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Scientists 'see new species born'
BBC News Online science editor ^ | 2004 June | By Dr David Whitehouse

Posted on 11/20/2005 9:27:40 AM PST by restornu

Scientists at the University of Arizona may have witnessed the birth of a new species. Biologists Laura Reed and Prof Therese Markow made the discovery by observing breeding patterns of fruit flies that live on rotting cacti in deserts.

The work could help scientists identify the genetic changes that lead one species to evolve into two species.

The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

One becomes two

Whether the two closely related fruit fly populations the scientists studied - Drosophila mojavensis and Drosophila arizonae - represent one species or two is still debated by biologists.

However, the University of Arizona researchers believe the insects are in the early stages of diverging into separate species.

The emergence of a new species - speciation - occurs when distinct populations of a species stop reproducing with one another.

When the two groups can no longer interbreed, they cease exchanging genes and eventually go their own evolutionary ways becoming separate species. Though speciation is a crucial element of understanding how evolution works, biologists have not been able to discover the factors that initiate the process.

In fruit flies there are several examples of mutant genes that prevent different species from breeding but scientists do not know if they are the cause or just a consequence of speciation.

Sterile males

In the wild, Drosophila mojavensis and Drosophila arizonae rarely, if ever, interbreed - even though their geographical ranges overlap.

In the lab, researchers can coax successful breeding but there are complications.

Drosophila mojavensi s mothers typically produce healthy offspring after mating with Drosophila arizonae males, but when Drosophila arizonae females mate with Drosphila mojavensis males, the resulting males are sterile.

Laura Reed maintains that such limited capacity for interbreeding indicates that the two groups are on the verge of becoming completely separate species.

Another finding that adds support to that idea is that in a strain of Drosophila mojavensis from southern California's Catalina Island, mothers always produce sterile males when mated with Drosophila arizonae males.

Because the hybrid male's sterility depends on the mother's genes, the researchers say the genetic change must be recent.

Reed has also discovered that only about half the females in the Catalina Island population had the gene (or genes) that confer sterility in the hybrid male offspring.

However, when she looked at the Drosophila mojavensi s females from other geographic regions, she found that a small fraction of those populations also exhibited the hybrid male sterility.

The newly begun Drosophila mojavensis genome sequencing project, which will provide a complete roadmap of every gene in the species, will help scientists pin down which genes are involved in speciation.


TOPICS: Education; Science
KEYWORDS: crevolist; evofreak; speciation
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To: CarolinaGuitarman

ewwwwwwwwwwwww...I was so waiting for that word coward again.

It makes my day when I get to see that from you. : )


261 posted on 11/21/2005 5:54:55 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: Dimensio

Because it would probably be the 3001st out of 3001st post that you will say isn't credible.


262 posted on 11/21/2005 5:56:18 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: nicmarlo
"ewwwwwwwwwwwww...I was so waiting for that word coward again.

It makes my day when I get to see that from you. : )"

Just telling it like it is. :)
263 posted on 11/21/2005 5:56:58 PM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: CarolinaGuitarman

And you're still a joke who thinks he can divine intent; did you help with hanging chads in Florida, too?


264 posted on 11/21/2005 6:00:32 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: nicmarlo
Because it would probably be the 3001st out of 3001st post that you will say isn't credible.

So prove it. Show us that you're right. Whining that we're going to dismiss as an excuse to not provide anything only makes me suspect that you're being less than honest.
265 posted on 11/21/2005 6:00:38 PM PST by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: nicmarlo

"And you're still a joke who thinks he can divine intent; did you help with hanging chads in Florida, too?"

And you're still a lying coward, whose intent doesn't need to be divined because you made specific statements you were afraid to defend. :)


266 posted on 11/21/2005 6:03:07 PM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: Dimensio
"Whining that we're going to dismiss as an excuse to not provide anything only makes me suspect that you're being less than honest."

Ya think? lol
267 posted on 11/21/2005 6:04:53 PM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: Dimensio; CarolinaGuitarman
Why don't you bother someone who has clearly stated, from the beginning, they WANT TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION REGARDING EVOLUTION rather than continue to harass someone who has state, at the outset, they DO NOT WISH TO and has given nothing but reasons WHY THEY DON'T WISH TO? (which reasons include the points you all have proven thus far).

For the third time, as posted back at #112:

I have my own ideas but, just like everyone else, since no one was around, it's all theories/speculation. Credible science includes the scientific method---the ability for anybody to reproduce the "test" and have the same effect. And that's not possible with much of these theories or speculations.
That was in response to my friend's question, at post #105: "What do you think of this evolutionary stuff? Seriously."

For the past 100 posts, you still have not gotten me to answer my friend's question about what I think about evolution....and you've done nothing but harass and demean, divine my intent, call me a liar and other sundry names, simply because I initially made a three sentence statement to a friend. The reasons given why I refuse to state my beliefs/opinions/ideas with specificity have been proven beyond ridiculousness with you, and just with my refusal to post anything beyond my reasons for refusing. You're absurd.

268 posted on 11/21/2005 6:17:46 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: CarolinaGuitarman

Knock off the insults and the baiting.


269 posted on 11/21/2005 6:21:22 PM PST by Darksheare (I'm not suspicious & I hope it's nutritious but I think this sandwich is made of mime.)
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To: highball

A major reason for the difficulty in reconciling Intelligent Design theory with traditional science is that the logic of one flows in a direction opposite to that of the other.

Science describes the particular aspects of nature in order to discover more general aspects. Intelligent design would appear to offer a general quality of nature (indeed, the most general) as an explanation for the existence of all particulars. Thus it cannot be tested in the traditional manner.

But the full detail of the nature of man (I am as afflicted as anyone) as revealed in some of these posts shows no variance from that of Biblical teachings.


270 posted on 11/21/2005 6:21:39 PM PST by reasonisfaith
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To: nicmarlo
"Why don't you bother someone who has clearly stated, from the beginning, they WANT TO ENGAGE IN A DISCUSSION REGARDING EVOLUTION rather than continue to harass someone who has state, at the outset, they DO NOT WISH TO and has given nothing but reasons WHY THEY DON'T WISH TO? (which reasons include the points you all have proven thus far)."

Because, despite your protestations, you HAVE engaged in a discussion regarding evolution. You made specific statements about evolution on this open forum, and them, when we disagreed and asked you for evidence for your specific statements, you whined like a 2 year old.

" For the past 100 posts, you still have not gotten me to answer my friend's question about what I think about evolution..."

Yes you have. Why are you backing away once again from your own statements?

"The reasons given why I refuse to state my beliefs/opinions/ideas with specificity have been proven beyond ridiculousness with you, and just with my refusal to post anything beyond my reasons for refusing. You're absurd."

You have made specific statements about evolution. I am sorry if you are so embarrassed by your own statements. Your cowardice is duly noted.
271 posted on 11/21/2005 6:25:03 PM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: CarolinaGuitarman

Another argument.....what and where have I said, specifically, anything about what I think of evolution?


272 posted on 11/21/2005 6:26:08 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: Darksheare

"Knock off the insults and the baiting."

Mind your own business. He made statements he's afraid to defend.


273 posted on 11/21/2005 6:26:43 PM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: CarolinaGuitarman; nicmarlo

"Mind your own business."

Funny, Nicmarlo's original post taht YOU responded to wasn't to YOU.
So.. Mind YOUR own business to begin with and people won't jump on you.
IF you want to play THAT game, then follow your own advice.

"He made statements he's afraid to defend."

No, she said she had an opinion, and didn't state it because of arrogant and abusive posters like you.
Nicmarlo is a SHE by teh by.

Again, if you want to say "mind your own business" then you shouldn't have posted to nicmarlo who hadn't addressed YOU.


274 posted on 11/21/2005 6:29:15 PM PST by Darksheare (I'm not suspicious & I hope it's nutritious but I think this sandwich is made of mime.)
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To: Darksheare; CarolinaGuitarman

Thanks darks. I tried explaining, several times now, that I initially posted an answer to a friend, not him, which he apparently believes I was lying about, as well.


275 posted on 11/21/2005 6:32:20 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: CarolinaGuitarman
You must be some kind of true curmudgeon. I can't believe you seem to think you can tee off on someone indiscriminately like that.

For the record, genius boy, it's a she. And from what I can see, she's not only a far more decent person than you ever will be, she's smarter.

And you bring shame and sheer stupidity to this forum. Such a manly man......

276 posted on 11/21/2005 6:33:07 PM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: nicmarlo; CarolinaGuitarman

I like his 'mind your own business' comment, when it is fact that your post that he initially responded to was to a friend and NOT him.

Perhaps he should.. mind his own business?


277 posted on 11/21/2005 6:33:25 PM PST by Darksheare (I'm not suspicious & I hope it's nutritious but I think this sandwich is made of mime.)
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To: Darksheare; CarolinaGuitarman

That would please me, immensely.


278 posted on 11/21/2005 6:35:19 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: nicmarlo
You said the following about evolution,

"Credible science includes the scientific method---the ability for anybody to reproduce the "test" and have the same effect. And that's not possible with much of these theories or speculations."

And then,

"I don't believe the crap I read in Science Journals, they won't print what scientists report who don't go along with their one way evolution ideas."

I asked you what it was that was not allowed into these scientific journals, and you about wet your pants whining.

You made specific, ludicrous claims; claims you weren't able and man enough to defend.
279 posted on 11/21/2005 6:36:03 PM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: nicmarlo; CarolinaGuitarman

Yes, and it would be in keeping with his own 'advice' that I mind my own business.

Seriously, why should I mind 'my own business' when he couldn't be bothered to mind his own business?
If he can't take it, he shouldn't dish it out.


280 posted on 11/21/2005 6:36:52 PM PST by Darksheare (I'm not suspicious & I hope it's nutritious but I think this sandwich is made of mime.)
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