Evolution at work

Contra Richard Dawkins, evolution need not always be depressing:

Reindeer have a body clock that does not rely on a 24-hour day/night light cycle, according to Norwegian researchers. It may explain how they stay awake to carry out their Christmas duties. Instead, the herbivores’ stomachs seem to keep their body clocks ticking along. . . .

“Our data showed that reindeer have not evolved strong biological clocks – they have very weak circadian machinery – probably since there is no selective advantage for it: most of the time there is no difference between night and day,”

accoriding to lead researcher Karl-Arne Stokkan