1. Natural selection

Comment #247761 by bladeScythe on September 15, 2008 at 2:55 am

His show on saturday in Canberra was fantastic. I havn't laughed that hard for that long in a good while. Would have loved it if he'd spent more time on evolution though.

2. Beyond Belief 07: Enlightenment 2.0

Comment #93636 by bladeScythe on December 3, 2007 at 7:21 pm

Oh man have i been waiting for this.

3. The benefits of 80 million years without sex

Comment #78473 by bladeScythe on October 13, 2007 at 4:57 am

Surviving novel situations is Dependant on novel mutations arising. The reason these guys have an advantage is the genes on each chromosome can adapt independently. evolving a new gene from scratch is a horribly unlikely event, where as getting new benefit from the modification of an old one is much more likely.

Sexual reproducing organism have 2 ways (that i know of off hand) to do this, they could duplicate their chromosomes. Although plant show evidence of having done this, it is fatal most animal species (especially humans). Or you can duplicate the individual gene, either from a copying error or due to a retroviral element. Depending on where the duplicated gene ends up, selection can start acting upon it independently, allowing adaption for novel function.

Both of these events are fairly rare, so as the study shows having independent chromosomes could be advantageous. However as the article also mentions there are some large disadvantages to not utilising sex. Recombination allows genes to be shuffled around, this allows selection to act independently in each gene.

thats my understanding of things anyway

4. Response to My Fellow 'Atheists'

Comment #77256 by bladeScythe on October 8, 2007 at 9:59 pm

I may be a bit late on the boat, but it would like to point out that genes are not the only thing you don't have control over. SBE claims that atheism is a choice where as having high melanin content in your skin or orange pigment is not. I would also argue that contract skin cancer, or the flu are also not your choice. These things can be influenced but the choices you make, but simply by insuring your own survival you may as a result develop these conditions. I argue that in the same way just by being exposed to information in your environment it can become clear that a rational discourse is the best for ascertaining understanding, leading you to being an atheist.

As this appear to be the case atheism can be a result of environmental exposure (as opposed to genetic) and as such is not necessarily a choice, but just a result of adopting a rational world view.

5. Ancient Protein Tells a Story of Changing Functions

Comment #64774 by bladeScythe on August 21, 2007 at 7:15 pm

Mr Empirical

I'm not sure if we've been reading differnt books, but i am fairly certain that although Dennett recognises some forced moves in evolution (boilogical design space), he supports that fact that chance plays a major role in all other moves and even the timing of the aquisistion of the forced solutions.

6. Scientists look to disrupt the brain chemistry of violence

Comment #35569 by bladeScythe on April 27, 2007 at 4:04 pm

well put Steelman.

In all endevours like this it is important to consider the various outcomes. I'm am not critising the reasearch(which i think is fantastic) just the way various people may attempt to apply it.

7. Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior

Comment #26647 by bladeScythe on March 20, 2007 at 11:25 pm

that second last line is pure gold cassdenata.

8. The History of Creationist Thought

Comment #26318 by bladeScythe on March 18, 2007 at 4:50 pm

"A magic man dunnit"

That line kept me amused.