This!! I can hear myself think now. Magic.

Nice write-up at phys.org/news/2025-06...

Applied over longer geological time scales, our method can investigate how developmental plasticity contributes to evolution.

Our approach shows that detecting developmental plasticity in the fossil record is feasible, and can be applied to any fossils that preserve ontogenetic stages and environmental information (e.g. ammonoids, corals, bivalves, bryozoans).

We found that individual foram growth rates were influenced by temperature at the time of growth. However, shell shape such as the angle of chamber addition was not environmentally dependent, so likely determined solely by genetics.

…but planktonic forams do! They build a new chamber every few days and store environmental data in their calcite. So, we can assess the influence of environment on growth *in the fossil record*

Plasticity could aid evolution by having more morphological variation available for natural selection, but this is difficult to prove. You need entire fossil growth sequences of individuals *and* environmental data throughout their life. Most fossils don't contain such detailed information…

Developmental plasticity is when a single set of genes can produce several different phenotypes, depending on the environment the individual grows up in. For example, sea turtle sex depends on the temperature of the nest. Human body weight depends on both genetics, and nutrition during childhood

Love how the headlines get increasingly alarming 😂

🖖🏻

I take requests for the polymer clay pins and earrings! But unfortunately I don't have access to the laser cutter that carved the plywood items anymore :(