Study of More Than 600 Animal and Plant Species Finds Genetic Diversity Has Declined Globally (theguardian.com) 29
Genetic diversity in animals and plants has declined globally over the past three decades, an analysis of more than 600 species has found. From a report: The research, published in the journal Nature, found declines in two-thirds of the populations studied, but noted that urgent conservation efforts could halt or even reverse genetic diversity losses. Dozens of scientists internationally reviewed 882 studies that measured genetic diversity changes between 1985 and 2019 in 628 species of animals, plants, fungi and chromists (a type of organism), forming what they have called "the most comprehensive investigation" of changes in genetic diversity within species to date.
The study's lead researcher, Assoc Prof Catherine Grueber of the University of Sydney, said within-species diversity -- referring to the variation between individuals of the same species -- enabled a population to better adapt to changes in its environment. "If a new disease comes through, or there's a heatwave, there may be some individuals in the population that have certain characteristics that enable them to tolerate those new conditions," she said. "Those characteristics will get passed on to the next generation, and the population will persist instead of going extinct."
The study's lead researcher, Assoc Prof Catherine Grueber of the University of Sydney, said within-species diversity -- referring to the variation between individuals of the same species -- enabled a population to better adapt to changes in its environment. "If a new disease comes through, or there's a heatwave, there may be some individuals in the population that have certain characteristics that enable them to tolerate those new conditions," she said. "Those characteristics will get passed on to the next generation, and the population will persist instead of going extinct."
Similar findings in (Score:2)
the population of the U.S.A., which helps to explain their current political quagmire.
Re:Similar findings in (Score:4, Insightful)
Occam's razor says a more likely cause is replacing critical thinking and logic courses with Bible study.
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Name our single top worse offense...
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In the past decade, the Democratic party has twice chosen a candidate based on her immutable characteristics rather than popularity, and lost the election both times.
If there was any critical thinking going on, they'd realize that in democracies, the most popular candidate - rather than the most politically correct - wins the election. While ORANGE MAN(TM) is certainly no angel, the worst enemy of progressives in the US has been the Democratic party, who have done more to discredit the progressive visio
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> In the past decade, the Democratic party has twice chosen a candidate based on her immutable characteristics rather than popularity, and lost the election both times.
The first time (Clinton) nobody knew Trump would win. The second time was a last minute decision due to circumstance, and there was no clear "popular" alternative to Kamala. CA happened to be in bit of an econ slump*, so Newsome wasn't a good choice. Bernie doesn't score high with moderates.
So who else was "obvious choice" AT THE TIME?
* Th
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Re:Similar findings in (Score:4, Insightful)
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if you prerequisite someone engaging in critical thinking with having to abandon their faith, they are less likely to see critical thinking as something they can/should study/engage in
I agree with you that it's possible, as long as that other person doesn't bring up anything of their faith into the conversation, since it's not relevant. If they somehow try to say it's relevant, then I'd immediately perceive them as disingenuous.
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In my experience religion often overshadows their logic side. For example, many self-claimed-logical-Christians often claim a fertilized egg "objectively is a human being" per abortion debate. It's not, for one because nature doesn't categorize; nature gives zero flying shit about human language or categories. Similar with gender.
When pressed after trying to weave and dodge for 10 or messages, they'll finally break down and claim, "Gender and/or humanity are defined by God, the ultimate authority on categor
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Oh I have a special ointment for those rashes.
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Surely the logical view is that it's the most distant ancestor of a human and then key points of evolution are replayed during development? i.e. having a tail, all embryos being female up to a point, etc...
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Moron.
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The Bible was taken *out* of the schools in the mid twentieth century, but sure, blame any decline on Bible study. That must be it. It couldn't have anything to do with inbreeding,
An odd suggestion. No reason to think inbreeding is more prevalent now than in earlier times, and in fact, it is probably much lower.
or a general tendency of people everywhere to stay close to where their grandparents were born or,
Much less so than in earlier times. Transportation has become so much easier, it's no longer true that the majority of humans have never traveled further than ten miles from their birthplace.
even if they do move, to deliberately seek out and surround themselves with people of similar background.
No more now than in the past.
Nah, it's gotta be the danged Christians messing everything up somehow.
Christians aren't new.
Moron.
None of your proposed explanations make sense. Here's one that does: the internet, and particularly internet-enabled networks, is making
Isn't this expected? (Score:2)
I would assume that this would be entirely expected. We've entered an age in civilization that has, in effect, united the entire planet. Whether through design or accident, ALL species on the planet are now in contact with each other to some extent.
So we're going from a planet with a huge number of geographically separated regions, with no competition between them, to one region, with all species in competition. Hence all the panic and regulations trying to stem the tide of "invasive species".
What should
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Do we need 130 species of sparrow? If they all have to compete with each other, we'll end up with a lot fewer.
They probably live in different areas of the world, adapted to the local environment, and most probably don't complete with the others. Their diversity probably means they each have different strengths, weaknesses, and immunities, etc ... As TFS notes, less diversity means more may succumb to one issue, like illness or change in the environment.
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Congrats on the stupidest take.
Invasive species are just a tiny part of the problem. And yes we need diversity, that's what allow species to adapt when condition are changing, at least if the change is not too fast and too extreme. And the conditions ARE changing, all at the same time. Have you heard of what happens to monocultures ?
Pollution is rampant, natural spaces are shrinking, and the climate is getting erratic, not to mention over fishing, invasive species, and hunting animals for the stupidest reas
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It's the individual sparrows which compete with each other and the species division is an artificial overlay made by bipedal meatbags. Unless there's a sparrow football league In unaware of.
Perhaps in the future there will be a superset bird which has all beneficial traits from every 'species' - beneficial that is, in today's world - i.e. stealing bags of chips:
* https://youtu.be/NoKvfdEazdo?s... [youtu.be]
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That is not what TFA is about. It's about genetic diversity within a species.
Wow (Score:2)
Study of More Than 600 Animal and Plant Species Finds Genetic Diversity Has Declined Globally
Trump and his Project 2025 minions write some powerful anti-DEI Executive Orders. :-)
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Too bad, the honky-trilobites won the election.
Well, duh. (Score:1)
Also scientists: Biodiversity is decliining !
Hmm...
6th Extinction (Score:3)
According to some credible scientists it's happening right now and it's due to human influence. The 6th extinction even in the earth's history. I wouldn't be surprised if it were true, TBH.
\o/ (Score:1)
Blame science and medicine for removing selection pressure by making the world safer / easier
When will humans be extincted? (Score:2)
:P
Just the natural order doing it's thing. (Score:2)
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On the contrary, I would expect that over time the genetic diversity would be more or less stable (albeit with big swings up and down in the short terms) as the rate of accumulation of genetic changes would have to be in line with the rate of extinction of genetic differences in the lo
Adaptation in progress? (Score:2)
So, that's what's happening now? We're watching species adapt to changes, which one would naturally expect to present as reduced variation, right?