At 07:25 PM Tuesday 1/17/2006, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In a message dated 1/16/2006 4:56:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,
somebody other than
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Somewhere I've heard that the biological drive to procreate can only
> >> be completely satisfied by grandchildren. :-) I have quite a few
> >>years
> >> to wait before first-hand experience.
> >>
>
There a sense in which this is true. The biologic imperative is to pass along
ones genes. Creating offspring is only part of the job. What really counts is
how many copies of your genes make into the subsequent generation. So you
could have 20 kids but if none procreate you would end up not
passing your genes
along. There are lots of strategies avalialbe. One can produce a huge number
of offspring and just hope some of them make it to the next
generation. You put
all of your energy into making offsping and none into raising them. The
ultimate example is some aphids who are born pregnant. Makes sense
for creatures
who are small short lived and dependentt upon waxing and waning conditions to
reproduce. Basically make hay while the sun shinges. On the other
extreme there
are organisms who have few offspring but invest huge amounts time and energy
in raising those offsrping. These offsprings are large long lived and capable
learning and complex behavior. Sound familiar? Basically putting all of your
eggs in one basker. By the way this a trait of all great apes more or less.
But it is probably not a great one until one peculiar primate with a
new trick
came along. Up until then primates had been dwindling for about 20 million
years losing out to monkeys which were becoming more numerous.
Having said this I don't think there is any drive to create grfandchildren.
You must have been spared the cliche of your parents starting to ask
on your wedding day how soon they could expect to become grandparents.
--Ronn! :)
"Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country
and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER
GOD. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that
would be eliminated from schools too?"
-- Red Skelton
(Someone asked me to change my .sig quote back, so I did.)
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