From BBC News, A look at the embryonic development of turtles, mice and chickens show that the ribs of the turtle migrate upward to form the turtle’s shell.

From Science Daily, the view that allopatric speciation is the major force for speciation in the oceans is turned upside down. In an esoteric examination of fossilized foraminifera researchers found that barriers were not a factor in the plankton’s spread and diversification. But rather climate and nutrients were indicators of its colonizing an area.

Excuse the rant from yesterday, now back to science. From Wired’s blogs, and includes whale fossils, our beloved Tiktaalik, Tit genetics, Sticklebacks and what causes finches beaks to change are just a taste of the beauty of evolution. Also look on Panda’s Thumb for the series on blowing the myth of “macroevolution” out of the water.

From Nat Geo, just in time for Halloween they have found a Siberian moth that drinks blood. It is only the male of the species and they think that it utilizes the salt in blood because they don’t get enough in their diet. Check out the cool video.

From Physorg.com, an experiment done in Israel looked at how bacteria adapted to temperature differences. The bacteria under higher temperature increased the amount of heat-tolerant fatty acids in the cell membrane

On a personal note I was let go from DLD.

So FL has accepted science standards that require teaching about evolution. And a hero of mine has recently said that evolution shouldn’t be taught until collage because it’s so complex. With the resent discovery, the heat shock regulator involved with folding proteins, specifically those involved with growth., Dr. Woese has a point. Just teaching the basics, the transitional fossils, the genetic similarities, etc, has been problematic.

From EurekaAlert.com, this show the subtle way that changes in form can occur. By mucking about with a gene that regulates limb growth, scientists have created mice with long fore limbs.

From Physorg.com, using the genomes from a verity of organisms, researchers have found a link between metabolism and protein mutation. It also seems to indicate that mammals should have a higher mutation rate. Interesting speculation: After the demise of the dinosaurs, the rapid evolution of the mammals could have been to their warm bloodedness? Birds too?

From Scientist Live, obviously from the name this is a very small bacteria taken from filtered water. The interesting bit is that it is related to water-living bacteria and this is where genes for metal tolerance and antibody resistance come from.

Journal article

From Physorg.com, that latest data using genetics and skull measurements from at large sample size is the strongest evidence yet that humans originated in Africa. Hopefully this will be the final nail in the multiregional theory.

And this research again demonstrates that humanity is one people and our only real differences are cultural.