Comments on: Time In A Bottle: Scientists Watch Evolution Unfold

By: Dov Henis

Dov Henis — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:09:11 +0000

Watch Evolution Unfold

Time In A Bottle: Scientists Watch Evolution Unfold
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091018141716.htm

- “demonstrates natural selection at work”

Natural selection is involved only in a small fraction of evolution, in cases of genetic accidents. Normal evolution is an evolution of culture, of reaction to circumstances, fed back to the genes, who consequently modify their expressions accordingly, by way of alternative splicing.

- “By the 20,000-generation midpoint, researchers discovered 45 mutations among surviving cells”

They did not “discover”, but uncover, the “mutations”, which were not mutations but alternatively spliced genes in response to the conditions of the culture. (It is not a coincidence that a community of monocell organisms is termed a culture. It is a culture just as a community of multicell organisms).

- “Those mutations, according to Darwin’s theory, should have conferred some advantage, and that’s exactly what the researchers found.”

What the reserchers uncovered (not found, no more found than Columbus found America when stumbling upon it) is NOT “mutations that conferred advantage”. They uncovered what has been known and explained for the past several years, i.e. that cultural advantages induced genetic changes, manifest in the form of changed expressions of genes.

It seems that mundane scientific decadence blinds 21st century science to the lifehood of genes.

Dov Henis
(Comments From The 22nd Century)
Updated Life’s Manifest May 2009
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/140/122.page#2321
Implications Of E=Total[m(1 + D)]
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/180/122.page#3108

By: ReliegiousMarie

ReliegiousMarie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:05:23 +0000

Had the same thoughts as you @jess…..evolution in a bottle …the essence of time….sounds good!

By: Jess xxx

Jess xxx — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:30:36 +0000

‘Essence of Evolution’…..Sounds like a new perfume

Brilliant article, and an ingenious and amazing experiment. No doubt it will be discredited by Creationists saying, “However, this does not prove evolution, as it only involves bacteria, and they are clearly not the same as humans.”…………….They’ve managed to breed 40,000 generations of bacteria, and document evolution in progress. They deserve a LITTLE bit of congratulations, even if they haven’t solved the Mystery of Life!

By: mike

mike — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:07:57 +0000

@ Richard Colley – best of luck mate, but I wouldn’t waste your time ( or tea ) – you can’t win an argument with the brainwashed!

By: MarkEMarkEMark

MarkEMarkEMark — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:13:54 +0000

I’ve been reading more on the Conservapedia take on this at: http://conservapedia.com/Conservapedia_talk:Lenski_dialog

It’s briiliant. It goes to show how there is really no point in arguing with some people, even if your points are clear and rational. Lenski’s final reply (see my original link) is excellent.

By: JayKay

JayKay — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:24:28 +0000

@James – indeedy. phillis squeezed it in between 2 existing posts? Maybe I’m wrong. And it is tiny, tiny stuff… Going to read the whole article. My head hurts.

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:05:35 +0000

This is the experiment mentioned in Dawkin’s new book and evolution – and shows how a slow accumulation of mutations can give incremental change and a major step change. It just shows how fantastic, long sighted experimental design can supply evidence that counteracts the whole Intelligent Design nonsense, the “Magic man done it” “hypothesis” (thanks Robin Ince for this phrase – look up his skit on this).

By: James

James — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:59:29 +0000

I wonder if this has anything to do with some time

By: MarkEMarkEMark

MarkEMarkEMark — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:45:16 +0000

The best thing I heard about this was how Lenski completely demolishes the arguments against this at http://conservapedia.com/Conservapedia:Lenski_dialog (a site that is pro-creationist)

It’s amazing how they never get his points. A case of David Dunning and Justin Kruger’s law being proven once again!!

By: Richard Colley

Richard Colley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:07:32 +0000

That is an amazing article, and experiment. One that has Creationists a little bit antsy as they scrabble around in the dirt looking for ways to refute it. It will be fun to see the responses that come from that. I shall look forward to my next door knock, and theological discussion, with the friendly faces of those bible carriers. I might even invite them in for a cup of tea and fire up the internet (The Devil’s creation).