Or one could think of the butterfly as a parasite-like other entity that’s always present within the caterpillar and ultimately devours it from inside. The caterpillar doesn’t become a butterfly, it just dies, having fulfilled its life purpose.
Yes, I remember the Radio Lab about this. I believe they released a foul scent then shocked the caterpillars and they would flee the scent after becoming butterflies, whereas control subjects did not flee the scent after metamorphosis.
Well, the surprising part is that the structures don’t change incrementally but are dissolved completely and reformed. But yes, the memories are transferred via the goo somehow.
Or one could think of the butterfly as a parasite-like other entity that’s always present within the caterpillar and ultimately devours it from inside. The caterpillar doesn’t become a butterfly, it just dies, having fulfilled its life purpose.
The butterfly has the memories of the caterpillar, though, so that’s not how it works.
Yes, I remember the Radio Lab about this. I believe they released a foul scent then shocked the caterpillars and they would flee the scent after becoming butterflies, whereas control subjects did not flee the scent after metamorphosis.
https://radiolab.org/podcast/goo-and-you
Wouldn’t that test be inconclusive if the memories are being transfered via the goo
Well, the surprising part is that the structures don’t change incrementally but are dissolved completely and reformed. But yes, the memories are transferred via the goo somehow.
Step one, become the goo.
Parasites can have memory too.