Posted by: Roundrockjournal      Read more     Source

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:14:20 GMT

Muddle Though tthe Summer with a Great New Drink! Boca Loca

Cachaça is a Brazilian imported spirit that's taking the country.. not by storm but with a slow easy feel and approach that's more about enjoying life the Brazilian way.. and Boca Loca is one of the best ways to test drive this new spirit. - With a day proclaimed in its honor (Kissing Day --- Boca Loca means Crazy Lips) you now have more reason to pick up your muddler and mix up a few innovative cachaça-based cocktails in this summer weather!

Muddling is an easy trick gently mashing fruit in the bottom of a glass or shaker to release the flavorful oils and juices of the fruit - to add balance, depth and flavor to a cocktail. Plus muddling is a great way to relieve the stress of a tough week and gear up for the weekend. As the love for all things Latin continues to heat up at the country's trendiest lounges, there is no better reason to "muddle" than just to release a little steam and live live wtih a bit joie de vive. So "Muddle your way to the Weekend" courtesy of Boca Loca Cachaça.

1. Grab a bottle of Boca Loca premium Cachaça, some juicy limes, your favorite muddler and a posse of best friends

2. Whisk yourself away to Brazil (or pretend you are there anyway), kick off your shoes, s, turning up the latest Bebel Gilberto or CeU CD, swivel those hips in wild samba abandon and mix up a batch of Brazil's National drink--the Caipirinha, (pronounced kie-purr-REEN-yah). The basic Caipirinha consists of a muddled lime cut in quarters and mixed with fine sugar, ice and Boca Loca Cachaça.



3. "It's all in the wrist" - and in the right equipment. Modern Mixologist Tony Abou Ganim suggests a smooth wooden muddler and a fluid wrist motion to gently pulverize the fruit and release the oils and juices that bring intense fruit flavor to a cocktail. Burn off the week's frustration (a maddening colleague who stole credit for your project, the cheating boyfriend and the heel you snapped in the subway grate (of the shoes you knew you shouldn't have bought) while running for the cab that passed you by ) will help add release and pleasure to the job.

4. Flirting and muddling go hand in hand, who doesn't like a bar maven or master who can muddle a cocktail to perfection with the flair of a mixologist? So invite friends over (and friends of friends).

5. Gear up for a weekend (or sooner) and fire up the grill. Food is crucial for those potent concoctions! Grill up some churrasco, whip together some feijoada (Brazilian black beans) and camarao na moranga (seafood stew), or fry some bananas with cinnamon sugar and complement the menu with a refreshing Boca Berry or Fruit Batida .

Check out Boca Loca for more recipes and lots of other ideas including where to buy it

Posted by: Stevie Wilson      Read more     Source

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:12:38 GMT

Erythrina stricta var. suberosa

Botany Photo of the Day will have brief written entries on weekends, holidays and my vacations from April through September. – Daniel

Thank you to Dinesh from India (aka dinesh_valke@Flickr) for today's colourful photograph (original image | Flickr BPotD Group Pool). It's very much appreciated!

It is far more common that this coral tree is presented with the scientific name Erythrina suberosa online, but its taxonomic status was changed in 1992 to being recognized as only a variety of Erythrina stricta. It is native to southeast and south Asia.

Additional photographs of this plant by Dinesh can be seen in this Flickr grouping. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:01:51 GMT

Nicole Richie out to Refute Traffic Violation Charges

For quite sometime Nicole Richie has been in the limelight but mostly for wrong reasons or mysteries. First it was her belly budge which set people speculating that the model is expecting her first baby, then for no apparent she decided to cover her face while in public, which created a lot of mystery. And now she is making the news for traffic violation and driving under influence. However, unlike Paris Hilton and George Michele has decided not to plead guilty to charges.

The incident occurred in last December when Richie was arrested for not only driving on the wrong side of freeway but also being under influence of drug - vicodin. If found guilty of the offense she may have to cool her heels for one year. Alas! To make the matter worse she has a driving under influence record prior to this as well.

I think she better cooperate with the authorities because if Hilton imprisonment is any indication then law isn’t any lenient with celebrities.

Image

Source: Tmz Posted by: Fineblog      Read more     Source

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 10:55:36 GMT

Hilton is Winning Her Fans, Answering Their Letters from Jail

It doesn’t matter whether she is shining as a star on the skies of the celebrity circle or if she is sulking behind the gloomy bars of her cell, Paris Hilton knows very well how to keep her charm intact in her fans’ hearts.

Since she began her jail sentence on June 4, Paris has been religiously answering her fanmail. Infact, now she seems more relaxed as she is away from her mandatory party-hopping scene.

Anyways, coming back to the point, Paris is trying to keep herself alive in the hearts of her fans by reaching out to them via letters. E! Online has obtained one such letter which was addressed to an unidentified fan. The letter reads:

I read your letter and just wanted to thank you for your kind words of love and support. The fact that you took time out of your day to write me truly means the world. Especially at such a difficult and scary time in my life. But I am being strong and trying to make the best out of the situation. And the letters I’m receiving really do put a smile on my face as I sit here in my cell, sad and alone.

The letter, imprinted on plain stationery, is signed ‘Love always, Paris Hilton’ with hearts dotting the i’s and “xoxo” under the signature.

And for those who plan to rubbish this as a gimmick, Paris’ rep. has already confirmed the authenticity of the letter saying,

That letter was written by Paris. She’s been trying to respond to her fans as they write, personally.

Now, thats why I like Paris.

Source Posted by: Aneezshaikh      Read more     Source

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:31:37 GMT

Shizukuchan Dolls

Sadly, these are only available from Segatoys in Japan, but aren't they cute? Designed with big rain-drop heads, the pink one has a red bow on its head, just in case you didn't know it was the "girl one," I guess. The dolls can record voices up to 7 seconds and later play it out loud, so you could leave a message for your baby ("Mommy misses you"), or your mate, ("Take out the garbage, PLEASE!").

$29.99 at Audio Cubes. Posted by: Evan      Read more     Source

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:15:18 GMT

Diamond-encrusted Skull Fascinates George Michael

Artist DAMIEN HIRSTs diamond-encrusted skull has fascinated George Michael. After a private viewing last week of For The Love Of God, which contains 8,601 diamonds and cost 12million to make, the singer and his partner KENNY GOSS are reportedly ready to shell out 50 mn pound.

Their spokesman said: They looked at the piece as a possible addition to their collection.

For art lovers pieces such as these are priceless. Well, lets see who finally takes the skull home.

Source Posted by: Naomi      Read more     Source

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:15:09 GMT

London to overtake New York

Here's a warning to America. Within the next eight years, London will overtake New York as the world's financial hub, and it will rival Silicon Valley as a technology centre.

And it's got nothing to do with Sarbanes-Oxley!

According to a Developing the Future study by Microsoft, consultancy Intellect, the British Computer Society and London's City University, London's capital markets will have overtaken New York, and it will rival Silicon Valley in the number of internet-based start-ups being launched. London's Soho will have the biggest movie digital effects industry outside Hollywood and the UK will lead the world in the production of video games.

What's driving this trend is not US regulation. It's the way the UK has embraced the so-called "Knowledge Economy". It's the fastest growing component of the UK economy, taking in sectors such as financial services, IT, business services and creative services. In less than three years' time, the report says more than half of Britain's GDP will be generated by people who create "something from nothing", with the economy rapidly developing into a fully-fledged knowledge-based economy. According to the report, the Knowledge Economy employs 41 per cent of all workers by occupational classification and 40 per cent of GDP by industry classification. It's expected to reach 50 per cent by 2010.

It's also very much about the way London has positioned itself in world markets.

"With its unique overlap of financial services, technology, media, venture capital, and government interests, London is rapidly becoming a global hub for a new class of entrepreneur as well as being an international capital for creative industries such as digital effects for the film industry and video games. The emergence of rapidly expanding economies in developing countries such as China and India are simultaneously creating new business opportunities for UK-based enterprises."

The report does point to some challenges ahead, particularly as to whether Britain can produce enough skilled graduates to meet the soaring demand.

Still, the most striking thing here is that these changes are happening regardless of US regulation.

That's not to say the costs of Sarbanes-Oxley have had no effect. But it's part of a much bigger story. Posted by: leon      Read more     Source

Wed, 13 Jun 2007 10:59:50 GMT

Sale Of Jaguar & Land Rover

[Image Source: Jaguar Cars]

In what's looking more and more like a fire sale, Ford Motor Company is reportedly set on selling off British luxury marques Jaguar and Land Rover. Having hired investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to work the sale into an appealing package, it seems that Ford will cut its losses with both UK subsidiaries in an effort to raise funds for the core production.

The BBC reported that the British Government has contacted Ford concerned over the future of the 19,000 Jaguar and Land Rover employees whose jobs are suddenly at risk. And according to one BBC reporter, Ford's to blame for this dire state of affairs.

"In the case of Jaguar, Ford has turned a sleek cat into a groggy moggy," said Robert Peston,
BBC business editor.

[Source BBC via MotorAuthority] Posted by: Gunnar Heinrich      Read more     Source