Evolution Caught In The Act

[Az]

Too late to be LB but fascinating none the less.

From http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/02/040220074308.htm

Excerpts

An experiment which forced E. coli bacteria to adapt or perish showed that, in a pinch, they were capable of improvising a novel molecular tool to save their skins.

"The bacteria reached for a tool that they had, and made it do something it doesn't normally do," said James Bardwell, an associate professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at the University of Michigan. "We caught evolution in the act of making a big step."

[Spentastic]

1. No no no no no

God made them do it.

[Soloflecks]

2. If it was evolution

wouldn't the bacteria become something else? Isn't that the premise of evolution? Isn't what they found an example of adaptation, not evolution?

[GreenArrow]

3. adaptation

is evolution.

[Az]

4. Labels

are what we heap on top of things for us to be able to keep track of them. The bacteria in question underwent a signficant adaption. This is what evolution is about. It was a major change.

We have identified numerous cases of speciation in both the lab and the wild. What this represents it capturing the actual impetus with the genetic change caused by it. That is we created the enviromental force that brought about the evolutionary adaption.

[Champion Jack]

5. For an example of De-evolution look at the current administration