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Comparative Anatomy: Comparing & Contrasting Whales

8/28/2024

 
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Isn't it strange that there is a group of air-breathing mammals that lives in an environment that may result in them suffocating? Other than humans in space, the only other creatures that chose to leave their comfort zones are cetaceans (whales and porpoises).

The explanation for humans is simple: adventure and/or stupidity. But what about whales?

The Cambrian Explosion: Let There Be (Complex) Life!

6/20/2024

 
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If you dig down into the Earth far enough, you will notice the gradually decreasing complexity of life that came before us, interrupted now and then by periods of extinction. But what if there is a gap of complexity that can't be explained? A sudden, inexplicable layer of the strangest most alien creatures to ever walked (swam?) the Earth? And what's more, before that, there is practically nothing in comparison to them?

​Have we found the moment when God's hand meddles in Earthly matters?

Evo-Devo: How Our Ancestors Shaped Our Future

8/24/2023

 
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If we look at the early fetal stage of different species, we'd notice that most of them started out the same, and the closer one species is related to another, the more similarities they have between them. Now if we were to take this on an evolutionary level, stretching back millions of years, can we see a period where both species are essentially the same?

Considering that all life on Earth are related to one another, the consequences might be surprising.

The Virus: Our Eternal Enemy

1/28/2020

 
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The current alarm about the coronavirus outbreak in China had again shown us how vulnerable we are to the humblest of creatures. Their success lies in their simplicity: invade, replicate, propagate; and from that leaves a trail of misery in their wake.

Maybe one day we can harness their abilities. But for now, they are not our friend.

Copy, Paste, Repeat: Segmentation & Animal Evolution

12/6/2019

 
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​Without segmentation, organisms would lack sophisticated means of movement and complex body structures that enable advanced functions. Segmentation provides the means for an organism to travel and protect its sensitive organs from damage. The ability to divide functions into different portions of the body allows an organism to perform increasingly complex activities and use different segments to perform varying functions.

So the next time you bend down and touch your feet, thank your far-flung, worm-like ancestors for that.

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The Institution for Science Advancement is a social enterprise that promotes inquiry-based science education in Malaysian schools based on the principles of truth and merit.
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  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Publications
    • Articles
    • Socratic Series
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • The Team
    • IFSA Advisory Council
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  • Join Us
  • Support Us