Newly found species fills evolutionary gap between fish and land animals

EurekAlert (AAAS) ^ | 05 April 2006 | Staff

[narby]

If this is even half as big a discovery as this makes it appear, why are nothing other than small fringe sites carrying it?

Because the fact that evolution occurred is "Dog Bites Man", not "Man Bites Dog". I.E. it's old news.

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"Hardly anyone will hear about this because it's not that big a story. You won't see constant media coverage to the point of a massive terrorist attack like you would if this was anything big, hell it would be lucky to get a 30-second spot on CNN headline news. It's not a slam against evolution or anything, but it's not a big discovery."

But we WILL hear about who the latest person Paris Hilton did is. When do we ever see more than a 30-sec blurb (if anything) about paleontological finds on the TV?

Your point is... underwhelming.

[Dimensio]

Is there meaning behind that image?

[Zavien Doombringer]

Because the fact that evolution occurred is "Dog Bites Man", not "Man Bites Dog". I.E. it's old news.

According to the theory, evolution didn't occur, it is continuing...

Though, I don't buy it...

[Dimensio]

Now you're just lying.

He is not. A law -- now known to be inaccurate -- stating gravity in mathematical terms was defined in the 1600s, while the theory explaining what gravity is was not defined until the early to mid 1900s.

[Zavien Doombringer]

Darwins Dead?

[CarolinaGuitarman]

" According to the theory, evolution didn't occur, it is continuing..."

Actually, according to the theory, evolution occurred, and is still occurring.

[atlaw]

"I wanted to add earlier, but didn't, that this is another case of SLOPPY WRITING. If the spot was on the Equator, then it was TROPICAL, not SUBTROPICAL. And, no, Brazil does not have a SUBTROPICAL climate."

Equatorial proximity does not necessarily eliminate subtropical conditions or vegetation. Think altitude. And Brazil has a subtropical region, along with equatorial, tropical, semiarid, and highland tropical.

[Zavien Doombringer]

How about, evolution occurs...

[Dimensio]

Just always good to remind people that evolution is just a theory....:)

What more could it be? No explanation in science rises to any higher level than "theory". I do not understand the purpose of such a reminder.

Or is this a response to creationists who insist that evolution is a worldview, or an attempt to destroy organized religion? If that is the case, then I can understand a "just a theory" reminder, to remind these creationists that evolution is not what they claim that it is.

[Dimensio]

Or, by, for example, recombinant DNA technology.

Evidence exists for viral insertion of genetic information. What evidence do you have for "recombinant DNA technology" as a mechanism for the aquisition of genetic information? Be sure to specify the mechanisms of the technology itself.

[Dimensio]

So, someone has actually observed something rise from nothing, observed life rise from non-life

The theory of evolution says nothing regarding "something" rising from "nothing", nor does it say anything regarding "life" rising from "non-life". I do not understand why you ask about such observations when they are not relevant to the theory.

[Dimensio]

Do you have an actual argument involving substance? Thus far you have only appealed to the logical fallacy of ridicule. Laughing at a concept that you do not wish to accept as factual does not invalidate that concept.

[tallhappy]

More dinosaur hand waving research.

Interesting and noteworthy, but 19th century science in the 21st century must be taken with a grain of salt.

[Dimensio]

This isn't science; it's wishful thinking.

How is it wishful thinking, exactly?

[highball]

So, someone has actually observed something rise from nothing, observed life rise from non-life, observed multi-celled organisms rise from single-celled organisms, observed intelligence rise from non-intelligence? You've got yourself a scoop there, buddy.

You might find that you'll get more out of the conversation, Ken, if you actually know what's under discussion.

You appear to think that "Evolution" is the same as "abiogenesis." They aren't. The ToE has nothing to do with the origin of life, no matter how hard its detractors try to pretend that it does.

[Dimensio]

Hmmm, so you are hoping that you are a descendant of a fish?

I saw nothing in Strategerist's posting that suggests that he (or she, as the case may be) is "hoping" for anything. Why do you ask such a question?

[Dimensio]

All these fish are alive today, thus I'm wondering what the significance of this find is.

I am wondering if you read the article. The significance of the finding is more than simply the creature's ability to breathe air.

[VadeRetro]

Tiktaalik is just your basic nine-foot Arctic-Equatorial mudskipper with a head like a crocodile.

(It's in the Arctic NOW, YECs. It was near the equator THEN.)

[CarolinaGuitarman]

"More dinosaur hand waving research."

What dinosaur? Where does this article talk about dinosaurs?

"Interesting and noteworthy, but 19th century science in the 21st century must be taken with a grain of salt."

As should most anything you say. :)