'Lifeless' prion proteins are 'capable of evolution'

BBC Website ^ | 01/01/10 | BBC

[Jeff Gordon]

Scientists have shown for the first time that "lifeless" prion proteins, devoid of all genetic material, can evolve just like higher forms of life.

The Scripps Research Institute in the US says the prions can change to suit their environment and go on to develop drug resistance.

Prions are associated with 20 different brain diseases in humans and animals.

[Jeff Gordon]

The Dumb Designer at work in real time.

[libh8er]

These “scientists” just won’t give up trying to prove God doesn’t exist.

[Flavius]

Are these the same clowns that can’t take a temperature reading

[Anti-Utopian]

LOL

Sure they evolve. Lotsa stuff evolves. My hat evolves. All day it evolves.

[smokingfrog]

Uh, define “lifeless.”

[JaguarXKE]

“lifeless prion proteins...” I thought this would be a thread about Democrats!

[garjog]

If “evolution” means that chemicals can "adapt" to a new environment, then is that the same are biological evolution? Seems like the article is equivocating on the meaning of the term -- a linguistic trick and fallacy.

"Dr. Jonathan Sarfati states the following in relation to this definition of evolution:
“ ...many evolutionary propagandists are guilty of the deceitful practice of equivocation, that is, switching the meaning of a single word (evolution) part way through an argument. A common tactic, ‘bait-and-switch,’ is simply to produce examples of change over time, call this ‘evolution,’ then imply that the GTE [General Theory of Evolution] is thereby proven or even essential, and creation disproved."

[Porterville]

If you don’t believe in science you aren’t a conservative, you are just deranged.

[celmak]

Then why don’t evolutionist believe in science?

[stormer]

First off, Sarfati is a physical chemist, not a biologist. Second, he’s also a kook.

[stormer]

This is important research. Have you any idea the value of livestock that were destroyed in Britain because of BSE (mad cow)? When you get a brain wasting disease, be sure to pray extra hard while you still can. But don't pray for God to cure you, cause He won't. Pray that scientists like the folks in the article gain greater understanding of biological systems.

[celmak]

"Sarfati is a physical chemist, not a biologist. Second, he’s also a kook."

This is convincing...

[stormer]

“If ‘evolution’ means that chemicals can ‘adapt’...”

I hesitate to point this out, but I thought you may want to know - you really are nothing but a big pile of chemicals.

[celmak]

"But don't pray for God to cure you, cause He won't."

How do you know this?

[celmak]

"I hesitate to point this out, but I thought you may want to know - you really are nothing but a big pile of chemicals."

Beside your sarcasm, what is the difference between "lifeless chemicals," as mentioned in the article, and living chemicals?

[stormer]

Anyone with as demonstrably fine a mind as he that he embraces bronze-age mythos is a kook. What would you say if he were an advocate for Odin or Baal?

[stormer]

I'd be happy to entertain non-anecdotal evidence you can provide for a person accurately diagnosed with a brain wasting disease that has been cured through divine intervention.

[celmak]

"I hesitate to point this out, but I thought you may want to know - you really are nothing but a big pile of chemicals.

Entitled to his opinion, as is yours; the best rebuttal would be to state truths that factually disprove his argument as posted here in this thread. Do you have any facts that disprove that, "...many evolutionary propagandists are guilty of the deceitful practice of equivocation, that is, switching the meaning of a single word (evolution) part way through an argument. A common tactic, ‘bait-and-switch,’ is simply to produce examples of change over time, call this ‘evolution,’ then imply that the GTE [General Theory of Evolution] is thereby proven or even essential...?"

[RegulatorCountry]

But don't pray for God to cure you, cause He won't.

It's really interesting, your use of capitalization here, since you clearly do not accept that prayer to God will in any way be answered by Him.

Drop the caps and you'll come across as being less deceptive. Now, whether you want to cap "scientist" since you're advocating prayer to scientists, well, that's certainly your prerogative.

[celmak]

"I'd be happy to entertain non-anecdotal evidence you can provide for a person accurately diagnosed with a brain wasting disease that has been cured through divine intervention."I do not say it could or could not, you were the one who stated it will not happen; please prove it.