Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 195 | Richard Dawkins on Flight and Other Evolutionary Achievements
7 snips
May 2, 2022 
Richard Dawkins, an esteemed evolutionary biologist and author, dives into the fascinating evolution of flight. He discusses various adaptations in species, from gliding to jumping, and the evolutionary significance of these traits. With insights from his new book, he compares the origins of flight in birds and explores the interplay of practice and enjoyment in bird behavior. Dawkins also examines the complexities of genetic variation and the extended phenotype, illustrating how evolution shapes not just bodies, but behaviors and environments.
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Spectrum of Flight
- Flying isn't a binary yes/no trait.
- There's a spectrum between gliding and powered flight, with intermediate stages offering survival advantages.
Trees and Flight
- Tree-dwelling creates evolutionary pressure for gliding and jumping.
- This pressure is greater than for ground-dwellers, possibly contributing to flight evolution.
Feathered Dinosaurs
- Birds evolved from feathered dinosaurs, not flying dinosaurs like pterodactyls.
- Feathers initially served thermoregulation, then adapted for flight.
