An illuminating metaphor for the process of biological evolution

A very short video with a powerful effect. Small changes over time produce dramatic results:

h/t: Michael Fisher

Definitely worth sharing with the little monkeys at home.

Then pair it with this one on biological evolution by Carl Sagan:

If you are looking for more fun you can try a game of “telephone.” (Hint for small families. We used to do this with long, tricky sentences.  Try Shakespeare or a proverb. I’d start and whisper to the kiddo. The kiddo whispered to Daddy and Daddy purposefully got it wrong every time.)

About Anne Crumpacker

I like to read. I also like science, art and drama. I like really big numbers, but I don’t understand them. I like kids and being silly, but sometimes I feel serious and that’s when I like thinking BIG THOUGHTS. You can visit me @ SocraticMama.com
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9 Responses to An illuminating metaphor for the process of biological evolution

  1. Paul Dail says:

    Boy, that music, along with the video was “GREAT”.. I had my wall’s shaking.. i might have a Police car rolling up to my House soon.. LOL…

  2. Paul Dail says:

    I got to play it, just one more time.. here I go…

  3. DocAtheist says:

    I am shocked by the brilliance of Sagan ending his video with woman. Western culture has always illustrated man as the prototype, but parthenogenesis, in addition to gestation, illustrate the primal importance of woman in the pattern of evolution.

    I am also hugely impressed, Anne, with your use of the game, Telephone, and its adaptation for small families. Excellent illustration of morphologic change. When I was young, the alternate name for this game was “Gossip.” It was used to develop critical reasoning by illustrating how stories morph though numerous iterations and how gossip should not just blindly be believed, as it may be completely unrelated to truth.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Very cool example

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