There’s a natural order to life, rules which we expect to follow, principles which are generally accepted: Older people should die before younger ones. Healthy people should live longer than those who have lived an unhealthy life. Children should not die before their parents. Unfortunately, these rules do not always apply. There are no guarantees … Continue reading Death – it’s a Matter of Timing
All too often we will admire Nature for the beauty it produces, for the complexities it displays and for the variation it generates; but Nature also represents a cruel world. It’s a harsh reality – a dystopian state. If you are to ask what a dystopian world would look like, you would quite likely point … Continue reading Genetic Dystopia
Once a life is lived, its genetic outcome is spent. If a species has not taken advantage of the genetic opportunities presented to it, then that is a wasteful loss of potential. In a relentless battle for survival, to miss out on a resource that could prove beneficial might be considered as both negligent and … Continue reading Genetic Banking
If I have something and you need that something then is it wrong for me to take advantage of that situation by seeking to achieve personal gain? If that something is a rare commodity and I am one of the few people in possession of that something, is it wrong for me to take even … Continue reading Defining an Exploitative Relationship
When there’s a clear distinction between the good guys and the baddies it’s not too difficult to enforce the law. But unfortunately it’s not always like that! You’re a police officer; you’re clad in full riot gear; you’re on the front line facing a large, noisy protest. The situation is confrontational. The order comes through … Continue reading Hanging on a Thin Blue Line
Development – whether that is industrial, technological, economic or social – has expanded exponentially over the last couple of hundred years. This sudden upsurge contrasts with the slow, steady and incremental progress that had for many generations preceded it. Why has that suddenly happened? What triggered it? What sustains it? How long will it continue … Continue reading Mobility … Our Genetic Path to Development
Different animals have different reproductive strategies. The only common characteristic is that each strategy is purposefully designed to secure the best reproductive partner available. By doing this an animal aims to give their off-spring the best genetic prospects. A common reproductive strategy is for the male to acquire a particular territory and then to seek … Continue reading Bagging a Territory to Secure a Mate
As Thumper says in Bambi, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” Wise words from the young rabbit! But in this age of correctness and sensitivity we even need to be wary of saying something nice. Too often our words can be misconstrued, overly dissected or considered inappropriate. Even compliments … Continue reading Too Scared To Say Anything At All
Over the last few weeks I have spent some time with my elderly parents and one of the most noticeable aspects of their lives that became apparent to me is how distant and estranged they are from modern life. They just don’t understand it. Now I accept that every generation will, at times, incomprehensively shake … Continue reading Old and Left Behind
It’s a Saturday afternoon. I am with my daughter browsing the shops in a large shopping centre. We’ve had lunch and as we leave the food court I spot the toilets. I gesture towards the sign. “Do you need to go?” To my surprise I get a piercing “Really!!!” expression back from her. And then … Continue reading Letting Go of your Children
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