What is a spandrel in evolution?
What is a spandrel in evolution?
An evolutionary spandrel is a physical structure or behavioural characteristic that is a by-product from some other functional adaptation.
What is Exaptation in biology?
Definition of exaptation : a trait, feature, or structure of an organism or taxonomic group that takes on a function when none previously existed or that differs from its original function which had been derived by evolution As for exaptations, we need look no further than feathers.
Is consciousness a spandrel?
Instead of an adaptation, consciousness might be a spandrel (in the sense of Gould and Lewontin Reference Gould and Lewontin1979)—a by-product of some other trait that has adaptive value although consciousness itself has no adaptive value of its own (or may even be dysfunctional).
What is the space between arches called?
A spandrel is a roughly triangular space, usually found in pairs, between the top of an arch and a rectangular frame; between the tops of two adjacent arches or one of the four spaces between a circle within a square. They are frequently filled with decorative elements.
What is spandrel in psychology?
A spandrel is a phenotypic characteristic that evolved as a side effect of a true adaptation. The important implication of this idea for Evolutionary Psychology being, that therefore not every trait can be accounted for in terms of adaptive advantage.
Is religion a spandrel?
Religion can be understood as a spandrel in the same way that Stephen Jay Gould claims the surface area between two adjacent arches are spandrels.
What are some examples of Exaptations?
Exaptation is the process of adaptation of a trait for a purpose other than what the trait was evolved for. For instance, an exaptation could be the use of feathers for mating displays or flight in birds which evolved feathers originally to keep warm.
Are Wings an exaptation?
Feathered wings used by birds for flight provide a good example of exaptation in action. The earliest known examples of feathered appendages belong to dinosaurs incapable of flight.
What is a spandrel beam?
Definition of spandrel beam : the exterior beam in steel or concrete construction that marks the floor level between stories.
What is Epiphenomenalism dualism?
Epiphenomenalism is the view that mental events are caused by physical events in the brain, but have no effects upon any physical events. The modern discussion of epiphenomenalism, however, traces back to a 19th century context, in which a dualistic view of mental events was assumed to be correct.
What is a bridge spandrel?
The spandrel of an arch bridge is the area between the arch ring and the roadway.