WP: Analysis of Chimp Genome Affirms Science of Evolution

[kskiska]

DNA Testing Yields Results Predicted by Darwin's Theory

Monday, September 26, 2005; A08

When scientists announced last month they had determined the exact order of all 3 billion bits of genetic code that go into making a chimpanzee, it was no surprise that the sequence was about 96 percent identical to the human genome. Charles Darwin had deduced more than a century ago that chimps were among humans' closest cousins.

But decoding chimpanzees' DNA allowed scientists to do more than just refine their estimates of how similar humans and chimps are. It let them put the very theory of evolution to some tough new tests.

If Darwin was right, for example, then scientists should be able to perform a neat trick. Using a mathematical formula that emerges from evolutionary theory, they should be able to predict the number of harmful mutations in chimpanzee DNA by knowing the number of mutations in a different species' DNA and the two animals' population sizes.

"That's a very specific prediction," said Eric Lander, a geneticist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., and a leader in the chimp project.

Sure enough, when Lander and his colleagues tallied the harmful mutations in the chimp genome, the number fit perfectly into the range that evolutionary theory had predicted.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501177_pf.html

[merwin]

1. I'll take a stab at the obvious...

Looks like they missed that 4% of the human genome when they created GW Bush.

[asjr]

5. Well, we all know he didn't evolve.

[saigon68]

12. What ASS CLOWNS

[goclark]

28. 3/4 of those pictures PROVE he has been Drinking all along!

We need to start a " Drinking Photo Op" Thread.

Then we could send it to Jon Stewart and Bill Maher.

When I looked at your collection of what we thought was "Chimp being silly" was "Chimp's Been Drinking."

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. Clairvoyant comedy: Blackadder, UK TV mid 1980s:

Vincent Hanna: And now, finally, a word with the man who is at the center of this bi- election mystery: the voter himself. And his name is Mr. E. Bla-- Mr. Blackadder, *you* are the only voter in this rotten borough...?

Edmund: Yes, that's right.

Vincent Hanna: How long have you lived in this constituency?

Edmund: Since Wednesday morning. I took over the previous electorate when he, very sadly, accidently brutally cut his head off while combing his hair.

Vincent Hanna: One voter; 16,472 votes. A slight anomaly...?

Edmund: Not really, Mr. Hanna -- you see, Baldrick may look like a monkey who's been put in a suit and then strategically shaved, but he is a brilliant politician. The number of votes I cast is simply a reflection of how firmly I believe in his policies.

http://blackadder.powertie.org/transcripts/3/1/

An idiot put up as a puppet candidate, voter fraud, doubts cast on the candidate's species - what more do you need?

[MADem]

31. There's a "harmful mutation" if we ever saw one! nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. And here I thought this article was going to be about *'s genetics!

[alarcojon]

3. Game over, freepers!

Oh wait, it's BEEN OVER for a long, long time. They just don't know it or don't care.

I'll leave the chimperor jokes to others....

[rodeodance]

8. it will eventually tell us which class Intelligent Design belongs to also.

Consequently, mutations in regulatory portions of a DNA strand can have effects just as dramatic as those prompted by mutations in genes themselves. They can, for example, cancel the development of an appendage -- or add an appendage where one never existed. This discovery refuted assertions by Intelligent Design advocates that gene mutation and natural selection can, at most, explain the fine-tuning of species.

"The mechanisms that make the small differences between species are the same ones that make the big differences between kingdoms," said Carroll, author of a book, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful," that describes many of these new insights.

Although the central tenets of evolution have done nothing but grow stronger with every experimental challenge, the story is still evolving, Carroll and other scientists acknowledge. Some details are sure to be refined over time. The question to be answered in Harrisburg is whether Intelligent Design has anything scientific to add for now, or whether it belongs instead in philosophy class.

[Ediacara]

9. The game is far from over

(for them anyway). They'll just concoct some absurd idea concerning Satanic rights and global conspiracies....

If you think you can persuade them with data, you're sorely mistaken....

[Cocoa]

20. creationism is actually a hot topic at FR

the anti-Creationist FReepers can be quite brutal in their ridicule:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?s=creationism&q=quick&m=any&o=score&SX=4337db918ce455eeffed53c57c985ae820363b47

[geebensis]

23. Shhh....don't tell anyone, but

...not all of the people heaping ridicule on those freeper threads are real freepers. Some are trolls...

[Cocoa]

41. not trolls

bona fide freepers.

Face it, there's common ground.

[alarcojon]

25. Interesting concept - freepers with a respect for science

almost makes me want to go have a look.

almost.

[geebensis]

27. There are quite a few of them...

...but get away from science and they're just as thick-headed, obnoxious, and mean spirited as the rest of them.

[iconoclastic cat]

4. It's a trick by Satan! That "science" is evil, I tell you!

Evil! Eeeeeeeeevil!

[drhilarius]

6. "Using a mathematical formula that emerges from evolutionary ..

...they should be able to predict the number of harmful mutations in chimpanzee DNA by knowing the number of mutations in a different species' DNA and the two animals' population sizes."

Hm, nothing a little "faith based" mathematics can't solve.

[Gloria]

7. Someone send this story to Kansas.....

eom

[ramapo]

10. Heresay!

What else can you expect from the eastern liberal press?

[VegasWolf]

11. God is tricking us AGAIN!!! nt

:sarcasm:

[Barrett808]

33. No, Satan "tricks" us, God "tests" us

"Crucial" difference.

[VegasWolf]

39. You have got to be kidding me????? You really believe in the devil???nt

[Qibing Zero]

42. I know! Ever since that whole bit about the...

..continents looking like they fit together, he's yet to let up!

That crazy guy.

[Up2Late]

13. New Analyses Bolster Central Tenets of Evolution Theory (W.Post)

(For anyone here who knows someone who is confused about what "Theory" actually means when referring to science, this article might help.)

New Analyses Bolster Central Tenets of Evolution Theory

Pa. Trial Will Ask Whether 'Alternatives' Can Pass as Science

By Rick Weiss and David Brown
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, September 26, 2005; Page A08

When scientists announced last month they had determined the exact order of all 3 billion bits of genetic code that go into making a chimpanzee, it was no surprise that the sequence was more than 96 percent identical to the human genome. Charles Darwin had deduced more than a century ago that chimps were among humans' closest cousins.

But decoding chimpanzees' DNA allowed scientists to do more than just refine their estimates of how similar humans and chimps are. It let them put the very theory of evolution to some tough new tests.

If Darwin was right, for example, then scientists should be able to perform a neat trick. Using a mathematical formula that emerges from evolutionary theory, they should be able to predict the number of harmful mutations in chimpanzee DNA by knowing the number of mutations in a different species' DNA and the two animals' population sizes.

"That's a very specific prediction," said Eric Lander, a geneticist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., and a leader in the chimp project. Sure enough, when Lander and his colleagues tallied the harmful mutations in the chimp genome, the number fit perfectly into the range that evolutionary theory had predicted.

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501177.html?nav=rss_nation>
(more at link above)

[opihimoimoi]

14. There is no way the Chimp can unnerstan this stuphs

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. Evolution is one of the basic laws of nature

Constructing religious beliefs in conflict with it is done at the peril of the constructor.

[FM Arouet666]

16. Just more icing on the cake

Evolution has been established with an enormous body of evidence. The claim that scientists are debating the role of evolution, or the theory has a large number of holes, is simply rubbish. The only people makes these claims are those which lack a fundamental understanding of evolution, or have created an intellectual delusion to support their own religious beliefs.

Merely a "theory"? No, merely ignorant of the scientific method.

Thanks for the post, I have always wondered why the female chimps at the zoo looked so damn sexy to me.:evilgrin:

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. Intelligent Design or Creationism is impotent to make such predictions.

[MarsThe Cat]

18. A question to put to those who endorse intelligent design-

they're always saying that humans did not evolve, but rather are the result of intelligent design by their creator, supposedly "god".

BUT- in the bible i read, it said that god made man in his own image...so- if man is the reult of intelligent design, and god created man in his image- then who or what designed god? after all, wasn't god then only copying the design that was used to create him...?

[pacifictiger]

19. that's basically

what Buddha said - if we worry about the definition of god, it will inevitably come back to, who made god? Much better to focus on humans living a good life in harmony with everything else here on earth.

[Birthmark]

22. Here is the proof that ID is not science

From the mouth of John West, an associate director of the Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based ID think tank:

In any case, West said, it is up to Darwinists to prove ID wrong.

That is so fundamentally wrong as to be completely infuriating. It is not up to science to disprove every bone-headed idea that some jerk can dream up. Rather, it is up to both the scientist and the jerk to support their OWN position with valid (and validatable) evidence. West's statement is a desperate ploy to sell bad ideas to the ignorant. Frankly, I think that the ID movement's leaders should be tried for fraud.

[MADem]

32. Which came first, Darwin or those idiots???

Seems like they have to slap down Darwin, seeing as they were the last to arrive at the debate...

But when you cannot win an argument, the first attempt to distract from the debate is to try and flip it.

[Roland99]

24. Someone call the attendants! West wiggled out of his straight-jacket again

Darwinists must prove ID wrong?! WTF? That guy has some sort of whacked out God-complex. But, not surprising. With information like this out there now that bolsters evolutionary theory, the creationist/ID nutcases are going to have to work overtime to continue funding their insane ideas. Sad thing is, people will continue to do so as they fear knowledge as their faith is weak.

But, this is a great advance for science! Perhaps they can one day predict the formation of new diseases and help create ways to prevent them or protect us from them.

[angryxyouth]

26. Adam and Eve

So it's final. Adam and Eve were chimps. If God made man (chimps) in his own image then God is a chimp. No wonder my prayers are never answered, I don't speak chimp. Or did God evolve into a more human type god over time as well. Somebody is going to have to re-think the bible!!

[Up2Late]

29. Oh, but that's not what the "Intelligent Design" Snake Oil salesmen...

...are selling in their so-called theory, they have children's books that say that Dinosaurs and Humans lived in the Garden of Eden together, until God expelled them and made some of the Dinosaurs Meat-eaters.

Lewis Black did a great "commentary" on "The Daily Show w/Jon Stewart" about this a few days ago, here's the link:

<http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/lewis_black/index.jhtml>

<http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/index.jhtml>

Hell, all you have to do is actually read an English version of the Bible and their arguments completely fall apart.

If you skip to the Cane and Able part of Genesis, start reading from their, up to that point, Fundamentalist will tell you that God created Adam, Eve, Cane, and Able, so then Cain kills Able. Keep reading and all of a sudden Cain has a Wife and their is talk about a near by town, but NO mention of God creating these extra people, which fundamentalism requires. Genesis is full of these kinds of inconstancies.

[reprobate]

35. Yes, Genesis. The "Talking Reptile" version of creation. Meanwhile, the

eastern philosophies see the reptile as the repository of wisdom. Funny how ideas can become twisted by humans.

[RedCloud]

30. In your face fundies!

Now prove that God exists. Ball is in your court.

[Kablooie]

34. Pshaw! It's obviously intelligent design.

The very existence of this complex relationship between DNA between species could only have been created by a higher intelligence. I'm not saying that it was GOD that created this, only some intelligence that had the ability to create the whole universe out of nothing.

And just a few thousand years ago he did it in only seven days! If that isn't impressive I don't know what is. All the days before that he sat doing nothing, because there weren't any days since there was no earth or sun, and then all of a sudden he gets this big bug up his ass and starts madly creating a whole bunch of stuff!

And damn it, he said it was GOOD! And I for one would never disagree with him. If he can create a universe out of nothing, he must have some pretty painful lightning bolts up his sleeve and I for one don't want to cross him.

So I take the word of God literally because I'm a cautious son of a bitch and God is a vengeful holy terror. I'd better pray to him right now and remind him that I think he's really some big shot in my mind. (The best way to heaven is to brown nose God up the kazoo.)

[reprobate]

36. I know you're using humor, but don't displease the Goddess.

The Goddess has informed me that your god is only angry because those old Hebrews brought him with them, but left her behind in Babylon. Well, of course he was pissed, wouldn't you be?

She says just ignore him and he'll calm down and be nice in a couple of geologic ages. It always takes him awhile to calm down after a tantrum. And that flood wasn't all that long ago. But, she says, it wasn't that big a deal either. So a little land bridge broke down, and the Black Sea got a bit bigger. He's been puffing and inflating his chest about it ever since. Huh, the male ego, no accounting for it.

Anyhow, the Goddess says just be nice to each other and everything will be alright.

[Kablooie]

37. Maybe we should arrange a blinde date for him.

There's this godess I know, Pele, might be just the fit for him.
Kind of his "Kate" if ya know what I mean.

[nolabels]

43. Didn't you know, all love is blind !

Planet of the Apes
'It's a pity you're so damned ugly!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1968/films.shtml

[VegasWolf]

38. It WORKS!!! Even a chimpanzee can be President of the US!!! nt

[Javaman]

40. "Pfft! You can prove anything with facts" Homer Simpson