Evolution and instinct. How does it work?

[porchrat]

Kind of why they say its next to impossible to bring an extinct species back to "life" again.

Sure we can keep DNA from different groups to enable em to breed again, the real loss is not the DNA but the knowledge that species held. Like what to eat and what to avoid, even minor things like if they suppose to mark territory or travel in packs will be unknown to the clones.

Also unless you keep the genetic code of a large enough population then by saving that DNA you haven't actually saved a species, just a small sample of that species. The species as a population is gone for good because you have lost a large portion of the genetic makeup that constituted that species. A species is a collection of individuals each close, but still distinct individuals. Saving just a few is not enough IMO to be able to claim that you have saved the species.

 

[Elimentals]

Also unless you keep the genetic code of a large enough population then by saving that DNA you haven't actually saved a species, just a small sample of that species. The species as a population is gone for good because you have lost a large portion of the genetic makeup that constituted that species. A species is a collection of individuals each close, but still distinct individuals. Saving just a few is not enough IMO to be able to claim that you have saved the species.

Thats why I mentioned keeping from different groups, as one family is not enough, still I reckon the knowledge lost is a bigger hurdle.

 

[porchrat]

Thats why I mentioned keeping from different groups, as one family is not enough, still I reckon the knowledge lost is a bigger hurdle.

I think we would be surprised at just how much is ingrained but I agree with you. With lions for example while the prey drive is instinctual the hunting techniques are something that I doubt are instinctual. It is something that must be passed from one generation to the next. Without those hunting techniques it may still genetically speaking be a lion but is it truly a lion without that behavioural knowledge? An interesting thought.

 

[ponder]

I think we would be surprised at just how much is ingrained but I agree with you. With lions for example while the prey drive is instinctual the hunting techniques are something that I doubt are instinctual. It is something that must be passed from one generation to the next.

Dunno hey, when I saw that docu about the first tigers john varty got they just went beserk and killed everything in site. And they did not have parents to learn from.

 

[CoolBug]

Dunno hey, when I saw that docu about the first tigers john varty got they just went beserk and killed everything in site. And they did not have parents to learn from.

Doesn't sound like a natural environment that they were doing the killing. If an animal has the power and tools to kill all it needs is a little frustration and it'll get the job done, I think it was yesterday I read something about a tiger mauling a film maker.

But in a typical natural environment where food is scarce and prey is hard to catch, they will need to learn the skills to hunt.

No matter how tame you might think a wild creature is, it is wild and you are playing with fire. They haven't been domesticated and can behave unpredictably at any second. I don't blame these tigers for a second.

The process of domestication takes a really long time and requires cooperation by both species.

Edit: interesting read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Varty

 

[porchrat]

Dunno hey, when I saw that docu about the first tigers john varty got they just went beserk and killed everything in site. And they did not have parents to learn from.

Yeah but as I said before that is the prey drive at work. Of course Tigers are going to kill things... that is instinctual. Just look at how your new puppy responds to insects and things. Straight away it wants to pounce on them and catch them. Stalking and the desire to kill is clearly something instinctual but dividing up into groups of lioness and lion and having one lure the prey into a waiting ambush by the other group is something I doubt is instinctual.

Learning a proper pride hierarchy is also something that seems to need to be learned as new cubs always try to push the boundaries before being put down by the older members of the pride.

 

[CoolBug]

Was watching my dogs behaviour and thought of this thread.

My sister gave her a treat and preceeded to bury it, I got her at 6 weeks so I doubt this Is taught.

It must be an instinctual scavenger behaviour.