Science Memes

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If you are here asking: "Is this a science meme?"

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Science isn't a filing cabinet of facts, it's a conversation. For example, a photo of an eel or other localized wildlife counts because most people never see one, and wonder is the first step of inquiry. A car meme counts if it makes you curious about what's under the bonnet. If you want to talk about something you noticed in the world, chances are someone else wants to talk about it too.

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submitted 2 years ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 7 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Chickens are the most numerous bird on the planet

And live their lives in fucking misery and suffering, at least most of em.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

But they keep reproducing, which is really all that it takes to make a successful species. It's really not about suffering when it comes to evolution. Alleles don't care whether or not suffering is involved.

I'm not advocating chicken farming, I'm just saying that in evolutionary terms, chickens are one of the most successful species on the planet.

[–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I disagree.

Evolution is not so much a numbers game. Otherwise Bacteria, Ants, Viruses and the like would have to be crowned winners. So the point op brings up is ~~mute~~ moot.

The point you add, that they keep reproducing, is also not relevant in evelotionary terms. The short amount of time that we have domesticated chickens, let a side the very resent industalisation of animal farming (it started in the 1950s ish), is just not relevante in evelotionary terms.

I'd say what makes a successfull species is resilience. 99 % of all species have gone extinct. The "winners" of evelotion are, in my opinion, those species that have lasted the longest. And in that regard, chicken ain't looking to good. They are highly dependent upon humans. Most industrial chickens are genetic aborninatons, bred for beeing fat, fast growing, egg laying machines to the point where their own bones brake because they lack calcium. I'd argue that chickens in their current form would not last long in "the wild". Hence once humans are gone their is a high chance chickens will follow.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

Otherwise Bacteria, Ants, Viruses and the like would have to be crowned winners.

They are. And you mean 'moot.'

Also, you don't know what evolution is. It's a change in allele frequency over time. All that is needed for that is continued reproduction.