Wednesday, February 11, 2009

More on Darwin



Even this clip on Richard Milner shows how we can change our language when speaking about evolution. We didn't "come from apes" as he and others suggest all the time when speaking about evolution. We share a common ancestor with apes, chimps monkeys etc. and a relatively recent one at that.

On a somewhat related note, I was listening to the Science podcast (January 9 episode) when they starting talking about a new series they are having on evolution. This is interesting for two reasons. 1). 6 months ago I asked a friend of mine "what is the deal with these podcast things? I don't get the hype or the utility of them?" Then I bought myself an ipod and soon discovered the joy of podcasts. Besides the Science one, the geeky podcasts I listen to are NPR: Environment, NPR: Science Friday and WNYC's Radio Lab. Non-science ones I enjoy are The Story with Dick Gordon and of course Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me and This American Life. If you have other nerdy podcasts or otherwise, that I'm missing out on, let me know. Now for the second reason this particular story was interesting. 2). I was asked by one of my committee members during my preliminary oral exam, "Is life monophyletic?". Granted, that is a pretty crazy question, but not unexpected for me. Some of my other committee members were a little astonished, but I proceeded to attempt to answer it. I likely said some blabbering things and didn't really answer it. I think I said something like, maybe but we'll never know. Now to the point of this story, in this episode of Science they were talking about this very question. I hadn't connected the idea of understanding the origin of life with the question posed during my prelims, but it seems like they are very similar. One prevailing theory on the origin of life is that of the RNA world hypothesis where RNA was the precursor to DNA. This is important to the idea of monophyly because all cellular life has DNA and some viruses have RNA. It follows that if we are going to consider all life on Earth today to be monophyletic, RNA would be one of the "all life" group defining characters. As I suggested, this was not something I discussed (to my knowledge) in my answer to the question "is life monophyletic" and this was a way to redeem myself slightly.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Celebrating Darwin

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/darwin/images/exhibit/gallery/lg/darwin_tree_lg.jpgThis weeks issue of Science is devoted to speciation! The review articles are good historical accounts of different common topics revolving around speciation, written by well known researchers in the field. It's nice to see speciation take a place in Science during this year of Darwin. At the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, NY they are celebrating Darwin Days by inviting the public to listen to scientists and philosophers discuss and present on different topics of evolution. I wish I was in Iowa to see E.O. Wilson speak in Iowa City for their Dawin Days event. What a thrill that would be. I have seen his office door, but that is as close as I have gotten to the great ant researcher. Hopefully these types of activities for the pubic will help people understand evolution better. It's not likely to change the opinion of those who deny evolution, but may heighten the awareness and understanding of those those accepting. I think it's extremely difficult to change peoples opinion. A better approach is to target the youth through education.






In the same state that invites E.O. Wilson to speak at Darwin days, also proposed the "anti-evolution" bill, the Evolution Academic Freedom Act . This bill would allow teachers to teach whatever they want, and students to answer however they want on exams with regards to evolution/creationism/intelligent design. The following sections of the bill provide that teachers in the state's public schools and instructors in the state's public community colleges and state universities may "objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding biological and chemical evolution in connection with teaching any prescribed
curriculum regarding chemical or biological evolution" and that they "shall not be disciplined, denied tenure, terminated, or otherwise discriminated against" for doing so. Also, the bill adds, although students "shall be evaluated based upon their understanding of course materials through standard testing procedures," they "shall not be penalized for subscribing to a particular position or view regarding biological or chemical evolution." One step forward, two steps back. The Iowa State Education Association is against the bill, all regents are undecided. Currently the only support comes from the Iowa Christian Alliance.

It still amazes me that the majority of Americans don't "believe" in evolution. Evolution and religion are not diabolically opposed. I don't believe in evolution. I know that evolution is a real, biological phenomena. I think we need to change our verbiage away from belief of evolution. Hopefully things can change through education of evolution in creative and new ways. It won't happen overnight, but it could happen faster with some work. Harvard is hiring new PhD graduates to teach some of their courses. This kind of push to fill the classrooms with new vigor is one way new ideas can move through the education system faster.

I would like to know what people that deny evolution think about the Neanderthal genome being released soon. What do you make of Neanderthals? There are so many questions that could be raised here. Virus evolution; why must we get new flu shots every year? How can people accept some aspects of evolution and yet claim not to "believe" in evolution?

I digressed from my original intentions. My point is, Darwin was amazing and he deserves to be celebrated. Happy 200th Chuck.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Evolution Meetings

Just a plug for the upcoming (well, in June) meetings in Moscow, Idaho.  Moscow is great for anyone who hasn't been there before.  It's a fantastic little community with lots of spirit.

I'm going to Evolution 2009