Cockroaches evolve to avoid traps

[CabVet]

This is very interesting, but not unexpected. Humans have been using baited traps to kill cockroaches for decades and now they are evolving to avoid them.

Cockroaches Avoid Sugar Treats to Outsmart Baited Traps: Insect Evolution : Nature & Environment : Science World Report

And the original paper:

Changes in Taste Neurons Support the Emergence of an Adaptive Behavior in Cockroaches

It is also a great example of something that many creationists deny so much: mutations resulting into new information. Cockroaches carrying the mutation have additional taste sensitivity that makes bait (mostly based on sugar) taste bitter to them, so they avoid bait and do not get trapped. The result? Evolution, many more cockroaches in the next generations will carry this mutation because we use so many traps.

 

[AECellini]

one small step to being the dominant species

 

[Strathos]

But it's still a cockroach, call me when it turns into a horse[/creationist]

But seriously this is interesting. Now they need to design better traps.

 

[CabVet]

But it's still a cockroach, call me when it turns into a horse[/creationist]

Well, at least we can refute the "mutation does not bring new information" argument they constantly make. But come to think of it, we already had some pretty good examples before, and they keep bringing this up, so I am not sure it will be of any help.

But seriously this is interesting. Now they need to design better traps.

That is probably already on the works, but it would be a great evolutionary experiment if they didn't. I think in just a few hundred generations this new strain would lose the capacity to interbreed with wild type and become a new species.

 

[prov1810]

Now they need to design better traps.

There's always Roach Prufe™ (boric acid). If they overcome that, let us pray they evolve fast enough to sign a treaty.

 

[TLK Valentine]

There's always Roach Prufe™ (boric acid). If they overcome that, let us pray they evolve fast enough to sign a treaty.

 

[Split Rock]

This is very interesting, but not unexpected. Humans have been using baited traps to kill cockroaches for decades and now they are evolving to avoid them.

Cockroaches Avoid Sugar Treats to Outsmart Baited Traps: Insect Evolution : Nature & Environment : Science World Report

And the original paper:

Changes in Taste Neurons Support the Emergence of an Adaptive Behavior in Cockroaches

It is also a great example of something that many creationists deny so much: mutations resulting into new information. Cockroaches carrying the mutation have additional taste sensitivity that makes bait (mostly based on sugar) taste bitter to them, so they avoid bait and do not get trapped. The result? Evolution, many more cockroaches in the next generations will carry this mutation because we use so many traps.

This is nothing more than a lose of taste/ desire for sugary foods!!!! Another example of a lose of information since natural selection cannot create new information because i read it on a creation ministry website!!!!!

Checkmate Evoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111111111

 

[keith99]

But it's still a cockroach, call me when it turns into a horse[/creationist]

But seriously this is interesting. Now they need to design better traps.

Nah they just need to change the bait.

ground squirrel poison however seems to be working quite well in this regard. Or I at least assume so as I found a closed container gnawed through so the varmits could get at the bait.

 

[CabVet]

I am amazed no creationist contributed here yet saying this was not an example of evolution.

 

[durangodawood]

I am amazed no creationist contributed here yet saying this was not an example of evolution.

Um.... the cockroaches didnt become canaries!!!

(There you go).

 

[Bungle_Bear]

Well, at least we can refute the "mutation does not bring new information" argument they constantly make.

They no longer like the taste of glucose. That's a loss, not a gain

 

[CabVet]

They no longer like the taste of glucose. That's a loss, not a gain

Not sure if you are being sarcastic (my filter is off today), but if you read the OP, you will see that they no longer like it because they gained additional taste sensitivity that makes sugar taste bitter.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

Not sure if you are being sarcastic (my filter is off today), but if you read the OP, you will see that they no longer like it because they gained additional taste sensitivity that makes sugar taste bitter.

It was indeed (cockroach) tongue-in-cheek. There's always a way to twist "additional taste sensitivity" to become "loss of taste affinity"

 

[CabVet]

It was indeed (cockroach) tongue-in-cheek. There's always a way to twist "additional taste sensitivity" to become "loss of taste affinity"

Yeah, I am just amazed they didn't try to do it yet.