All articles tagged with #function
Teeth and bones are both hard, mineral-rich tissues, but they differ significantly in function, structure, and living tissue status. Teeth are primarily for digestion and speech, made of enamel, dentin, and pulp, and are non-living tissue once formed. Bones support the body, protect organs, and are living tissues that constantly remodel through blood vessels and cells, which teeth do not have. These differences explain why teeth are not classified as bones.
Scientists and philosophers have identified a missing law of nature that recognizes evolution as a common feature of complex systems in the natural world. The "Law of Increasing Functional Information" states that complex systems evolve to states of greater patterning, diversity, and complexity through selection for function. This law applies to various systems, including life, stars, atoms, minerals, and more. The research expands on Darwinian evolution and offers insights into the generative forces behind complex phenomena in the universe. It also has implications for understanding the potential complexity of evolving systems, influencing the rate of evolution, and aiding the search for life elsewhere.
A study by the Medical University of Vienna examined 3D surface models of the brains of 90 species of Euarchontoglires, including humans, macaques, mice, rats, squirrels, and hamsters, to analyze the diversity of brain forms and their relationship to function, behavior, and ecology. The study found that the shape of the brain has developed in parallel with its function throughout the course of evolution. The brain adapts to its environment by first expanding its visual attention areas before other areas involved in higher cognitive functions, such as language and memory. The research outcomes could aid in better understanding the common and different characteristics between animals and humans.