Sphodros atlanticus – purseweb spider. Mr. Denelsbeck writes, "The business end of a male purseweb spider. While noticeable from above and seeming to take up far more of the spider's body mass than should be necessary, the chelicerae are most impressive from underneath, with very large fangs and serrated edges for gripping prey. Despite that, these are not large spiders – my specimen here is only 10-12 mm in body length. The females are almost never seen, generally remaining inside the lair that provides their name, usually looking like a small twig against a treetrunk (I've searched, but found nothing of the sort so far). Canon 7D, Canon 18-135 STM at 64 mm and 36 mm extension tube, ISO 200, F/13, 1/200 s with custom softbox flash unit."
A robot made by Toyota blows its own horn. Image from Wikimedia.
I happened to type “evolution revised” into my Safari browser, and A.I. kicked in. I try to turn off A.I. as much as I can,
but this slipped past me. Here’s what it said:
AI Overview
Evolutionary theory is currently being updated from the traditional gene-centric Modern Synthesis
to an “Extended Evolutionary Synthesis” (EES). This revised framework incorporates new research,
acknowledging that evolution is driven not just by random genetic mutations and natural selection,
but also by epigenetic, behavioral, and environmental factors, alongside rapid, often developmental,
adaptation.
Key Aspects of Revised Evolutionary Theory
Four Dimensions of Heredity: Beyond genetics, inheritance includes epigenetic (cellular modifications),
behavioral (habits and cultural transmission), and symbolic (language) systems.
Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES):
Proposes a more comprehensive framework than the Modern Synthesis,
integrating developments in evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo),
epigenetics, and phenotypic plasticity.
Role of Plasticity and Environment: Organisms can modify their environment
(niche construction) and transmit those changes. Acquired traits can be
passed down via non-genetic mechanisms.
Faster, Recent Evolution: Recent studies, such as the analysis of 16,000
ancient genomes, reveal that natural selection has accelerated in some
populations over the last 10,000 years, affecting hundreds of genes.
Regressive Evolution: Recognized as a common process where organisms
lose complex traits to adapt (e.g., loss of eyes in cave-dwelling fish)
to conserve energy in specific environments.
Key texts reflecting these changes include Evolution in Four Dimensions, Revised Edition by
Jablonka and Lamb and The Princeton Guide to Evolution.
Any thoughts?
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The late Craig Venter. Photograph by Michael Janich. CC BY-SA 3.0.
We received an e-mail just now from Joel Eissenberg, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, saying,
As you may have seen, Craig Venter died yesterday. He played an important catalytic role in accelerating genome sequencing, both for humans and for my favorite model organism, D. melanogaster. His work obviously impacted comparative genomics.
Prof Eissenberg’s post at The Angry Bear is reproduced, with permission, below the fold:
![[image of Toyota robot]](/uploads/2026/ToyotaRobot.jpg)
