When will humans grow wings?

[johnhanks]

like I said, I certainly wouldn't remember the exact date.

Odd, still, that you bought a copy of such an unappealing book virtually as soon as it appeared (September 2009). Which chapter did you find least convincing?

 

[nnmartin]

when I bought the book (cheap $3 photocopy edition) I must have mixed the name with the scientist Hawkins - he has some interesting ideas on the Universe.

anyway, I go through books fairly quickly (do some buying and selling) so the date of release etc.. is not relevant.


Not a question of the book being unconvincing but it's just a re-hash of other books. Many authors like that these days - have you seen the thousands of self-help and armchair psychology books out there - once you've read 3 or 4 of them you start noticing the cut and paste jobs.

Dawkins never explains how DNA evolved in the first place - this is a key issue.

 

[Heathen Hammer]

But how about some answers?

How about telling us why genes or atoms feel the compulsion to mutate when the organism is threatened for example? - that would be quite interesting.

How does a virus know it needs to protect itself?
Why does DNA even bother copying itself in the first place?

You'll never get satisfactory answers to bad questions.

 

[nnmartin]

Perfectly reasonable questions.

Only problem is that no-one knows the answers so the 'because they just do' escape clause comes into play.

This is getting too close the the fuzzy realm of philosophy/religion that scientists dare not enter in case someone 'quotes' them and damages their career.

Fortunately I have no worry of that and you may all quote me as much as you like.

 

[Heathen Hammer]

Perfectly reasonable questions.

Only problem is that no-one knows the answers so the 'because they just do' escape clause comes into play.

This is getting too close the the fuzzy realm of philosophy/religion that scientists dare not enter in case someone 'quotes' them and damages their career.

Fortunately I have no worry of that and you may all quote me as much as you like.

No, it's not a perfectly reasonable question. Inanimate objects do not have, nor do they need, a conscious impetus to change their states. It is an un-impelled result of their properties.

Why does the sugar you pour into your glass of water sink to the bottom? Does it WANT to sink? No, it's a collection of sucrose crystals, affected by both gravity and their own chemical properties and that of the water you dumped them in.

Your fatal flaw is a presupposition and anthropomorphizing of mundane objects, so that somehow, all this that surrounds you will verify your religious belief..

It won't happen. Ever.

Get used to it.

 

[johnhanks]

when I bought the book (cheap $3 photocopy edition) I must have mixed the name with the scientist Hawkins - he has some interesting ideas on the Universe.

Never read him - though I've read some Hawking.

You really don't read very closely, do you?

 

[jarofthoughts]

The book is probably ok if you believe Evolution to be the complete package, nice and gift wrapped and end of story. But how about some answers?

The first step towards answers would be to ask questions.

yes, we all know it's random gene mutation, adaptation, natural selection - heard it all before and it doesn't say anything new.

The purpose of the book was not to say anything new but to explain how we know what we know.

How about telling us why genes or atoms feel the compulsion to mutate when the organism is threatened for example? - that would be quite interesting.

Genes don't feel anything and atoms do not mutate.
Also, threats do not cause an organism to mutate.
Seems you have some brushing up to do on your science curriculum after all.

How does a virus know it needs to protect itself?

Viruses do not posses central nervous systems and consequently do not know anything.
As for the actual mechanisms they use to defend themselves, here is some reading material:
http://www.nih.go.jp/JJID/57/236.pdf
New Virus Defense Mechanism

Why does DNA even bother copying itself in the first place?

Not sure I understand the question, but if you are wondering about the mechanisms of gene replication, here is an article explaining the basics:
DNA replication - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

'They just do' is hardly an answer - I could even write a book myself using that kind of technique!

On the other hand the 'How they do' -is- an answer, and a very useful and compelling one.

Dawkins is a big old yawn and I'm sure he knows it himself - he has however discovered the ability to churn out armchair science books for the masses and no doubt got rich off the proceeds - credit to him for that I guess.

Ad Hominem attacks are really beside the point here, and hardly helps your case.

 

[jarofthoughts]

Dawkins never explains how DNA evolved in the first place - this is a key issue.

No, it is not.
His book is about the Theory of Evolution, not about Abiogenesis.

 

[Alceste]

like I said, I certainly wouldn't remember the exact date.

Can you remember specifically when you read boring books?

How odd. Do you think lying about having read a book helps your argument? It is obvious you haven't read it: it would be impossible even to read the first chapter and emerge with such an astounding lack of awareness of what evolution is.

Anyway, if you don't like Dawkins, try anything by Stephen Jay Gould.

It's a real pity you find learning so boring. A few evenings of light reading could save you a lifetime of embarrassing yourself in discussions of evolutionary biology.

 

[camanintx]

The Greatest Show on Earth - Richard Dawkins.

thanks for the advice but that's a little like giving an atheist a Bible and telling him it's proof of God.

To me Dawkins is just a Darwin groupie extraordinnairre.

He really is a buffoon as I've said before, and his writing style is that of a pompous old twit trying to be amusing.

Unfortunately Dawkins just churns out evolution, evolution, evolution.

No philosophical insight whatsoever and when the going gets tough he just comes out with tame mathematical escape clauses.

I have actually read that book some time ago - it was an almighty yawn.

If you're looking for philosophical insight, why don't you find a book on philosophy. Dawkins is a biologist and his book is about biology, not philosophy.

 

[camanintx]

How about telling us why genes or atoms feel the compulsion to mutate when the organism is threatened for example? - that would be quite interesting.

Genes mutate all of the time, whether they are threatened or not. Do you know how many mutations are in your DNA right now? About 200. Evolution is occuring all of the time all around us.

 

[Jacksnyte]

But a bush has its size limits.

Usually bushes are nice and round - they are pruned at the correct size by a gardener.

This is the same with humans , they are on the outside edge of the bush - the furthest DNA will evolve to on this planet.

Anything more complex than this becomes too much for DNA to handle, so pruning occurs.

Ever been to Africa? Not a lot of bush-pruning going on in the jungles there....

 

[crystalonyx]

With all the talk of how amazing evolution is I have yet to see a flying person.

Ok, so we have supposedly evolved by chance from the primordial soup - why have we stopped now though - how about a pair of wings or even a third arm?

Quite clearly evolution has stopped with the human being - the highest creature intended to exist on Earth.

I will believe in evolution over design/guidance when I see the first winged man.

Ever seen a person that can run as fast as a lion?
Ever seen a woman as strong as an ape?

Because of the lack of these abilities it is quite apparent that evolution is only a very small part of the whole event.

You have the mistaken notion that evolution equates with progress. Such is not the case. Species evolve to adapt to their niche, this only means change, not progress.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Never read him - though I've read some Hawking.

You really don't read very closely, do you?

"Closely," i.e., "at all."

 

[Quiddity]

I just want to say that flying people would be neat.

Other then that, why stop with flying people? Let your imagination go wild.

 

[Big_TJ]

Or at the very least be sober when they attempt to "debate"....

I agree with this. . . they should be required to lay off the pot for at least a week; at least we will have less crap coming from them.

 

[shawn001]

Look these up and read em


Darwin Lives! Modern Humans Are Still Evolving




Study shows humans still evolving

by Deborah Braconnier
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides evidence of human evolution and rapid genetic changes suggesting that, contrary to modern claims, technological and cultural advancements have not halted the evolutionary process in humans.


Humans Still Evolving as Our Brains Shrink

 

[nnmartin]

Genes mutate all of the time, whether they are threatened or not. Do you know how many mutations are in your DNA right now? About 200. Evolution is occuring all of the time all around us.

Ok, so where are the aliens then?

If genes constantly mutate then by now there should be some incredibly advanced civilizations out there with space-ships and teleportal equipment to come and visit us.

Don't think I've seen any.

Where are the Space Men when you need them.

 

[McBell]

Ok, so where are the aliens then?

What do aliens have to do with it?

If genes constantly mutate then by now there should be some incredibly advanced civilizations out there with space-ships and teleportal equipment to come and visit us.

What does mutating genes have to do with space-ships and teleporting?

Don't think I've seen any.

I have no doubt that your super intelligence is scaring them off.

Where are the Space Men when you need them.

What do space men have to do with it?

 

[jarofthoughts]

Ok, so where are the aliens then?

If genes constantly mutate then by now there should be some incredibly advanced civilizations out there with space-ships and teleportal equipment to come and visit us.

Don't think I've seen any.

Where are the Space Men when you need them.

Aaaa...
I see your tactic now.
Whenever someone exposes your ignorance and wishful thinking for what it is (Which, I have to say, isn't hard. My fifth grade pupils could kick your butt at this... :sarcastic ), you just change the subject and hope no-one notices.

No, Sunshine, try to be a man about it and stick around until the job is done.