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C. Elegans (roundworm) perceives color without eyes

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Researchers already knew that the research lab fave could sense light but that’s not all, says MIT biology post-doc, Dipon Ghosh:

The new results show that the worms are “actually comparing ratios of wavelengths, and using that information to make decisions,” he says. “And that, I think, was completely surprising and unexpected.” …

Anne Hart, a neuroscientist at Brown University who also was not involved in the work, echoes that reaction. “I think the biggest implication is probably: don’t underestimate the invertebrates,” she says. Hart calls the study’s results “surprising and fascinating,” but says they make sense given that bacteria are thought to produce pigments to aid them in infecting hosts. “There’s every reason for other organisms like C. elegans who have to deal with them to cue in on color and pigment as something to be avoided in some scenarios.”

Shawna Williams, “Eyeless C. elegans Perceives Colors: Study” at The Scientist

The paper is closed access.

Of course, life forms can somehow happen upon all this information-gathering machinery via natural selection acting on random mutations (Darwinism). Right? If that were true, stones would be coming to life and they aren’t.

Comments
C. Elegans (roundworm) perceives color without eyes
Differentiating between frequencies of electromagnetism is not "perceiving color." Color is a subjective conscious experience. No evidence that worms are having conscious experiences of anything let alone color.Concealed Citizen
March 8, 2021
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Darwinists believe in miracles ... Darwinism = a miracle after a miracle after a miracle after a miracle ... C.elegans can 'see' without eyes ... There are other similar examples: Octopuses can 'see' with their skin: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/octopuses-can-see-their-skin Famous peppered moth' caterpillar can 'see' with its skin: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/science/caterpillars-camouflage-color.html All these species are evolutionary not related... so, Darwinists have to believe, that this miracle of skin-vision 'evolved' multiple times independently... sure, most miracles happen in biology... Like i said, Darwinists seem to be very religious people....martin_r
March 8, 2021
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Enjoyed until the mandatory nonsense about how CLIMATE CHANGE WILL KILL US ALL was injected at the end. Droughts are not actually increasing, grasses are not shrinking around the world (rather the reverse due to CO2 fertilization), so the whole idea lacks observational basis. Fashion trumps facts, alas.anthropic
March 8, 2021
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Belfast, I think you read too much into it. Having been on the exam marking side of things, often till after midnight, anything that makes you laugh is appreciated. As an undergrad, that wasn’t the only time I was awarded marks for providing a humorous/ridiculous response for a question I obviously didn’t know the correct answer for.Steve Alten2
March 7, 2021
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@Steve Permit me to edit in today’s language. “I was surprised to see a nematode (etc)” The exam assessor would now respond, “Your answer was surprising, unexpected and fascinating.” You would get extra points.Belfast
March 7, 2021
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This reminded me of a question I had in an invertebrate biology lab exam in university. We each rotated through several stations, each with a specimen and a question. I came to one with a microscope and the nematode from the OP. The question was, ”What is the genus of this organism?” At the time, the name escaped me so, being the smart ass that I can be at times, I wrote “The great flightless worm of New Guinea.” I was given half marks. :)Steve Alten2
March 7, 2021
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Using ratios isn't unusual. Most sensory neurons work on ratios. The other side of the battle is actually more puzzling. Why would the bacteria continue to emit pigments when the target can detect and avoid the pigments?polistra
March 7, 2021
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