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Why Darwin's still a scientific hotshot (Nobel laureate James D. Watson on Darwin and his influence)
LA Times Calendar Live.com ^ | September 18, 2005 | James D. Watson

Posted on 09/19/2005 3:24:26 AM PDT by snarks_when_bored

Edited on 09/19/2005 3:36:21 AM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

Why Darwin's still a scientific hotshot


By James D. Watson

September 18, 2005

Editor's Note:
"Nobel laureate James D. Watson, co-discoverer of the molecular structure of DNA, has edited and provided commentary for a new anthology of Charles Darwin's four major books, collected in one volume by Running Press. Watson's essay introducing "Darwin: The Indelible Stamp: The Evolution of an Idea" is excerpted here.


I first became aware of Charles Darwin and evolution while still a schoolboy growing up in Chicago. My father and I had a passion for bird-watching and when the snow or the rain kept me indoors, I read his bird books and learned about evolution. We also used to frequent the great Field Museum of Natural History, and my fragmentary knowledge of evolution helped guide me through the myriad specimens in the museum. It is extraordinary the extent to which Darwin's insights not only changed his contemporaries' view of the world but also continue to be a source of great intellectual stimulation for scientists and nonscientists alike. His "On the Origin of Species" was rightly praised by biologist Thomas Henry Huxley as " … the most potent instrument for the extension of the realm of natural knowledge which has come into men's hands since the publication of Newton's "Principia."

When Darwin returned from his five-year voyage aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, he turned over his various collections to experts on birds, beetles, mollusks and the like. John Gould was Darwin's bird expert. Darwin was surprised to learn from him that the finches he had collected on the Galapagos Islands closely resembled similar birds on the South American continent some 600 miles away, yet the finches of one island were different from those of the other islands…"

Excerpt. Story follows: Los Angeles Times


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: crevolist; darwin; dna; evolution; jamesdwatson
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To: From many - one.

Its the law of gravity that forces the Moon to continue fall upward away from the Earth. Isn't science wonderful?


81 posted on 09/19/2005 7:23:23 AM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch ist der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: SeaLion
Religion is religion, and science is science. Science cannot, and does not seek to, address supernatural matters

I am somewhat of a naturalist, but I must disagree with you here. As the writer of the article points out, understanding science makes one less dependent on myth and superstition. One man's myth and superstition is another man's religion.

I completely agree that evolutionary theory has reached the status of scientific law. I also think that the "intelligent design" movement is a step backward as far as the progress of science is concerned.

Nonetheless, I keep thinking back to Ben Franklin, when he said he regretted not living a hundred years into his future so that he could see all the wondrous things the discoveries of his day would yield. Personally, I would not want to live a hundred years into the future from today because I see very little good coming out of mice with human brains and terrorists able to make nuclear bombs in their basements.

It may be that the only thing standing between civilization as we know it and a society made up of genetically perfected clones created by scientists is myth and superstition. And so I am conflicted. I'd like to think that the positive side of human nature will prevail when it comes to the application of science, but I have my doubts.

The scientists may well be freeing society from the burdens of superstition, myth and fairy tales. But they haven't really thought out the cultural implications of spoiling the glue that has held this civilization together for several thousand years, A lot of good has come out of the fear of God, and we ought to be somewhat less inclined to pull that rug out from under our society.

82 posted on 09/19/2005 7:26:07 AM PDT by massadvj
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To: Just mythoughts
Could it be that Darwin is a "god"?

Nope, that's just a canard that creationists trot out when they run out of arguments that have even the semblance of validity.

83 posted on 09/19/2005 7:27:38 AM PDT by highball ("I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." -- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Doctor Stochastic

Shhh...don't tell.

It seems to break some folks heads to have to think too hard.

Funny, it's usually hard headed folk with the problem.


84 posted on 09/19/2005 7:36:02 AM PDT by From many - one.
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To: Just mythoughts

"Evolution, man's creation, elevates some men as being more equal than the rest of man. Thus the need for things like entitlement programs, cause not all are of the fittest."

Not even close. Are you going to deny that all people are different, unique individuals? Only the egalitarians (left and right) want to spread the lie that we are all equal. We are demonstrably NOT. This is a fact.

The reason we have entitlement programs is because the egalitarians believe that WE ARE all equal, but that the rich, the *winners of life's lottery* have stolen from the poor. It is a denial of the uniqueness of each individual.
Your desperate attempt to link natural selection with the welfare state is hilarious. If evolutionists were following *the survival of the fittest*, they would be against the welfare state. You have it EXACTLY opposite.

Biology is not a guide for politics.


85 posted on 09/19/2005 7:53:37 AM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: PatrickHenry

I see we are in for a long round of bickering over terminology -- theories, laws, facts -- as if the choice of words alters reality.


86 posted on 09/19/2005 7:56:16 AM PDT by js1138 (Great is the power of steady misrepresentation.)
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To: snarks_when_bored
unless you wish to defend some form of subjective idealism or even solipsism

OK, but who are you going to defend solipsism TO? ;-)

Cheers!

87 posted on 09/19/2005 8:06:44 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Citizen Tom Paine

"I have done a lot of reading and taken several college level courses. There are some major problems with evolution in my mind.
1. The origin of life on earth. (presumably prokaryotic cells in a non oxygen containing atmosphere)
2. The origin and evolution of DNA.
3. The evolution of the eukaryotic cell.

There are some other technical problems concerning the fact that some animals aren't well adapted to the environment that they exist in."

You are not being honest with your questions. Both #1 and #2 are not part of the TOE, as you well know. If you want to question current thought concerning Abiogenesis, that's fine, but it does not impact Evolution. #3 Is well understood, if you will consult any good cell biology text.

The adaptation question is quite simple. I'd ask you to ask yourself, if you will. Organisms don't have to be "well adapted" to their environment, they just have to be successful. The crunch comes when there is competition in that environment or when it is invaded by a "better adapted" creature. Then change either occurs or one species is either marginalized or becomes extinct. Happens all the time.


88 posted on 09/19/2005 8:07:06 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
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To: Just mythoughts
What is the punishment for one who disobeys the law of evolution?

Daytime TV.
For the men, WWF.
For the ladies, Oprah.

Cheers!

89 posted on 09/19/2005 8:11:03 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers

It would have been better if you switched the men with the ladies.


90 posted on 09/19/2005 8:12:48 AM PDT by furball4paws (One of the last Evil Geniuses, or the first of their return.)
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To: Citizen Tom Paine
"There are some other technical problems concerning the fact that some animals aren't well adapted to the environment that they exist in."

This is an argument in FAVOR of evolution and common descent, and against the idea of intelligent design and special creation. In fact, it was one that was used by Darwin.

"I have done a lot of reading and taken several college level courses"

Apparently not in the right subjects.
91 posted on 09/19/2005 8:15:52 AM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is a grandeur in this view of life...")
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To: furball4paws
. Both #1 and #2 are not part of the TOE, as you well know

Well Watson chose to bring up the subject of DNA in an article on Darwin. Now we can't ask how it evolved? Also doesn't DNA's ability to replicate itself depend on RNA and how did these two co-evolve?

92 posted on 09/19/2005 8:29:03 AM PDT by bkepley
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To: rabair
You're getting information from Creationsafaris and Answers In Genesis? No wonder you're so misinformed. The tripe these people spout out has no foundation in reality whatsoever.

Try reading some good science books based on peer-review scientific literature; some of you misunderstandings may be corrected.

It ain't true just because it's on the internet; there's lots of tricksters out there with their hands out.

93 posted on 09/19/2005 8:35:02 AM PDT by Quark2005 (Where's the science?)
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To: Right Wing Professor
Creationism as castration anxiety! Hilarious. Submitted to PatrickHenry for the 'This is your Mind on Creationism' list.

It's being actively considered.

94 posted on 09/19/2005 8:35:25 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (Disclaimer -- this information may be legally false in Kansas.)
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To: grey_whiskers
OK, but who are you going to defend solipsism TO? ;-)

Hmmm, my imagination is acting up today. I thought I heard something that I didn't say...

95 posted on 09/19/2005 8:46:22 AM PDT by snarks_when_bored
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To: snarks_when_bored
Hmmm, my imagination is acting up today. I thought I heard something that I didn't say...

Even worse: when a solipcist says "I'm just not feeling myself today..."

96 posted on 09/19/2005 8:48:12 AM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers; snarks_when_bored
OK, but who are you going to defend solipsism TO? ;-)

ROFLMHO! Splendid!

97 posted on 09/19/2005 8:49:19 AM PDT by SeaLion ("Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man" -- Thomas Paine)
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To: massadvj
and terrorists able to make nuclear bombs in their basements

The key to the WOT is the implementation of genetic engineering that will raise the fundies' collective IQ levels to the point that they can participate in the modern world.

98 posted on 09/19/2005 8:52:15 AM PDT by lemura
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To: lemura

My perception is that it is not an IQ matter but an overwhelming fear that, without the threat of punishment, people would not behave in any kind of decent way.


99 posted on 09/19/2005 9:04:34 AM PDT by From many - one.
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To: massadvj
It may be that the only thing standing between civilization as we know it and a society made up of genetically perfected clones created by scientists is myth and superstition. And so I am conflicted. I'd like to think that the positive side of human nature will prevail when it comes to the application of science, but I have my doubts

And boy, I have my doubts, too, sometimes!

You raise a whole set of excellent points, thank you for the posting--to which I don't have time to reply in detail (maybe later, if the topic engages interest among others

Fortunately, scientists are not empowered to determine alone the application of the knowledge they uncover, nor are scientists absolved of the deep human moral responsibility we all of us should bear. I do have enormous faith in our Constitution and believe our system of government is the best ever devised to ensure (though the process is often fractious and imperfect) that power is not abused, and that the citizenry can exercise both power and restraint of power over their elected representatives.

mice with human brains

My view of the liberal agenda leads me to believe that we already have 'humans with mouse brains.'

100 posted on 09/19/2005 9:19:00 AM PDT by SeaLion ("Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man" -- Thomas Paine)
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