Monday, August 20, 2012

Philosophy Wire: Animal with photosynthesis (!) – Challenge to ToE?

EF7BBA99E629DE3AF8C1886F2A9BE399Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2012-08-20]: A handful of animals live in symbiosis with photosynthetic microbes or plants, but none have been found that harness light directly. Now there are hints that aphids increase their production of ATP – the biological energy molecule – in response to light. While this doesn't prove they photosynthesise, it is an intriguing hint that they might [source: web news]. How can an animal perform functions which are considered to by functions of the plants? The Theory of Evolution had from the beginning a problem with the definition of “species” (see related articles by clicking on the related tag below). Will it now have problems with the definition of so broad concepts like “animal” and “plant” ?

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