Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics an Appropriate Example of Evolutionary Change?
Creation Research Society ^ | March 2005 | Kevin L. Anderson

Posted on 03/05/2006 9:30:31 PM PST by DaveLoneRanger

Evolutionists frequently point to the development of antibiotic resistance by bacteria as a demonstration of evolutionary change. However, molecular analysis of the genetic events that lead to antibiotic resistance do not support this common assumption.

Many bacteria become resistant by acquiring genes from plasmids or transposons via horizontal gene transfer. Horizontal transfer, though, does not account for the origin of resistance genes, only their spread among bacteria.

Mutations, on the other hand, can potentially account for the origin of antibiotic resistance within the bacterial world, but involve mutational processes that are contrary to the predictions of evolution. Instead, such mutations consistently reduce or eliminate the function of transport proteins or porins, protein binding affinities, enzyme activities, the proton motive force, or regulatory control systems. While such mutations can be regarded as “beneficial,” in that they increase the survival rate of bacteria in the presence of the antibiotic, they involve mutational processes that do not provide a genetic mechanism for common “descent with modification.”

Also, some “relative fitness” cost is often associated with such mutations, although reversion mutations may eventually recover most, if not all, of this cost for some bacteria. A true biological cost does occur, however, in the loss of pre-existing cellular systems or functions. Such loss of cellular activity cannot legitimately be offered as a genetic means of demonstrating evolution.

(Excerpt) Read more at creationresearch.org ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: bewarefrevolutionist; creation; creationism; creationist; creationists; creationresearch; crevo; crevolist; evolution; evolutionist; foolishness; frevolutionist; gibberish; id; intelligentdesign; moonbattery; soupmyth; strawman; twaddle
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-100101-150151-200201-214 next last
This journal is peer-reviewed by degreed scientists, by the way.

See also:Mutations and evolution Q & A

1 posted on 03/05/2006 9:30:35 PM PST by DaveLoneRanger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: gobucks; mikeus_maximus; MeanWestTexan; JudyB1938; isaiah55version11_0; bondserv; plain talk; ...
(((Creationist Ping)))



You have been pinged because of your interest regarding matters of Creation vs. Evolution - from the young-earth Creationist perspective. Freep-mail me if you want on/off this list.

Colossians 1:16 "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."

2 posted on 03/05/2006 9:34:49 PM PST by DaveLoneRanger (*Burp* I just got done chewing up a liberal. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583155/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
Creationists sure do love malarky...
3 posted on 03/05/2006 9:45:44 PM PST by shuckmaster (An oak tree is an acorns way of making more acorns)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger

No minor change in a species proves evolution. Nor does it disprove it.


4 posted on 03/05/2006 9:47:12 PM PST by Daralundy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shuckmaster

Save it for that Day when you stand before the Great Creator. :)

I'll bring the popcorn for that show.


5 posted on 03/05/2006 10:18:57 PM PST by mkjessup (The Shah doesn't look so bad now, eh? But nooo, Jimmah said the Ayatollah was a 'godly' man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger; PatrickHenry

Small mutations accumulated over thousands or millions of years can easily explain changes of and emergence of species.


6 posted on 03/05/2006 10:48:37 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger

Ted Kennedy used to be a human being didn't he? Doesn't that prove evolution? Well maybe he wasn't really human, but human shape? Hmmm...on second thought...oh forget it...


7 posted on 03/05/2006 11:45:26 PM PST by trailboss800
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shuckmaster
Creationists sure do love malarky...

Evolutionists sure do love Darwin...

8 posted on 03/06/2006 12:23:23 AM PST by boycottliberalhollywood.com (www.boycottliberalhollywood.com - www.twoamericas.us)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Daralundy
No minor change in a species proves evolution. Nor does it disprove it.

While I completely agree with that argument, I really think the creationists are missing the point.

One need only to look at all the different breeds of dogs to realize the incredible variety whch can be selectively bred from a single ancestor.

Now consider evolution guided by a Creator and we can have peaceful coexistence of evolution and creationism. Are we so arrogant that we must assume a Creator would never want to put any "finishing touches" on His work, or even that He intended the world to be static and non-evolving.

9 posted on 03/06/2006 12:32:47 AM PST by CurlyDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
......"Is Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics an Appropriate Example of Evolutionary Change?".....

NO!

When a bacteria crawls out of a petri dish as an protozoan, we can talk. As long as it's still a bacteria, there is no evolution.

10 posted on 03/06/2006 12:58:14 AM PST by chuckles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry

gee, gene-swapping between species does not constitute evolution!


11 posted on 03/06/2006 1:15:25 AM PST by King Prout (many accuse me of being overly literal... this would not be a problem if many were not under-precise)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger

Of course not! Now help me move this goal post.


12 posted on 03/06/2006 3:43:51 AM PST by ahayes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger

"This journal is peer-reviewed by degreed scientists, by the way. "

But they're not evolutionists, so their words, regardless, cannot be trusted. Only evolutionists are trustworthy.

At least the evolutionists keep telling me that...


13 posted on 03/06/2006 4:05:54 AM PST by gobucks (Blissful Marriage: A result of a worldly husband's transformation into the Word's wife.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
There is no question that bacteria "evolve" resistance to antibiotics.

Such evolution, however, has not been demonstrated to turn a coccus into a spirochete, much less a spirochete into a paramecium into a frog.

14 posted on 03/06/2006 4:10:48 AM PST by Jim Noble (And you know what I'm talkin' 'bout!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Junior

Archives


15 posted on 03/06/2006 4:29:49 AM PST by PatrickHenry (Virtual Ignore for trolls, lunatics, dotards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: shuckmaster
When the Sulfa drugs were first introduced NO bacteria were resistant.

Now there only use is in urinary tract infections (UTI's).
16 posted on 03/06/2006 4:33:05 AM PST by Mikey_1962 (I grew up in a slum, when I got to college it had become a "ghetto".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
"Horizontal transfer, though, does not account for the origin of resistance genes, only their spread among bacteria. "

This sounds like a confused statement, evolution is a mechanism that facilitates CHANGE, cause is not a defining factor.

17 posted on 03/06/2006 4:36:42 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
"This journal is peer-reviewed by degreed scientists, by the way."

Yeah, right---SUUURRREE it is. Bad joke this early in the AM.

18 posted on 03/06/2006 4:39:18 AM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Noble
"Such evolution, however, has not been demonstrated"

Considering the theory, and the length of time it would take for such an evolutionary transition. I doubt that this could be an observable event :-)

19 posted on 03/06/2006 4:40:24 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: chuckles
"When a bacteria crawls out of a petri dish as an protozoan, we can talk. As long as it's still a bacteria, there is no evolution."

Not the case evolution is not static through various mechanisms it is proposed that is effects changes concurrently at molecular, cellular and species levels.

20 posted on 03/06/2006 5:09:09 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Wonder Warthog

According to evoWiki, the author is editor-elect of the journal and on the board of directors of the Creation Research Society, which publishes the journal.

Highly objective peer-reviewing probablity: approximately zero.


21 posted on 03/06/2006 5:14:18 AM PST by From many - one.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: From many - one.
Highly objective peer-reviewing probablity: approximately zero.

LOL!

22 posted on 03/06/2006 5:27:14 AM PST by phantomworker (The environment you fashion out of your thoughts, beliefs, & ideals is the environment you live in.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
Is Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics an Appropriate Example of Evolutionary Change?

Of course not. It is an example of natural selection.

And many zealous religious evolutionites who post here do not know the difference between naturalselection and their idol "evoution".

The fellow who refers to himself as "Right Wing Professor" was extremely inept on this topic when he tried to smear Tom Bethell.

23 posted on 03/06/2006 6:49:02 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: tallhappy
"Of course not. It is an example of natural selection."

Sorry, wrong. It "is" an example of evolution.

"And many zealous religious evolutionites who post here do not know the difference between naturalselection and their idol "evoution"."

You obviously don't understand what comprises either. Evolution is comprised of two parts--genetic change and natural selection by the environment. Bacterial resistance involves both.

25 posted on 03/06/2006 7:15:22 AM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Wonder Warthog
Really there is only one term for your comment, moronic.

You can dumb down and try to redfine evolution all you want, but natural selection is natural selection which is the (or a) driving force for speciation over time.

But natural selection is not evolution.

It is a sad state when the ostensibly scientific minded do not even know basic concepts.

This is all because of your stupid politcalization of science as well. You want to argue and fight with people who believe the world is 6000 years old so because evolution can't be demonstarted in real time, the very obviously demoinstable natural selection is redfined to be evolution. Eh voila, a few words and you win your pathetic argument.

The bald men fight for the comb over and over again.

Why are you so stupid? What is your excuse?

26 posted on 03/06/2006 7:26:25 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: PatrickHenry

I suppose this article isn't worth addressing because it isn't scientific also? Like the photosynthesis and thermodynamics threads?

And what does "archives" mean anyway?


27 posted on 03/06/2006 7:26:34 AM PST by DaveLoneRanger (*Burp* I just got done chewing up a liberal. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583155/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Kelly_2000
I must be evolving because I'm getting fatter and uglier as I grow older. And I have trouble spelling now.

In another 10 years, I could become a Democrat?

Course if you rely on science, they would still classify me as human.

28 posted on 03/06/2006 7:29:39 AM PST by chuckles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy

Please make sure you are polite in dealings with frevolutionists.


29 posted on 03/06/2006 7:30:03 AM PST by DaveLoneRanger (*Burp* I just got done chewing up a liberal. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583155/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
I am always polite. In every instance. So keep your mouth shut and don't butt in. You are not a moderator or leader of any group.
30 posted on 03/06/2006 7:31:30 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

Incredible Irony Placemarker
31 posted on 03/06/2006 7:34:59 AM PST by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Syncretic

I wouldn't know the answer to your question.

I'm a scientist, not a "Darwinist."


32 posted on 03/06/2006 7:41:01 AM PST by From many - one.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy

Why are you so rude? What is your excuse?

You're wrong, by the way. The accepted definition of evolution in the scientific community is the change in the frequency of alleles in a population. Going from having no antibiotic resistance plasmids to having a plasmid for antibiotic resistance is definitely evolution.

It is more arguable whether the acquisition of antibiotic resistance can be analogous to eukaryote evolution since eukaryotes do not have plasmids, and since bacteria tend to consider plasmids disposable--they keep them until the selection pressure is removed, then they are more trouble than they're worth and the plasmid is eliminated from most of the population.


33 posted on 03/06/2006 7:41:48 AM PST by ahayes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: ahayes
I am not rude in any way shape or form and I will thank you to not be rude and offensive to me in implying that I am. Your comments was out of bounds.

OK, freak, define allele?

34 posted on 03/06/2006 7:53:54 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy
Really there is only one term for your comment, moronic.

This is all because of your stupid politcalization of science as well

Why are you so stupid? What is your excuse?

keep your mouth shut and don't butt in.
I'm sorry, the juxtoposing of your comments about being polite and telling me to shut up and not butt in are amusing. We don't need another Agammnon in the group.
You are not a moderator or leader of any group.
You are a member of my creationist ping list, of which I am the owner. Therefore, I am a leader. I am responsible for the image of this ping list alone, and I try to keep the reputation of the FR creationist community also. If you wish to be removed, I'll do that. But as long as you're part of the group, I'll intervene if someone is being rude.
35 posted on 03/06/2006 8:01:24 AM PST by DaveLoneRanger (*Burp* I just got done chewing up a liberal. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583155/posts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
When did I ask to be on any ping list of any sort?

Never.

Please, your rudeness is becoming tiresome. Do not continue to say rude and insulting things to me.

36 posted on 03/06/2006 8:10:10 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy

Sorry, my mistake, upon closer reading I see your discourse is admirably civil.

The definition using frequency of alleles is focused upon eukaryotes. Typically an allele is considered one sequence of a pool of functional sequences for a gene that occur at a particular locus of a chromosome. Bacteria of course do not have chromosomes, so in bacteria an allele is located in the genome or on a plasmid. This works all right for DNA viruses too, but for RNA viruses we need to modify the unspoken assumption that the genome in question is DNA based.

So a comprehensive definition would say that an allele is one possible productive RNA or DNA sequence for a gene located at a specific place in the genome of the organism in question.


37 posted on 03/06/2006 8:19:32 AM PST by ahayes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: DaveLoneRanger
they involve mutational processes that do not provide a genetic mechanism for common "descent with modification."

Who is this imbecile? It is a demonstrated fact that the descendants of the original mutant microorganism inherit its antibiotic resistance.

38 posted on 03/06/2006 8:21:16 AM PST by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy

Well, a couple more modifications. I checked and found that bacteria may have more than one chromosome, so the definition of allele still fits properly there. But instead of saying "genome" I should say "sum genetic material" to include any plasmids present in bacteria.


39 posted on 03/06/2006 8:23:28 AM PST by ahayes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: chuckles
"I must be evolving because I'm getting fatter and uglier as I grow older. And I have trouble spelling now.

You are confusing life-cycle and evolution now :-)

"In another 10 years, I could become a Democrat?"

I think that would devolution or degeneration :-)

"Course if you rely on science, they would still classify me as human."

Science and its various domains of expertise have numerous ways to classify organisms :-)

40 posted on 03/06/2006 8:34:44 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: ahayes
Sorry, my mistake, upon closer reading I see your discourse is admirably civil.

Indeed, my good man.

Why use the term allele when it was coined well before the molecular understanding of genetics we have now.

Your definition, for example, uses concepts that post-date the term allele.

41 posted on 03/06/2006 8:38:21 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy
"Why are you so stupid? What is your excuse?"

LOL--perhaps because I actually understand the science behind what is going on. I can only re-state:

Evolution consists of two separate processes operating synergistically. Those two process are alteration of the genetic material of some individuals of the evolving species (mutation), and selective survival of those individuals having the "favored" mutation in the current environment (natural selection).

Bacteria gaining antibiotic resistance involves both of those steps, so it is EVOLUTION.

As to stupidity--last time I looked, the academic title after my name was "PhD"---what's YOURS??

42 posted on 03/06/2006 8:45:54 AM PST by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: CurlyDave
Are we so arrogant that we must assume a Creator would never want to put any "finishing touches" on His work, or even that He intended the world to be static and non-evolving.

You have just mentioned some of the many misconceptions and misinterpretations that cause YEC folks to cling to their medieval position.

And, yes, hubris is at the root of it all...

43 posted on 03/06/2006 8:50:26 AM PST by TXnMA (TROP: Satan's most successful earthly venture...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Wonder Warthog
Piled high and deeper. Big deal. If one has a Ph.D. one knows it doesn't necessarily mean much.
44 posted on 03/06/2006 9:49:24 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Wonder Warthog
Those two process are alteration of the genetic material of some individuals of the evolving species (mutation), and selective survival of those individuals having the "favored" mutation in the current environment (natural selection).

This is revisionist re-definition of evolution. It is certainly nor Darwinian.

Natural selection is not evolution but is a mechanism by which evolution occurs.

Same for mutation.

You are mistaking mechanisms contributing to evolution with evolution.

45 posted on 03/06/2006 9:52:28 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy
The fellow who refers to himself as "Right Wing Professor" was extremely inept on this topic when he tried to smear Tom Bethell.

Don't have the cojones to ping me on your latest smear, eh, tallhappy?

Same old same old. And I took you apart on the thread to which you refer. If you study it hard, you may come to understand how.

46 posted on 03/06/2006 10:02:33 AM PST by Right Wing Professor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy

I still disagree. The differential reproduction of genotypes (natural selection) results in a population with a different frequency of alleles than the parent population (evolution).


47 posted on 03/06/2006 10:06:14 AM PST by ahayes
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: tallhappy
You are mistaking mechanisms contributing to evolution with evolution.

Scientists do tend to make that mistake. Conflating the defining processes of a phenomenon with the phenomenon itself.

When will they ever learn?

48 posted on 03/06/2006 10:08:35 AM PST by js1138
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: ahayes
But it never reaches the level of speciation which is the crux of darwinian evolution.

I see it that speciation is evolution, not modfication of genomes. I think that was always the original idea as well. Defining it down came later and I think is a political move.

I have no idea who defines these things either.

49 posted on 03/06/2006 10:09:22 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Right Wing Professor
Once upon a time you asked me not to ping you. Can't you even keep your own wishes stright?

To make you happy I will include you in every post I make from now on. OK?

50 posted on 03/06/2006 10:10:11 AM PST by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-100101-150151-200201-214 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson