9 Responses to “Reverse Evolution?”

1. Thought Provoker Says:
   March 6th, 2009 at 2:11 pm

   Hi Bradford,

   This is a very interesting link. Thank you for providing it.

   In an attempt to stimulate conversation, I had a pro-ID thought…

   Assuming scientists will be able to successfully reverse evolution in chickens, could the same techniques be used to fast-forward evolution?

   Could such an effort provide evidence of front-loaded traits?

   I would view such evidence as supporting quantum-based life being interconnected in space-time.

   However, I would understand how the DesignerDidIt crowd might view it differently.

Comment by Thought Provoker — March 6, 2009 @ 2:11 pm

2. Bradford Says:
   March 6th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

   TP: Assuming scientists will be able to successfully reverse evolution in chickens, could the same techniques be used to fast-forward evolution?

   I had not thought of this but in theory a fast-forwarding methodology would settle a lot of things. Or perhaps it would create even more controversy. But it is an intriguing thought. Stochastic processes could make the fast-forwarding difficult to devise and would place results in a statistical frame it would seem. Just having the thought in mind though might lead one to see possibilities when reading research papers.

   Could such an effort provide evidence of front-loaded traits?

   Undoubtedly. If some evolutionary pathways were favored the relevant genes would be noted.

   I would view such evidence as supporting quantum-based life being interconnected in space-time.

   However, I would understand how the DesignerDidIt crowd might view it differently.

   I've spent a bit more time in the last few months writing about basic forces of nature. I know the puddlers object but where they see puddles I see irrigation ditches. I think your quantum views are compatible with ID.

Comment by Bradford — March 6, 2009 @ 4:30 pm

3. AnaxagorasRules Says:
   March 6th, 2009 at 7:02 pm

   Birds are dinosaurs, so technically we're making a dinosaur out of a dinosaur," said Horner, a professor of paleontology at Montana State University and curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies.

   "The only reason we're using chickens, instead of some other bird, is that the chicken genome has been mapped, and chickens have already been exhaustively studied," added Horner.

   The article seems to completely discount the importance of environment in effecting the change. Strange. Perhaps they give it a mention in the full article. I'm not even sure I'd term what they're trying to do as "reverse engineering". Why wouldn't they first try something simpler, like turning the chicken into a turkey, giving it some turkey features? Making it gobble, for example, or making it grow a fantail-like feather pattern that turkeys have in the back. Our tax dollars at work.

Comment by AnaxagorasRules — March 6, 2009 @ 7:02 pm

4. Raevmo Says:
   March 6th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

   Anax:

   Why wouldn't they first try something simpler, like turning the chicken into a turkey, giving it some turkey features? Making it gobble, for example, or making it grow a fantail-like feather pattern that turkeys have in the back. Our tax dollars at work.

   I don't know – maybe because turkeys already exist?

Comment by Raevmo — March 6, 2009 @ 9:18 pm

5. AnaxagorasRules Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 1:30 am

   Hi, Raevmo,

   I don't know – maybe because turkeys already exist?

   Exactly. So maybe they'd have a viable model to work with? Oh, wait, you're right. Turkeys already exist, so turning a chicken into a turkey would be no biggie. Hell, I could probably do it. Let me at those genes.

Comment by AnaxagorasRules — March 7, 2009 @ 1:30 am

6. fifth monarchy man Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 9:34 am

   I see this research as important for two reasons it would prove “macro” evolution possible to an extent that YEC would have a hard time arguing with and it will go along way toward quantifying the odds of such change. This will benefit the ID community. It’s a win win in my book

   Peace

Comment by fifth monarchy man — March 7, 2009 @ 9:34 am

7. Todd Berkebile Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

   fmm: This will benefit the ID community. It’s a win win in my book

   How exactly would proving marco-evolution is possible help the ID community? You mean it would convert way-out YEC's into not-quite-as-way-out IDists?

Comment by Todd Berkebile — March 7, 2009 @ 12:36 pm

8. Thought Provoker Says:
   March 7th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

   Hi Todd,

   Pardon me attempting to speak for Fifth Monarchy Man but when he says "win-win", I read it as better defining common ground in the ID/MET debate.

   Note that Telic Thought's About Us reads in part….
   "We think these concepts have real potential to generate insights about our reality that are being drowned out by political advocacy from both sides. We hope this blog will provide a small voice that helps rectify this situation."

   Experiments like the one in the OP help define the limits, both pro and con, of evolution.

   Additionally, this is the kind of "Consilience of Clues" Mike Gene's Front Loading hypothesis needs.

   Ignorance will not help ID Science move forward.

Comment by Thought Provoker — March 7, 2009 @ 1:44 pm

9. A Good Saturday Evening Flick - Telic Thoughts Says:
   March 8th, 2009 at 3:19 am

   [...] asked some questions recently in a comment. Assuming scientists will be able to successfully reverse evolution in chickens, could the same [...]

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