Upload
jett
View
6
Download
3
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Presentation on how humans use adaptations of organisms to generate consumer products.
Citation preview
Nature thought of it first! (but lets not do teleology)
Nature thought of it first! (but lets not do teleology)
Antifreeze
There are two main issues holding humanity back from immortality, or at least bringing the frozen back to life.
These are:
Freezing damage
Frostbite
Insects do freezing better
Not just insects but also fish and amphibians.
These organisms contain unique chemicals called osmolytes which act as cryoprotectants and anti freezing proteins.
The North American wood frog is capable of freezing on the outside while remaining thawed on the inside, by producing large amounts of glucose in its liver the amphibian can effectively freeze and thaw with the changes of the season.
Flight
Birds have an incredibly complex serious of evolved characteristics that enables flight.
Streamlined body
Hollow skeleton
Light weight beak
etc
Warning colours
Animals achieve coloration through pigments in chromatophores or pigments created by melanocytes. Chromatophores are present in amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans, cephalopods, and bacteria where as melanocytes are the pigment creating cell in mammals and birds.
Animal colouration is useful for several evolutionary reasons including:
Camouflage
Signalling
Mimicry
Distraction
Velcro
Some plants like the Burdock rely on animals to disperse seeds. They achieve this by having hooked seed heads which stick to the fur of the animal.
So theres a purpose behind evolution right?
Wrong!