People used to believe that the main contributing factor for eye size was when the animal species was most active either nocturnal or diurnal but an article on sciencedaily.com says that there is a correlation between eye size and maximum running speed. The theory was originally developed for birds and their flight speeds but these researchers and anthropologists used it to analyse mammals. They found that the size of the animal and their maximum speed "explain 89 percent of variation in eye sight among mammals" ( from sciencedaily.com). I also searched for more details on how the eye could have evolved and found information about how all of the stages of eye can still be seen today, and more remarkably all in one phylum, Mollusk. The video shows and explains how the eye could have evolved and gave examples of the varying complexity and organisms that have the different levels of the eye. I thought it was interesting that the ones with more complex eyes can move faster in the water and it seems like the maximum speed theory can be used to explain more than just mammals. I think its interesting that there has been so much emphasis on the evolution of the eye and that both sides of the argument use it as an example for their case. I also like that the speed correlation to the eye size is another selecting agent for how the evolution of the eye could have occurred to help give them an advantage in the competition among species.
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ReplyDeleteThe eye is a very important but very vulnerable part of the body. Tears and scratches in the cornea and even the retina can occur. The whole eye can be “popped” all leading to some sort of permanent of temporary blindness. If you’re blind it’s obviously going to be harder to survive and function. Do you think that millions even billion years down the road the eye would have evolved into something more durable? Is it possible for the eye to evolve into something more durable since a scratched cornea is not coded for in the DNA?
ReplyDeleteI think the eye could possibly evolve into something more durable, but in nature a lot of times the evolution process deals more with protecting the eye. An example would be an alligator because they have two eyelids one that is clear so they can see underwater and another one more similar to ours just to protect the eye. Another example would be eyelashes to help keep debris out of the eye. I think that our eyes are a bit of a trade off they won't be as durable as one of the more rudimentary "eye" organs but through time its possible that they will become stronger.
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