Neilium

Funny enough, I was just reading about the Baldwin Effect. In a nutshell, plastic traits (like the ability to learn) that allow the organism to adapt to its environment in its lifetime will allow for partially successful mutations to survive.

(That's only half of it. The other half is that, in the example of learning, the time and energy it takes for a partially successful mutation to learn and adapt may be too costly. Over time, evolution will favor the successful mutations, but the increased population, thanks to the increased survival of partially successful mutations, means that the successful mutations are more likely to be passed on.)

one final caveat: "...or something like that."


It's better explained here:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4155/edit.html

-Neil

dangin

None of the other species record information outside their own bodies. This gives us a great advantage. Knowledge lasts and is readily accessible to each generation. IF dolphins could do this, they'd take over the oceans and become Gungans.