Continuum fallacy (sorites/heap/bald man)

Biological Parallel

Oak seedlings transition gradually from cotyledon-dependency to photosynthetic self-sufficiency over weeks, yet survival depends on completing the shift before stored energy depletes. Amphibian metamorphosis is a continuum at the cellular level, but tadpoles that fail to complete transformation before pond desiccation die—blurry boundaries produce sharp consequences. Biological thresholds aren't semantic puzzles; they're tested daily by mortality.