The Kinks in Evolution Options

[Call911Quick]

I've been studying AP bio at a private international high school. We've learned a little bit about evolution, and after learning about it, I realize that there are problems with the theory. Here I will show you why Evolution is credible, and why it is also not "proven fact".

***If you are already fairly familiar in detail with the theory of Evolution, skip down to my series of dotted lines.***

First of all, let me inform you about DNA. 1.5% of your DNA are genes. Genes are what code for proteins and RNA molecules (enzymes). These are the mini machines in your body that regulate everything from the distance between your eyes to the length of your toes. There are around 30,000 genes in a human cell, give or take.

So, what is the other 98.5% of your DNA? It is actually composed of many different things. Random segments of non-coding DNA, transposons, satellite DNA, etc. At any rate, all you need to know is that the rest of your DNA does absolutely NOTHING good for you.

Now, I may be exaggerating, but 99% (or somewhere around that number) of our genes are identical to a fruit fly's genes. This is one of the bases for the theory of evolution; we are so similar to primates, flies, and even sea cucumbers. We must have a common ancestor.

The theory of evolution states that over the course of 1.5 billion years (That's a REALLY LONG TIME!), single cell procaryotes eventually evolved into simple multicellular organisms composed of specialized eucaryotic cells. The first animal: sponges.

From sponges, it went to worms. Worms were the first animals to have a central nervous system, radial symmetry, and most importantly, a head. From there it's a really long story but basically we evolved over the course of 1.5 billion years. This is actually quite probable; lots can happen in such a long time.

This is my mini introduction to the theory of evolution, just to clarify some things. It may be 1% of what is actually known, because I could write a 10-page essay on this thing.

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The problem with evolution likes in your DNA.

As you all know, genetic mutations cause diseases. Genetic mutations can occur in many different ways. The most common causes are mutagens, such as x-rays, car exhaust, etc. They're chemicals that cause genetic mutation.

Another way is from viruses. AS you know, viruses insert a segment of double-stranded DNA into your cell, which integrates itself with that particular cell's DNA. This causes the cell to produce more viruses, etc.

The step in which the virus' DNA integrates itself with your human DNA is where mutations can occur. Your cell doesn't produce viruses, but maybe it grows uncontrollably and eventually develops into a malignant tumor. Viruses are a leading cause for cancer.

Secondly, and more curiously, is your own DNA is capable of mutating itself. I mentioned earlier that a part of your DNA is transposons. Approximately 15%. If you have knowledge in Latin roots, you can figure out that transposons are segments of DNA that can be cut out and re-inserted by the enzyme transposase. This has no known positive benefit, and is just a formula for genetic mutations. Another cause for cancer.

If evolution were true, why did we develop this kind of DNA? The only reason why we don't have cancer is because a cell firstly needs 13-17 mutations in order to become cancerous, and the probability of transposons affecting a gene is low, because your cell's growth cycle has two restriction points, and if something is wrong, the it will commit suicide. Your mutated cell kills itself, unless the... well, if you want to know about cancer, PM me.

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Are you curious why human cells stop metabolism? Why do we age? Why do we die? Well, part of the cause is once again, ourselves. Our cells have receptors for hormones with, basically, tell the cell to stop metabolizing. A scientist (forget her name, she's a genius tho) experimented with roundworms. She ended up being able to DOUBLE the life of a roundworm (from two weeks to four weeks) by mutating the gene that codes for said receptors on the cell. The cells are incapable of receiving the hormones, and thus don't die THAT way.

There are other ways our cells die. Our sex cells, or gametes, also have a way of causing our body to stop metabolism. I wasn't paying much attention during this part of the lecture, so I can't go into detail.

Anyway, why does this happen? If evolution were true, we'd have never developed this aging process. We strive for survival. The animals that mutated and began aging should have died, while the animals that didn't would live much longer. According to Darwin, that is.

Think on it. Sleep on it. Take some aspirin.

[NoSex]

I've been studying AP bio at a private international high school.

Good for you.

This has no known positive benefit, and is just a formula for genetic mutations.

A genetic mutation is simply the change in the base pairs of our DNA. In other words, a shifting of allele sequencing on a chromosome. Such a mutation is generally neutral. Some are harmful, but, some can be quite beneficial within a specific species when affected by specific environmental factors. Refer to Human Chromosome 2, without it and its obvious mutated existence we may very well have never existed as a superior intelligence to our ancestral ape.

So, you're wrong - there are known benefits to genetic mutation. All that is needed is a random error in transcription or translation which produces a favorable phenotype. It isn't an alien idea, which makes me assume you simply haven't read the literature.

She ended up being able to DOUBLE the life of a roundworm (from two weeks to four weeks) by mutating the gene that codes for said receptors on the cell. The cells are incapable of receiving the hormones, and thus don't die THAT way.

First off: you can't have your cake and eat it too, moron. Either there aren't any known benefits to mutations or there are known benefits.

Secondly, you really don't seem to understand the aging process (as many of us don't) or the meaning of the research done by Dr. Kenyon (that's her name).

Anyway, why does this happen? If evolution were true, we'd have never developed this aging process. We strive for survival. The animals that mutated and began aging should have died, while the animals that didn't would live much longer. According to Darwin, that is.

1. You're asking a question that is just as f**king ignorant as: "Why can't we just build a car that will never break? I mean, it would be sweet, why can't we do it?"
2. Aging is a mysterious, complex, and imposing process. We aren't entirely sure how or why it operates the way it does but we are learning a few things: Oxidative stress, caused by normal metabolism, damages our cells. The damage caused by this stress decreases the function of our cells which results in further damage (when metabolism isn't successful, the human body tends to create toxins). Cancer is caused by the controlled division and replication of cells. Humans have proteins and hormones which attempt to regulate the mitotic process. These enzymes also damage and wear down our cells, attributing to the aging process. However, without them, we find an increase in the frequency of tumors - there is no longer regulation in mitosis.
3. The aging process is both a natural process (things break down, entropy, etc.) and a seemingly necessary side-effect of cell regulation. For example, in your roundworm experiment, the gene (daf-2) which was mutated in order to increase the lifespan of the worms was the regulating gene for the worms entire insulin-receptor system. In an early stage of life, if the gene is mutated (or turned off), the worm will not be able to reproduce in the future. What is living two more weeks worth if you can't pass on your genes? It's evolution, not a f**king fairy-tale.
4. You don't know shit about Darwin.

Think on it. Sleep on it. Take some aspirin.

Read a book.

[Call911Quick]

Your fancy shmancy high school obviously isn't doing a very good job. I suggest transferring.

At least I have an education.

Good for you.
A genetic mutation is simply the change in the base pairs of our DNA. In other words, a shifting of allele sequencing on a chromosome. Such a mutation is generally neutral. Some are harmful, but, some can be quite beneficial within a specific species when affected by specific environmental factors. Refer to Human Chromosome 2, without it and its obvious mutated existence we may very well have never existed as a superior intelligence to our ancestral ape.

Right, fine, let me rephrase for you. We've evolved due to mutations, or changes in our genes, but of all the mutations that have ever happened, VERY few are beneficial. If you were to give a generalization on mutations, you'd say "They are bad." Oh, and genetic mutations are not restricted to mere shifting of allele sequencing. Not even alleles, mutations happen at the nucleotide levels. Nucleotides can be inserted, deleted, or substituted, while triplet code sequences are duplicated or inverted.

Secondly, you really don't seem to understand the aging process (as many of us don't) or the meaning of the research done by Dr. Kenyon (that's her name).
1. You're asking a question that is just as f**king ignorant as: "Why can't we just build a car that will never break? I mean, it would be sweet, why can't we do it?"

No, that is a terrible analogy. It's more like asking "Why did we build a car with a self-destruct timer set for X amount of years?" Don't put words in my mouth. Because it is in our genetic code to kill ourselves. If our natural instinct is survival, we would have never developed such a gene. Someone asked what is the benefit to living forever? Oh, I don't know, if you'd rather die a slow painful death where your body slowly stops metabolism and erodes away, you don't have to wait until you're 70. Just smoke maybe 3 packs a day.

2. Aging is a mysterious, complex, and imposing process. We aren't entirely sure how or why it operates the way it does but we are learning a few things: Oxidative stress, caused by normal metabolism, damages our cells. The damage caused by this stress decreases the function of our cells which results in further damage (when metabolism isn't successful, the human body tends to create toxins). Cancer is caused by the controlled division and replication of cells. Humans have proteins and hormones which attempt to regulate the mitotic process. These enzymes also damage and wear down our cells, attributing to the aging process. However, without them, we find an increase in the frequency of tumors - there is no longer regulation in mitosis.

Cancer is not caused by the controlled division and replication of cells. On the contrary, it is the UN-controlled division and replication of cells. The genes that code for enzymes and proteins that regulate the meiotic process are called proto-oncogenes. These genes have become mutated, which are then simply called oncogenes. Nobody knows the details or we'll have cured cancer by now. However, I'd like you to explain further how these enzymes and Oxidative stress cause our cells to stop metabolizing.

3. The aging process is both a natural process (things break down, entropy, etc.) and a seemingly necessary side-effect of cell regulation. For example, in your roundworm experiment, the gene (daf-2) which was mutated in order to increase the lifespan of the worms was the regulating gene for the worms entire insulin-receptor system. In an early stage of life, if the gene is mutated (or turned off), the worm will not be able to reproduce in the future. What is living two more weeks worth if you can't pass on your genes? It's evolution, not a f**king fairy-tale.

The aging process wasn't my only argument. Perhaps you'd like to address my question as to why transposons, satellite DNA, introns, unique non-coding DNA (genes with no promoter), and ALU elements exist?

And everybody knows about Darwin. Him and his famous natural selection theory. He discovered/came up with the theory while studying tortoises, actually. I forgot which islands, everything here is off the top of my head.

Yes, to me, evolution is a f**king fairy-tale.

Oh, and if you have nothing to contribute or argue with me about, quit trying to diss me.

[brooklyneast05]

Someone asked what is the benefit to living forever? Oh, I don't know, if you'd rather die a slow painful death where your body slowly stops metabolism and erodes away, you don't have to wait until you're 70. Just smoke maybe 3 packs a day.

i obviously see reasons why people want to live a long time, but they aren't evolutionary reasons, and that's what i was asking for. people wanna be with their family and friends forever, that's not a reason why we should evolve that way. evolution doesn't give a shit if u don't want to die when u're 70 or not. like nate said, as long as u've passed on ur genes, then who cares what happens after that? evolutions goal isn't to make u happy and live however long u personally think u should live.


lol, evolution is a fairy tale because u don't think we should die. right...which one sounds more like a fairy tale?