What is the mechanism that allows birds to build nests, beavers to build dams, or spiders to spin webs – without anyone teaching them how?

332 views

Those are awfully complex structures, I couldn’t make one!

In: 613

14 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s simple, all those basic instincts are stored in the brain’s BIOS ROM (Basic Input/Output System Read-Only Memory) and is copied to any off-spring.

All additional skill apps and memories are installed in RAM memory of the brain. But because RAM is volatile, it will get erased when the power (heart) cuts out.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I don’t have an explanation myself, but I have book recommendations for your interest!

Summer World & Winter World by Berndt Heinrich are excellent books on animal behavior from an intimate, science focused perspective.

Anonymous 0 Comments

A lot of people give reflexes as examples, but those aren’t exactly instincts. I believe a much better analogy of instincts in humans is throwing. Humans instinctively throw really damn well, better than any animal in fact. Every human can throw as part of their normal development with quite excellent accuracy. We do this without thinking about how far to extend our arms or what precise force to apply, we just go with the intention “I want to put this object there”. Perhaps it’s similar for animals? They just go with “want nest here” and their brains take over for the fine details.

Anonymous 0 Comments

[Stigmergy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmergy)! Agent based computer simulations with very few rules can make quite complex structures and exhibit behaviors very similar to, e.g., termites, bees, or ants.