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Prehistoric Birds May Have Used Four Wings To Fly
Smithsonian ^ | 3-14-13

Posted on 03/14/2013 6:43:48 PM PDT by Dysart

Roughly 150 million years ago, birds began to evolve. The winged creatures we see in the skies today descended from a group of dinosaurs called theropods, which included tyrannosaurs, during a 54-million-year chunk of time known as the Jurassic period. Why the ability to fly evolved in some species is a difficult question to answer, but scientists agree that wings came to be because they must have been useful: they might have helped land-based animals leap into the air, or helped gliding creatures who flapped their arms produce thrust.

As researchers continue to probe the origin of flight, studies of fossils have shown that theropods–particularly coelurosaurian dinosaurs, which closely resemble modern birds—had large feathers on both their fore limbs and hind limbs. However, extensive evidence for these leg feathers didn’t exist in the earliest birds. But now, a new examination of fossils reported today in the journal Science reveals several examples of this four-winged anatomy in modern birds’ oldest common ancestors.

Modern birds have two types of feathers: vaned feathers that cover the outside of the body, and the down feathers that grow underneath them.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.smithsonianmag.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: birs; cryptobiology; cryptozoology; dinosaur; dinosaurs; feathers; godsgravesglyphs; paleontology
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To: OldNavyVet

Yes. I am clear on that, but thanks...


21 posted on 03/14/2013 8:14:03 PM PDT by Dysart
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To: Dysart
of course not ~ those birds don't know genes from spleens. all they're looking for is an ID, and if the dude doesn't deliver he doesn't get any.
22 posted on 03/14/2013 8:36:13 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

but that does not compute: we know sexual selection is largely determined by competition which implies choice propelled by desire to pass along their own genes. this is brought abt by passing along the fittest (expression) genes in the next generation and its all instintctual; so in that way they do actually recognize sucesssful genes when they see them expressed.


23 posted on 03/14/2013 8:53:33 PM PDT by Dysart
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To: Dysart
Prehistoric Birds May Have Used Four Wings To Fly

They had to. There was no bacon then and hot wings were in much higher demand.

24 posted on 03/14/2013 9:07:59 PM PDT by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: Dysart

Sexual selection would be searching for healthier genes if and only if genes mutated at a phenomenal rate ~ which they don’t. I think sexual selection has been pretty well debunked with the discovery that breast size, hair thickness and number of sweat glands and shape of teeth are under the control of a single gene ~ (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/science/studying-recent-human-evolution-at-the-genetic-level.html?_r=1&; ) ~ you’ll want to read that piece ~ same gene in mice as in men! The thing has GEOLOGICAL AGE STABILITY


25 posted on 03/15/2013 5:09:47 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: TigersEye
There was no bacon then and hot wings were in much higher demand.

That might be the most scientifically accurate post in the whole thread. :)

26 posted on 03/15/2013 8:27:44 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves (CTRL-GALT-DELETE)
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To: muawiyah

I won’t try to disabuse you of the your hypothesis that “natural selection has been debunked” but the NYT article you cited, and with which I’m familiar, does not support your assertion.


27 posted on 03/15/2013 8:54:47 AM PDT by Dysart
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To: Dysart
Some scientists, quite a few actually, say those are not feathers but another substance. At any rate I refuse to believe that dinos grew wings simply because they waved their arms in the air while catching bugs, which is the theory that some scientists put forth to explain the growth of wings and feathers.

If Dinos were going to evolve into birds don't you think the logical candidate for this would have been the Pterodactyl family? They could already fly and already had wings, yet the ground based two legged theropods are the ones scientists picked to be the "ancestors" of birds. BTW, I am not religious nor a young earther. I just use common sense when it comes to evolution, it is BS, and anyone with half a brain can see most of the theories are simply that, BS.

No evidence exits which actually proves evolution, or creation for that matter.

28 posted on 03/15/2013 9:07:39 AM PDT by calex59
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To: Dysart
Some scientists, quite a few actually, say those are not feathers but another substance. At any rate I refuse to believe that dinos grew wings simply because they waved their arms in the air while catching bugs, which is the theory that some scientists put forth to explain the growth of wings and feathers.

If Dinos were going to evolve into birds don't you think the logical candidate for this would have been the Pterodactyl family? They could already fly and already had wings, yet the ground based two legged theropods are the ones scientists picked to be the "ancestors" of birds. BTW, I am not religious nor a young earther. I just use common sense when it comes to evolution, it is BS, and anyone with half a brain can see most of the theories are simply that, BS.

No evidence exits which actually proves evolution, or creation for that matter.

It isn't just about birds developing wings and feathers, it is about the whole respiratory system changing, how did that happen gradually over a period of millions of years and why? Nope, evolution doesn't hold up under scrutiny, and it doesn't take much scrutiny to tear it down. People who believe in it are just as naive as people who believe in religion and Gods.

29 posted on 03/15/2013 9:10:54 AM PDT by calex59
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To: Dysart

30 posted on 03/15/2013 9:14:21 AM PDT by eartrumpet
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To: Dysart
It was a proto-avian Animal Farm: "two wings bad, four wings good!"

Later they evolved to "four wings good, two wings better!"

31 posted on 03/15/2013 9:40:19 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Dysart

SEXUAL SELECTION ~ not ‘natural selection’ per se ~ whatever demigod that might be. Currently all the fanciful stories are on hold while real science tries to figure out what epigenetics is up to.


32 posted on 03/15/2013 9:57:54 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Dysart
SEXUAL SELECTION ~ not 'natural selection' per se ~ whatever demigod that might be. Currently all the fanciful stories are on hold while real science tries to figure out what epigenetics is up to.

Lest someone else think I said something I did not say, here's the money quote:

"I think sexual selection has been pretty well debunked with the discovery that breast size, hair thickness and number of sweat glands and shape of teeth are under the control of a single gene"

33 posted on 03/15/2013 10:01:40 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Psiman

Exactly. Most science is just made up anyway.


34 posted on 03/15/2013 10:16:41 AM PDT by Eddeche
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To: eartrumpet

Dinosaur? Yes, it’s the elusive Juggsasaurus Maximus, indigenous to the Miami Beach area, I believe. Needs further study.


35 posted on 03/15/2013 10:28:41 AM PDT by Dysart
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To: muawiyah
Okay, sexual selection it is that you push aside. Seems integral to the whole theory to me. Natural selection directs will to survive as sexual selection drives the need to reproduce. Proper selection is vital for both, or they fail. You appear to be saying so long as one mate can find another of its kind any will do. But that is not what is observed in nature. It doesn't make sense on the face of it.
36 posted on 03/15/2013 10:40:59 AM PDT by Dysart
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To: Mr. Jeeves
I do strive for that scientifical accuracy! :)

I am so glad to be living in the Baconsonian Inter-Glacial era.

37 posted on 03/15/2013 1:31:09 PM PDT by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: Dysart
Chimpanzees ~ a bunch of guys gets together and they all do it with any available female.

The concept of sexual selection is just out the window with that sort of thing.

Someone wanted to figure out why male birds have flashier plummage than the females. Territorial challenge can account for that but they came up with sexual selection.

38 posted on 03/15/2013 5:21:24 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: eartrumpet

Those poor ladies can barely stand up straight or breath!


39 posted on 03/15/2013 5:23:02 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah
It has been suggested that the polyamorous chimps and bonobos employ promiscuity to promote group bonding- and if you think about it that should pretty well do it. When it comes actual reproduction purposes selection still applies. Alpha male and all that. This is my understanding but that is as far as it goes. I am not a scientist and have not studied primates. I have stayed at a Holiday Inn recently I should warn you, though.

I will be stcking with sexual selection as valid until overwhelming contridicting evidence presents...could happen but wont be holding my breath. Is there published work by someone who otherwise agrees with evolutionary theory but agrees with your position? Dont knock yourself out, but id like to give it a gander if it exists.

40 posted on 03/15/2013 5:45:07 PM PDT by Dysart
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