201. Saving Us from Darwin

Comment #197476 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 8:01 am

206. Comment #197475 by AllanW

I particularly like the fish of reason bit.

202. Charles Darwin: 'Is man an ape or an angel?'

Comment #197459 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 5:32 am

"But RNA is still a product of life"

The other way around.

203. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197457 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 5:20 am

8458. Comment #197444 by Steve Zara

"I was hoping we could in some way harness the delusion energy in creationists."

Let's say we discover deep deposits of coal or oil under a land mass. Spread the word that, using sonar, we have discovered that deep down there appears to be fossil remains which look remarkably like rabbits and then give them shovels.

204. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #197452 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 4:51 am

8459. Comment #197450 by irate_atheist

Is that look of disgust on the good bishops face a permanent feature?

EDIT From Wiki. The etymology of the word cretin is not known with certainty. Several hypotheses have been proposed. The most common derivation provided in English dictionaries is from the Alpine French dialect pronunciation of the word Chrétien -Christian

You learn something new everyday!!

205. Christianity 'could die out within a century'

Comment #197449 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 4:25 am

To be replaced with celebrity worship perhaps. I suspect that we have an innate tendency to worship whether it's sky gods or high status individuals. And if you think that there's a difference in that they are mere mortals think Elvis or Kim Jong Il.

206. New discovery proves 'selfish gene' exists

Comment #197446 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 4:05 am

36. Comment #197434 by decius

The confusion over the term selfish is perpetuated in the most unlikely places. Molecular biologists In labs everywhere and in modern textbooks often refer to selfish DNA when the DNA in question does not code for a protein or doesn't have any known function and is perceived to be simply "hitching a ride".

I must re-read the book. I read it twenty odd years ago and was the major catalyst in my career move from electronics to the life sciences. I lost my copy years ago so now off to get another.

207. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates

Comment #197439 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 3:48 am

"I'm just hoping for the day when we can grow babies entirely outside the womb, when we know how to fiddle with the genetic code with precision, and hence when we can just grow replacement body parts and organs by cloning brain-free versions of ourselves. "

In the meantime we can humanize animals eg transgenic pigs carrying human MHC genes could be used to supply tissue for transplants.

208. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates

Comment #197426 by bugaboo on June 22, 2008 at 3:06 am

290. Comment #197411 by Sargeist

"Are things that are toxic to animals always toxic to humans? "

No and vice versa. The example that comes to mind is funnel web spider venom which is not that toxic to dogs/cats. There must be countless examples since toxins will have different affinities for the receptors from different species.

209. New discovery proves 'selfish gene' exists

Comment #197247 by bugaboo on June 21, 2008 at 12:42 pm

Arent selfish genes simply genetic elements that are replicated either alone or together with the genome but dont provide any advantage to the organism? Ive always thought that mobile genetic elements like transposons were regarded as selfish DNA. Introns also.
I dont understand what the "breakthrough" is here.

Come to think about it isnt ALL DNA selfish?

210. It Doesn't Take an Einstein

Comment #197137 by bugaboo on June 21, 2008 at 7:57 am

"We have specific genetic markers and diseases that only Jews can get."

No. its just that the recessive traits you refer to (eg tay sachs)manifest as disease in a limited gene pool. The same thing happens in eg Amish communities.

Does not make you a race

Theres a very easy way to alleviate the problem...

211. Charles Darwin: 'Is man an ape or an angel?'

Comment #196145 by bugaboo on June 19, 2008 at 10:59 am

Welcome fickian

just had a brief look at the videos available at the link you provided and it does look great.

Keep posting

212. Charles Darwin: 'Is man an ape or an angel?'

Comment #195966 by bugaboo on June 19, 2008 at 6:11 am

Comment #195948 by ridelo

DNA replication ,which is error prone, is the chemical reaction that makes it all possible. Was world news in 1953.

213. Gay brains structured like those of the opposite sex

Comment #194639 by bugaboo on June 17, 2008 at 5:58 am

sorry carto

"Why can't straight men, for instance, enjoy "feminine" behaviours, or even passive sexual gratification, if they want to? "

reminds me of an old joke

Q: Why do dogs lick their genitals

A: Because thay can!

214. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194346 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Thanks AllanW

215. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194258 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 2:54 pm

"Does anyone know if epeeist's avatar is of someone famous as it looks very familiar but i can never think who it looks like? "

Peter Sellers? at least the smile :)

216. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194235 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 2:45 pm

7550. Comment #194240 by phatbat

Peter Sellers?

217. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194154 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 1:16 pm

7495. Comment #194147 by ReceivedTheGift

Theres just so much in this post.....

I just want to deal with one point

"This mutation requires for additional genetic information to be added on to the original strand, something which has never been observed in any living organism"

A large percentage of genomes contain viral sequences eg retroviral sequences in mammals. Your assertion that these types of insertional events never happen is false.

218. Astronomers find batch of 'super-Earths'

Comment #194063 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 11:13 am

30. Comment #194044 by moderndaythomas

I was fortunate enough to attend a series of lectures (Gifford lectures) given by Carl Sagan in Glasgow some twenty years ago. I remember he speculated on life forms evolving on gas giants, "floaters" I think he called them. I havent kept up with advances in astronomy (hangs head in shame), save for simply marvelling at the images from hubble etc.

The book Steve Zara recommends looks good so just ordered it from Amazon. Must catch/keep up.

219. Astronomers find batch of 'super-Earths'

Comment #193953 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 8:36 am

Schmeer and Quetz

Thanks. Another wobble hypothesis-i like it!

220. Astronomers find batch of 'super-Earths'

Comment #193925 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 8:11 am

can someone explain to me (or point me in the right direction to find out)why the orbits are of such short duration?

221. Gay brains structured like those of the opposite sex

Comment #193898 by bugaboo on June 16, 2008 at 7:46 am

I remember reading in the past about evidence of a fraternal birth order effect on the outcome of sexual orientation but didnt keep up with the research. Anyone know of the studies?

222. New British Petition: Stop the Nightmares

Comment #192598 by bugaboo on June 13, 2008 at 2:10 pm

74. Comment #192585 by MPhil

I (and i'm sure others) would like to read this. Is it available?

Here's a link to Nicholas Humphreys Amnesty talk on the subject from 1997 for anyone who hasnt read it.
http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/humphrey/amnesty.html

223. Couple charged in Norway over genital mutilation of daughters

Comment #192526 by bugaboo on June 13, 2008 at 9:23 am

84. Comment #192520 by A heron at night

Come on heron, get a grip. We are talking about children.

224. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #192516 by bugaboo on June 13, 2008 at 8:53 am

306. Comment #192512 by Steve Zara

"What he is confuses me."

Dont know if this has been suggested before but an "Elmer Gantry"?

225. Bacteria make major evolutionary shift in the lab

Comment #192513 by bugaboo on June 13, 2008 at 8:46 am

23. Comment #192505 by wagnerpe

Yes but dont know too much about it. An article appeared in "Science" a couple of months ago stating that not only were the bacteria resistant but actually metabolised the antibiotics. I dont think the worry was that they could infect humans or other animals but that they could actually be used to "soak up" antibiotic contamination in the environment which is causing problems. Bear in mind also that antibiotics (from eg fungi)have been around for perhaps as long as bacteria and co-evolved with them.

226. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #192499 by bugaboo on June 13, 2008 at 8:07 am

Ah jist widnae go anywhere near this man. That Robertson fella's a right kludgie. Dibate wae 'im? ye must be jokin. 'es a feckin eedjit!

They wee frees? Aff thur feckin hieds man!!


PS No true Scotsman would say that!

227. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192438 by bugaboo on June 13, 2008 at 4:06 am

86. Comment #192428 by scottishgeologist

Does this suggest that the congregation are perhaps going to run out and buy/read TGD?

228. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192433 by bugaboo on June 13, 2008 at 3:51 am

This is quite clearly all about education as far as I can see. Are people who have higher/tertiary education less likely to believe in god as opposed to early school leavers probably. Also the type/quality of education will have a bearing on outcomes.

A number of posters suggest that if Lynn's hypothesis were true they would be pleased or that they would somehow like it to be true. I must say that the possibility of it being true disturbs me since then the intelligent folk would have to invent some kind of bogey man in order to keep the idiots in check (as has probably happened some time in the past. ;)
To quote that father of American neo-conservatism Irving Kristol "Religion is the opium of the people-thank God"

EDIT: Just checked and i was wrong about the Kristol quote. It wasnt him who said it but a journalist commenting on what he might say. Sorry

229. Bacteria make major evolutionary shift in the lab

Comment #191479 by bugaboo on June 11, 2008 at 3:25 am

18. Comment #191453 by Vaal

Hi Vaal

If you like this check out the experiments done by Joshua Lederberg in the 60's.(replica plating) He plated bacteria out on petri dishes and then took prints of them (using velvet)and plated these out on multiple plates always in the same orientation. When he applied an antibiotic to the plates the colonies that grew (resistant bacteria)always appeared in the same place on each of the plates. Thus showing that the mutations leading to resistance were present before the selection pressure. If the mutations had arisen after selection the colonies would have grown in random spots. A simple elegant experiment to show Darwinian selection at work. Selection working on pre-existing mutations.

230. Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind

Comment #191460 by bugaboo on June 11, 2008 at 2:45 am

For those interested in wierd sentences here's a now famous one in english:-

"Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo"

Edit: The term kludge was adopted by computer programmers in the 50's where they changed the spelling to kluge.

Edit: The word derives from a Scottish word for toilet-kludgie

231. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #188368 by bugaboo on June 4, 2008 at 2:51 am

sorry that link didnt work
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/

232. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #188349 by bugaboo on June 4, 2008 at 2:13 am

This from the Daily Mash for any conceptual continuity freaks.

233. Five Things Humans No Longer Need

Comment #187904 by bugaboo on June 3, 2008 at 2:21 am

Frankus:

Just saw this discussion -but anyway
a thought about wisdom teeth. Having them may lead to infection and, in the past, significant morbidity and mortality. These infections happen later in life affecting the ability of grandparents to assist in the survival of their grandchildren. Just a small advantage for those children whose grandparents dont have them but over time.....

234. Darwin's Joyful Journey of Discovery

Comment #187357 by bugaboo on June 2, 2008 at 3:28 am

There is no way that I thought that he was saying the theory made the world a less interesting place. On the contrary since the theory and then the "new synthesis" and concomitant revolution in biotechnology we now have the knowledge and ability to actually do something about the destruction of biodiversity. Something that sailors who ate tortoise and dodo could never have imagined.

I guess I was a little annoyed at what I perceived as a rather negative article from Steve Jones. I have admired him in the past for his communication of evolutionary biology. But i thought that he often sat on the fence when biology/ science came into conflict with religion/politics. This may be unfair on my part as I formed this opinion based on a couple of television discussions or radio interviews from a decade or so ago ( I shall endeavour to find these and perhaps re-assess) I also thought that he has been conspicuous by his absence in these more troubled times. Again I may well be wrong. But I did read the article with that mindset.

235. Darwin's Joyful Journey of Discovery

Comment #187167 by bugaboo on June 1, 2008 at 11:51 am

6. Comment #187012 by Duff

And it can wait. What is it you would like to know exactly?

236. Darwin's Joyful Journey of Discovery

Comment #186985 by bugaboo on June 1, 2008 at 2:47 am

4. Comment #186969 by kraut

I understand what he's saying -i just dont agree with him.

237. 'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'

Comment #186960 by bugaboo on June 1, 2008 at 1:03 am

351. Comment #186950 by epeeist

Yes. I read this story this morning-mutterings in the hospital: "I could hear people talking on the corridors and the only thing that they had to say was that Leila was wrong for defending her daughter's mistakes and that her death was God's punishment."

238. Scientists rally against creationist 'superstition'

Comment #186955 by bugaboo on June 1, 2008 at 12:51 am

"They want permission not to come to those lectures and sit those exam questions," Fine. Fail them.

239. Darwin's Joyful Journey of Discovery

Comment #186952 by bugaboo on June 1, 2008 at 12:44 am

I hope when we celebrate Darwin's bicentennial next year we can expect to read better and much more positive articles than this. I'm dissapointed in Steve Jones. The world has become a much less interesting place since his discoveries? Really?

240. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #186397 by bugaboo on May 30, 2008 at 8:44 am

Insufficient data to comment on this particular case. But noticed this:

"In Islam, Amar Lafsar said, "virginity is not a necessary condition for marriage". The religion preached chastity before marriage but Muslims could heed or ignore the message."

What other messages the religion preaches can Muslims choose to ignore or heed? Am i missing something?

241. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #185300 by bugaboo on May 27, 2008 at 11:39 am

Al and MaxD

I begin to see where your coming from. Thanks. I shall think some more on this... gotta go for now

Cheers

242. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #185280 by bugaboo on May 27, 2008 at 11:00 am

Al

I'm not convinced it will help. I'll have a look at the links. I trust you're satisfied that the authors have teased apart race from socioeconomic status.

EDIT: AL "I thought I should add, while 50% of murderers are African American, 13.1% of the US population is African American. There is the obvious conclusion to be made, whatever your opinions on race."

Yeah. The obvious conclusion is that the African Americans lived in deprived areas, were excluded from the best jobs, education etc and this has led to crime.

243. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #185271 by bugaboo on May 27, 2008 at 10:25 am

Al

"Well, violence is strongly correlated to a race"

What evidence do you have for that?

244. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #185269 by bugaboo on May 27, 2008 at 10:07 am

163. Comment #185231 by HunterZolomon

I think most people in this forum dont think that criticizing islam is racist. We get that. The issue (at least in my mind) was what was motivating the people of Camden and how this was reported by the media.

167. Comment #185251 by al-rawandi

"Most gun crime in the US is one black person shooting another over drugs...."

Should have read

"Most gun crime in the US is one poor person shooting another over drugs...."

245. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #184875 by bugaboo on May 26, 2008 at 10:21 am

Comment #184867 by hungarianelephant

"The BBC always seems to be looking for racism"

More than this they always equate anti-Islamic feeling with racism, as does the UK government.

And yes this article stinks of racism eg "This town has every nationality... but Muslims do not fit in this town".

246. The Mind-Altering Role of Incense in Religion

Comment #184836 by bugaboo on May 26, 2008 at 9:28 am

So the holy inquisition ravaged Europe whilst out of their minds on incense?

247. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #184827 by bugaboo on May 26, 2008 at 9:10 am

This is an absolute outrage!! Surely, he cant get away with this fascism. Does anyone know what the people of Texas can do? I'm lost for words. where's irate?

248. Animal Science Without Evolution

Comment #184702 by bugaboo on May 26, 2008 at 2:02 am

Comment #184688 by epeeist

Yes, i think this would be an excellent tactic. lets all get reviewing.

249. Mail-boat record 'proves Darwin stole his original ideas from a Welsh scientist'

Comment #184698 by bugaboo on May 26, 2008 at 1:48 am

Actually, Patrick Mathew (a Scot) came up with the idea. Naval Timber & Arboriculture" published in 1831. He thought it so obvious that it couldnt possibly be that original so didnt make a fuss. At least thats the story i heard. But Darwin gets credit in my book and Wallace has always been credited for independent discovery.

250. A Tribute to Douglas Adams: Towel Day May 25th

Comment #184399 by bugaboo on May 25, 2008 at 1:58 am

I AM a towel! I shall get really high today. And raise a glass to Douglas.