Richard Dawkins: Insurance Policy: Two Eggs, One Survivor

Richard Dawkins explains the related egg-laying habits of Nazca Boobies, Blue Footed Boobies and Gannetts. These evolved adaptations may seem cruel to us, but the genes for these varying insurance policies get passed on through the surviving chicks to future generations.

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"In May 2007 Josh and I were among those who went to Galapagos with a large group from the Center for Inquiry. As we walked with the guided parties over the islands, Josh took every opportunity to film the wildlife. Occasionally he would turn the camera on me, and I would ad lib a few words about whatever animals we were looking at. These 'vignettes' were unscripted and unrehearsed, and there was no time for any "Take 2" repetitions, because the guided walk was moving on."

Richard

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Camera & Music by
JOSH TIMONEN

Presented by
THE RICHARD DAWKINS FOUNDATION
FOR REASON AND SCIENCE

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Blue Footed Boobies
• Gannetts
• Nazca Boobies
• Richard Dawkins
• Evolution
• Natural Selection
• Egg laying
• Biology
• Science
• Galapagos Islands

[captainlustMnB]

2:26 Paint me like one of your French girls...

[binkyN1]

All about chicks and boobies.

[cjl236]

@8yankee That's great............But how does your comment directly relate to this video other than Richard Dawkins is in it.

[txvoltaire]

This is sort of like Princess Diana, who job was to produce and "an heir and a spare".

[TheGoatherdGod]

heeey, aint it obvious that one boobie can only feed one chick!?!?

[whiterottenrabbit]

@Diemedes

xD

[whiterottenrabbit]

Boobies are my favourite kind of animals!

[Diemedes]

I like boobies.

[luccaskunk]

Did I seriously spot multiple 2g1c references or was that just a rare instance of pareidolia on my part?

[QBRebel16]

Is this similar to why humans generally produce only one offspring? Not in the sense that if there were two, the eldest would kill its sibling. Rather, I mean the fact that resources available required only one child. I guess I just answered my question.

Ha . . . boobies.