Constructing the tree of life

SJ Mercury News ^ | 3/11/03 | Robert S. Boyd

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - The federal government is trying to create a comprehensive tree of life, assigning every creature, living or extinct, to its proper branch, twig and leaf.

The plan is to trace the family ties between everything from bacteria to whales, from dinosaurs to humans, using the latest tools of biology, genetics and computer science.

[expatpat]

I thought that had been done many years ago. Linnaeus?

[stanz]

ping

[stanz]

Linnaeus classified living forms, but this project takes it a step further and attempts to trace back to a common ancestry. It still uses his nomenclature, though.

[PatrickHenry]

Ping.

[This ping list is for the evolution -- not creationism -- side of evolution threads, and sometimes for other science topics. To be added (or dropped), let me know via freepmail.]

[Lurking Libertarian]

Earlier versions of the ancestral chart, technically known as a phylogenetic tree, already have been used to diagnose and treat disease. For example, researchers used this technique to swiftly identify the lethal hanta virus that was discovered in the Four Corners area of New Mexico in 1993. The virus's genetic makeup was unlike anything previously reported, but the phylogenetic tree of known viruses showed that its closest relatives were other hanta viruses from Asia. The degree of closeness was determined by counting the number of differences between the genes of the Four Corners virus and those of other viruses. ``This identification was possible only through phylogenetic analysis of the virus, which allowed very rapid identification,'' said David Hillis, a biologist at the University of Texas-Austin. A better source of Taxol, the breast cancer drug, was discovered by tracing the genetic relationship between Taxol's original source, a rare yew tree, and a more common shrub. Hillis uses phylogenetic techniques to research the origin and predict the course of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. He also studies harmful invasions by alien species, such as Asian clams that are clogging the cooling systems of power plants throughout the United States. ``Almost all invasive species are now identified using phylogenetic techniques,'' Hillis said. Phylogenetic evidence was used to convict a Louisiana physician of attempted murder after he injected his mistress with HIV-infected blood from one of his patients. The evidence showed that the virus in the victim's blood was closely related to the patient's virus.

For the evolution-has-no-benefits crowd.

[Junior]

Ping.

[RightWhale]

One of the amazing claims of modern biology is that all life on Earth is descended from one common ancestor

Really? Does modern biology make such a limiting claim? Also, why would the kabalistic tree be a model for geneology when it was designed for a completely different purpose?

[Junior]

Expect LBB to either ignore your post, or to say it's all a lie.

[PatrickHenry]

It's really a "tree of creationism" which, by design, just happens to be in the configuration of a tree. It clearly disproves evolution. Gotta be a gay, atheist commie to think otherwise. Besides, all the evidence is fake, and they're all in it for the money.
</flaming idiot mode>

[Condorman]

According to a diagram I've seen posted several times right here on FR, no species is related to any other species.

How did this detail escape the funding committee?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Note that the CDC did identify the Four Corners Hanta Virus in less than a week. The virus was not specially created to bug the Navajo.

[MHGinTN]

Lest we step too far in our faith for this sort of endeavor, the theory of 'Phylogeny recapitulates ontogeny' has been debunked with more thorough science.

[Right Wing Professor]

Furthermore, it shouldn't be a 'tree of life'. Creationists see life as a bouquet of artificial flowers, each separately created.

[Right Wing Professor]

Phylogeny recapitulates ontogeny' has been debunked with more thorough science

What has that got to do with genetic homologies between species?

[Right Wing Professor]

The virus was not specially created to bug the Navajo.

Easy for you to say, paleface.

[Right Wing Professor]

Does modern biology make such a limiting claim?

Not to my recollection.

[Salman]

Why is this the job of the Federal government?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Because the Federal Government has ursurped almost all funding of scientific research.

[Right Wing Professor]

Why is this the job of the Federal government?

The Federal government funds scientific research.