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Hand a kitchen appliance to a child and they’re likely to find a whole new way to use it. This happens in evolution, too – traits adapted for one purpose turn out to be beneficial for a whole other reason, and so the trajectory of natural selection changes. The term for this is exaptation, but it’s a complicated concept, and not everyone even likes using the word. Let’s discuss what this word means, why it exists, and what some people find wrong with it.
In the news: the oldest forest, an ancient parent, young T. rex, and fossil lungfish.
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Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
The Common Descent Store is open! Get merch! http://zazzle.com/common_descent
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The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
By Common Descent4.8
728728 ratings
Hand a kitchen appliance to a child and they’re likely to find a whole new way to use it. This happens in evolution, too – traits adapted for one purpose turn out to be beneficial for a whole other reason, and so the trajectory of natural selection changes. The term for this is exaptation, but it’s a complicated concept, and not everyone even likes using the word. Let’s discuss what this word means, why it exists, and what some people find wrong with it.
In the news: the oldest forest, an ancient parent, young T. rex, and fossil lungfish.
Time markers:
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
The Common Descent Store is open! Get merch! http://zazzle.com/common_descent
Follow and Support us on:
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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