"Not to mince words - the modern synthesis is gone" (another Evo abandons the HMS Beagle)

Science Literature ^ | November 18, 2009 | David Tyler, Ph.D.

[GodGunsGuts]

Not to mince words - the modern synthesis is gone

--snip--

"The discovery of pervasive HGT and the overall dynamics of the genetic universe destroys not only the tree of life as we knew it but also another central tenet of the modern synthesis inherited from Darwin, namely gradualism. In a world dominated by HGT, gene duplication, gene loss and such momentous events as endosymbiosis, the idea of evolution being driven primarily by infinitesimal heritable changes in the Darwinian tradition has become untenable." ...

[GodGunsGuts]

For those wondering who Eugene Koonin (the subject of the science literature review) is, you can learn more about his research and credentials here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/CBBresearch/Koonin/

[GodGunsGuts]

Ping!

PS I don’t buy all the stuff about HGT. As far as I can tell it’s a just-so rescuing device to explain why Darwin’s so-called ‘tree of life’ had to be cut down while holding onto the idea of materialist evolution.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[CharlesWayneCT]

driven primarily by infinitesimal heritable changes in the Darwinian tradition has become untenable

I liken this discredited theory with the idea that you could convert one computer program to another program by changing one letter at a time in the source code, with each change being compilable, executable, and useful.

[NewJerseyJoe]

ping for later

[GodGunsGuts]

Excellent analogy. And that’s partially why the evos have retreated into just-so preadaption and neutral evolution stories. But let’s give credit where credit is due...the evos are truly excellent storytellers!

[RoadGumby]

That is a good analogy, or placing all the pieces of code separately in a bag and shaking to produce the first, basic functioning code.

[rae4palin]

From the article: It is time for a paradigm change - but neoDarwinists are stuck because they have so much philosophical baggage holding them down.

[GodGunsGuts]

I was wondering who would be the first to find that. Of course, I would change that word from philosophical to religious.

[Wacka]

On all these threads, why don’t you also post the source paper that BTMS* and the others have bastardized by their inaccurate reviews so we can see how BTMS* and the rest have quote mined?

[fightinJAG]

Interesting!

[Caesar Soze]

Why link to a blog about a paper when you can link to the paper itself? A few thoughts:

• Gene transfer, mostly among organisms without proper nuclei, does not mean the tree of life was "cut down." Especially the branches with more complex organisms, like bunnies or people. Koonin clearly states that trees are a useful model for depicting "expansive parts of life's history ... especially major groups of eukaryotes." See this diagram from the paper under discussion.
• Still, there's a little bit of more recent gene transfer into our branch in the form of endogenous retroviruses (a very convincing proof of common origin amongst primates).
• If the primordial and prokaryotic/archaeic horizontal gene transfer suggested by Koonin is true, then the network of life is the best model for explaining life's diversity. If it is not true, the traditional tree of life is the best model. Koonin's paper does not support ID or the special creation of baramin. Rather, it undermines them by increasing our knowledge of evolutionary processes and strengthening the evidence for common descent.
• It is disingenuous to suggest, as the OP has, that "another Evo [sic]" has abandoned the HMS Beagle when, in fact, the scientist in question writes quite respectfully of Darwin and concludes he was generally right.
• "Comparative genomics vindicates Darwin's conjecture on the origin of all extant life forms from a single common ancestor. Indeed, evolutionary reconstructions suggest that hundreds of conserved genes, most likely, trace back to LUCA." A very powerful affirmation of common ancestry.
• "The emerging landscape of genome evolution includes the classic, Darwinian natural selection as an important component but is by far more pluralistic and complex than entailed by Darwin's straightforward vision that was solidified in the Modern Synthesis." Far from abandoning Darwin, Koonin expands upon his work.

I confess I didn't pay much attention to the blog, but the paper was a good read. Though I really doubt Eugene Koonin agrees with your opinions regarding evolution.

[Caesar Soze]

This one isn't BTMS*, it's DTPhD. His PhD is in physical sciences, and he teaches at the Hollings Metropolitan University's Department of Clothing Design and Technology. His professional interests include textiles and clothing. To Tyler's credit, he does not use his PhD when blogging about ID. That was appended to his name by the OP. Why is left to the reader.

[GodGunsGuts]

I doubt he would either. My main purpose in posting the lit. review is that I have been predicting that the evos would be abandoning neo-Darwinism for years, and for pretty much the same reasons as Koonin lists in his papers. This is becoming more and more frequent, and as such, my prediction is coming true.

[BEVB]

Ken Miller used HGT to try to disprove I.D. Micheal Behe concerning irreducible complexity.

http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/design2/article.html

You can't have it both ways. Use it as a weapon against I.D. and then call it a creationist ploy.

[UCANSEE2]

That is a good analogy, or placing all the pieces of code separately in a bag and shaking to produce the first, basic functioning code.

That's how they made COBOL.

[MortMan]

That’s okay - For LISP they added about 100x the regular number of parenthesis!

[Bellflower]

I liken this discredited theory with the idea that you could convert one computer program to another program by changing one letter at a time in the source code, with each change being compilable, executable, and useful.

Excellent! Let's hope that evos are able to process it with their computer codes. The evo virus needs removing from their hard drives. Poor things! It's really screwed contexting fundamental basics concerning life up for them.

They need to call the manufacturer. He's the only one that can take care of that problem for them.

[Natural Law]

So Koonin say that evolution is a more complex process than a 19th century scientist speculated. BFD!

You really do need to critically read the article you link and the books/articles they cite rather than skimming until you find a nugget that supports your preexisting conclusion than running to your keyboard like you hair is on fire to share your Eureka moment with the Free Republic.

[Wacka]

I kind of picture GGG with no hair.