Help me HELP my dad to understand evolution.

[Gooblah]

I'm thinking that the sickle cell mutation occurred after being subject to a malarial environment so did the disease have anything to do with "guiding" the mutation? Hmm... I wonder if there are differences in regional sickle cell indicating several similar successful mutations in different populations or the spread of one mutation altered later by region.

The mutation itself is random. There are no causes to it except a misplaced nucleic acid. The selection isn't as random, since the external pressures (in this case, the presence of malaria) selected those individuals with a mutation that afforded protection against malaria to reproduce.

Oddly enough, the sickle-cell trait is not dominant, but recessive. Thus, double recessives will die (sickle-cell anemia), and double dominants will die (malaria); heterozygotes have the largest chance of survival.

 

[thescaryworker]

The Ancestor's Tale, by Dawkins. He starts with modern-day humans, and then works backwards through time up the phylogenic tree to the beginnings of life. Along the way, Dawkins explains many different aspects of evolution and different ways that information is gathered. Rather than writing this like a textbook, Dawkins's style is engaging and witty while still being very informative.

 

[Simple Simon]

well, mutations are random, period - but where they occur, and whether they are repaired is not totally random. Certain sequences are more likely to break than others, so mutations occur more often in them.

 

[Lockesdonkey]

Rather than writing this like a textbook, Dawkins's style is engaging and witty while still being very informative.

For some, that's the problem. Most ID books are written "scientifically," with diagrams and formulas that look like they came from engineering texts. There's often a sense that if it has to be dry to be believable. Add to this the fact that Dawkins' wit is often at the expense of religious people/anyone who even remotely disagrees with him, and you get some problems...

 

[thescaryworker]

For some, that's the problem. Most ID books are written "scientifically," with diagrams and formulas that look like they came from engineering texts. There's often a sense that if it has to be dry to be believable.

The thing I like about Dawkins is that he shows that science doesn't have to be boring and monotonous. The Rule of Cool does not change the validity of information.

Add to this the fact that Dawkins' wit is often at the expense of religious people/anyone who even remotely disagrees with him, and you get some problems...

This is very prevalent in The God Delusion, but is toned down in The Ancestor's Tale. Dawkins doesn't go out of his way to make fun of creationists, but he does ask hard questions such as "Why do you ignore studies X', X'', and X''' that conclusively prove Y when making your assertions?" His wit comes more from the science, for example "Paedophilia is not a hang-up with bonobos; all kinds of philia seem fine to them."

 

[Lockesdonkey]

The thing I like about Dawkins is that he shows that science doesn't have to be boring and monotonous. The Rule of Cool does not change the validity of information.

True, but you're educated.

This is very prevalent in The God Delusion, but is toned down in The Ancestor's Tale. Dawkins doesn't go out of his way to make fun of creationists, but he does ask hard questions such as "Why do you ignore studies X', X'', and X''' that conclusively prove Y when making your assertions?" His wit comes more from the science, for example "Paedophilia is not a hang-up with bonobos; all kinds of philia seem fine to them."

Ah. Didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[El_Machinae]

Just to pipe in: we seem to have this idea that evolution leads to increased complexity. I does, sure, but we tend to over-notice it as well. Evolution frequently and commonly selects for reduced complexity all the time. We see it frequently in bacteria, where they shuck genes they don't need.

 

[Eretz Yisrael]

Hey Im Evangelical Christian, and you know what I want to say?
Maybe God made animals that way, but certainly not humans.
Go read the Tanakh.

 

[Ecofarm]

Has anyone noticed the irony of the ID name Eretz Yisrael and my avatar which is the Flag of the Taliban?

I don't think anyone recognizes the "flag" of the taliban (or Eretz, for that matter). Besides, I don't think you officially get a flag when you're just a gaggle of criminals. Do the Crips and Bloods have a flag? Personally, I refuse to recognize any "taliban flag". They need a country or something.

 

[Eretz Yisrael]

I don't think anyone recognizes the "flag" of the taliban (or Eretz, for that matter). Besides, I don't think you officially get a flag when you're just a gaggle of criminals. Do the Crips and Bloods have a flag? Personally, I refuse to recognize any "taliban flag". They need a country or something.

Eretz Yisrael means the land of Israel; AND the Taliban did have a country. Then are you suggesting that the Tibetans are a conutry cuz they have a flag?

 

[Bigfoot3814]

I must admit this is the first I've ever seen of the Taliban flag. I don't think one needs a country to have a recognizable flag. Just look at the skull and crossbones pirate flag. I think it depends how much waving you do.

 

[Ecofarm]

Eretz Yisrael means the land of Israel; AND the Taliban did have a country. Then are you suggesting that the Tibetans are a conutry cuz they have a flag?

States and other official geographical designations get flags. Florida, Ottawa, Tibet, etc. Countries get flags. The Taliban are none of the above; they do not get a flag. I said "country or something". They got nothin.

Pirates are special.

Taliban flag is stupid (nothing against your avvie, I'm just saying 'in reality'). Where they gonna plant it? What, in someplaces is it flown underneath the Pakistani flag?

What does it say, anyway.

 

[Eretz Yisrael]

States and other official geographical designations get flags. Florida, Ottawa, Tibet, etc. Countries get flags. The Taliban are none of the above; they do not get a flag. I said "country or something". They got nothin.

Pirates are special.

Taliban flag is stupid (nothing against your avvie, I'm just saying 'in reality'). Where they gonna plant it? What, in someplaces is it flown underneath the Pakistani flag?

What does it say, anyway.

What you're insulting Pakistan!!!
The Pakistani ISS is going to come after you soon;and they are going to drag you to Peshawar, where they will send you to the Local Taliban officials.

 

[Eretz Yisrael]

States and other official geographical designations get flags. Florida, Ottawa, Tibet, etc. Countries get flags. The Taliban are none of the above; they do not get a flag. I said "country or something". They got nothin.

Pirates are special.

Taliban flag is stupid (nothing against your avvie, I'm just saying 'in reality'). Where they gonna plant it? What, in someplaces is it flown underneath the Pakistani flag?

What does it say, anyway.

They USED to hav Afghanistan

 

[theskald]

Hey Im Evangelical Christian, and you know what I want to say?
Maybe God made animals that way, but certainly not humans.
Go read the Tanakh.

Who are you and why are you hijacking my thread?

And why do all of the buttons look like Colorado license plates?

Anyway how was everyone's Christmas?