Evolution/Questions Answered by Expert Dana Krempels
| Subject | Date Asked |
| fish egg dispersal | 12/14/2011 |
| Q: It is argued that it is remotely possible for some fish eggs to be trapped in water vapor and ... A: George It might not be impossible if the eggs were extremely small. It would be a rare event, and ... | |
| Singular technological intelligence | 11/23/2011 |
| Q: First a warning and apology, I started with a simple question that I wonder about, and ended with ... A: I'll handle each question in turn: 1. Does "technological intelligence" ("TI") grant a species a ... | |
| Human enhancement etc. | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: I'm curious about transhumanism, and read that goldfish are the only animals capable of seeing in ... A: Actually, goldfish are *not* the only animals that can see ultraviolet. Many insects can, as well ... | |
| Vertebrates with more than four legs | 10/18/2011 |
| Q: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Evolution-3839/Big-land-living-animals.htm In this answer, you basically ... A: A homeotic mutation can sometimes produce more than four limbs in an animal that is supposed to be a ... | |
| Origin of the man. | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: What is the origin of the man? Thanks, Leonardo A: This question is far too complicated to answer in a single email, and it would take many chapters of ... | |
| Autumn colors | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: Autumn is here again in Illinois, and as I have done regularly I again begin to wonder: What is or ... A: Darwin's natural selection theory can be distilled into four tenets: 1. Organisms are capable of ... | |
| species or missing link? | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: How do anthropologists and paleontologists tell when they have a link between evolutionary stages, ... A: In modern evolutionary biology, systematists (i.e., scientists who study evolutionary relationships ... | |
| Evolutionary reason for humans loving sodium? | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: It seems very common that humans love sodium-rich foods judging from the consumption levels of foods ... A: Out in the dry plains of Africa where our ancestors evolved, sodium was much harder to find than it ... | |
| DNA similarity between humans and neanderthals | 9/9/2011 |
| Q: I'm trying to make sense of these two pieces of data: * Human and neanderthal DNA is 99.5% ... A: This is a good question, and one that stumps a lot of people. I'm not sure I have all the answers, ... | |
| Survival of ancient people in the modern days | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: In light of all the changes that have taken place, would it be possible for a race of people like ... A: Our species has been considered the same for more than 10,000 years. Though there are populational ... | |
| extinction | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: Sorry this is my second question - Hope that is OK. I was just wondering whether or not the human ... A: Whether we are likely to go extinct any time soon depends not so much on how long we've been here, ... | |
| The rate of evolution | 6/3/2011 |
| Q: how long it took for particular physical organs to develop, be they in animals or humans? So for ... A: Because evolution can sometimes proceed by means of natural selection, it can sometimes also happen ... | |
| The rate of evolution | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: how long it took for particular physical organs to develop, be they in animals or humans? So for ... A: The human eye did not have its origins in humans. The ancestral eye first showed up in a ... | |
| Extinction | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: Are there examples of species whose behavior rendered their environment unable to sustain them ... A: I don't know of any examples where this might have happened. One would think that any learned ... | |
| origin of consciousness | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: Is it possible that the neural map of consciousness originated in the proprioception of lower ... A: These are interesting questions bordering on the metaphysical. :) No one is yet certain about the ... | |
| race mixing good or bad | 5/3/2011 |
| Q: I know we are all humans but there are differences like face structure and our genes are not all the ... A: From a pure health standpoint, hybridization between human "races" is probably a good thing because ... | |
| evolution of hair | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: can you explain why humans have different head hair, and why we have armpit hair A: By "different" head hair, do you mean different colors? Textures? Different from other animals? ... | |
| evolution | 2/3/2011 |
| Q: I gave a question about evolution.When an organism inherits a new gene, does every new gene have to ... A: J. The short answer is: No. Genes can result in traits that can be adaptive (increase the ... | |
| Psychic Heritability | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I have a question concerning psychic powers and the inheritance of these "gifts." If abilities like ... A: The problem here, as you already have hinted, is that neither ESP nor psychic powers have ever been ... | |
| Difference between Chimps and Humans | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: So chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, why are they so different looking? What is the ... A: No one knows exactly which genes are different and how different they are, but we do share more than ... | |
| Plantaris muscle and neck rib | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: Does the plantaris muscle have something to do with our past, and I heard humans have a neck rib ... A: The wee plantaris muscle is a remnant of our four-legged, tree-climbing past. It was more developed ... | |
| Dinosaurs | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: Are dinosaurs reptiles or birds? people keep saying reptiles and birds are somehow related A: The simple answer is YES. Dinosaurs, birds, and what we usually call reptiles all share a common ... | |
| Adaptive and Maladaptive | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: What is one aspect of human emotional responding that was a adaptive at the time when it became ... A: This sounds a bit like a homework question, but I'll give it a shot. There may be no simple answer ... | |
| genes and mutations | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: When we talk of mutations, what exactly are we talking about? Specifically, I gather a species ... A: Richard I don't have a rundown on the similarity of genomes across species, but I'm pretty sure ... | |
| genes and mutations | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: When we talk of mutations, what exactly are we talking about? Specifically, I gather a species ... A: Richard [You say a 'mistake' in genetic copying, how often are 'mistakes' made?] Very, very often. ... | |
| genes and mutations | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: When we talk of mutations, what exactly are we talking about? Specifically, I gather a species ... A: Richard I hope I'm not going to sound too pedantic, but here goes. :) I'll start from the ... | |
| sexual evolution: homosexuality | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: I believe that sexual preference is primarily an inborn preference rather that a personal choice. ... A: This is a very interesting question, and there is more and more evidence to show that sexual ... | |
| Animals / insect houses | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: Insects and animals who build "homes" Birds-Nests: Bees-hives: Ants-hills: Beaver-damns ect. I am ... A: The behaviors that lead these species to build their structures has certainly evolved over time, ... | |
| Evolution: Why homosexuality? | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: As I understand evolution, organisms which have characteristics favorable to successful reproduction ... A: This is a very interesting question, and while the answers are not yet completely clear, we have ... | |
| evolution | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: from what I understand about Darwins theory of evolution, it seems a plausible idea. It generally ... A: Yes, I think you do have it right. Evolution proceeds in no small part due to random events. It is ... | |
| chicken egg evolution | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: This might sound like a joke, but I really would like to know about it. I believe evolution to be a ... A: Though this question is posed often to serve as the "impossible to answer" one, it actually has a ... | |
| evolution | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: from what I understand about Darwins theory of evolution, it seems a plausible idea. It generally ... A: Sorry for the delay. I'm out of town and didn't have immediate internet access. "1. a bird that is ... | |
| Rocks, neurons & communications | 9/19/2010 |
| Q: Having reread my last question, convoluted is a kindness. Energy passed between two rocks or two ... A: I think you may be partly right. You can't evolve multicellularity without communication between ... | |
| Clarification on the issue of evolution | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: , I was wondering if you can help me clarify on the matter of evolution for me?One thing I find ... A: Evolution proceeds at a pace that is proportional to the reproductive rate of the species evolving. ... | |
| Clarification on the issue of evolution | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: , I was wondering if you can help me clarify on the matter of evolution for me?One thing I find ... A: This is a HUGE topic, and there are so many places where you can find scholarly information that ... | |
| Scenario: Heritability of acquired traits | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: If the entire human population cut off the right hand pinky of every single baby born in the very ... A: While Jean Baptiste Lamarck (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Lamarck) might have ... | |
| Sexual attraction in children | 8/14/2010 |
| Q: I don't know wether I should be asking this question under the area of evolution or not. But here it ... A: Humans are the sexiest primates. :) Sexual identity begins in the womb, with sex hormones ... | |
| Evolution | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: If you were having a conversation with a "layman" how would you try to convince them that evolution ... A: There are many good sources of information on this topic, but here's one you can find online: ... | |
| Evolutionary Develpment | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: I've been reading more about evolutionary developmental biology. I just read an interesting article ... A: Tom Sorry for the delay. Questions that require somewhat complicated answers take longer, so I ... | |
| plant and animal coevolution | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I am a 38-year-old aspiring writer with some university education (biology, English and history, ... A: When it comes to evolutionary mechanisms, there really can't be said to be a "big picture." ... | |
| Abiogenesis | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: It's fascinating to wonder in detail how life began - was there some "alpha" organism or population? ... A: While we cannot go back in time to see how life originated on earth, there have been fascinating ... | |
| What is life? | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: We recently read of breakthroughs in creating "artificial" or "synthetic" life. In actuality, ... A: Your question is a very good one, and no one has an answer at this point. Living things are ... | |
| plants and animals | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: I am a 38-year-old aspiring writer with some university education (biology, English and history, ... A: I have been pondering your question, and have finally concluded that I'm not *quite* sure what the ... | |
| Pseudogenes | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: I recently heard about a study on a podcast (from the journal 'Nature') I subscribe to finding that ... A: Yes, the more we learn about the genome, the more we realize that there seems to be no such thing as ... | |
| race | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: I don't get it we are all the same speices but why are alot of black people running in gangs, and ... A: You are correct. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that a person's skin color or other ... | |
| evolution vs creation | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: hey I believe in evolution, but I'm doing this project next year for school on evolution and ... A: The answer to "what evidence do creationists have that humans are not animals" is easy: they have ... | |
| definition/explanation of a phrase | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: would grately appreciate if you could help to find the meaning of the phrase - "pond-scum-to-people ... A: I've never heard of this phrase, but its somewhat derogatory "tone" suggested to me that it was not ... | |
| Miller Urey mimic Intelligent Design? | 5/29/2010 |
| Q: Doesn't the Miller Urey experiment mimic intelligent design and not evolution? It took two ... A: The Miller-Urey experiment was designed intelligently. But it did not mimic intelligent design. ... | |
| Biology Self Study | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I feel quite an interest now in bilogy apart from physics which i mainly want to pursue. The thing ... A: "But anyway, could you suggest some basic textbooks in biology from where i could begin, perhaps ... | |
| Common ancestry | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: Welcome back! It's been a while since I asked you a question. Before I ask my next question, I ... A: The "common design" argument is another one they trot out when all else fails. Yes, it's easy to ... | |
| Genetical borders for evolution? | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I'm doing a school project about survival of the fittest and evolution and I'd like to ask you a ... A: Sorry for the delay. In answer to your questions: "Is it genetical defined how an animal looks ... | |
| Intelligent Design | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: I'm an undergrad.. physics student and aspire to be a theoretical physicist. I didnt have biology as ... A: The creationists are getting more creative with their disguises for the same old thing, now calling ... | |
| ice age | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: i was wondering about the ice age, and evolution. as far as i know the last one happened about ... A: While the ice caps did migrate farther south than they are now during the Ice Ages, they did not ... | |
| career guidance | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: Hey, I am from India.I have completed my senior secondary education [12th class]with 5 subjects ... A: The next step to a career in Genetics or Evolutionary Biology as a researcher is to attain a ... | |
| Aquatic Ape hypothesis | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I saw a video on the aquatic ape hypothesis and found it very interesting. The reasoning behind it ... A: Like most hypotheses about human evolution, this one is controversial, and it's not generally ... | |
| Randomness in Evolution | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: It seems to me that randomness plays a key role in one's understanding of the philosophy of ... A: Random events are believed to play a huge role in evolution, and there are some scientists that ... | |
| Basis of Discrepancy in Male/Female Spacial Recognition Abilities | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: From what I understand, there have been studies conducted recently and in the past that point to a ... A: This is an area of great debate (sometimes passionate!), possibly because of the implications it has ... | |
| Evolution | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Will you describe the mechanism or action that retards or prevents change thru mutation over the ... A: I am familiar with Carl Werner and his book, though I have not read it. From the blurbs I've seen, ... | |
| Evolution | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Will you describe the mechanism or action that retards or prevents change thru mutation over the ... A: Your statements here: "If evolution is a constant force that can change fish into humans and dinos ... | |
| Evolution | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Will you describe the mechanism or action that retards or prevents change thru mutation over the ... A: If you are referring to the retention of "primitive" characters that have remained relatively ... | |
| Darwin's theory | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: Greetings maam, I have read alot about evolution, which seems to be developing everyday. But I ... A: I will try to answer your questions, as posed: "But, have looked at Darwin's theory of evolution, ... | |
| selection pressure | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: what is the role of selection pressure in evolution? A: Natural selection is one of several factors that can influence evolution. Others include genetic ... | |
| Primitive earth atmoshphere | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: Without ozone layer the simple organic molecules that were formed in primitive Earth would be ... A: According to the fossil record, there was no oxygen gas in earth's atmosphere until photosynthetic ... | |
| Phylogenetics and Molecular Clocks | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: Krempels, I'm happy that I was able to play the role of teacher and tell you about lanugo in my ... A: Tom Sorry for the delay in answering. Been a busy rabbit rescue week! Regarding your ... | |
| mutation rate | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: Is it possible to estimate a number of generations necessary for a human mutation to appear ... A: One of the main reasons that scientists use organisms such as fruit flies, bacteria, mice, ... | |
| mutation rate | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: Is it possible to estimate a number of generations necessary for a human mutation to appear ... A: "Is it possible to estimate a number of generations necessary for a human mutation to appear ... | |
| biological classification | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a question about the different classification systems. what is the most commonly used system ... A: Traditionally, our classification system is based on the one created by Carl Linne (a.k.a. ... | |
| Evolutionary Development | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: It's been months since I asked any questions. I've been pretty busy this semester. My latest ... A: Dr. Coyne is absolutely correct. Ernst Haeckle was on the right track, but his terminology wasn't ... | |
| molecular clock | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: Ive read something on this, but again, its tough to understand when they start speeaking of ... A: You can find a good explanation here: ... | |
| Evolutionary mutations | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: My understanding of evolutionary change is that it relies on mutations to occur, these more ... A: "Does this mean that the DNA(including ?epigenetic markers?) that gets passed on to offspring can be ... | |
| Evolutionary mutations | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: My understanding of evolutionary change is that it relies on mutations to occur, these more ... A: I think the best way to address this one is to answer your questions one by one: "My understanding ... | |
| Multi-Cellular evolution | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: Lately I've been reading up on Richard Lenski's experiment on E. coli and found it fascinating on ... A: I am not aware of any such studies, which--as you have already guessed--would be nearly impossible ... | |
| inheritance of DNA | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: I have read that 1/2 of DNA is inherited from each parent. Does that mean that 1/2 of each parent's ... A: Ah, okay. The article you cite is talking about cells being "exchanged" between mother and fetus, ... | |
| inheritance of DNA | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I have read that 1/2 of DNA is inherited from each parent. Does that mean that 1/2 of each ... A: This is probably WAY more information than you want, but I'd rather overdo it than leave you ... | |
| phylogenetic tree | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: i'm doing evolution at highschool. i'm year 12, senior. can you describe the features that can be ... A: I can't do your homework project for you, but I can give you some good tips and places to look for ... | |
| human evolution | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I watched a program on the human family tree. Could you explain how if the humans came about at ... A: Reproductive isolation can be of several different types, and you can get an overview of each type ... | |
| human evolution | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I watched a program on the human family tree. Could you explain how if the humans came about at ... A: While no one is exactly sure of all the details of human origin and evolution, the general ... | |
| On transposons and ERVs | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I have asked you several questions in the past, and you have provided very good answers. I have a ... A: When you cite creationist claims such as: "Transposons could have been put in similar chromosomal ... | |
| Falsehoods of Evolution? | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: I cently met a Creationtist, who told me the following: At its core, evolution is built solely on a ... A: It sounds as if this creationist was tossing terminology at you without fully understanding what ... | |
| Vestigiality, atavisms, and our dear designer. | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: Recently, I've taken an interest into this Evolution/Creationism controversy and have been reading a ... A: Your comments are very kind, and I thank you. Now. Richard Dawkins. I don't care what anyone ... | |
| Vestigiality, atavisms, and our dear designer. | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: Recently, I've taken an interest into this Evolution/Creationism controversy and have been reading a ... A: This is always an interesting discussion. I'll start with a quote from your email: "Coyne, and ... | |
| Natural selection | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: Explain how natural selection may bring about evolution. Thank you very much A: Okkaaaaaayyyyy.....it's getting more obvious that you're asking me to do your homework for you, ... | |
| Selection | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: explain why variation is important in selection. Thanks a lot A: I think this might be a homework question, but I'll give you some hints. Mutation is the raw ... | |
| evolution: How does it happen? | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I understand evolution as it relates to mamals, but I'm confused in other areas. For example, as ... A: Plant evolution isn't all that different from animal evolution, really. The earliest ancestors of ... | |
| evolution: How does it happen? | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I understand evolution as it relates to mamals, but I'm confused in other areas. For example, as ... A: All life on earth today is believed to have evolved from very simple, ancestral life forms that are ... | |
| ID IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I have been involved in the creation evolution controversy for many years. I have followed to some ... A: Your question is a good one. And I suppose the answer is that you don't have to really understand ... | |
| evolution | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I dont know much about evolution, I however accept it. I would like to know which books and videos ... A: An ancestral species has given rise to two new descendant species when the two new groups can no ... | |
| evolution | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I dont know much about evolution, I however accept it. I would like to know which books and videos ... A: "I would like to know which books and videos or dvds you can recommend to explain to the average guy ... | |
| Fishy Argument | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: What is the evolutionist response to the creationist argument below I recently heard? How did the ... A: There are many different ways that bodies of water not now connected to other bodies of water could ... | |
| Quick Evolution questions | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I just have a few questions about evolution. Don't worry, I'm not a Creationist, so these aren't ... A: "I just have a few questions about evolution. Don't worry, I'm not a Creationist, so these aren't ... | |
| In the Beginning Science or Beliefs perhaps both | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: A unknown answer is the answer to the following question is my believe yet here it goes. Science has ... A: You may have heard of the "Big Bang" Theory, which explains the origin of the universe and its ... | |
| Evolution of Consciousness | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I know that scientific evolution and biblical evolution have a different view yet are similar when ... A: In science, the term "theory" doesn't have the same definition as it does in colloquial English. In ... | |
| Evolution of Consciousness | 7/19/2009 |
| Q: I know that scientific evolution and biblical evolution have a different view yet are similar when ... A: There are still some phenomena in science that are not fully understood, possibly because we ... | |
| Different Questions | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: Dr. Krempels, It's all a lot to take in, but I feel my understanding of evolution is becoming ... A: Sorry for the delay. I've been swamped with our ecology outreach program. If you would be so kind ... | |
| New Questions | 7/11/2009 |
| Q: I've e mailed you before with questions about speciation and you explained to me how it works and ... A: Glad I could help a bit! Quoting your most recent questions: "So, new species are in the process of ... | |
| Speciation | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: I've e mailed you before with questions about speciation and you explained to me how it works and ... A: Congratulations on taking on this tough topic in a debate! And yes, you've probably anticipated ... | |
| Evolution & Biblical Belief | 7/9/2009 |
| Q: First of all I must say the following; Where have you been all my life? Your beautiful. Ok, now to ... A: "Your response was orgasmic. I am so into you." (Oooookay, Joel. Are you being bored this summer? ... | |
| Evolution & Biblical Belief | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: First of all I must say the following; Where have you been all my life? Your beautiful. Ok, now to ... A: Well, gee. You are kind. (It's true what they say: Gesus loves me!) :) But to address your ... | |
| Theory of evolution | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: What is theory of evolution? I read many books and search different web site then I came to that ... A: I agree with you if you are saying that evolution usually happens when there is a change in the ... | |
| Forensic evidence of past events | 5/31/2009 |
| Q: I'm debating with a creationist who is well-versed in philosophy, or at least philosophical ... A: What your friend is conveniently forgetting is that evolution has occurred over an unimaginably long ... | |
| Evolution and Genetics: Why do bad traits persist in humans? | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: Why do bad genes get passed on to offspring when one parent has good strong genes in that area? i.e. ... A: To best explain the answer to your question, please first let me give a little bit of background ... | |
| principle structures | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: What are the most basic principle structures of evolution? What is meant by this question is: what ... A: Although this sounds like a homework question, I will help with a hint. The most basic structure on ... | |
| What is the mechanism behind Vestigiality? | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: and thanks for answering my question. I understand how an animal adapts to its environment through ... A: In the specific example you give, that of a mole, I can think of good reasons why large eyes would ... | |
| Why do humans sleep? | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I live in Arizona and I was wondering about how sleep fits into human evolution. It seems to me ... A: Almost all complex organisms engage in some form of sleep. Even plants. This means that sleep is a ... | |
| Dinosaur diet | 5/25/2009 |
| Q: I have read that 47 Million Years old Ida's diet could be determined. Could be also ascertained, on ... A: If the fossil being studied contains fossilized stomach contents, that's a sure way to identify what ... | |
| controversy | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering, do you believe in God. With so many horrible things and Zero proof and so many ... A: In answer to your specific question, I guess I'd have to say NO, I don't believe in "God", but I ... | |
| Evolution | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: Please explain step by step how evolution works. A monkey has a baby and in 10 trillion years when ... A: Your question did make me smile. :) There is a common misconception that humans evolved from ... | |
| Scientific theory vs. law. | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: I understand that a acientific theory can be proven ( as proven as possible) and still be termed ... A: Your friend is probably thinking of a scientific *hypothesis*, not a theory. A full explanation of ... | |
| Forensic evidence of past events | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: I'm debating with a creationist who is well-versed in philosophy, or at least philosophical ... A: Yes, you're right. Your creationist debate opponent is playing word games with you. But he is also ... | |
| Evolution: Are Humans the most highly evolved species? | 5/15/2009 |
| Q: Homo sapiens more highly evolved than other species. how can the statement be evaluated and ... A: I think this is a homework question, but because there are so many misconceptions out there about ... | |
| Theory of evolution | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: What is theory of evolution? I read many books and search different web site then I came to that ... A: Your email reflects a common misconception. Namely, that there is a "theory of evolution." In ... | |
| studying evolutionary science | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: can you please let me know if any of the good universities in the US offers graduate courses in ... A: Quoting from the web site I sent you: "Evolutionary Biology graduate programs look at the changes ... | |
| studying evolutionary science | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: can you please let me know if any of the good universities in the US offers graduate courses in ... A: This excellent web site offers all the information you need to get started "shopping" for a graduate ... | |
| Chromosome fusion | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I recently learned that scientists located centromeres and telomeres on our second chromosome that ... A: Michael, When a "huge" genetic event like this is indicated, it suggests that we all inherited from ... | |
| Evolution vs Creationism | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: Hello, I am a 6th grader in middle school. I need to interview an expert for a school project. My ... A: I hope I can give you some help on your project. First of all, there is no such thing as ... | |
| Follow up Question to Transitional Forms/ Natural selection | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: Follow up Question to Transitional Forms/ Natural selection Hello Dana, I am Old Earth Creations. ... A: I guess this means we're going to agree to disagree. :) If Jesus is going to take 50 years to get ... | |
| Evolution vs ? | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I've recently been in a discussion with a christian friend about evolution. I believe in evolution ... A: In answer to your very firstDon't get your hopes up. Most people like your friend, who have very ... | |
| Transitional Forms | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: Has the so-called missing link—the transitional fossil form of man from an ape-like creature been ... A: The fossil record isn't considered by any stretch of the imagination to be complete. Conditions ... | |
| Abiogenesis | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: Prevailing wisdom says that life started on Earth approximately 4 billion years ago. To my ... A: The primary barrier to spontaneous emergence of life in today's world is the presence of our ... | |
| evolution | 1/20/2009 |
| Q: I am an creationist please give me EVIDENCE that mutations can supply an increase in information not ... A: (Sorry for the delay. We had some family crises over the weekend, but they are now resolved, and ... | |
| What is the Scientific definition of Observation | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: It has been acknowledged that evolution can't be observed, so they have to experiment to observe it. ... A: The "scientific definition" of observation is no different from any other definition. It means to ... | |
| evolution is nonsense | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: I am an creationist and realize that we are considered ignorant for not believing the Darwinian ... A: (Sorry for the delay! We had a bit of a family crisis, but all is now happily resolved, and I'm ... | |
| evolution | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I am an creationist please give me EVIDENCE that mutations can supply an increase in information not ... A: I detect a note of hostility from the way you phrase your post, so I hope you will be receptive to ... | |
| Miller/Urey and to Mimic | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I had a follow up to the last question about the Miller Urey experiment. In order to be a viable ... A: The entire Miller-Urey experiment *was* observation. It was *pure* observation. I'm not sure how ... | |
| new species | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I can understand how coding mistakes in DNA can modify a species by natural selection. How is it ... A: Bob You're very welcome. Well, we're even because I couldn't tell you the first thing about ... | |
| new species | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: I can understand how coding mistakes in DNA can modify a species by natural selection. How is it ... A: This may be a little too complicated to explain if you don't already have some background in ... | |
| Last questions. | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: I know this may seem odd, but I don't really know where else to ask. I'm writing about mythological ... A: I can't really think of a way that vampires could reasonably turn other humans into vampires unless ... | |
| Question: Could Vampires Really Evolve? | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I know this may seem odd, but I don't really know where else to ask. I'm writing about mythological ... A: Wow, that's some list! :) I'll try to address them one at a time. 1. Sensitivity to light. (Not ... | |
| Natural selection used as the origin of DNA | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: By definition Natural Selection could not have functioned before the existence of the first living ... A: "To mimic, is not to observe, so why is their experiment considered valid? If these things are ... | |
| Natural selection used as the origin of DNA | 12/30/2008 |
| Q: By definition Natural Selection could not have functioned before the existence of the first living ... A: The best simulation of how life on earth might have arisen in the primordial seas was first devised ... | |
| Question: Could Vampires Really Evolve? | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: I know this may seem odd, but I don't really know where else to ask. I'm writing about mythological ... A: Well, why not? :) First of all, we have to consider if there are any other animals in nature that ... | |
| Natural selection used as the origin of DNA | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: By definition Natural Selection could not have functioned before the existence of the first living ... A: Evolutionary biologists (there's no such thing as an "evolutionist", as "evolution" isn't a ... | |
| Evolution | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: apart from deformations caused by whatever a life form may encounter in daily life how are genetic ... A: The idea that characteristics acquired during an organism's lifetime was first proposed by Jean ... | |
| Evolution | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: apart from deformations caused by whatever a life form may encounter in daily life how are genetic ... A: Your children will not inherit your muscular frame because you worked out during your life. The ... | |
| Early Life | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: How close are we to being able to create life (as opposed to the chemicals that form the building ... A: We aren't much closer to generating life in the laboratory than we were when Stanley Miller and ... | |
| Homologus Structures | 11/16/2008 |
| Q: how do similar structures prove a common ansector? A: Homologous structures are defined as those that are derived from a common ancestral structure in two ... | |
| Evolutionary Convergence | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: There are many types of trees, many look very similar and have similar characteristics: bark, ... A: This is a very good question, and you have answered it in your subject line. The superficial ... | |
| Photo for Evolution video | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: Evolution is a fact, but it frustrates me to try to tell Christians and other fundamentalists the ... A: There are scanning electron micrographs available on the web showing the gill arches of a human ... | |
| Evolution | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: How did life get here? A: Again, I'll direct you to this excellent tutorial: ... | |
| Evolution | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: Why do you believe that we all came from a rock 4.6 bya? A: That's a bit of an oversimplification. ;) I don't *believe* in this. I accept the observable ... | |
| Spreading the word | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: In your experience, do you think that it's even worth the time to debate the merits of evolution ... A: I have to agree with you that it's pretty much a waste of time to try and teach an unreceptive ... | |
| Why Do I Have 'Ear Slits'? | 10/4/2008 |
| Q: Why Do I have 'Ear Slits'? I'm not joking, and I've seen them on another person in my lifetime. I am ... A: I'm not sure what to picture here, since not everyone has the slits you are talking about. If you ... | |
| Evolution of right-handedness | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: It seems evolution may have favored right handed people. If so, why? Is that true, or did human ... A: The preponderance of right-handedness might not really have any significance in terms of advantage ... | |
| Biology Question | 9/29/2008 |
| Q: It would appear that every creature survives on drinking unclean or foul water, except us humans.Do ... A: Even wild creatures can be infected with dangerous pathogens by drinking contaminated water. And ... | |
| ANTS | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I HEATED UP A CUP OF COFFEE IN THE MICROWAVE FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE. ... A: Sorry for the delay. Had a bit of computer down time, and am just now able to access AllExperts! ... | |
| Adam | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: The article at this location http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y-chromosome_Adam says that all humans ... A: The Y-chromosome "Adam" is so named only metaphorically, and his hypothetical existence is supported ... | |
| Evolution | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: Could you really briefly tell me about the way life started? A: There's no good *brief* way to explain how scientists believe life on earth originated, but I can ... | |
| Chromosomes | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: Does the number of chromosomes determine the number of offspring? A: No. Chromosome number has nothing to do with the number of offspring an organism will have. ... | |
| How did it start? | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: If biological life is a self-sustaining chemical system. What was necessary for it to begin? What ... A: I believe this is a homework question, so I won't answer it directly. However, I will give you a ... | |
| Baby Ducks | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: I saw one of your other baby duck answers when I ran a Google (rather than a Gaggle :) search. It ... A: The best way to safely handle the babies is to sit quietly in the pen with the family and have some ... | |
| Evolution | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: Why aren't you answering the questions I send you? You never answered my questions. I think you are ... A: I don't think I could answer this any better than the excellent treatise on this very subject by Dr. ... | |
| More on evolution | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: Dear Dana, What made the ancestral elephants to mutate to change their DNA to code for larger size ... A: No one knows what caused ancient mutations in ancestral elephant populations, but the change in size ... | |
| altruism | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: i have read one of your answers in trying to explain altruism. i am actually concerned why are then ... A: The concept of "altruism" was used by Wynne-Edwards in the context of animal behavior to describe an ... | |
| heating up quickly | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: How come some people can handle heat better than others? Like in soccer i get hot faster than other ... A: The way that any individual "handles" cold or heat is determined by his or her metabolism, and that ... | |
| Transmutation | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: I am an old earth creationist-- that means (a) I accept the Gap Theory, and (b) believe that a ... A: Herodotou, Sorry for the delay in answering. Your question required a long answer, and I didn't ... | |
| Evolution | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: Why aren't you answering the questions I send you? You never answered my questions. I think you are ... A: I already have explained to you why I cannot/will not answer your questions. It's because the first ... | |
| Evolution of Elephants | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: Why do you think Elephants although huge and strong are purely herbivorous animals? I read that ... A: Evolution works in mysterious ways. :) A predatory animal need not be large (a shrew, the tiniest ... | |
| Evolution | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: What is your best evidence for evolution? ANSWER: Dear Paul, I can't really say there is one ... A: I guess someone sic'ed the Creationist Squad on me over the last couple of weeks, because I've been ... | |
| Darwin and morality | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: Greetings Dana, As a fan of science, I feel like I am fairly knowledgeable about evolution and feel ... A: Followup Note: Hi, Steve Ha! I didn't mean to accuse your friends of being Neo-Nazis. But yeah, ... | |
| First spark of life | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: I find myself confused. I gained my hons degree in marine biology and I fully understand natural ... A: It's always surprising to me how passionate people are when they attack evolutionary theory. I ... | |
| First spark of life | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I find myself confused. I gained my hons degree in marine biology and I fully understand natural ... A: I'll quote your post for the best clarity of response. "Then all of a sudden he comes out with ... | |
| First spark of life | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: I find myself confused. I gained my hons degree in marine biology and I fully understand natural ... A: It's important to use scientific terminology correctly, especially when discussing evolution and the ... | |
| Evolution | 8/14/2008 |
| Q: What is your best evidence for evolution? A: I can't really say there is one "best" piece of evidence for evolution. There are so many different ... | |
| Evolution evidences | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: I had the same below doubt raised by a questioner regarding evolution. Please reply. "Why are we no ... A: In answer to the question, "Why are we no longer witnessing evolution?" I would reply: We *are* ... | |
| I'd greatly appreciate your opinion | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: I'd hate to waste your time with a silly, hypothetical thing like this, but... I aimlessly doodled ... A: Cool monster! :) I can't really tell if the swirly thing in the middle is part of the jaw, a ... | |
| the debate:) | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: )i had to make a new question, since i made to many folow ups:) well, the last mail you sent me ... A: Sorry for the delay. Had two very busy days, but now things are a little calmer. Also sorry about ... | |
| Evolution | 7/31/2008 |
| Q: Dana: I am Heba from Syria and I'm teaching biology in secondary school. I will be thankfull if you ... A: I don't think I could fit all the necessary information into a single email. But I *can* give you a ... | |
| Hackel | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: You said that Ernst Hackel had fantastic drawings. Actually his fake drawings were proven wrong more ... A: Amir, At this point, you are just making me shake my head and laugh. How can a drawing be "proven ... | |
| Gill slits | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: Is it true that the human embryo has gill slits? ANSWER: Dear Amir, Yes, it is true. All ... A: Ernst Haeckel did fantastic drawings of early vertebrate embryos, but my answer to you was not based ... | |
| Biological diversity | 7/22/2008 |
| Q: How many species are estimated to be alive at present? A: Approximately 1.5 million species have been named and formally described by scientists, but this is ... | |
| Abiogenesis | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: I have been studying the theory of evolution. This my understanding of it: The Five Evolution ... A: I'll take your sections one by one... 1. Actually, it's a common misconception that Darwin was the ... | |
| Microevolution vs. Macroevolution | 7/13/2008 |
| Q: Evolutionary biology is of particular interest to me. Of course, I support evolution but I'm ... A: You seem pretty clear on the definitions of microevolution (genetic change within a ... | |
| Species, its subspecies and interbreeding | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: As far as I understand, "a species" (when we talk about animals with the sexual reproduction) is ... A: There are plenty of examples of closely related species breeding to produce offspring, and sometimes ... | |
| evolution of the chicken | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: but as many of my friends I am tired of the same old unanswered question of what came first, the ... A: The first eggs appeared long before the first chickens. They didn't contain chickens, of course. ... | |
| biology | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: men or every living creatures can do plenty of activities during their lifecycle.what happens when ... A: The question you ask is almost metaphysical. :) No one really knows what "force" is missing when a ... | |
| Dinosaur soft tissue finds | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: I am an undergraduate biology student. Perhaps this would be out of your expertise but I am curious ... A: An excellent overview of this "problem" can be found here: ... | |
| not a question, please bump off list | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: Just wanted to correct email: setroxel1971 at yah-hoo dought com A: Shawn, I'm not sure whether you realized it, but your email address doesn't appear in what I ... | |
| Chromosome counts and architecture. | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: In the webpage "An Evolutionary Manifesto", at "UVM", the University of Vermont, that can be ... A: Yes, I think you're saying what I'm saying. :) I've always found the similarity of the mouse and ... | |
| Chromosome counts and architecture. | 4/18/2008 |
| Q: In the webpage "An Evolutionary Manifesto", at "UVM", the University of Vermont, that can be ... A: I didn't mean to imply that we have no chromosomal regions that are homologous to those found in the ... | |
| Chromosome counts and architecture. | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: In the webpage "An Evolutionary Manifesto", at "UVM", the University of Vermont, that can be ... A: There is no evidence that superficial architectural similarity of chromosomes, and especially ... | |
| adaptation and/or mutation | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I recently saw a special on humans and apes illustrating their likenesses and differences. I want to ... A: A mutation is any change in the DNA, whether or not it results in a physical change in the organism ... | |
| seminar | 4/12/2008 |
| Q: Most of the students that study in biology fields here in our university are those whom couldn't be ... A: Wow, what a fantastic idea! The students are very fortunate to have a professor like you who not ... | |
| AP bio question... more curious.... | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: so if there were to be other beings on other planets, would we know where they came from?? like ... A: Ah, the ol' Star Trek conundrum! If there were beings on other planets, it might be possible to ... | |
| Hominids | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: Why was the 3.2 million year old hominid fossil found in Hadra called "Lucy"? A: The people who discovered the fossil had a big celebration when she was found, and during the party ... | |
| research paper | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: My first question was, “Do you think the diseases that humans are giving to marine life will pass on ... A: A disease that can pass between humans and other species is called a zoonotic disease. The only ... | |
| Group Selection | 2/10/2008 |
| Q: and thankyou in advance I have read about evolutionary theories, and how some scientists view ... A: I think you have it right. Biologists understand that groups evolve (in fact, evolution is a ... | |
| Group Selection | 2/8/2008 |
| Q: and thankyou in advance I have read about evolutionary theories, and how some scientists view ... A: I hope I can help answer your question with a few excerpts from my course web site (Evolution and ... | |
| Prehistoric underseas being fired eggs from tubes | 2/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm sorry to give one that might be difficult. I recall reading information that referred to an ... A: Unfortunately, I can't find any information on the organism you describe. The earliest molluscan ... | |
| Evolutionary origin of heart | 12/24/2007 |
| Q: Could you inform me, please, when in the evolutionary history of life on the Earth the first animals ... A: The first organisms with a simple circulatory system including tissue that helped pump the fluid ... | |
| religious fundamentalists | 12/19/2007 |
| Q: Krempels, What are the main arguments that probe evolution against creationism, as many religious ... A: The main misconception people have about the evolution vs. creation debate is that evolution is ... | |
| Big land-living animals with more than four legs | 12/18/2007 |
| Q: How come there are no big land-living animals with more than four legs? I can understand that it is ... A: The question perhaps isn't "why aren't there any big land animals with six legs?", but rather "Why ... | |
| hybrids | 12/7/2007 |
| Q: i've checked everywhere on the Internet and i was hoping that you could help me i was wondering why ... A: This is one of those hybrid mysteries, and at this time, no one is sure exactly why it's more likely ... | |
| instincts | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: dana, I am not American so maybe you don't want to answer this question. I have read about ... A: I'm not sure why you'd think I wouldn't answer your question because you're not American. I'm happy ... | |
| Neanderthal chromosome count | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: Do we know how many chromosomes Neanderthals had? A: We do not have preserved tissues from Neanderthals to know for sure what their chromosome number ... | |
| polar bears | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: i am researching global warming for school. and i was looking at affects and how polar bears are on ... A: Yes, polar bears have likely been around that long. Fossils remains of animals that were very much ... | |
| random mutation gene or adaptative mutation gen | 11/5/2007 |
| Q: In my opinion, the evolution process is not by random mutation genes but by adaptive mutation of ... A: Adaptation has several definitions. Evolutionary adaptation is what is exhibited by a population ... | |
| Ginghis Khan/male-female | 11/3/2007 |
| Q: You answered the question related to low IQ reproduction well, but I wonder how this relates to ... A: While Genghis/Chingghis/Ginghis Khan was undoubtedly a very intelligent man, he also had other ... | |
| random mutation gene or adaptative mutation gen | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: In my opinion, the evolution process is not by random mutation genes but by adaptive mutation of ... A: According to Darwin's theory, evolution does not occur because an organism needs to change. (He ... | |
| "altruism" in the beehive/anthill | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: why do biologists and evolutionary biologists keep stating that non-breeding ants bees etc are ... A: Edwin, This is an excellent question, and I don't think any biologist who says that ants or bees ... | |
| Evolution Clarification | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: It's me again! I have been in quite a fierce debate with yet another creationist who calls himself ... A: Stan! I didn't reject his question, though I was thinking I probably should. It's really pointless ... | |
| Evolution Clarification | 9/30/2007 |
| Q: It's me again! I have been in quite a fierce debate with yet another creationist who calls himself ... A: O Stan, What hath thou Wrought? "James the Second" has written to me a long, ridiculous diatribe ... | |
| Evolution-- Disproved | 9/29/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Krempels. Let me first make it clear that I DO NOT believe in evolution. There is no scientific ... A: Your question is so long that I will have to answer it in several installments. But please allow me ... | |
| Termite evolution: which came first? | 9/23/2007 |
| Q: Termites chew on wood and they swallow it, but termites can not digest it. It goes in to their ... A: The type of protists you're naming in the termite intestine are flagellates in the genera ... | |
| Chromosome Number | 9/14/2007 |
| Q: It's me again. I saw a question you answered recently about species with 46 chromosomes, and I have ... A: Stan Chromosome number is far less important than what's *on* those chromosomes. A human with 46 ... | |
| Darwin studies | 9/12/2007 |
| Q: When I read about Darwin talking about birds and moths changing their color to blend into changing ... A: When Darwin made his observation, he was not talking about individual birds or moths, but about ... | |
| Amphibian to Reptile | 9/8/2007 |
| Q: It's Stan again! I have a question about reptile evolution. I am aware that amphibians came from ... A: Stan Sorry for the delay! I'll do my best here. If you're using modern, cladistic techniques to ... | |
| Radiometric Dating Misconceptions | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I have a question related to radiometric dating. Now, I know the basics of how it operates, and I am ... A: The interesting thing about the article you cite above is that in every case in which dating methods ... | |
| Human Intelligence Inexplicable? | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: The quote below is taken from a creationist publication. I would like to know the Darwinist ... A: It's true that people in lower socioeconomic classes tend to have more children than the very highly ... | |
| Human Intelligence Inexplicable? | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: The quote below is taken from a creationist publication. I would like to know the Darwinist ... A: The problem with the quote above can be found in one particular sentence: "We don't need these ... | |
| Are we stopping natural selection? | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: i have been taught about natural selection and it got me think that people should have died (because ... A: Medicines and medical care will not stop natural selection. They'll just change the "playing ... | |
| neanderthals | 8/30/2007 |
| Q: I have a question about neanderthals. I was taught a long time ago that neanderthals were one ... A: Neanderthals are classified as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, a subspecies of modern humans, which ... | |
| white skin | 8/18/2007 |
| Q: What is the benifit of having white skin? I understand that darker skin is more suitable to hot ... A: Your understanding of evolution is perfectly fine. :) No one knows for certain why northern Homo ... | |
| Evolution | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: If the theory of evolution is correct, shouldn't we have found many intermediary fossils ... A: This is an often-asked question, and the answer is surprisingly straightforward. Humans did not ... | |
| Evolution | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: If the theory of evolution is correct, shouldn't we have found many intermediary fossils ... A: If the fossil record were magically made complete, it is possible that we would see intermediate ... | |
| Evolution | 8/9/2007 |
| Q: If the theory of evolution is correct, shouldn't we have found many intermediary fossils ... A: Of all the lines of observable evidence documenting evolution, the fossil record is considered the ... | |
| evolution | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: If humans evolved from apes then why are there still apes? A: An evolutionary biologist would not say that humans evolved from apes. The more accurate statement ... | |
| adaptation & evolution | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: What does an evolutionary biologist do? + Say a doctor is treating a patient with tuberculosis. She ... A: Well, this sounds a bit like a homework question, but I'll give you some information. The answer to ... | |
| Homo Sapiens distinctive traits and how they came about. | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: What are the currently accepted theories regarding the origin of those traits that separate Homo ... A: I know you didn't use the term "most highly evolved species." I used that as an example of what a ... | |
| Homo Sapiens distinctive traits and how they came about. | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: What are the currently accepted theories regarding the origin of those traits that separate Homo ... A: The main reason that textbooks describing the traits that make Homo sapiens uniquely human leave out ... | |
| selective pressure | 7/22/2007 |
| Q: please explain how the process of selective pressure can start, and then continue occuring on a ... A: Before we consider natural selection acting on any given phenotypic character, it's important to ... | |
Dana Krempels
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer questions about evolutionary mechanisms and theory, including genetic drift, mutation, natural selection, etc. I also can clear up misconceptions about evolution as it's sometimes talked about by those not well-versed in the subject (e.g., some politicians and many religious fundamentalists).
Experience
I have a Ph.D. in Biology, and presently teach Evolution and Biodiversity, Genetics, Botany, and Zoology at the University of Miami.
Organizations
House Rabbit Society
Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society
Publications
Exotic DVM Magazine (veterinary journal)
Education/Credentials
B.S. in Biology
B.A. in English
Ph.D. in Biology
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