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A comment on Elephants born without tusks in ‘evolutionary response’ to poachers (2021). Parent comment

Re:Elephants born without tusks in ‘evolutionary response’ t... by WastingMyTime89 on Monday December 05, 2022 @04:28AM (#33863320)
> primates evolved opposable thumbs so that they could be more dextrous"

I for sure do. It’s extremely wrong. It implies the very incorrect idea that there is a purpose to evolution.

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Re:Elephants born without tusks in ‘evolutionary response’ t... by cnity on Monday December 05, 2022 @05:07AM (#33863587)
It's shorthand for "primates with a genetic mutation that resulted in opposable thumbs were more dextrous. Those primates proliferated due to natural selection". I guarantee that even evolutionary scientists do not talk like that over dinner and regularly reach for such shorthands.
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Re:Elephants born without tusks in ‘evolutionary response’ t... by WastingMyTime89 on Monday December 05, 2022 @12:22PM (#33868559)
Don’t worry I know biologists do it. The field is plagued by a general lack of rigour and a strong bias towards finality.
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