Week 1 Discussion

We will brainstorm ways to change the bicoid gradient

We will discuss any general course questions that you have

We will discuss a few of the following questions:

1. How does studying anomalies help us understand how development and evolution work?
2. How does studying development give us insights into evolutionary biology?
3. Do you think that hopeful monsters are a way that evolution happens?  Why or why not?
4. What does it mean that some anomalous characters are "discontinuous" rather than continuous?
5. What is the argument for DNA being only a part of the process of development?
6. Why is it that tinkering with an embryo can sometimes produce an animal that has anomalies that still can function integratively?  Does tinkering always result in an integrated adult animal
7. What animals did you draw as a child? Do you still allow yourself to be awed and inspired by nature?  What (if anything) has changed since your childhood?
8. If you had to go on a nature vacation anywhere, where would you go and why?
9. Why do we study evo-devo and what are the central questions in the field?
10. What are puntuated equilibria?  Are they real or an artifact?
11. What is the genetic toolkit and what is the toolkit paradox?  How can we resolve this paradox?
12. What evolutionary adaptations most interest you?
13. How do "just so" stories differ from the scientific process?
14. What are some examples of "building blocks" and modular design in animals?
15. How does the "gene centric" view of this book differ from Freaks?
16. Can you think of any exceptions to "Williston's Law"?

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Week 1 Discussion Questions

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Week 1 Discussion for Wiki