That's a valid method of potential falsification in general, but in the particular example you chose, it would be a bit problematic. The reason is that the points of divergence of the gorilla/chimp/human lineages are close enough together in time that the divergence was more like a three-way split than a sequence of clean successive forks. As a result, it wouldn't be out of the question to find genetic "markers" that are common to different pairs of these lineages, in "contradictory" ways.
Find an endogenous retrovirus identically positioned in the human and gorilla genome, and not present in the chimp genome in order to do tremendous damage to the theory of evolution.
That's a valid method of potential falsification in general, but in the particular example you chose, it would be a bit problematic. The reason is that the points of divergence of the gorilla/chimp/human lineages are close enough together in time that the divergence was more like a three-way split than a sequence of clean successive forks. As a result, it wouldn't be out of the question to find genetic "markers" that are common to different pairs of these lineages, in "contradictory" ways.
I been told by Darwinists here that endogenous retroviruses are the "smoking gun" of simian/human lineages. So they are when the theory accommodates them, but if markers are found "out of place" the notion of common ancestry is not falsified? The whole idea of these markers constituting incontrovertible evidence for common ancestry rests on a host of bare assumptions, not the least of which is that they are non-functional, random occurrence - an assumption that is called into question by evidence such as observed insertion bias. The fact is nobody really knows what, if any, role these retroviruses have played in natural history. It's one thing for a theory to be able to accommodate evidence, but it's quite another for the same theory to accommodate its absence. I guess such a find in the future would just be chalked up to convergence.
Cordially,
Ichneumon: That's a valid method of potential falsification in general, but in the particular example you chose, it would be a bit problematic. The reason is that the points of divergence of the gorilla/chimp/human lineages are close enough together in time that the divergence was more like a three-way split than a sequence of clean successive forks. As a result, it wouldn't be out of the question to find genetic "markers" that are common to different pairs of these lineages, in "contradictory" ways.
Help! I just struggled back from a parallel universe where my thought processes operate like those of a creationist. It was a horrible experience. The ensuing dialogue went something like this...
Thatcherite: That's just a typical elitist liberal response. Where does it say in the Bible that the point of divergence is close? Huh? Just tell me that smarty pants? No-one was there to see and happen, and I'm telling you that all you've got is wild speculation, not even a hypothesis.
Ichneumon: Here is a link to a long, detailed, and reasoned article that explains why Thatcherite's potential falsification wouldn't necessarily work, and which points out other similar falsification which would work, with a detailed explanation of the difference between them, and the supporting evidence. All written at a level that a bright layman can follow if they are prepared to put the work in.
... [a few hours passed by]
Thatch: I Repeat my original claim, to another poster.
Ich: WTF is going on? I just explained to you why your claim was in error. Son, you need to learn something before you post again.
Thatch: "That reading assignment you gave me was far too long and had words in it that I don't understand. You are trying to pull the wool over my eyes. Anyway I've got 2 PhD's in molecular genetics and biochemistry so I know all this stuff much better than you. You are just an ignorant blowhard with your copy-and-paste arguments that you wrote yourself. You arrogant people who can pull these fancy arguments straight of your head make me sick. Well, it doesn't make you cleverer than me, no sireee! Have you been drinking?"
Ich: Son,if you've got those qualifications then the material in that link should be trivial, in fact you should already know it and have a ready-made rebutal to it.
Thatch: I never said I have any qualifications!
Ich:Yes you did, right in the post I just responded to.
Thatch:No I didn't you liar.
Ich:Yes you did, here (link supplied)
Thatch: Oh! That! I didn't mean me, I meant my cousin in Poughkeepsie. Anyway, my cousin says your link is garbage. What a joke. And he reminded me to ask you about Piltdown Man, and the Haeckel embryo diagrams? Gee, I guess you didn't realise that I already know that evolution is fraudulent and leads to drive-by shootings, and lactose intolerance, just like Michael Moore says in that film I just saw, what was it? Oh yeah, "Super Ape Me!".
Ich: Go away, troll. And come back when you've got some actual arguments that address my link .
[A couple of days later]
Thatch: I repeat my original claim again, in another thread
Ich: I've already rebutted that, and you've done nothing to address my rebuttal.
Thatch: No you haven't, evo-cultist.
Ich:Here is where I already addressed and refuted your claim (link supplied).
Thatch:Oh Yeah... right... I called my cousin and he said his friend the professor doesn't drop into the gas station to fill up that often. But when he does he'll be sure to get the professor's response to your refutation.
...
Dimensio:Thatch is a proven liar who no-one should listen to (carefully detailed links to relevant posts provide evidence of Thatches lies/delusions)
...
RunningWolf: Testing, testing. Great. This voice rec systems works real good, right... here goes:
Demented, is that all you've got?
Thatch, you are one of the good guys. Keep on posting. These threads need more posters like you. I get too few opportunities to get out my pompoms and practice the high-kicking these days, but at least the special panties still fit.
Ouch.... Nurse, why did you just take those scissors from me? Its only a flesh wound. Not even worth a purple heart in a Swift Boat. Waddayamean this terminal is for staff use only? No! I'm not going back to my room.... aaargghhhh.