Re: Birds, dinosaurs, and digit 1

[Derek Tearne <derek@iprolink.co.nz>]

At 12:40 -0400 24/10/97, WOlewiler@aol.com wrote:
>Alan Feduccia, chair of biology at University of N.C., Chapel Hill, is
>co-author of an article in Science stating that microscopic examination of
>bird embryos shows no sign of digit 1, even in vestigial form. "We consider
>this unequivocal evidence that birds" did not evolve from dinosaurs. Reason:
>Dinosaurs had digits 1, 2, and 3; birds have digits 2, 3, and 4, with no sign
>of a digit 1, even in embryos.

My reaction, working simply from first principles:

If the ancestral vertebrates all had five digits, and embryonic
studies show that birds have no sign of digit one, either birds
are space aliens or someone isn't looking carefully enough.


---
Derek Tearne.   ---   @URL Internet Consultants  ---  http://url.co.nz
Some of the more environmentally aware dinosaurs were worried about the
consequences of an accident with the new Iridium enriched fusion reactor.
"If it goes off only the cockroaches and mammals will survive..." they said.