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Comment on Is their any evolutionary benefit to the sneezing reflex when looking at a bright light source, or is it just an evolutionary glitch with no purpose?

BananaTrifleViolin@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

Its a glitch.

Its important to understand that evolution does not “design” anything with intent or purpose. Its all chance and survival of the fittest does select for traits that confer greater survival.

But plenty of traits are neutral or minimally negative in their survival benefits so also suriviveor develop. And it only affects traits that impact reproducing and passing on traits to the next generation. So many traits may be totally unaffected by evolutionary pressures as they have no relevance to survival of the fittest.

Plus the other species being competed woth over time and the environment generally shape what traits are desirable versus detrimental.

Basically not everything has an evolutionary purpose or function.

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sxan@midwest.social ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Ok, but: you describe what glitches are in detail, which wasn’t the question. OP clearly understands the concept behind evolution, despite using imprecise terminology.

You seem confident that there’s no benefit to the light/sneeze reflex: why? Is that an authoritative answer, or just your opinion? Do we know the mechanism behind the reflex, and can we trace it to an origin, like the recurrent laryngeal nerve?

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