Evolution

The large majority of non-coding DNA, which is abundant in many living things, may not actually be needed for complex life in at least one carnivorous plant, Utricularia gibba, according to a paper in Nature. U. gibba,  the carnivorous bladderwort plant, genome is the smallest ever to be sequenced from a complex, multicellular plant. The researchers who sequenced it say that 97 percent of the genome consists of genes — bits of DNA that code for proteins — and small pieces of DNA that control those genes. Writing in the paper, they say it appears U. gibba has been busy deleting non-…

We all know about people’s personalities, and anyone with a dog or a cat will also tell you about their temperaments. More surprising, though, is how many others, from octopuses to frogs and even spiders have them. So why behave according to a personality, when flexibility could allow smarter choices? A study by Portuguese researchers now exploits an original approach - where the invasion of a territory by common waxbills is proxy for the bird evolution over time – to find that the emergence of different personalities can be linked to climate variation. The work reveals that in regions with…

Well there's a new article "May Atheism Succeed Demographically" that has invoked another variant of social Darwinism, yet again. Certainly there are many situations in which one might utilize the concept of evolution, in describing a variety of scenarios.  In general, the point may be to demonstrate that something changes over time, usually with the perspective that it may be improving or adapting to some situation, although such a directionality is not a requirement.  Specifically with biology, the concept relates to natural selection where particular traits are "filtered" by the…

The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) and Budgett's frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis) differ in diet and last shared a common ancestor about 110 million years ago but what they were found to have in common could help researchers on the path to prevention of intestinal birth defects.  Like most tadpoles, Xenopus exist primarily on a diet of algae, and their long, simple digestive tracts are not able to process insects or proteins until they become adult frogs. Budgett's is an aggressive species of frog which is carnivorous – and cannibalistic – in the tadpole stage. The researchers…

When you read studies about embryogenesis and the cellular and molecular mechanisms used by cells to assemble into layers or clusters of epithelial cells, you often see the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model. Stowers Institute for Medical Research Associate Investigator Matt Gibson, Ph.D., uses a different star, Nematostella vectensis, for his lab's paper on embryology. Tissues comprised of epithelial cells shape the body not only of simple creatures but also of mammals, where they line every body cavity from lung to intestine and form hormone- and milk-secreting glands.…

"Yeah well, it's just a theory".Seven words that make my blood boil. This same point has been made in every evolution-creation debate there has ever been, and it provokes the same exasperated response from the evolution camp every time. "Evolution is both a fact AND a theory. You're misunderstanding scientific terminology. What about the theory of gravity; if you don't believe it then you don't just float away!" The problem is based on the dichotomy between the colloquial use of the word theory and the scientific use. This is a dichotomy that the public is not generally aware of. Many are…

There is no question that Darwin's tremendous insight into the mechanisms by which evolution occurred was one of the singularly most significant events in biology.  Similarly with the discovery of DNA and genetics, the processes by which organisms were formed received a similar boost.  So the purpose of this article is not to argue that Darwin or genetics is wrong.  Instead, the point is to suggest that it is necessarily incomplete.  In the same way that Darwin's work was incomplete because he lacked the necessary information about genetics.  The modern evolutionary…

Recently, there was found in Spain a shelled Pre-Cambrian Critter which showed distinct evidence of a gut.  This got me thinking about the distinction between the deuterostomes and protostomes, interest in which was sparked again by the even more recent article from National Geographic: Giant Sea Cucumber Eats With Its Anus And here it is, the giant California Sea Cucumber Parastichopus californicus: Now the Sea Cucumber is one group of the Echinoderms, a phylum which along with the Chordates (of which humans make up one genus) and the Hemichordates constitute the Deuterostomes, a…

Researchers recently studied the reaction of aphids when a parasitic wasp with genetic variation laid eggs in them and found that different genotypes of the wasp affected where the aphids went to die, including whether they left the plant host entirely. The team also found an example of the emergence of a shared phenotype that was partly wasp and partly aphid. The researchers began the study by breeding 13 males with 3 females of the wasp Aphidius ervi, through which a quantitative genetic design was created. The resulting offspring of full and half siblings provided a basis of genetic…

You wouldn’t know it by current world events, but humans actually evolved to be peaceful, cooperative and social animals.- ‘Man the Hunter’ theory is debunked in new book, February 18, 2006, By Neil Schoenherr So begins a discussion regarding humans as a prey species rather than predators.  It isn't true, and it doesn't even make any sense.  After all, what do any of those traits have to do with being a predator or prey? Does anyone believe that wolves or lions aren't social?  or cooperative?  or peaceful amongst themselves? More importantly to use the term "evolved"…