Re: ABSRD BAND on Sinornithosaurus feathers

["Tim Williams" <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

George Olshevsky wrote:

> Evolutionarily speaking, an
> animal cannot know that feathers will be good for insulation until >after 
> it
> evolves them; thus insulation cannot be the >reason< for the evolution > of 
> feathers.

Why not?  Even a microscopic layer of peach-fuzz-like integumentary 
structures would act as a heat-trapping surface.  The seeds are sown for 
further selection.

Are you likewise suggesting that mammalian hair originally evolved for a 
purpose other than insulation?

> More intricate feathers are likely the result
> of feather evolution after exaptation of the peach-fuzz for other 
> >functions.

This I agree with, 100%.


Tim


------------------------------------------------------------

Timothy J. Williams

USDA/ARS Researcher
Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames IA 50014

Phone: 515 294 9233
Fax:   515 294 3163

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