Sean Carroll
Sean Carroll
branches pattern related tree
In general, we'd like to know who's related to whom, and the pattern of the branches of the tree of life.
branches bush close instead sprout
But instead of a tree, we got a bush where many branches sprout close together.
bursts deep harder origins
As you go into deep time, these bursts of evolutionary origins become harder to resolve.
mechanisms small species
The mechanisms that make the small differences between species are the same ones that make the big differences between kingdoms,
police
I'm saying, 'Police, show me your hands, show me your hands,'
backing closer drew eddie fired partner pulled slightly weapon
Before I fired my weapon, Eddie McMellon, who (was) slightly closer than I was, started backing out and saying, 'What are you doing? What are you doing?' I just thought he pulled and drew a weapon on my partner -- I fired my weapon,
analyze chance evolution feature fly fruit gained gives good lost model physical since spot wing
The wing spot on the fruit fly is a particularly good model because we know it constitutes a new feature that is gained or lost by evolution in different species. And, since it is a spatial pattern, it gives us a chance to analyze the evolution of a physical trait.
act best
At best it was a negligent act in the circumstances.
appear
The way he was peering up and down the block, it would appear to me that he slinked back into the vestibule,
face
I rubbed his face (and said,) 'Please don't die,'
deep events given hard harder origins pick
It is hard to distinguish these events, even with boatloads of data. As you go into deep time, origins are much harder to pick out. And given that there is so much data, you have to ask: why aren't you getting any resolution?
evidence existence vacuum
With vacuum fluctuations, we have to distinguish between evidence for the existence of the fluctuations, and for their energy.