Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Religious Ceremony Leads To Evolution of Cave Fish

Posted by timothy on from the works-both-ways dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A centuries-old religious ceremony of an indigenous people in southern Mexico has led to evolutionary changes in a local species of fish, say researchers at Texas A&M University. Apparently since before Columbus arrived, the Zoque people would venture each spring into the sulfuric cave Cueva del Azufre to beg the gods for bountiful rain. As part of the ritual, they released into the cave's waters a leaf-bound paste made of lime and the ground-up root of the barbasco plant, a natural fish toxin. The rest is worth reading, but the upshot is that the fish living in the cave waters eventually got wise, genetically speaking."

8 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. I predict by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    that this thread will be characterized by civil discussion and insightful exchange of ideas, with little or no flamage

    1. Re:I predict by dov_0 · · Score: 3, Funny

      I am a young earth creationist, but have some manners. I don't flame. I don't even bother arguing with people who refuse to debate properly or examine the many sides of the argument. For those who believe in an old Earth and evolution (whichever version) by their own choice and after examining the issues, then good for them. Many people choose just to follow what they were taught in school and on TV. I have no time for these ignorant people who have not considered things for themselves. There are also young Earth creationists who have not examined the issues on both sides. Sheesh. Not fond of them either. I came to be a young Earth creationist through studying the arguments each way, studying as much of the evidence as I could (I continue to read up on new theories or discoveries) and then making the best decision that I could. I've noticed quite a few people here on /. who quietly support young Earth ideas. Sometimes they get flamed, but they all seem to be intelligent people who have considered what they believe and know why they believe it. Gotta respect that. Now I predict that no-one will flame me... Haha. Some chance.

      --
      sudo mount --milk --sugar /cup/tea /mouth /etc/init.d/relax start
  2. Religion causing evolution.... by Brad1138 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Boy thats an oxymoron.

    --
    If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
  3. Re:Unuseful Definition by Abcd1234 · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, this isn't considered to be "selective breeding" why now?

    If you've been hoping to breed fish by throwing fish toxin in the water, trust me... you're doing it wrong.

  4. Tomorrow's Sarah Palin Tweet Today! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    OMG Todd just told me R taxes paid 4 "scientists" 2 poison/torture fishes! Y? 2 so-call "proove" evilution. G-d knoes bettr. End DOE now!

  5. Now we know the true reason for global warming by maxwell+demon · · Score: 5, Funny

    From the article:

    "Since before the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World, the Zoque people of southern Mexico would venture each year during the Easter season deep into the sulfuric cave Cueva del Azufre to implore their deities for a bountiful rain season."

    And later:

    "Ironically, it was the last ceremony ever held, as the Zoques ended the practice that year due to political pressure from the government, which sought to preserve the cave as a hotbed for tourism and potential revenue."

    So they stopped doing ceremonies for the weather gods. This is surely not the only case. So people stop worshipping weather gods, and the climate goes wild. Coincidence? Unlikely! So now we have proof: Global warming is man-made, by neglecting weather ceremonies!

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  6. Correlation does imply causation? by mangu · · Score: 3, Funny

    this thread will be characterized by civil discussion and insightful exchange of ideas

    Sure, let's debate whether it's the religious ceremonies that cause evolution or vice versa

  7. See my username for punchline by WeatherGod · · Score: 2, Funny

    So they stopped doing ceremonies for the weather gods. This is surely not the only case. So people stop worshipping weather gods, and the climate goes wild. Coincidence? Unlikely! So now we have proof: Global warming is man-made, by neglecting weather ceremonies!

    Yes, absolutely. Now bring me more poison-tainted leaves, or suffer an inconvenient winter storm!