Expert: Walter Hintz - 2/26/2006

Question
I have three questions for you...

1)What was Lyell's contribution to scientific knowledge?

2)Why should Darwin's original idea of survival of the fittest be restated as survival of the reproductive fittest when discussing biological evolution?

3)An african shrub produces very acidic berries, but the berries seem to taste sweet! The plant produces en enhancing chemical which makes sour substances taste sweet. Berries (containing seeds) which are high in acids are protected from moulds and bacterial decay.
> What possible evolutionary advantage does the sugar-like chemical confer to the plant?

Thank you very much

Answer
1.His concept of uniformitarianism.  He made geology scientific not just based upon fundamentalist teachings of scriptures.

2.Why should it? Survival of the fittest implies that traits are passed on through sexual reproduction.

3.The berry is an adaptation for seed dispersal. Animals eat the fruit and deposit the seeds elsewhere. I think we can assume that animals prefer to eat sweet fruits rather than sour ones.