We are all half banana!

[bhavv]

Splitting this from the evolution thread so it gets more discussion:

'The genes of organisms that look very different are surprisingly similar. For example, human DNA sequences are over 95% identical to chimpanzee sequences and around 50% identical to banana sequences.'

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/evolution/what-is-the-evidence/morphology/dna-molecules/

This really supports the idea of a singular organism from which all other life evolved.

Unfortunately though, we do not taste like bananas

 

[GoodSarmatian]

There's only so many ways to convert this kind of matter to that kind of matter. It may support a single ancestral organism, but it doesn't guarantee it. Earth is old enough to be home to functionally identical and genetically compatible organisms.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Unfortunately though, we do not taste like bananas

This is a very broad generalization. I cannot claim to have tasted enough people to support this conclusion.

 

[bhavv]

So there is a chance we could taste like bananas?

If I could return to my final year of uni, Id be motivated to complete the dissertation now (I didn't before so graduated without honors).

My dissertation would be 'If humans are 50% banana, do 50% of humans taste like bananas?'

Method - lick other humans for a sufficient time (10 mins?) to determine whether they taste like banana. Control - eat a banana first then rinse mouth with water before tasting the human.

If only that would pass the ethics check.

Would any CFC members be willing to participate?

 

[Lohrenswald]

It's Adam and EVE, not Adam and a half eaten banana, ok? praise jesus

 

[Perfection]

At ~3 per week I'm probably about 2% banana

 

[bhavv]

It's Adam and EVE, not Adam and a half eaten banana, ok? praise jesus

Bah, semi - banana creationists.

 

[MilesGregarius]

...around 50% identical to banana sequences...

It's Adam and EVE, not Adam and a half eaten banana, ok? praise jesus

Kirk Cameron was right!

 

[gay_Aleks]

This whole science things has gone bananas.

 

[bhavv]

And Im reading conflicting articles as to whether its '50% identical sequences'' OR just '50% identical genes'.

Because you know how these reports are and they dont know the difference.

Identical sequences would mean that the base pairs are identical which indicates that the function of those genes are the same. Identical genes means diddly squat if they are paired / sequenced differently which can lead to different functions.

The way I always saw it though is that the majority of the genome is related to cell function and division, and mitosis / meiosis are universal to most biological life (all I think, but I could be wrong).

 

[Triewd]

Well at this rate we can claim kinship with fruit.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

^Since we all came from the same mix of starstuff from a stellar nursery, that's true.

 

[Triewd]

^Since we all came from the same mix of starstuff from a stellar nursery, that's true.

Well it has been recycled - alot.

(but yes I do see your point)

 

[Formaldehyde]

I can't believe nobody has posted this yet.


Link to video.

If you study biology at all (which is required for all middle school kids in the US), I really don't see how anybody could not come to the inescapable conclusion that every living thing evolved from single cell organisms. All the clues are there. You just have to have an open mind.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

If you study biology at all (which is required for all middle school kids in the US), I really don't see how anybody could not come to the inescapable conclusion that every living thing evolved from single cell organisms. All the clues are there.

The alternative explanation is that god is just sorta lazy. Yes, my cells work pretty much the same as cells in a gorilla, or a banana...but why not? Once god has a good working system why not build everything out of them?

 

[Formaldehyde]

Because we know from geology that life has gotten more complex over millions of years?

Or did god hide fossils to fool us all?

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Because we know from geology that life has gotten more complex over millions of years?

Or did god hide fossils to fool us all?

I usually go with:

"The universe was created by the great entity Hermann in the year we know as 1970. At that time Hermann provided all necessary evidence of the previous existence of the universe, including the memories of the people who were created at that time."

Prove me wrong.



Of course I usually go with that when I want to be snotty. At the moment I'm not feeling snotty, just pointing out that you don't really need to ride science all the way down to quantum mechanics vs Bell to arrive at the fact that it doesn't have all the answers...and neither do I.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Science doesn't need all the answers. It just needs to be approached objectively with an open mind.

And I don't have to prove you wrong anymore than I have to prove there isn't a vengeful god who apparently lost all interest in the human race over 2000 years ago.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Science doesn't need all the answers. It just needs to be approached objectively with an open mind.

And I don't have to prove you wrong anymore than I have to prove there isn't a vengeful god who apparently lost all interest in the human race over 2000 years ago.

You skipped over the point. What I presented is a logical consistency. Whether you need to prove it wrong is irrelevant. What matters is that even under the most cursory examination it is obvious that it can't be proven wrong.

As to science needing all the answers or not, the issue there is that the vast majority of believers in science assume that it either has all the answers or at least will get them eventually. THAT is a fallacy, because even while it is immensely useful science eventually reaches self contradiction, but saying so leads to immense conflicts...much like challenging the existence of someone's god of choice does.

I approach everything with that open mind you refer to. Science, assorted god concepts, my kinship with bananas, whatever.

 

[Formaldehyde]

There is nothing stopping anybody from creating any sort of religion they want using whatever imaginary creatures they desire to try to explain the universe in any way they wish.

But it has nothing to do with science which requires no belief. That is because it is not based on belief, unlike religion. It is based on the scientific method instead.