this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2025
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Science Memes

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[โ€“] [email protected] 29 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Only in areas with tigers, and then it would only express itself enough if there were enough evolutionary pressure exclusively on that survival tactic.

As long as other causes of death happen to deer in tiger territories and as long as speed remains a good survival strategy, minor mutations that would only provide an advantage in extreme specific scenarios like a tiger stalking them wouldn't have a chance to be spread.

There's also a whole host of additional brain power that needs to be dedicated to more complex colour blending and processing, and that may add enough delay to offset any potential gain in recognizing a threat.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

minor mutations that would only provide an advantage in extreme specific scenarios โ€ฆ wouldn't have a chance to be spread.

Most north europeans can digest lactose.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

North Europe is a frozen wasteland where nothing grows for like a third of the year, being able to digest lactose in those months is hugely advantageous. I don't think "winter" counts as an "extreme specific scenario"

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Hey northern europe is not all Iceland.

[โ€“] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Black death IIRC. Milk was one of few easily availabke foods when farmers died off. So, extremely specific scenario.