Naaaah... Don't believe it.
Posted on 08/07/2006 2:13:03 PM PDT by Lt_funk
Evolution reversed in mice
The mouse looks the same but has an ancient gene US researchers have taken a mouse back in time some 500 million years by reversing the process of evolution.
By engineering its genetic blueprint, they have rebuilt a gene that was present in primitive animals.
The ancient gene later mutated and split, giving rise to a pair of genes that play a key role in brain development in modern mammals.
The scientists say the experiments shed light on how evolution works and could lead to new gene therapy techniques.
"We are first to reconstruct an ancient gene," said co-researcher Petr Tvrdik of the University of Utah. "We have proven that from two specialised modern genes, we can reconstruct the ancient gene they split off from.
"It illuminates the mechanisms and processes that evolution uses, and tells us more about how Mother Nature engineers life."
Brain development
The study, published in the academic journal Developmental Cell, involved a suite of genes involved in embryonic development.
It gives a real example of how evolution works because we can reverse it Prof Mario Capecchi
Until about 500 million years ago, early animals had 13 such Hox genes. Then each gene split into four, making 52 genes.
Over the course of evolution, further mutations occurred, and some genes became redundant and disappeared, leading to today's tally in mammals of 39 Hox genes.
The Utah team looked at two of these genes; Hoxa1, which controls embryonic brain development, and Hoxb1, which plays a key role in the development of nerve cells that control facial expressions in animals.
Hybrid gene
The Utah pair combined critical sections of each gene, reconstructing a gene similar to its equivalent some 530 million years ago.
The hybrid gene is not completely identical to the ancient one, but the scientists say it performs essentially the same functions.
"What we have done is essentially go back in time to when Hox1 did what Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 do today," said Mario Capecchi, professor of human genetics at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
"It gives a real example of how evolution works because we can reverse it."
thought you'd be interested in this
Reversed evolution? You mean, they cloned a lib?
Wow, way cool, thanks.
So they turned a mouse into a fish? There were NO mammals around half a billion years ago.
Well, since scientists did it, doesn't that make it intelligent design?
"Oh no! I've accidentally reversed the device! I've turned him into a Neanderthal Rabbit!"
No - No I Say!....no Helen Thomas stuff!!!
we'll give you a little time to get those retractions in,,,,if you need a few million extra years to get it together, we can be accomodating.
Please elaborate - I'm not sure to what you're refering.
It split into smart, and not smart.
It split into relegeon, and non-religeion.
Ooops. Redundant.
Sorry, cannot get out of 'obligation via tagline.' Besides, I don't think I've posted a Helen Thomas pic today yet. Oh wait, yeah, I did. Oh well, another never hurts! :O)
If you start a debate with invective, don't expect it to be civil.
Huh? What are you on about?
Reversal of evolution certainly doesn't fit the popular idea of progress.
Can you site a source, or are you the GHG?
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