Dory's Biology Questions Thread

[Dory]

Instead of creating a thousand topics, I'll just localize all my bombardments into one topic.

So here's the question: We're 71% ocean 29% land. I presume that since we're so much ocean it must have some sort of biological utility. I also presume that the biological utility of such a big ocean is to minimize the effects of heat, since more water lowers temperature, less water and more land would increase temperature. Am I right?

[GenesForLife]

Instead of creating a thousand topics, I'll just localize all my bombardments into one topic.

So here's the question: We're 71% ocean 29% land. I presume that since we're so much ocean it must have some sort of biological utility. I also presume that the biological utility of such a big ocean is to minimize the effects of heat, since more water lowers temperature, less water and more land would increase temperature. Am I right?

What exactly to you mean by Biological utility, Dory?

[Dory]

Instead of creating a thousand topics, I'll just localize all my bombardments into one topic.

So here's the question: We're 71% ocean 29% land. I presume that since we're so much ocean it must have some sort of biological utility. I also presume that the biological utility of such a big ocean is to minimize the effects of heat, since more water lowers temperature, less water and more land would increase temperature. Am I right?

What exactly to you mean by Biological utility, Dory?

That is "useful" that we have more sea than land, otherwise the world would've been hotter, right?

[GenesForLife]

Hmm, how are you going to test these hypotheses? For instance, global warming is supposed to increase ocean levels by mediating increased rates of melting in ice, now this would indicate to me that while there is a dependence, one cannot be sure if more water cools things down or if cooling results in less water.

[Dory]

Hmm, how are you going to test these hypotheses? For instance, global warming is supposed to increase ocean levels by mediating increased rates of melting in ice, now this would indicate to me that while there is a dependence, one cannot be sure if more water cools things down or if cooling results in less water.

Not so much as an hypothesis as a question.

[Tero]

I propose we collect money for the CONTROL PLANET. We will create it and place it about 6 months apart from the earth on the same orbit. We will do all the experiments there, such as taking away the moon, taking away man etc.

[GenesForLife]

Hmm, how are you going to test these hypotheses? For instance, global warming is supposed to increase ocean levels by mediating increased rates of melting in ice, now this would indicate to me that while there is a dependence, one cannot be sure if more water cools things down or if cooling results in less water.

Not so much as an hypothesis as a question.

If it cannot be formulated as a scientific hypothesis that makes empirically testable predictions, it is a question that cannot be answered scientifically with any degree of confidence whatsoever.

[Dory]

Hmm, how are you going to test these hypotheses? For instance, global warming is supposed to increase ocean levels by mediating increased rates of melting in ice, now this would indicate to me that while there is a dependence, one cannot be sure if more water cools things down or if cooling results in less water.

Not so much as an hypothesis as a question.

If it cannot be formulated as a scientific hypothesis that makes empirically testable predictions, it is a question that cannot be answered scientifically with any degree of confidence whatsoever.

Ah...fair enough. I just presumed someone made some calculations and there's some sort of definitive answer. But, I guess if it can't be tested....it can't be verified, and that would remain an hypothesis...

[mistermack]

That is "useful" that we have more sea than land, otherwise the world would've been hotter, right?

I would guess the exact opposite. The planet surface and atmosphere are kept artificially warm by the naturally occurring greenhouse gases. The one that has BY FAR the biggest effect is water vapour.
So I think it would follow that if the oceans were much smaller, we would have far less water vapour in the atmosphere, and hence the planet would be in a permanent ice age.
.

[Randydeluxe]

Dory,

I've found this site to be really handy for students who first grab onto a general interest in oceanography and are trying to get some terms differentiated so they can decide what to read from there.

All of the sub-topics on that page are links to further reading in the site, and there are often references and suggestions for further reading along the way, should a sub-topic really grab you.

[Dory]

That is "useful" that we have more sea than land, otherwise the world would've been hotter, right?

I would guess the exact opposite. The planet surface and atmosphere are kept artificially warm by the naturally occurring greenhouse gases. The one that has BY FAR the biggest effect is water vapour.
So I think it would follow that if the oceans were much smaller, we would have far less water vapour in the atmosphere, and hence the planet would be in a permanent ice age.
.

Good point come to think about it.

[Dory]

#2 Question

Do all amphibians breath through their skin when they're underwater? Also, is there certain percentage of oxygen that we and other animals take in due to skin breathing?

[Dory]

#3 Question

Are Non-coding RNA evolution's junk?

[mistermack]

#2 Question

Do all amphibians breath through their skin when they're underwater? Also, is there certain percentage of oxygen that we and other animals take in due to skin breathing?

That's an interesting question. I think a lot depends on the water quality, and temperature. Don't forget that many fish can't get enough oxygen from their gills in bad water, and have to come up and gulp air. So I doubt if many amphibians can survive without the odd gulp. They would have to live in very cold, oxygen rich water. But don't forget that a gulp of air goes a long way with cold blooded animals. I seem to remember that crocodiles can stay underwater for an hour, it might be more than that. So an amphibian could probably go a whole day, and only breath air two or three times, if it was getting some oxygen through the skin.
I know they do get some, but it varies from species to species.

I would think that we and other mammals get very little through the skin. Try holding your breath to see.
.

[Tero]

In Dr Who some decades ago they were told "bags of water, speak." This was the robot talking.

We are leaky bags of water. But we mostly leak out. Nothing much goes in through our skin. When you swim, water does go in. Wrinkled fingers.