The Genius Of Charles Darwin

[grab_grab_the_haddock]

2009 is the 150th anniversary of the most important book ever written: Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species". To celebrate a new 3 part documentary has been completed and is presented by the legendary evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

Watch it for free on google video.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4471435322910215458

[1cooldude]

very interesting. thanks.:)

[mountain_rage]

Well presented, but I simply can't watch it, its very basic fundamental ideas that I learn't 10 years ago. But I'm not his target audience. He is trying to target indoctrinated minds.

It did lead me to wonder where my understanding of evolution comes from, because I don't recall covering it much in school. As far as I can remember, evolution was something I picked up on my own.

[Hath]

*waits for the inevitable creatonist trolls* But yeah, it's a pretty basic video. It's great for people who don't know much about Evolution the like.

[shawners]

*waits for the inevitable creatonist trolls* But yeah, it's a pretty basic video. It's great for people who don't know much about Evolution the like.

If they could explain how DNA can be changed to alter the body to create changes among the next breed of people to adapt.. If you take PIG DNA... And try to change it, can it be done? Has any DNA changed where it will produce something other then a pig???

You mind if i call you an Ape fucker or your ancestors that? Would that be correct? Your parents and family came from an APE?? I think i start to call you that because your whole life has no meaning and your just a well shaven ape.

[mountain_rage]

If they could explain how DNA can be changed to alter the body to create changes among the next breed of people to adapt.. If you take PIG DNA... And try to change it, can it be done? Has any DNA changed where it will produce something other then a pig???

You mind if i call you an Ape fucker or your ancestors that? Would that be correct? Your parents and family came from an APE?? I think i start to call you that because your whole life has no meaning and your just a well shaven ape.

No I don't mind you calling my ancestors ape fuckers, that is precisely what they were. Is there anything wrong with apes having sex with each other?

Scientists are starting to do experiments such as the one you mention, where they can use control genes to affect how an animal will grow. Using this procedure some biologist believe they could take an emu and produce a velociraptor. But the fact that you ask if biologist can take a pig and turn it into something else shows your ignorance of the topic. DNA research is really just breaking ground on manipulation now, we haven't had mass capabilities to manipulate genes until maybe the last couple years. But just give it a bit of time and you will see some pretty impressive experimentation.

Now granted you are not playing devils advocate, I don't think anything will satisfy as proper proof for you to accept evolution. The theory is simple, it makes biological sense, and their is evidence of it in our day to day lives. In fact evolution has managed to predict many of the biological phenomenon just now being concretely discovered. The extreme step you speak of, turning a pig into another species is a little complex, but its starting to become a reality. But instead of creating such a experiment, scientists do have complex links between the species. The link between fish and lizard is probably the best current example that can be shown. With transitional fossils showing the step from fish, to fish with feet, to lizard.

Here, wikipedia has a nice list of transitional fossils.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_transitional_fossils

A bit half way through the article they talk about de evolution going on right now.http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1026340/Jurassic-Park-comes-true-How-scientists-bringing-dinosaurs-life-help-humble-chicken.html

[Tic3]

There are thousands of examples of genetically altered species - corn that is resistant to certain pests; tomatoes that are larger and more solid than others; cows that produce more milk; and the list goes on and on.

Each of the above were genetically modified in some way by scientists - either by selective breeding, or by deliberate manipulation in the laboratory.

For those examples that have been modified through selective breeding, this can give you a perfect example of what happens in nature through natural evolutionary processes.

The changes you have asked for an example of, changing a pig into something that is not a pig, aren't something that can be done in a lifetime or two or three - or maybe even not in a thousand, and asking for such a radical immediate change as proof of evolution is much like saying show me a photograph of God and I'll believe.

[harryfielder]

THE VOYAGE OF CHARLES DARWIN…Director MARTYN FRIEND…BBCTV…
I’m in the cast again as the Quartermaster of HMS Beagle…
This time I intend to go all the way to the other side of the world. (Not).
I have quite a few lines to say with the Captain of the ship and to the crew below decks. I think we got it in one take (Which pleases me) and as I finish my lines I go to follow the Captain up the stairs to the top deck.
‘’Hold on Aitch you can’t go up there’’ Martyn says ‘’ When the Captain reaches the top deck we’re in the South Seas’’
After a closer inspection of my BBC contract it does say One day’s work at Ealing studio. (It was worth a try).
I watched the episode (2) on TV and thought I had a touch of the Long John Silver in my speech.

Aitch,