Crocaducks? Why isn't evolution more random?

[cronus]

I'm not a expert here so I'll throw this question in the ring to see what those who are make of it? Seems species only mate along the lines of near relatives or closely related species? Why? Surely it would be a advantage for even distant species with common genes to produce offspring even if few survived? or any?

[Animavore]

Oh dear.

[macdoc]

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Consider mating a tank and an aircraft carrier. This would be easier than "matching up" the genes for a hippo-canary cross.

[tattuchu]

If it doesn't fit, you must-a quit?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If it doesn't fit, you must-a quit?

Yep. Considering the incredibly close fit the genes must achieve is enough to kill the OP. Look at the difference between humans and chimps, <5%, and see how different we are. If a croc and a duck tried to mate how big would the difference be?

[Tyrannical]

I'm not a expert here so I'll throw this question in the ring to see what those who are make of it? Seems species only mate along the lines of near relatives or closely related species? Why? Surely it would be a advantage for even distant species with common genes to produce offspring even if few survived? or any?

A virus can cross transfer genes between species. It probably only happens rarely, and even more rare would it transfer something of a useful competitive advantage. Though possible very common in bacteria.

[Tero]

It's the chromosomes. We do not have the same number as chimpanzees. Horses and mules do not either. Look it up in wiipedia. The offspring are nfertile due to this mismatch.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'm not a expert here so I'll throw this question in the ring to see what those who are make of it? Seems species only mate along the lines of near relatives or closely related species? Why? Surely it would be a advantage for even distant species with common genes to produce offspring even if few survived? or any?

A virus can cross transfer genes between species. It probably only happens rarely, and even more rare would it transfer something of a useful competitive advantage. Though possible very common in bacteria.

Does that change the host species or is it just baggage?

[Tyrannical]

I'm not a expert here so I'll throw this question in the ring to see what those who are make of it? Seems species only mate along the lines of near relatives or closely related species? Why? Surely it would be a advantage for even distant species with common genes to produce offspring even if few survived? or any?

A virus can cross transfer genes between species. It probably only happens rarely, and even more rare would it transfer something of a useful competitive advantage. Though possible very common in bacteria.

Does that change the host species or is it just baggage?

Remember this little guy?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elysia_chlorotica


It's a separate species. Though I think it may be the only non-single celled organism known that has acquired something useful through lateral gene transfer found so far.

A fun tangent if you think about it is that though life may have difficulty surviving space conditions as in the panspermia theory, but a virus might and could transfer truly alien genes to an organism.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You admit that's the only one we know of. Thanks.

[Tyrannical]

You admit that's the only one we know of. Thanks.

We've never really looked that hard, and not everything is as obvious as a photosynthetic sea slug. I don't even think it was thought possible until that discovery.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You admit that's the only one we know of. Thanks.

We've never really looked that hard, and not everything is as obvious as a photosynthetic sea slug. I don't even think it was thought possible until that discovery.

We have this huge laboratory, called "a planet", and if crocaducks were at all likely on any scale we'd have found some signs of them by now. (Insert lame bullshit about "we haven't found every yet!" here.)

[Tyrannical]

You admit that's the only one we know of. Thanks.

We've never really looked that hard, and not everything is as obvious as a photosynthetic sea slug. I don't even think it was thought possible until that discovery.

We have this huge laboratory, called "a planet", and if crocaducks were at all likely on any scale we'd have found some signs of them by now. (Insert lame bullshit about "we haven't found every yet!" here.)

Or if they were everywhere we'd never notice them. Aren't whales just giant aquatic elephants?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

"(Insert lame bullshit about "we haven't found every yet!" here.)"