Ready, set, mutate... and may the best microbe win

Rice University ^ | 18 May 2006 | Staff (press release)

[PatrickHenry]

Everybody be nice.

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping The List-O-Links

A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 370 names. See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped. To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit, and How to argue against a scientific theory.

[mc6809e]

Look at that. Evolution in a flask!

And they recorded the chain of mutations.

Great experiment.

[Liberal Classic]

"The duplicate study suggests that the pathways of molecular adaptation are reproducible and not highly variable under identical conditions," Shamoo said.

Interesting.

[js1138]

Lots of stuff to chew on.

For those critters that reproduce sexually, the ratio of unsuccessful to successful sperm cells is hundreds of millions to one. Lots of room for unhelpful mutations to get weeded out.

[2nsdammit]

In before Hitler!

Seriously, interesting article, thanks for the ping. Of course, the deniers will still discount it as "micro-evolution", or something.

Unfortunate name for the scientist, too! I anticipate lots of killer whale jokes.

[mc6809e]

The way I read that, it takes an incredibly specialized, highly-tailored "evolution" to take the "right" path. Interesting.

You read that wrong. There was no tailoring done. There were simply millions of random mutations, only a few of which were beneficial.

No intelligence had to alter those genes. No tailoring was done. They mutated on their own and the environment (temperature) weeded out the unfit.

[2nsdammit]

You mean like the "hands-off" experiment we are doing daily, building all those anti-biotic resistant microbes in nature (our bodies)?

Of course they are setting up the experiment on purpose - that's how science works. They come up with a prediction, based on the prevailing science, set up an experiment which they predict will give a particular outcome, then watch it run.

[PatrickHenry]

Unfortunate name for the scientist, too! I anticipate lots of killer whale jokes.

Yousif Shamoo: Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology.

[ahayes]

They grew the bacteria for one month in fermentor, raising the temperature a half degree Celsius each day.

I wonder if they ever cackled evilly as I did when lysing my transfected bacteria before bleaching them and dumping them down the sink.

[PatrickHenry]

Look at that. Evolution in a flask! And they recorded the chain of mutations. Great experiment.

But it's still a microbe! Get back to me when you can recreate the entire planetary biosphere in your satanic lab. And don't forget to get your own dirt!
</creationism mode>

[mikeus_maximus]

Of course they are setting up the experiment on purpose - that's how science works. They come up with a prediction, based on the prevailing science, set up an experiment which they predict will give a particular outcome, then watch it run. They purposely mutate a microbe to exist in designer environment. Call me when they observe, or even intelligently cause, speciation into a higher lifeform.

[Antonello]

By the way, these guys are forcing this; setting up the experiment with purpose, intent, will, intelligence, etc. in manmade containers with manmade, controlled environments, and human-designed instruments. This is an experiment, which means human interaction and influence. A study would just be a hands-off observance. Will they then turn around and tell us "ha, TOLD YOU it doesn't take intelligence"? What does this say about their opinion of themselves?

What intelligent act actually caused the thousands of mutations to occur? And what intelligent act caused some of these mutations to be selected as more beneficial than the others regarding the changing environment?

[2nsdammit]

LOL!!!!

I love it! You got this in 5 seconds before the (non-sarcastic) example!!

[PatrickHenry]

Which is satire, and which is sincere? That's your homework assignment.

[Antonello]

They purposely mutate a microbe to exist in designer environment. Call me when they observe, or even intelligently cause, speciation into a higher lifeform.

Where did you get the idea that they ever caused any mutation at all, purposely or not? And what exactly is a higher life form? One that can survive in an environment that a preceding life form could not, perhaps?

[longshadow]

This sounds like a really cool experiment. Is this sort of thing up that's right up "furball4paws" alley?

If so, perhaps he can point out the significance of the findings.

[2nsdammit]

They didn't "purposely mutate" - they purposely selected for a mutation, which occurred on its own.