Ready, Steady, Evolve

Stront writes "New Scientist is reporting that plants and animals can 'bottle up' evolution until they need it. A certain protein 'hides away' mutated genes acting like a genetic valet, however in extreme environments, such as high temperature or noxious chemicals, the cleaning process breaks down and the mutations are released all at once. This goes some way to explaining examples that are considered to defy standard evolutionary theory, such as the Bombardier Beetle."

That's why...

[koh]

--however in extreme environments, such as high temperature or noxious chemicals, the cleaning process breaks down and the mutations are released all at once.

So that's why reading slashdot made me evolve so fast ! Thanks again guys, I like my new body (too bad I turn to stone at night now...)

"thinking"

[squaretorus]

According to evolutionary "thinking" there must have been thousands of generations of beetles improperly mixing these hazardous chemicals in fatal evolutionary experiments, blowing themselves to pieces. Eventually. we are assured, they arrived at the magic formula, but what about the development of the inhibitor?

Never trust any arguement that has to resort to putting thinking in quotes! Especially if the word 'god' is on the same page!

Such a subtle mechanism

[gowen]

This mechanism is so subtle, it is surely proof of an intelligent designer. That being the case, there is no need for evolution at all, so the mechanism itself clearly doesn't exist...

Damn, I appear to be trapped in a maze of circular logic.

Pokemon/TMNT

[jeek]

Of course, the mutations are also released when your Pokemon hits a certain level (depending on the Pokemon), or is exposed one of several rare stones, or even becomes extremely attached to its trainer.

Shredder has many vials of a substance called "Mutagen" that can also release these mutations.

Re:Such a subtle mechanism

[Yokaze]

> This mechanism is so subtle, it is surely proof of an intelligent designer

OTOH, we are so dumb, this is surely a proof that there is no designer.

Furthermore, people are so dumb, that the universe must be a bad dream I'm having, and other people are just an imagination or representations of myself.

I must stop talking to myself.

Trilobyte

[nmg196]

Ok it's experiment time:

I'm going to get a fish tank, some water, air, soil etc and then sterilise the whole lot while it's sealed in the tank, so there can't possibly be any life in there whatsoever.

I'm then going to watch the tank and wait to see how long it takes until I get a Trilobyte.

It might take a while longer to get a bombadier beetle or a Neanderthal man though...

Obviously I'll set up a web cam pointing at the tank so you guys can watch too...

Nick... ...from the Insitute of people-who-have-way-too-much-free-time-on-their-ha nds.

Creationism

[pubjames]

This type of topic on Slashdot always creates lots of posts bashing Creationists. Because of this, I would like to give you a rational, logical expanation about the beliefs of Creationists, to dispel the ignorance displayed here on Slashdot.

What is a Creationist?
A Creationist believes that living things were designed and created by God, rather than a process such as evolution.

So God is a designer and creator?
Yes, this is fundamental to the beliefs of Creationists.

What is God? An old man with a big white beard?
That's just silly. God is everywhere, he is a spirit. You can't see him.

You said God was a designer and creator. Why?
Sorry?

What's he do it for?
Erm. What? Oh I know this one! You mustn't question the doings of God, they are unexplainable by mere mortals?

So this invisible and unexplainable thing you call God created all living creatures, but you can't explain why?
You must have faith.

And you think that's a more sensible explanation of life on Earth than evoluton?
I've got my faith. I don't have to question it.

So what about the fossil record? Did God create that?
[Hands on ears] La la la la la la la la...

Therefore, the Supreme Creator loves war

[ch-chuck]

All I can say is if the defense mechanism of the beetle was created by an intelligent designer, with blueprints and all, like Slartibartfast or something, S/he/it must be having a ball. "Ok, we/I create these things that eat beetles, but on the other hand lets make the beetle so it squirts hot crap in the predators face so it really has to work for it's dinner!! Won't that be a rip!!! Hehehe. Then let's make these humans have to toil away for their food also, and blame all their troubles on, hmmm, SIN! Yeah, that's the ticket, they used to live a life of eternal luxery in a fantastic garden but because of this 'sin' thing the now have to slave away to get food, shelter and clothing. Then we'll make those who beleive that stuff work against those who are trying to alleviate suffering, yeah, this'll keep those 'humans' hopelessly confused, just the way I designed it!!"

Analogy to software projects

[jukal]

however in extreme environments, such as high temperature or noxious chemicals, the cleaning process breaks down and the mutations are released all at once

however in extreme environments, such as day before the deadline, the manager process breaks down and all the kludges are released all at once.

just look at your friends

[one_who_uses_unix]

If you doubt the theory of evolution just take at your friends (I am addressing geeks on this one). Their bodies are already adapting to their environment:
- the most highly tuned muscles in their bodies are their hands/fingers (how many geeks have "hardbodies"?)
- most wear glasses (what is there to see more than 18 inches away?)
- they do not use vocal speech effectively (excluding expletvies that are equally applied to machines and other humans)
- have you seen the children of real geeks!

Wait! you complain - I know some exceptions to these observations. Of course you do - they are by definition not real geeks, or will be culled from the herd over time.

I can't wait to see what people look like 1000 years from now - extra fingers?, permanent near sightedness?, no legs?

Re:Question for creationists

[B1ackDragon]

I think they were put there by the guy who designed the planet. Didn't he get an award for Finland (help me out here) or something? Lots of fjords I think?

Eureka, the missing step!

[deepchasm]

New Scientist is reporting that plants and animals can 'bottle up' evolution until they need it.

1. Find these animals.
2. Put the evolution in real bottles.
3. Sell it.
4. PROFIT !!!

going from airplanes to cars???

[MarvinMouse]

Bombardier is building cars now? (The Bombardier Beetle)

Wow, Now that's evolution that cannot be easily explained. ;-)

Throw rocks inside

[Perianwyr Stormcrow]

If you heat some rocks up on your stove, then fire them into the mess with a wrist rocket, you'd be on the right track.

Re:Why can't we think for ourselves?

[Effexor]

It is more like spilling a glass of milk and having it come out as the face of Jesus. I hear that happens a lot.

the "perfect image" of a "perfect god"

[Eugene O'Neil]

Creationists believe that a perfect God created us in his image. Therefore, our thinking is sound, because we were given the capacity to think by a God that knew what he was doing, not by random events that "just happened" to evolve into a brain capable of thought.

According to you, we can have faith in the soundness of our own thoughts because God created our minds in his own image, and he is perfect.

As for me, I think that evolution is a well-supported scientific theory, and that your God is a ludicrous fictional character that is no more believable than Santa Claus or the tooth fairy.

Clearly, if I am right, then you are wrong. I have no difficulty justifying the possibility that you are wrong in my own belief system: There is no concept of perfection in evolutionary theory, only various degrees of adaptation to existing circumstances. We all make mistakes, and you are lucky that your mistake did not lead to what we believers in evolutionary theory euphamistically call "natural selection".

On the other hand, if I am wrong, then my flawed belief in evolution obviously cannot be the product of a perfect brain created in the image of a perfect God. If I am a creation of a perfect god, than he did not create me in his image: if I am created in the image of god, than he is not perfect.

In short, the very fact that I disagree with you proves that you are wrong... Hey, I wish that was true more often! That would be so convenient!

Re:Why can't we think for ourselves?

[Glytch]

It's kind of like spilling a glass of milk and hoping that it comes out as a map of Alabama.

No, it's like spilling glass of milk after glass of milk until one comes out that looks like a map of Alabama.

Re:Hmm... Think StarShip Troopers !!

[Tuna_Shooter]

I wonder of these bugs are related to the bugs on StarShip Troopers ??