April 1994 PMID 8008757

A pessimistic estimate of the time required for an eye to evolve.

D E Nilsson, S Pelger

Mentions

38
Peak: 7 in Jul 2020
across 4 sources since Jul 2020

Extended reach

59,974
potential audience

Total likes

590

Video views

8,400

Mentions per month

Jul 2020 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter17 posts
  • News10 articles
  • Blogs9 articles
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Posts like the one highlighting Nilsson's 1994 paper show strong interest and engagement through mentions of scientific details and personal enthusiasm. The tone varies from curiosity to scientific respect, emphasizing how the publication contributes to understanding rapid eye evolution, with words like 'recommendable' and 'top papers' reflecting appreciation, whereas dismissive remarks about human eyes suggest a nuanced view of biological perfection.

AgreementModerate agreement

Many posts reference the accuracy and relevance of the article's estimates, with some expressing surprise at how quickly eyes could evolve, indicating general agreement.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions frequently mention the paper and the topic of eye evolution with enthusiasm, showing high interest in the scientific implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several comments demonstrate deeper engagement by referencing scientific studies, quotes, and personal insights about evolution or biological complexity.

ImpactModerate impact

While some discussions emphasize the significance of the research in understanding evolution, most remain within academic or curiosity-driven contexts, implying moderate impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The text discusses how eye evolution can be understood through theoretical design considerations, suggesting that small improvements driven by natural selection can gradually change a simple light-sensitive patch into a complex lens eye.
  • It explains that by making conservative (pessimistic) estimates, we can calculate an upper limit for how many generations this transformation might take, which turns out to be surprisingly short—only a few hundred thousand years.
  • This implies that the evolution of complex eyes could have happened relatively quickly in geological terms, emphasizing the efficiency of natural selection in developing sophisticated visual systems.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Steve Haroz
@sharoz · X

And the book summarizes an article by Nilsson (one of the authors) that is in my top 5 papers in any field. A Pessimistic Estimate of the Time Required for an Eye to Evolve Authors: Dan-E. Nilsson and Susanne Pelger Year: https://t.co/nRg1R2ed6R https://t.co/r3FcOTx7VL

Sep 17, 2022 · 3 likes · 1 share · 4,093 followers View post →
William Shen
@shenbokui · X

@cloneofsimo You might find this 1994 paper, "A pessimistic estimate of the time required for an eye to evolve," interesting. tldr: it takes <400k generations for an eye to evolve. https://t.co/eTtqkmesIz

Dec 14, 2024 · 3 likes · 1,367 followers View post →
psicolibrí {Diego}
@PsicolibriDR · X

Videazo del maestro Vary Inversión, un no te flipes ante el argumento del endiosamiento del ser humano. Desde la biología. Muy interesante. https://t.co/Zfu6IURELE

Jul 7, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 7,400 followers View post →
018
@CER0DIECI0CH0 · X

#magufoconcentrado https://t.co/shf8Ej1e6u https://t.co/LtX3mGySmg

Jul 1, 2020 · 2 likes · 315 followers View post →
ThankReason4That
@Ausbloke93 · X

@BlessedThomist @epalomo17 @NotEvolution1 It quotes a study that literally studies the development through fossils

Dec 2, 2024 · 1 like · 545 followers View post →
Badger
@RealRageBadger · X

@SDAFS56788141 @JonHammond1701 @RavenwithaT @darwintojesus The Flagellum https://t.co/nErUmkq0cQ https://t.co/couENLtbKd Evolution of Jawbone and Middle Ear Bones https://t.co/ckjROEU0X4 Focused Lens Eye https://t.co/9EBaTSJ1qD Blood Clotting https://t.co/kMO21v8d0u Feathers https://t.co/7NyF1kME7G

Aug 23, 2024 · 1 like · 27 followers View post →

All mentions

Tacita
@Paleocetus · X

@jewc41 @Exa2108 @LaikaOrbital https://t.co/cKeO94tsmE Mira tú que justo tengo el video de un biólogo que toca ese tema, muy recomendable. Por cierto, este tiene ojos y no ve, nace así. https://t.co/mt6td49f9U

Jul 10, 2025 · 70 followers View post →
William Shen
@shenbokui · X

@cloneofsimo You might find this 1994 paper, "A pessimistic estimate of the time required for an eye to evolve," interesting. tldr: it takes <400k generations for an eye to evolve. https://t.co/eTtqkmesIz

Dec 14, 2024 · 3 likes · 1,367 followers View post →
ThankReason4That
@Ausbloke93 · X

@BlessedThomist @epalomo17 @NotEvolution1 It quotes a study that literally studies the development through fossils

Dec 2, 2024 · 1 like · 545 followers View post →
Badger
@RealRageBadger · X

@SDAFS56788141 @JonHammond1701 @RavenwithaT @darwintojesus The Flagellum https://t.co/nErUmkq0cQ https://t.co/couENLtbKd Evolution of Jawbone and Middle Ear Bones https://t.co/ckjROEU0X4 Focused Lens Eye https://t.co/9EBaTSJ1qD Blood Clotting https://t.co/kMO21v8d0u Feathers https://t.co/7NyF1kME7G

Aug 23, 2024 · 1 like · 27 followers View post →
Stefan Goetz
@Tangl3dBank · X

Here's why they are different https://t.co/85bfxGaKXk https://t.co/GWrolKD6hU https://t.co/U1GeDHCj0I https://t.co/mI3qwRoIi9

Jun 27, 2024 · 502 followers View post →
Cornelius Hunter
@_DarwinsGod_ · X

16/23 Nilsson has been doing this for years, going back to his 1994 paper: https://t.co/p0PlpywwgE

Oct 23, 2022 · 212 followers View post →
Cogsci.nl
@cogscinl · X

RT @sharoz: And the book summarizes an article by Nilsson (one of the authors) that is in my top 5 papers in any field. A Pessimistic Esti…

Sep 17, 2022 · 1 share · 2,716 followers View post →
Steve Haroz
@sharoz · X

And the book summarizes an article by Nilsson (one of the authors) that is in my top 5 papers in any field. A Pessimistic Estimate of the Time Required for an Eye to Evolve Authors: Dan-E. Nilsson and Susanne Pelger Year: https://t.co/nRg1R2ed6R https://t.co/r3FcOTx7VL

Sep 17, 2022 · 3 likes · 1 share · 4,093 followers View post →
DrKent1977
@DrKent1977 · X

@loriesthersar And this.... https://t.co/6NrfoCJB4i

Nov 4, 2021 · 775 followers View post →
Matt Haber
@ProfMattHaber · X

@NeuroYogacara Not really a review and a bit old (1994) but it's one of my favorites. Spoiler alert: turns out that eyes can evolve really easily and quickly! Nelson & Pelger "A pessimistic estimate of the time required for an eye to evolve" Proc. R. Soc. B. 256: 53-58 https://t.co/fciUsZudOz

Oct 21, 2020 · 722 followers View post →
Emory Richardson (mostly on
@emory_rchrdsn · X

@MCHammer Hey @MCHammer, you might like this paper (9th for the day?) if you're interested in the eye! https://t.co/eh0WiYjxgS Nilsson, D. E., & Pelger, S. (1994). A pessimistic estimate of the time required for an eye to evolve. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. https://t.co/d8GWO07Btu

Oct 3, 2020 · 783 followers View post →
Khram Señor Palmera
@NightHowl11 · X

RT @VaryIngweion: @UribeX @NightHowl11 @RadiactivoMan @pepechin_ «No la usa nadie». Cuatro referencias científicas que tenga en mi bibliot…

Jul 10, 2020 · 3,733 followers View post →
Vary - @VaryIngweion@neopaquita.es
@VaryIngweion · X

@UribeX @NightHowl11 @RadiactivoMan @pepechin_ «No la usa nadie». Cuatro referencias científicas que tenga en mi biblioteca… así, escogidas al azar. 1. De Suecia. https://t.co/iLRQEhtAzL 2. De Noruega. https://t.co/nueSq7WVTo 3. De Nueva Zelanda https://t.co/CdFd18fJba 4. De EEUU https://t.co/lBkkzS2P7g https://t.co/O6MQN20q5K

Jul 10, 2020 · 26,395 followers View post →
psicolibrí {Diego}
@PsicolibriDR · X

Videazo del maestro Vary Inversión, un no te flipes ante el argumento del endiosamiento del ser humano. Desde la biología. Muy interesante. https://t.co/Zfu6IURELE

Jul 7, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 7,400 followers View post →
Donovan G
@donvanchipotin · X

Vaya cátedra la que nos regala el buen @VaryIngweion. El argumento religioso “magnífico” y simplista vs. el argumento científico impresionante y realista: «Mira tus OJOS en el espejo, y verás la PERFECCIÓN»... pues va a ser que NO https://t.co/YYFT8wwLAB vía @CuriosaBiologia

Jul 1, 2020 · 1,398 followers View post →
018
@CER0DIECI0CH0 · X

#magufoconcentrado https://t.co/shf8Ej1e6u https://t.co/LtX3mGySmg

Jul 1, 2020 · 2 likes · 315 followers View post →
HJ Liebheart
@HLiebheart · X

«Mira tus OJOS en el espejo, y verás la PERFECCIÓN»... pues va a ser que NO https://t.co/3qjO98SiRV a través de @YouTube

Jul 1, 2020 · 515 followers View post →