Two species become one in the lab

BBC ^ | June 14, 2006

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Two butterfly species have been bred in the lab to make a third distinct species, the journal Nature reports.

In a species, individuals need to be capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

The study demonstrates that two animal species can evolve to form one, instead of the more common scenario where one species diverges to form two.

The process has been likened to building a new bike from a pair of second-hand ones.

The Heliconius heurippa butterfly appears to be the product of a process called hybrid speciation.

Most species are thought to form when groups of organisms gradually diverge from one another over successive generations.

But these distinctive red and yellow butterflies seem to be the product of two existing varieties.

Genetic mismatch

Hybrid speciation is thought to be rare or absent in animals where, it has been argued, hybrid offspring would be less likely to survive and breed than the parent species.

This is because genes from different species are sometimes "incompatible".

Image: Juan Gillermo Montanes/Mauricio Linares Heliconius melpomene (top) and Heliconius cydno (bottom) may have hybridised (Image: Juan Guillermo Montanes/Mauricio Linares) A well known example is the mule - a sterile hybrid between the donkey and the horse. It is useful for carrying heavy loads but is a reproductive dead-end.

A team of researchers from Panama, Colombia and the UK managed to recreate Heliconius heurippa in the laboratory by crossing two other species of butterfly; Heliconius cydno and Heliconius melpomene.

"The fact we've recreated this species in the lab provides a pretty convincing route by which the natural species came about," co-author Chris Jiggins, of the University of Edinburgh, told BBC News.

Jesus Mavarez, another author from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, explained: "We found that a wing pattern almost identical to that of the hybrid can be obtained in months - just three generations of lab crosses between H. cydno and H. melpomene.

Wing patterns

"Moreover, natural hybrids from San Cristobal, Venezuela, show wing patterns very similar to H. heurippa, further supporting the idea of a hybrid origin for this species."

In addition, there is growing circumstantial evidence for hybrid speciation in Ragoletis fruit flies, swordtail fish and African cichlid fish.

Some also suspect the American red fox could be the product of hybridisation between coyotes and wolves.

Colour patterns on the wings of the butterflies may be crucial in forming new species, because they serve as mating cues. These butterflies are extremely choosey about finding mates with their own, species-specific wing pattern.

The wing patterns of H. heurippa individuals make them undesirable as mates for members of their parent species, but attractive to each other - reinforcing patterns of mating that lead to a new species.

These species-specific patterns are also crucial in deterring predators. The butterflies produce toxins when eaten and predators learn to recognise and avoid a specific wing pattern.

This is so finely tuned that butterflies with even slight deviations in colour pattern suffer from higher predation.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The fact that two species could be merged into one could be viewed as evidence that they had a common ancestor, and still is not close at all to being proof or strong evidence of macroevolution. The fact is, two species of butterfly still produced a species of butterfly. These two insect species probably were simply closer together in ancestry than a horse and donkey or a tiger and lion, which is why mules and ligers, respectively, tend to be sterile.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

crevolist ping.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Rather than evolving, the insects probably merely moved back toward a common ancestor.

[StJacques]

One thing I did not read in this article is whether the new species of butterfuly can breed with either of its two parent species (Intersterile or not). If they can breed with either, or especially both, of their parent species some lepidopterists will argue that this does not constitute a new species. But if the new species cannot interbreed with either of the two parent species, then a new species truly has developed.

I also would like to add that I lived in South America for a year and I recall one species of butterfly that came in just about every color combination imaginable. It looked a lot like the photos I just saw.

[pillut48]

Lord, please don't let those pushing the homosexual agenda know about this!! Yikes!

[StJacques]

"Macroevolution"????

Whoa!!!

This deals with "microevolution." "Macroevolution" refers to the evolution of new taxonomic groups. You must look elsewhere for observed evolutionary patterns taking place right under our eyes.

Here is a good place to start:

Genetic Mechanism to Introduce New Body Parts Discovered

[Iscool]

Some also suspect the American red fox could be the product of hybridisation between coyotes and wolves.

And probably a lot of us do not suspect this since coyotes nor wolves resemble foxes...

So they cross bred two butterflies...So what??? They ought to try something difficult like a cow and a buffalo...Hey, they could call it beefalo...But what would that prove???

[meadsjn]

Two species become one in the lab

Big deal! Everyone paying attention saw the same thing happen on a great scale in Washington, D.C.

[taxesareforever]

So they cross bred two butterflies...So what??? They ought to try something difficult like a cow and a buffalo...Hey, they could call it beefalo...But what would that prove???

Bottom line, it proves that there is a better burger out there.

[RWR8189]

What's next?

Manbearpig?

[Berlin_Freeper]

"Two butterfly species have been bred in the lab to make a third distinct species, the journal Nature reports."

The only thing they created was a ridiculous failed attempt at playing God.

"The process has been likened to building a new bike from a pair of second-hand ones."

Any fool and I do mean FOOL can piece together a third bike from two existing bikes but will it actually function as a bike? And if the bike does not fully function as a bike could it really be considered a bike at all(or just a piece of junk that resembles a bike)?

In their case with the butterfly the answer is No. They can make a third butterfly from two but they have to admit:

"Hybrid speciation is thought to be rare or absent in animals where, it has been argued, hybrid offspring would be less likely to survive and breed than the parent species."

And that is because only GOD can make a butterfly, a real true butterfly. Man can make a lab butterfly piece of junk, and call it a butterfly but that does not make it a real butterfly as they are forced to admit:

"The wing patterns of H. heurippa individuals make them undesirable as mates for members of their parent species, but attractive to each other - reinforcing patterns of mating that lead to a new species. These species-specific patterns are also crucial in deterring predators. The butterflies produce toxins when eaten and predators learn to recognise and avoid a specific wing pattern. This is so finely tuned that butterflies with even slight deviations in colour pattern suffer from higher predation."

So if you released their lab piece of junk out into the world designed by God, it will not be finding a mate and would be eaten in about 5 minutes anyway.

Thus the "new bike" does not function like the "pair of second-hand ones" and cannot be said to be a bike as defined by what bike is and does.

And notice the words used in their analogy, a sparkling "new bike" is made from a cruddy old "pair of second-hand ones". Right there is a full display of the arrogance and egomania of those eggheads, whose only real agenda is feeding their gluttonous egos beyond normal human parameters.

[stands2reason]

You didn't expect a species to jump to a totally different order?

[stands2reason]

ping

[bobdsmith]

They didn't make it, it made itself through interbreeding. Somehow I doubt God personally made every single species of butterfly.

[Berlin_Freeper]

They claim to have created a new species by the process of breeding in the man controlled lab. Nowhere did I say they made the butterfly species from scratch.

You doubt God made every single species of butterfly due to what constraint? Please do elucidate.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Wow...in a lab. You mean it didn't happen naturally? It took someone with intelligence and forethought to put together the conditions perfect for the merge? Or was this a case of a couple of butterflies just hooking up in the lab? ;-)

[MarkL]

Well, we know from the hit Loverboy song, "Pig and Elephant DNA just won't splice," so it can't be done in a lab... No, you need lots of liquor, and some romantic music. That way, you can get a "pot bellied elephant!" Look! A new species!

Mark

[muir_redwoods]

"So they cross bred two butterflies...So what??? They ought to try something difficult like a cow and a buffalo...Hey, they could call it beefalo...But what would that prove???"

A decade or more ago they engineered firefly genes into a tobacco plant. Is that difficult enough for you?

[Shimmer128]

I guess he thinks God can make an entire world and all that is in it, but can't make many hundred or thousands of species of butterflies. Or something.

You know, the old "God can't do EVERYTHING"