http://ask.metafilter.com/tags/phenotype Questions tagged with 'phenotype' at Ask MetaFilter. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:00:19 -0800 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:00:19 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/95792/Why%2Ddo%2Dfemale%2Dolympic%2Dswimmers%2Dhave%2Dthe%2Dbody%2Dtype%2Dthey%2Ddo Why do even olympic level swimmers (especially women) appear to have a "thin layer of fat over muscle" look rather than having the extreme muscle definition of say, sprinters? Mrs. True and I are watching the US Olympic Trials and it seems to a consistent body type. Clearly they are in peak physical condition but even the short distance sprint swimmers seem to be be a little 'thicker' than other athletes at that level (especially in the torso and arms). Is there something about swimming that makes this the ideal body type for women, or is it a side effect of swimming itself? tag:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.95792 Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:00:19 -0800 body muscle olympics phenotype Sport true http://ask.metafilter.com/58532/Are%2Dmemes%2Djust%2Dthe%2Dextended%2Dphenotype How are memes anything other than an extension/expression of the extended phenotype? And I mean "phenotype" in the generalized-Richard Dawkins-sense. It seems the meme meme is taken so seriously by so many, but I can't figure out how they are anything other than an interesting thought experiment/model. <br> <br> Could someone please step off the meme-wagon and explain it to me--are memes anything other than an extension/expression of the extended phenotype?<br> <br> I'm confused about this, so I hope I'm not sounding like an idiot--please forgive me if I do. Be gentle. tag:ask.metafilter.com,2007:site.58532 Sun, 11 Mar 2007 22:46:11 -0800 dawkins meme memes phenotype whatgorilla