Religious Ceremony Leads To Evolution of Cave Fish 233
An anonymous reader writes "A centuries-old religious ceremony of an indigenous people in southern Mexico has led to evolutionary changes in a local species of fish, say researchers at Texas A&M University. Apparently since before Columbus arrived, the Zoque people would venture each spring into the sulfuric cave Cueva del Azufre to beg the gods for bountiful rain. As part of the ritual, they released into the cave's waters a leaf-bound paste made of lime and the ground-up root of the barbasco plant, a natural fish toxin. The rest is worth reading, but the upshot is that the fish living in the cave waters eventually got wise, genetically speaking."
I predict (Score:5, Funny)
that this thread will be characterized by civil discussion and insightful exchange of ideas, with little or no flamage
Religion causing evolution.... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Unuseful Definition (Score:5, Funny)
So, this isn't considered to be "selective breeding" why now?
If you've been hoping to breed fish by throwing fish toxin in the water, trust me... you're doing it wrong.
Tomorrow's Sarah Palin Tweet Today! (Score:5, Funny)
Now we know the true reason for global warming (Score:5, Funny)
From the article:
"Since before the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World, the Zoque people of southern Mexico would venture each year during the Easter season deep into the sulfuric cave Cueva del Azufre to implore their deities for a bountiful rain season."
And later:
"Ironically, it was the last ceremony ever held, as the Zoques ended the practice that year due to political pressure from the government, which sought to preserve the cave as a hotbed for tourism and potential revenue."
So they stopped doing ceremonies for the weather gods. This is surely not the only case. So people stop worshipping weather gods, and the climate goes wild. Coincidence? Unlikely! So now we have proof: Global warming is man-made, by neglecting weather ceremonies!
Re:I predict (Score:3, Funny)
Correlation does imply causation? (Score:4, Funny)
this thread will be characterized by civil discussion and insightful exchange of ideas
Sure, let's debate whether it's the religious ceremonies that cause evolution or vice versa
See my username for punchline (Score:3, Funny)
So they stopped doing ceremonies for the weather gods. This is surely not the only case. So people stop worshipping weather gods, and the climate goes wild. Coincidence? Unlikely! So now we have proof: Global warming is man-made, by neglecting weather ceremonies!
Yes, absolutely. Now bring me more poison-tainted leaves, or suffer an inconvenient winter storm!