Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: Karl.Kluge@g.gp.cs.cmu.edu Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: diamonds Message-ID: Date: 19 Apr 91 03:12:44 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 11 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu Someone asked why, if diamond would make such a great nanosubstance, sharks don't have diamond teeth, etc. A critical thing to remember about evolution is that it works by adaptation of pre-existing structures. Once teeth had evolved, modifying them to have a radically different chemical composition isn't necessarily very likely no matter how advantageous it might be. [Yes, evolution has a very strong if-it-works-don't-fix-it attitude. Our bodily fluids are remarkably similar to seawater in composition, considering how long it's been... --JoSH]