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Study Catches Birds Splitting Into Separate Species

Posted by kdawson on from the it's-not-me-it's-you dept.

webdoodle writes "A new study finds that a change in a single gene has sent two closely related bird populations on their way to becoming two distinct species. The study, published in the August issue of the American Naturalist, is one of only a few to investigate the specific genetic changes that drive two populations toward speciation."

11 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Thank God. . . by MagusSlurpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    . . . for intelligently designing these species to evolve.

    --
    My sister opened a computer store in Hawaii. She sells C shells by the seashore.
    1. Re:Thank God. . . by flydude18 · · Score: 5, Funny

      This isn't evolution, it's just God applying a patch.

    2. Re:Thank God. . . by Tubal-Cain · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sounds more like a fork.

    3. Re:Thank God. . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      No. Obviously the birds sinned,and THAT'S what caused the need for the separation in species. That leaves one good, and the other sinful.

    4. Re:Thank God. . . by Hojima · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually, I prayed the day would come where we observe speciation. Wait a sec. Damn, he does exist. I guess it's back to offering virgin sacrifices to the great lord Zuthulu.

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      Help fight spam
    5. Re:Thank God. . . by martas · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm all for sacrificing virgins, as long as you get a whore back...

      --
      weinersmith
    6. Re:Thank God. . . by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 4, Funny

      I've applied a fork to birds tons of times and you don't see anyone thanking me.

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      This guy's the limit!
    7. Re:Thank God. . . by shiftless · · Score: 3, Funny

      C-C-C-COMBO BREAKER!!!1

  2. How is this news? by XPeter · · Score: 3, Funny

    I know Slashdot has a reputation for late articles, but this was discovered by Darwin over a hundred of years ago, it's called natural selection. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection

    --
    "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits" - Albert Einstein
  3. chestnut vs blue-black by Kebis · · Score: 3, Funny

    So, the difference comes down to the birds wanting to have sex with other birds with the same belly color? First parrots taught us birds can talk, and ravens taught us birds can use tools, now we find out birds can be racist! Forget the AI Singularity, birds will be the death of us all as soon as they invent their own laser weapons!

  4. another example of speciation by jipn4 · · Score: 4, Funny

    These birds CAN produce offspring, but behaviorally, don't.

    So, you're saying it's like computer geeks and supermodels?