Changing One Gene Launches New Fly Species

Science Daily ^ | 08 December 2003 | Staff

[avg_freeper]

We were quite impressed, that this simple alteration played such a dramatic role, both adapting flies to a new environment and changing their sex appeal.

I suddenly found my self more attracted to brunettes than blonds shortly after I moved from Kansas to Georgia. I wonder if I was the victim of a genetic experiment gone awry.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

Specation observed.

Well, I don't think you will find ONE SINGLE creationist or Intelligent Design backer that does not believe that DNA contains the blueprint for every life form on this planet.

They replaced a gene to create a different blueprint. If they replaced enough of them, I am sure that you could come up with a fruitfly with a snake's body having banana's sticking out of it's arse.

The point is this was done MANUALLY, It was NOT observed naturally, and there most definitely was intelligence behind the creation of a different blueprint.

When man starts to take on the role of God, it won't matter how smart we think we are or how much we think we know about the origin of life, because ours will be shortened.

[mike_9958]

Great... this is the stuff I worry about... People tweaking genes. Tweak a gene create a new bug, tweak another create a new virus, I like progress and the options this science has .... but face it we as a people aren't all that bright. How much tweaking does it to take to do serious damage.

Damn near 50% of the people voted for Gore.

[Blood of Tyrants]

It just proves the intelligent designer theory because this would never have happened accidentially. Genes just don't randomly swap around. There is a very elaborate process by which genes repair themselves to their original state. A deliberate laboratory forced change does NOT equal natural change.

BTW, how would more less resistance to starvation and more resistance to cooler weather make it more likely to survive? Cooler climates typically have LESS food available during parts of the year.

[mewzilla]

I'm glad I'm not the guy who gets to see if the two different sets of flies can or can't make little flies together. Now, there's a job.

[Judith Anne]

I'm sitting here wondering if the new fly looks anything like that guy in the movie...

[mewzilla]

Help me, help me!!!

[Havoc]

Gee, I wonder how much study it took for these educated idiots to discover that changing a gene changes a critter.
I guess there is a reason for mating after all, huh. Speciation my butt.

[Phaedrus]

This proved that a small genetic change (somehow occurring, either by direct intervenion or perhaps by random mutation) will change the characteristics within a species. As far as I can tell, they may still interbreed. Even the scientists hedge by saying they have seen the first step in the proces of speciation only. Progress indeed. But for it to lead somewhere, they need to prove that eventually they can create different species altogether (i.e. unable to interbreed).

There you go, confusing the Darwinists with the facts.

[Judith Anne]

Where DID that flyswatter go...?

[Protagoras]

Maybe something is wrong with the software. This thread appeared in the "NEWS/ACTIVISM" topics.

[mewzilla]

Why wouldn't Darwinists make the same point you just did?

[mewzilla]

Hee hee. Need a flyswatter? Click here.

[Judith Anne]

EIGHT NINETY FIVE FOR A FRIKKEN FLYSWATTER!

Dang!

[Judith Anne]

Incidently, there has been research on fruit flies since I was in high school (shortly after the great flood, I think).

They've been producing mutated flies with everything from acid to X-rays in the little buggers because they're apparently easy to work with, have been the subject of no focus groups, and haven't been lawyered up for reparations.

Seriously, PETA doesn't even care. How low can a fly get?

;-D

[mewzilla]

LOL. But they're French flyswatters, don'cha know. Tres chic.

And on a related note, how does one tell the boy flies from the girl flies? If they don't interbreed, how do they know they just don't have a batch of flies of the same gender?

[Judith Anne]

And on a related note, how does one tell the boy flies from the girl flies? If they don't interbreed, how do they know they just don't have a batch of flies of the same gender?

Same way you find mothballs. See, there are these little tiny tweezers that hold their little legs....

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Nebullis]

The point is this was done MANUALLY, It was NOT observed naturally, and there most definitely was intelligence behind the creation of a different blueprint.

This experiment wasn't designed to demonstrate the presence of a designer. It identifies a direct genetic contribution to a speciation event. The results confirm theoretical predictions.

If there was an experiment that demonstrated the presence of a designer, say, something elegant, like the double-slit light experiment, would you discount the results because it was done manually?

[Nebullis]

If they don't interbreed, how do they know they just don't have a batch of flies of the same gender?

(There are no stupid questions!)

They're very easy to tell apart. Size, stripes, and sex combs. No tweezers necessary.