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Observing Evolution Over 40,000 Generations
Last year we discussed the work of Richard Lenski, who has been breeding E. coli for 21 years in a laboratory in Michigan. Then, the news was that Lenski's lab had caught direct, reproducible evidence of a genetic mutation with functional consequences for an organism. Now Lenski's lab has published in Nature a major study comparing adaptive and random genetic changes in 40,000 generations of E. coli (abstract here). "Early changes in the bacteria appeared to be largely adaptive, helping them be more successful in their environment. 'The genome was evolving along at a surprisingly constant rate, even as the adaptation of the bacteria slowed down,' [Lenski] noted. 'But then suddenly the mutation rate jumped way up, and a new dynamic relationship was established.' By generation 20,000, for example, the group found that some 45 genetic mutations had occurred, but 6,000 generations later a genetic mutation in the metabolism arose and sparked a rapid increase in the number of mutations so that by generation 40,000, some 653 mutations had occurred. Unlike the earlier changes, many of these later mutations appeared to be more random and neutral. The long-awaited findings show that calculating rates and types of evolutionary change may be even more difficult to do without a rich data set."
Not at all. We will simply say that it is still e-coli. Marginally different, yes, but still e-coli. When he turns it into a buffalo, he'll have something.
No, the difference is that the Theist makes shit up.
Everyone else relies on this little thing called logic to understand reality, rather than making up fairy tales.
The ringing of the division bell has begun... -PF
They already demonstrated the E.Coli bacterium evolving the ability to metabolize citric acid... that makes it a new kid of bacterium (the inability of E.Coli to metabolize citric acid is one of its defining characteristics).
And the color white was a "defining characteristic" of swans until they found a black one.
Look, I believe in evolution, but never has there been found a parent species to something alive today. In other words, scientists can not point at any two distinct species, living or extinct, plant or animal, and say that this species evolved directly from that one. Sure, they can say that this dog is bigger or a different than it's ancestors, but it's still a dog. Show me the fossils of the prehistoric rodent that evolved directly to today's rabbit or rat and the debate will end.
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
The "0%" is a lie, or a willful lack of knowledge. There are many transitional fossils that have been discovered, including dozens of specimens that illustrate the progress of humankind as a species. Only the American Taliban seriously regard the evolutionary theory as anything but well-founded science.
Just another "DOJ fascist authoritarian totalitarian bootlicker" -- Zeio