An Evolutionary Theory of Right and Wrong

snookered wrote:

Evolution is a very long term process.

Not so with micro-organisms and perhaps even macro-organisms under dire conditions.

snookered wrote:

Unlikely that a gene would predispose behavior in general.

If so perhaps you'd like to offer an alternate explanation to the basic behavioral differentials in ant colonies.

In man, (some, many, most, all) social circumstances that appear to dictate behavioral patterns have as their roots genetic predispositions.

As to your first part I don't have time to respond, as to your second part: good humors!

First, I don't know if there are BASIC behavioral differences in ant colonies.

Remember, evolution takes place when there is a need.

As far as I know, all ant colonies revolve around the queen.

Probably hasn't ever needed to adapt.

snookered wrote:

First, I don't know if there are BASIC behavioral differences in ant colonies.

I won't pretend I am some sort of evolutionary expert, however depending on your view of "basic" I suggest there are basic behavioral differences between the various classes of ants within a given colony.

snookered wrote:

Remember, evolution takes place when there is a need.

In that you are incorrect as evolution is not purpose driven.

snookered wrote:

As far as I know, all ant colonies revolve around the queen.

Sure, until the winged ants and the new nest building.

snookered wrote:

Probably hasn't ever needed to adapt.

Nope, ants have adapted and changed over the millennia.

For more definitive answers to your questions ask farmerman here

First, BASIC wasn't my word.

I believe that ants in a colony have one purpose. That is to protect the queen and the colony.

The ants all work together in a masterful effort. Where did you get the information that there are "classes" besides the Queen in a colony? I would be interested in reading it.

Leaf-cutter ants have powerful jaws which vibrate a thousand times a second to slice off pieces of leaf. Size for size, their bodies are amazingly powerful, able to carry pieces of leaf that weigh at least 20 times their own body weight - that's the same as a human carrying a one ton load. Like bees, their colonies contain different sorts of workers. Soldier leaf-cutters have huge jaws, strong enough to cut through leather and gardener leaf-cutters work beneath ground and process the pieces of the leaf that the harvesters bring back. The nest also contains a queen and she lays all the eggs needed to keep the colony supplied with new workers.

Ants are social insects that belong to the same order as the wasps and bees. They are of particular interest because of their highly organized colonies or nests which sometimes consist of millions of individuals. Individuals are divided into infertile female workers and fertile males (drones) and females (queens).

Leafcutter ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) feed exclusively on a special fungus that lives only within their colonies. They continually collect leaves which they cut into tiny pieces for the fungus to grow on. These ants have several differently sized castes especially for cutting up the pieces they are supplied with into even smaller pieces.

Winged ants are a different breed. Like comparing horses to donkeys.

If evolution does not happen for a purpose (one of several reasons) I wonder what evolution means to you. Are you splitting hairs again?

snookered wrote:

First, BASIC wasn't my word.

Yes I used it first as per "basic behavioral differentials in ant colonies" and I stand by the differentiation in specialization of the types of ants found within one given colony. I also understand that the word basic (like most, perhaps all words?) is best used in a relative frame of reference, and not on an absolute basis.

I also understand that neither you nor I created this word and it does not matter overly whom used it first as long as contextually the understanding is congruent.

snookered wrote:

I believe that ants in a colony have one purpose. That is to protect the queen and the colony.

OK you are welcome to believe whatever you wish, I might bring to your attention however that if their sole purpose is to protect the queen and the colony then you have not properly accounted for the winged ants.

snookered wrote:

The ants all work together in a masterful effort. Where did you get the information that there are "classes" besides the Queen in a colony? I would be interested in reading it.

Funny man! First you dispute the existence of any classes, then you try to partially exempt yourself from your own dispute by referring to the queen as a class, but all the while neglecting the winged ants and trying to sustain the original dispute that there are no classes. I don't see the point of this effort on your part.

Quote:

Leaf-cutter ants have powerful jaws which vibrate a thousand times a second to slice off pieces of leaf. Size for size, their bodies are amazingly powerful, able to carry pieces of leaf that weigh at least 20 times their own body weight - that's the same as a human carrying a one ton load. Like bees, their colonies contain different sorts of workers. Soldier leaf-cutters have huge jaws, strong enough to cut through leather and gardener leaf-cutters work beneath ground and process the pieces of the leaf that the harvesters bring back. The nest also contains a queen and she lays all the eggs needed to keep the colony supplied with new workers.

http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/learning/animals/invertebrates/ant

Quote:

Ants are social insects that belong to the same order as the wasps and bees. They are of particular interest because of their highly organized colonies or nests which sometimes consist of millions of individuals. Individuals are divided into infertile female workers and fertile males (drones) and females (queens).

Leafcutter ants (Atta and Acromyrmex) feed exclusively on a special fungus that lives only within their colonies. They continually collect leaves which they cut into tiny pieces for the fungus to grow on. These ants have several differently sized castes especially for cutting up the pieces they are supplied with into even smaller pieces.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant

snookered wrote:

Winged ants are a different breed. Like comparing horses to donkeys.

Not so have a look here How Does An Ant Colony Start?

snookered wrote:

If evolution does not happen for a purpose (one of several reasons) I wonder what evolution means to you. Are you splitting hairs again?

I'm not splitting hairs, not this time nor any other, and you'll find out more about evolution if hang around. You need to differentiate between evolution having no purpose and the reason why evolution takes place. They are not the same thing at all. Purpose and reason cannot be used interchangeably in this context

BTW, if you are still convinced I split hairs, you ain't seen nothing yet and you are going to have your homework cut out for you, as compared to some of the most knowledgeable and incisive posters here on A2K, of which I freely admit I am not one, nice to have met your acquaintance!