Eyes
Compound ones specifically
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Eyes
#1 
by Onyx8 » Jan 10, 2012 7:42 am
So I have read about and understand the evolution of the human eye (different from the squid eye, but the same as the fish eye due to common ancestry(?)(That's a side question that just occurred to me))
I have not read about the evolution of the compound eye. I don't even really know how they work, or exactly what the mechanism is for sight with them.
Anyone got the energy to bother explaining to a layman what the scoop is?
I have not read about the evolution of the compound eye. I don't even really know how they work, or exactly what the mechanism is for sight with them.
Anyone got the energy to bother explaining to a layman what the scoop is?
The problem with fantasies is you can't really insist that everyone else believes in yours, the other problem with fantasies is that most believers of fantasies eventually get around to doing exactly that.
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Onyx8 - THREAD STARTER
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Re: Eyes
#4 by Onyx8 » Jan 13, 2012 5:05 am
Thanks Klazmon and Berthold, that second one was extremely helpful. Fascinating stuff.
The problem with fantasies is you can't really insist that everyone else believes in yours, the other problem with fantasies is that most believers of fantasies eventually get around to doing exactly that.
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Re: Eyes
#6 by Horwood Beer-Master » Jan 13, 2012 10:04 am
I'd recommend Dawkins' Climbing Mount Improbable, specifically chapter 5 'The Forty-fold Path to Enlightenment'.
Short answer is that while the evolution of 'camera' type eyes starts with a photosensitive patch becoming concave, the evolution of compound eyes begins with a photosensitive patch becoming convex. Both are simply alternative ways of becoming sensitive to the direction light is coming from.
The separation of the eye into 'compound' elements (each accepting light coming from a slightly different direction) serves to further sharpen the image.
I hope I've got that more-or-less right - it's been a while since I last read my copy of Climbing Mount Improbable.
Short answer is that while the evolution of 'camera' type eyes starts with a photosensitive patch becoming concave, the evolution of compound eyes begins with a photosensitive patch becoming convex. Both are simply alternative ways of becoming sensitive to the direction light is coming from.
The separation of the eye into 'compound' elements (each accepting light coming from a slightly different direction) serves to further sharpen the image.
I hope I've got that more-or-less right - it's been a while since I last read my copy of Climbing Mount Improbable.
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Horwood Beer-Master - Name: Ian
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Re: Eyes
#7 by Onyx8 » Jan 13, 2012 4:04 pm
Ah, that's an insight I didn't get from the other paper, thanks.
The problem with fantasies is you can't really insist that everyone else believes in yours, the other problem with fantasies is that most believers of fantasies eventually get around to doing exactly that.
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Onyx8 - THREAD STARTER
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