Key Brain Regulatory Gene Shows Evolution In Humans

BioresearchOnline ^ | 12/13/05 | Duke University

[Dichroic]

Durham, NC - Researchers have discovered the first brain regulatory gene that shows clear evidence of evolution from lower primates to humans. They said the evolution of humans might well have depended in part on hyperactivation of the gene, called prodynorphin (PDYN), that plays critical roles in regulating perception, behavior and memory.

They reported that, compared to lower primates, humans possess a distinctive variant in a regulatory segment of the prodynorphin gene, which is a precursor molecule for a range of regulatory proteins called "neuropeptides." This variant increases the amount of prodynorphin produced in the brain.

While the researchers do not understand the physiological implications of the activated PDYN gene in humans, they said their finding offers an important and intriguing piece of a puzzle of the mechanism by which humans evolved from lower primates

[Dichroic]

Umm didnt see this posted elsewhere.

Thought this is amusingly apropos since King Kong opens today.

And children try to play nice !

[HarleyLady27]

I thought King Kong and Teddy Kennedy looked familiar....

[Lancer_N3502A]

I knew there was something missing from DemocRATs.

[Mikey_1962]

Endorphin/Opiate ping!

[RadioAstronomer]

Interesting.

[PatrickHenry]

Yes, interesting. I'm cranking up the ping machine ...

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping The List-O-Links

A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 320 names. See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped. To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit, and How to argue against a scientific theory.

[steve8714]

"..distinct variant.." this means different. Shows nothing. Since all terrestrial life is carbon based, similar chemical compounds would be found throughout. The article's author(not the poster)may overreach attempting to draw a grand conclusion. Interesting, not fascinating.

[Pharmboy]

The researchers also found evidence of evolutionary selection when they compared the regulatory sequences in people from different populations -- including those from Cameroon, China, Ethiopia, India, Italy and Papua New Guinea. Those analyses showed higher differences among the individual populations, but reduced variation within them. Such a pattern is a signature of evolutionary selection acting on the genetic sequence, said Wray.

Didn't Richard Lewontin and the late SJ Gould always tell us that there was more genetic variation within populations than between different populations worldwide? More proof of lefty liars in academic science when it suits their agenda...

[pangaea6]

"might well have depended in part on hyperactivation of the gene"

MIGHT WELL are the key words and of course we need to have some hyperactivity involved as well. Another theory paraded as fact.

[Wiseghy]

Ironically, Anthropologists regard spiritual awareness, such as burial after-life rituals, as key traits in distinguishing human sites from other lower species.

Could God have endowed us with an awareness of the spirit realm? Could pure rationalism actually be seen as a step back from this natural ability? Nahhhhh!!!!! (sarc.

[furball4paws]

There was a thread on this about a week ago. Didn't get much response. And it was the actual scientific paper.

[furball4paws]

This thread has a link to the actual paper.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532151/posts

[Elpasser]

"might well have depended in part..."

Anytime someone says "might," it is equally true that it might NOT.

Since when did speculation start being passed off for science?

[untrained skeptic]

"Researchers have discovered the first brain regulatory gene that shows clear evidence of evolution from lower primates to humans"

We simply don't know enough to make this claim.

The evidence can be said to be consistent with the theory that humans evolved from lower primates.

It could be said to show that there are similarities between humans and such primates, but be an example of why we are different.

We can't prove or disprove evolution any more than we can prove or disprove that man made global warming is significantly effecting the global climate.

[Louis Foxwell]

I have a friend who is a great ape in a zoo here in Fl. She spends all of her time praying for a peptide transplant.

[Humvee]

Ritalin helps with hyper-active kids.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[VadeRetro]

Didn't Richard Lewontin and the late SJ Gould always tell us that there was more genetic variation within populations than between different populations worldwide? More proof of lefty liars in academic science when it suits their agenda...

This just sounds wrong. The difference between selection and neutral drift would be that drift would show less pattern of any sort. I can't imagine what would produce the effect you say Gould and Lewontin predicted. It almost sounds self-contradictory. How would humans compared to apes be more similar than sub-groups of humans compared to each other?

[Coyoteman]

Another theory paraded as fact.

Seems like I have to post these definitions on most crevo threads now.

Definitions (from a google search):

Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"

Hypothesis: a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"

Guess: an opinion or estimate based on incomplete evidence, or on little or no information

Law: a generalization that describes recurring facts or events in nature; "the laws of thermodynamics"

Assumption: premise: a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn; "on the assumption that he has been injured we can infer that he will not to play"

Speculation: a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence)

Observation: any information collected with the senses

Data: factual information, especially information organized for analysis or used to reason or make decisions

Fact: when an observation is confirmed repeatedly and by many independent and competent observers, it can become a fact

Belief: any cognitive content (perception) held as true; religious faith

Faith the belief in something for which there is no evidence or logical proof

Dogma: a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof

Impression: a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; "his impression of her was favorable"; "what are your feelings about the crisis?"; "it strengthened my belief in his sincerity"; "I had a feeling that she was lying"

Based on this, evolution is a theory. CS and ID are beliefs.