Horny Sheep

On pages 254-256, Carroll discusses the effect of evolution and mutation on the populations of big horned sheep. As humans have hunted away the largest sheep with the biggest horns, the leftovers' childrens' children have become less attractive to their kind and as a result breeding has dropped. Find another example of such a phenomena, where evolution has led to a decrease in proliferation, and actually inhibited an organism from reproducing as it should.

Testing the Evolutionary Theory

On page 247, Carroll asks the all important question, "Why does evolution matter?" This entire novel focused on providing scientific, molecular, and genetic evidence not only proving the importance of evolution but refuting creationism and all those that oppose it. So, in order to give creationists (or any others who refute evolutionary theory) a chance, is there any evidence out there that states that the genetic evolutionary theory is wrong? What evidence out there keeps certain individuals from believing in Carroll, Darwin, and all of the evolutionary scientists?

Human Survival or Quick Adaptivity?

On pages 38-39, Carroll says “Living for the moment has the dangerous disadvantage that if circumstances change more rapidly than adaptations can arise, faster than the fittest can be made, populations and species are at risk.” Is it possible with this greenhouse effect that is going on in today’s society that carbon dioxide gas will kill off humans before they adapt to have a greater affinity for oxygen? How long could such an adaptation take place? On this note, do people living in higher altitudes that are used to breathing in thinner air already have a an adaptation in their genes for a greater affinity for oxygen gas than people on sea-level ground, or are they simply used to it.

Melanin Paint

On pages 208-210, Caroll discusses his own research into the wing patterns of the fruit fly Drosophilia melanogaster. He uses the metaphor of paintbrushes and black paint to describe genes that encode for melanin-synthesizing enzymes. Explain in biological terms what exactly Caroll means by this, including a description of what the "switches" are and how this expands to a "tool kit" that allows for the many different wing patterns. Caroll also explains that the "paintbrush gene has other separate switches that control how it is used in other body parts." Explain why such complexity has arisen around the evolution of a single black spot.

Color Blind

On pages 94-98, Carroll discusses the evolution of color vision in humans and on pages 127-129 he discusses the subsequent loss of smell. Carroll states that "we no longer rely on our sense of smell to the degree that our ancestors once did" (128) because we now rely on our sight. If sight is so important to humans, evolutionarily speaking, why are there genes that code for color blindness? Is there another selective advantage in those genes that keep them around despite the negatives? Discuss also the structure of the eye and the mechanisms that allow us to see in color. Address also the genetic components of myopia and hyperopia. Why do these defects exist with such prevalence if sight is so important?

Venemous Evolution

On pages 153-154, Caroll talks about four unrelated animals -- a sea anemone, a scorpion, a marine cone shell snail, and a black mamba snake -- who all independently evolved to use venom. The protein sequences within the venoms are all structurally different, yet they have an equivalent effect on the animal's prey. Explain what factors contributed to their evolution and how essentially the same adaptation could arise in these unrelated species and give examples of other adaptations that have similarly evolved in different organisms. Also, given the venoms' different structures, address how these distinctly different genes can effectively have the same purpose and why they may be so different.

Intelligent Design vs. Carroll. cage match.

On page 243, Carroll addresses and quickly refutes a new alternative belief to Darwinian evolution, referred to as 'intelligent design.'  Explain in further detail the intelligent design concept, and examine Carroll's main points to render this belief "utter nonsense that disregards fundamentals of genetics.  Find an examples of proponents of intelligent design as well as critics of it.  Do any of them bring new information to the argument that Carroll doesn't mention?  Carroll mentions one scientist in particular, Dr. Michael Behe, who he seems to suggest is awkwardly straddling the fence between Darwinian evolution and intelligent design.  Look up Behe's arguments in detail and explain how he tries to incorporate aspects of both beliefs in his theory.  Do you agree that his reasoning is inconsistent and flawed, or is it more logically sound than Carroll says?