Carnival of Evolution #7

This episode of the Carnival of Evolution is a rather small one. I suspect that like me, many of the regulars are swamped with their work at the end of university semesters, running around labs, grading and completing papers, and administering exams. But that hasn’t stopped some pretty cool entries this time around.

Ever wonder about chemical and mineral evolution? Evolving Mind thinks you should. He highlights some recent findings that minerals have co-evolved with life. "Evolution isn't just for living organisms. Scientists at the Carnegie Institution have found that the mineral kingdom co-evolved with life, and that up to two thirds of the more than 4,000 known types of minerals on Earth can be directly or indirectly linked to biological activity."

In “The Evolution of Avian Clutch Size,” GrrlScientist wants us to wonder why difference bird species “have different clutch sizes, with some species laying only one egg while others produce as many as ten eggs per clutch or more. Why is there such a tremendous difference in clutch size? What evolutionary factors affect the average clutch size that each species produces?" It nicely and neatly explains some peer-reviewed research from PLoS Biology.

Ever wonder who's out there wondering the same things you are about primate evolution, anthropology research, human genetics, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, paleontology, medical anthropology, and bioethics? You needn't wonder any longer: Fiona King has linked us to the Top 100 Anthropology Blogs. It is quite the resource.

Want to "teach the controversy?" Let's hope not. In a piece titled "Anti-Evolution: It's the new Intelligent Design," Reducibly Complex takes on the Disco 'Tute's media complaints division, the so-called Evolution News and Views. This post argues that "teach the controversy" is quite the sham - mere cover for creationists to fly anti-science garbage into schools by going under the legal radar. Just to show how absurd all of this is, PZ Myers at Pharyngula gives us a brief beauty on why our public schools are so messed up. See according to Texas Board of Education member, the public schools "are unconstitutional because they undermine scriptural authority." If your head nearly exploded reading that, you have read it right. PZ takes it down further.

What's to be done? PLoS Genetics published an interview with Judge John E. Jones III that I posted on earlier this week. Jones has a few words on the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, science, the U.S. Constitution, and judicial independence. Perhaps Dunbar should take note.

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Update: You want to submit for the next Carnival of Evolution? Fill out the submission form and get posted on biochemicalsoul!