1. Is the fault in the components that perform any physical action?
Answer: No
2. Is the faulty component part of the mechanism’s body?
Answer: Yes
3. Is the faulty component in the structure of the mechanism?
Answer: No
4. Does the damaged component provide protection?
Answer: Yes
5. Does the component serve any other purpose than protection?
Answer: Yes
6. Are there any external resources that can be used by the mechanism?
Answer: Yes
7. Can the environment be used to affect the adaptation process?
Answer: Yes
53) Killer whale, Orcinus orca
Killer whales inhabit every ocean in the world. To keep their bodies warm in the freezing waters they have a layer of blubber underneath the dermis that can be as thick as 3-4 inches (Sea World). Killer whales have the ability of regenerating their skin.
After being in the freezing Antarctic waters algal growth can accumulate on the outer skin of the whales giving it a yellowish tinge. To be able to slough off the old skin and rid itself of the algal growth the Killer whale migrates to warmer waters. Scientists also believe that the whales go to warmer water so that they wonÕt freeze while putting a tremendous amount of energy/heat into the skin regeneration and sloughing and not in staying warm. Once they reach the warmer waters the blood supply can be pushed to the outer surfaces of the body which will help cells in the epidermis proliferate (ÒBelluga Whale Fact SheetÓ). As they proliferate they add layers of epithelial cells under the current layers pushing the top cells to elongate and cornify. Once they are cornified the cells and algal growth can be sloughed off by using rocks or some other hard surface.
Sea World. “Killer Whales.” KILLER WHALES (Orcinus Orca) – Physical Characteristics. Sea World Parks & Entertainment, 2014. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
http://seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-infobooks/killer-whale/physical-characteristics/
“Belluga Whale Fact Sheet.” Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, 2014. Web. 7 Dec. 2014.
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