2012-04-08
Explanation
This comic features a biology lecturer explaining that horizontal gene transfer has made the traditional "Tree of Life" model inadequate for representing evolutionary relationships. Because horizontal gene transfer allows divergent branches of life to share genetic material directly (not just through vertical inheritance from parent to offspring), the branching tree structure does not accurately capture all evolutionary connections. The lecturer notes there is really only one commonly known structure that could describe this quality -- implying a web or network. The caption at the bottom reads: "Nobody appreciated my Ewok Village of Life concept."
The joke is that instead of proposing the scientifically standard term (a "web" or "network" of life), the lecturer has apparently suggested that evolution should be modeled on an Ewok village from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Ewok villages are complex interconnected structures built in trees with platforms, bridges, and walkways linking different branches -- which is actually a decent visual metaphor for horizontal gene transfer linking different evolutionary branches, but is too nerdy and silly to be taken seriously in an academic context.
The votey panel shows an illustration of such a web-like tree structure with a small Ewok figure perched in it saying "Yub nub!" -- the famous Ewok exclamation from Return of the Jedi -- bringing the "Ewok Village of Life" concept to visual life and confirming why nobody in the audience appreciated the idea.