Amazing new research paper by the Biologic Institute. The PDF of the paper, “Reductive Evolution Can Prevent Populations from Taking Simple Adaptive Paths to High Fitness,” is available here.
Jay Richards, Director of Research at the CRSC, (Discovery Institute)
Ann Gauger, senior research scientist at the Biologic Institute
About Ann:
Ann is a senior research scientist at Biologic Institute. Her work uses molecular genetics and genomic engineering to study the origin, organization and operation of metabolic pathways. She received a BS in biology from MIT, and a PhD in developmental biology from the University of Washington, where she studied cell adhesion molecules involved in Drosophila embryogenesis. As a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard she cloned and characterized the Drosophila kinesin light chain. Her research has been published in Nature, Development, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Topics:
Co-authored with microbiologist Ralph Seelke at the University of Wisconsion
Purpose: study whether bacteria can evolve the ability to fix a broken protein (e.g. – enzyme)
Two areas are broken in the enzyme
If you fix the first one, it works a little but not fully (slight advantage)
If you fix the second one, it starts to work fully (huge advantage)
It’s a “two-step adaptive path” – a textbook case for evolution
should be able to hit both mutations and get back full functionality
At the start of the experiment, the cell is churning out broken protein
there is a cost to the cell for create the broken protein
the cell can either go through the adaptive path and repair the protein
OR, it can shut off production of the broken protein
EITHER PATH gives a selective advantage
So what happens? The cells NEVER followed the adaptive path
They almost ALWAYS turn off the production of the broken protein
It happens in 30-50 generations, in 14 different cultures
Each culture had a different way of turning off the production
They tested on 10^12 cells
Only one cell made the first repair, none made the second repair
It’s more advantageous to STOP PRODUCING the broken protein as soon as possible
The first cell that gets rid of the non-functional protein first overtakes the whole culture
so, even adaptive paths that provide a benefit with one mutation are unlikely to be followed
The point: even promising theoretical adaptive pathways MAY NOT WORK in experiments
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14:00 “The death of Jesus as a challenge to Islam” (North West University, Potchefstroom)
19:00 “The historicity of the resurrection” (North West University, Potchefstroom)
Tuesday, 11 May:
10:00-12:00 Colloquium: “The problem of differences: Do the Gospels contradict one another?” (UNISA, Pretoria)
19:00 Debate with Prof Pieter Craffert: “Was Jesus raised physically from the dead?” (University of Johannesburg)
Venue: University of Johannesburg
Location: B-Les 103
Cost: none
Wednesday, 12 May:
19:00 Debate with Prof Sakkie Spangenberg and Prof Hansie Wolmarans (HOD Greek & Latin Studies, University of Johannesburg) vs. Prof William Lane Craig & Prof Michael Licona: “How should we understand the narratives about Jesus’ resurrection?”
Venue: University of Pretoria
Location: Musaion Auditorium
Cost: R20 at the door
We have quite a few South African readers, so you all need to attend these events and then send me updates, and I can post them and give you credit. I am a big fan of Mike Licona.
WINTERY KNIGHT 