[quote=Thomas H. Maugh II]Modern day birds may simply be dinosaurs that never grew up, researchers say. A comparison of fossilized skulls of juvenile dinosaurs with those of birds shows remarkable similarities, adding further evidence to the growing consensus that birds are evolutionary descendants of dinosaurs. A team from Harvard University reported online in the journal Nature that for some as-yet-unknown reason, some dinosaur infants began to mature much more rapidly than normal. That rapid maturation altered the expression of genes, changing the physical characteristics of the animals and keeping them much smaller in size. Those changes allowed the development of a relatively bigger brain and the development of flight.
A variety of evidence suggests an evolutionary link between the two species. [B]At least 22 bones are found only in birds and dinosaurs, and in no other animals.[/B] Researchers have found fossils of feathered dinosaurs, fossils of dinosaurs with other bird-like features, and fossils of primitive birds with dinosaur-like features.
Evolutionary biologist Arkhat Abzhanov of Harvard University noted an apparent resemblance between the skulls of juvenile dinosaurs and adult birds and decided to do a more comprehensive study. With graduate student Bhart-Anjan Bhullar, he used CT scanners to examine dozens of skulls, including modern birds, theropods -- the dinosaurs most closely related to birds -- and earlier dinosaur species. By identifying various landmarks on the skulls, they were able to track how the skull shapes had changed over the years.
"We examined skulls form the entire lineage that gave rise to modern birds," Abzhanov said. "We looked back approximately 250 million years, to the Archosaurs, the group which gave rise to crocodiles and alligators as well as modern birds. Our goal was to look at these skulls to see how they changed, and try to understand exactly what happened during the evolution of the bird skull."
What they found was surprising. [B]Early dinosaurs underwent vast morphological changes as they aged. Among other things, their snouts grew longer and their heads grew flatter. The skulls of juvenile and adult birds, in contrast, are remarkably similar. They concluded that the evolutionary changes that produced birds were a phenomenon known as paedomorphosis. [/B]"We can see that the adults of a species look increasingly like the juveniles of their ancestors," Abzhanov said. In the case of birds, he added, the phenomenon is caused by a process called progenesis, in which the descendants reach sexual maturity earlier. Birds can take as little as 12 weeks to reach maturity, while dinosaurs required months or years. Concluded Abzhanov: "When we look at birds, we are actually looking at juvenile dinosaurs."[/quote]
[url=http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-birds-dinosaurs-20120529,0,7306734.story?track=rss]LA TIMES[/url] | [url=http://news.discovery.com/animals/birds-dinosaurs-120530.html]DiscoveryNews[/url] | [url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120530212105.htm]ScienceDaily[/url]
[quote]A team from Harvard University reported online in the journal Nature that for some as-yet-unknown reason, some dinosaur infants began to mature much more rapidly than normal. That rapid maturation altered the expression of genes, changing the physical characteristics of the animals and keeping them much smaller in size. Those changes allowed the development of a relatively bigger brain and the development of flight.[/quote]
That's pretty amazing when you think about it, what could have possibly caused that to happen to them? Incredible how they once ruled the Earth too
[QUOTE=Killer900;36138991]That's pretty amazing when you think about it, what could have possibly caused that to happen to them? Incredible how they once ruled the Earth too[/QUOTE]
Well, evolution selects for the genes that aid in survival and reproduction, not the genes that make you awesome killing machines. If the individuals that move towards being small and flying about while not bothering bigger animals reproduce more than the big awesome roarmongers, then that's the direction the species moves in.
So even dinosaurs suffered from Peter Pan syndrome?
[IMG]http://media.2oceansvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/trex.jpg[/IMG]
It twists my melon maaan
[QUOTE=Charybdis;36139413][IMG]http://media.2oceansvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/trex.jpg[/IMG]
It twists my melon maaan[/QUOTE]
I wonder if it still tastes like chicken.
[QUOTE=Benstokes;36139291]Well, evolution selects for the genes that aid in survival and reproduction, not the genes that make you awesome killing machines. If the individuals that move towards being small and flying about while not bothering bigger animals reproduce more than the big awesome roarmongers, then that's the direction the species moves in.[/QUOTE]
Not to have a go at you or anything, but if you're gonna talk about evolution, especially when it's a topic that always winds up in debate, PLEASE, PLEASE use the correct terminology.
There is no 'selecting of genes' or anything like that. It's a case of shitty mutations that cause severe hindrances in an animal typically result in its death, or in it being unable to pass its shitty genes on, and good, or neutral mutations which don't hinder an animal to the point whereby it dies, or is seen as unworthy to be a mate are typically passed on.
When you start talking about 'selection of genes which aid the species' somebody gets confused about the idea of natural selection and evolution and then it all goes downhill.
[QUOTE=usaokay;36139400]somewhere in a parallel universe, this bird
[t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Emperor_Penguin_Manchot_empereur.jpg[/t]
is 1000 feet tall and terrorizes Tokyo.[/QUOTE]
That's it, we need to develop a multiverse machine. I want to see that universe.
[QUOTE=atttapi0;36139459]That's it, we need to develop a multiverse machine. I want to see that universe.[/QUOTE]
Quick: someone exhume Cave Johnson!
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;36139435]I wonder if it still tastes like chicken.[/QUOTE]Or chicken actually tastes like dinosaur
dun dun [b]DUNNNNNNNN[/b]
[QUOTE=usaokay;36139400]somewhere in a parallel universe, this bird
[t]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Emperor_Penguin_Manchot_empereur.jpg[/t]
is 1000 feet tall and terrorizes Tokyo.[/QUOTE]
somewhere millions of years ago genetics took a shit on a kicking rad dinosaur and out came the ridiculously ineffective penguin - shit at being a bird, and only marginally better as a fish.
[QUOTE=Charybdis;36139413][IMG]http://media.2oceansvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/trex.jpg[/IMG]
It twists my melon maaan[/QUOTE]
[img]http://puu.sh/xRjr[/img]
woaah
[QUOTE=Oicani Gonzales;36139644]So I was reading on that paedomorphosis thing the article cites and holy shit:
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Neoteny_body_proportion_heterochrony_human.png[/img]
I've never thought about it and it's freaky[/QUOTE]
jesus christ how horrifying
Does this mean that if a bird gets that rapid aging disease it will turn into a dinosaur
[QUOTE=Oicani Gonzales;36139644]So I was reading on that paedomorphosis thing the article cites and holy shit:
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Neoteny_body_proportion_heterochrony_human.png[/img]
I've never thought about it and it's freaky[/QUOTE]
Giant babies?
[QUOTE=Killer900;36138991]That's pretty amazing when you think about it, what could have possibly caused that to happen to them? Incredible how they once ruled the Earth too[/QUOTE]
The plants on my balcony would say they still do.
I was already told this in Biology class a year ago. It's fun to see people learn.
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/The_Invasion_Front_Cover.jpg[/img]
This explains everything!
[QUOTE=Recurracy;36141264][img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c9/The_Invasion_Front_Cover.jpg[/img]
This explains everything![/QUOTE]
[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5636656/rrerr.gif[/img]
[QUOTE=Character;36140351][t]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ-lKZrWOIY/TZOjzegnJ8I/AAAAAAAABYs/Rhj0Wv5Am78/s1600/starfish.jpg[/t]
freaky, maaaaaan[/QUOTE]
what the fuck! of all the things she turns into that? how shitty
[QUOTE=Charybdis;36141325]what the fuck! of all the things she turns into that? how shitty[/QUOTE]
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZC11lFit3A/TdR0hBkkpeI/AAAAAAAAAF0/mPV4cUGZyfQ/s1600/animorphs_2.jpg[/img]
-a filthy stealer with shit eyes-
Reminds me of this art a friend of mine made.
[IMG]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/339/c/f/predator_and_prey_by_felipenn-d34arcs.jpg[/IMG]
Wasn't this already known?
[QUOTE=Oicani Gonzales;36139644]So I was reading on that paedomorphosis thing the article cites and holy shit:
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Neoteny_body_proportion_heterochrony_human.png[/img][/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://www.wvah.com/programs/kingofthehill/bobbyhill.jpg[/IMG] ?
[QUOTE=TheHydra;36141765][IMG]http://www.wvah.com/programs/kingofthehill/bobbyhill.jpg[/IMG] ?[/QUOTE]
Dang it, Bobby
[QUOTE=Rent-a-BoxHouse;36141807]Dang it, Bobby[/QUOTE]
so if they "fixed" the paedomorphis causer gene
would that mean we could have dinosaurs today?
I've heard about a certain show where the creators did a bit of research to make their dinosaurs realistic, then their plans were shut down by the executive board that said the public/their target audience has very different expectations on how dinosaurs are supposed to look like, despite recent findings in archeology updating how dinosaurs probably looked constantly.
More and more evidence points to many dinosaurs having feathers for example. Or at least fluffy scales.
That boy ain't right.
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