Darwinian Evolution Considered As a Phase 313
LucidBeast tips a mind-bending report at New Scientist on the latest paradigm-breaking work of Carl Woese, one of whose earlier discoveries was the third branch of life on Earth, the Archaea. Woese and physicist Nigel Goldenfeld argue that, even in its sophisticated modern form, Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection applies only to a recent phase of life on Earth. Woese and Goldenfeld believe that horizontal evolution led to the rise of the genetic code itself. "At the root of this idea is overwhelming recent evidence for horizontal gene transfer — in which organisms acquire genetic material 'horizontally' from other organisms around them, rather than vertically from their parents or ancestors. The donor organisms may not even be the same species. This mechanism is already known to play a huge role in the evolution of microbial genomes, but its consequences have hardly been explored. According to Woese and Goldenfeld, they are profound, and horizontal gene transfer alters the evolutionary process itself."
Proven example: (Score:5, Funny)
The first 2 parts of Spore are like Horizontal Evolution, and the later parts are all vertical.
It makes perfect sense. Clearly Will Wright is a genius.
Once again (Score:5, Funny)
You know, scientists just keep reforming their ideas until it conforms to observable reality. How can they expect anyone to believe what they say when they're just going to keep changing their minds?
I prefer my religion. It allows me to conform reality to my ideas.
I dunno... (Score:5, Funny)
If you want to do the cross-species thing . . . (Score:5, Funny)
. . . you're better off doing it vertically.
Wearing running shoes.
And ideally permission of the farmer.
(beat)
What?
Re:It's what's for dinner. (Score:3, Funny)
Usually after the good movies are done and you want to milk the franchise some more.
Re:Here's A Tip, Folks (Score:2, Funny)
> Evolution requires that there be variation in individuals, and that there be selection.
That's odd. My vague memories of reading people like Dawkins keep whispering things like 'evolution is changes in allele frequency in a gene pool', which is obviously nonsense because that says nothing about 'individuals'.