BIOL 103 Chapter Notes -Evolutionary Arms Race, Rough-Skinned Newt, Garter Snake
28 Jul 2014
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In russian prisons, a new microbe has developed which is resistant to the strongest antibiotics. It is now spreading from russia, to other countries. Western oregon is home to poisonous rough skinned newt. It can paralyze victims in minutes & shut down organ is just hours. Just a pin prick of the poison is fatal to humans. Enough skin toxin to kill mice or people, poisonous to eat it. The common garter snake is abundant in this area, it is driving the evolution of the newts, it can resist the toxin. The toxin can slow down the snake or they are immobilized after eating the newt. The more resistant a snake is, the smaller the cost of eating the toxin. Predator evolving to prey & prey evolving to predator. Evolution is driven not just by physical forces but also by biological forces.
