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Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
#1
Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
I wud like to know if speciation really occurs (trans-speciation), Have we had enough time for millions of species? The slow changes in traits in organisms, taking tens of thousands of years to yield a visible change in variation as evolution suggests, does eventually trap yourself in to a problem of "Time Riddle" - you just dont have enormous enough of time at hand for all these species to come into being. A quick average time calculation suggests that you should have a new species come into being every 15-20 yrs [just rough average time estimation suggests that in about 1 billion yrs ~50 million distinct species evolved]. Though I believe in evolution but I cant understand this part.
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#2
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
The amount of speciation is going to become more and more rapid as you move down the tree, as it can happen simultaneously amongst different species that have spread out. It's not going to be a constant rate.

So taking this very roughly to be an exponential model, then yeah, plenty of time.
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#3
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
High estimates for the number of species currently extant are around 14 million. 

Evidence for the beginning of life on Earth has reliably been dated to around 3.8 billion years ago.

So...yes.

Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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#4
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
Cambrian explosion?
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#5
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
No, I just spilt some apple juice on my shorts.
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#6
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
(July 30, 2015 at 4:22 am)Neimenovic Wrote: Cambrian explosion?

What about it?

Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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#7
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
(July 30, 2015 at 4:24 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:
(July 30, 2015 at 4:22 am)Neimenovic Wrote: Cambrian explosion?

What about it?

Boru

Well, the OP sounds like he means that emergence of new species is an isolated event, but it can happen simultaneously with many new species emerging at the same time......But I'm probably just misunderstanding him though, nvm
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#8
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
(July 30, 2015 at 4:16 am)drkfuture Wrote: I wud like to know if speciation really occurs (trans-speciation), Have we had enough time for millions of species? The slow changes in traits in organisms, taking tens of thousands of years to yield a visible change in variation as evolution suggests, does eventually trap yourself in to a problem of "Time Riddle" - you just dont have enormous enough of time at hand for all these species to come into being. A quick average time calculation suggests that you should have a new species come into being every 15-20 yrs [just rough average time estimation suggests that in about 1 billion yrs ~50 million distinct species evolved]. Though I believe in evolution but I cant understand this part.

First off all your rate isn't as outrageous as you think, bacteria and single celled organisms can do that. However boru is right, so re-run your calculation with his numbers.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
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#9
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
What time do you think we have?

http://youtu.be/iwuz1z7yYQ4
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Please visit my website here! It's got lots of information about atheism/theism and support for new atheists.

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#10
RE: Is there enough time for SPECIATION for million species
(July 30, 2015 at 4:31 am)Lemonvariable72 Wrote:
(July 30, 2015 at 4:16 am)drkfuture Wrote: I wud like to know if speciation really occurs (trans-speciation), Have we had enough time for millions of species? The slow changes in traits in organisms, taking tens of thousands of years to yield a visible change in variation as evolution suggests, does eventually trap yourself in to a problem of "Time Riddle" - you just dont have enormous enough of time at hand for all these species to come into being. A quick average time calculation suggests that you should have a new species come into being every 15-20 yrs [just rough average time estimation suggests that in about 1 billion yrs ~50 million distinct species evolved]. Though I believe in evolution but I cant understand this part.

First off all your rate isn't as outrageous as you think, bacteria and single celled organisms can do that. However boru is right, so re-run your calculation with his numbers.

I just got a tad light-headed.  I hear 'boru is right' so very, very rarely.  I'm giddy with excitement.

Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
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