Tweaking the Genetic Code: Debunking Attempts to Engineer Evolution

ACTS & FACTS ^ | December 2009 | Jeffrey Tomkins, Ph.D.

[GodGunsGuts]

A new concept making its way through the scientific community holds that just a few key changes in the right genes will result in a whole new life form as different from its progenitor as a bird is from a lizard![1] This idea is being applied to a number of key problems in the evolutionary model, one of which is the lack of transitional forms in both the fossil record and the living (extant) record.

The new concept supposedly adds support to the "punctuated equilibrium" model proposed by the late Harvard paleontologist Stephen J. Gould. Dr. Gould derived his ideas from the research of geneticist Richard Goldschmidt, who believed that evolution proceeded by large influential "macro-mutations" rather than small gradual changes.[2] Goldschmidt affectionately termed this the "Hopeful Monster" theory and the name stuck.[3]

With the longstanding neo-Darwinian model, one would expect to see many transitional organisms representing small gradual changes brought about by random genetic mutations acted upon by natural selection. While this model has many scientific difficulties, the biggest problem is that the entire fossil record is highly discontinuous, with an overwhelming absence of transitional forms between virtually all major taxa. It is quite obvious that the historical record of life does not provide the needed evidence for gradual evolutionary change.

As a paleontologist, Dr. Gould was painfully aware of these pervasive gaps in the fossil record and proposed a controversial evolutionary model in which new life forms arose suddenly, explaining the absence of transitional forms. Since the neo-Darwinian view is the predominant evolutionary model, Gould's idea was never widely accepted.

Does the "Neo-Hopeful Monster" Solve Human Evolution's Problems? ...

[Natural Law]

"One day, in the future, archeologists might dig up the bones of one of the wrestlers from WWF, and claim they found another example of Neanderthal man."

Until they checked the DNA and dated the material. Modern forensic archaeological tools are no longer limited to a shovel, whisk broom, and a micrometer.

[count-your-change]

Their tools now are the plaster trowel (see the plaster “skull” of the Lucy animal), the forced fit (Lucy’s crushed pelvis), the artist’s pen (Ardi the composite), and the hopeful hype of Ida (the human ancestor, not human ancestor, the relegation to the basement ancestor of something).

[ColdWater]

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[Natural Law]

"Ethical Use Policy 2. You may quote up to 100 words, rephrase or summarize our information for non-commercial, educational use provided you reference our website each time our information is used."

You used 262 words in your intro in violation of the IRC's policy.......someone owes "Natural Plagiarizer" an apology.

[ColdWater]

It also says “non-commercial use”. GGG fails this also.

[GodGunsGuts]

Thanks, nice to be back :o)

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!