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Evolution continues today, and sometimes we can watch it happening. Researchers in the November 6th edition of the journal Science say that they caught in the act a population of butterflies in Ecuador potentially diverging into two distinct species.
Heliconius butterflies spread across Central and South America. What distinguishes differing Heliconius species is color variation. For instance, in Costa Rica, the two most closely related species are white or yellow, which prefer to mate with those of their own color.
In Ecuador, there are also white or yellow Heliconius butterflies that live close to one another and have mated freely. But that situation might be changing. Scientists studied the butterflies in captivity. The two types differ in just one gene responsible for color. But yellow males prefer yellow females. While white males go for either color female.
The difference in mate preference could eventually lead to two distinct species, as in Costa Rica, with yellow and white butterflies that no longer interbreed. The researchers will continue to study the role of genes in both color and mate choice—which could send the populations diverging forever into new species.
—Cynthia Graber
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4 Comments
Add CommentThe real question is not whether or not evolution is taking place. Of course it is. Only people blinded by religious dogma would argue against the obvious.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe issue of "common descent", which is what religionists really argue against, is without question to any logical minded person.
The question is can modern synthetic theory (random mutation and natural selection) explain it. Are the time frames large enough for the statistical probabilities posited and can it explain away the arguemnts of "irreducible complexity".
There are those who accept "common descent" as a given but who do not agree with the notions of Darwinian descent (natural selection) or random mutation as the modus operandi of the evolutionary process.
This academic adherence to the unsupported evidence of the Darwinian Dogma only fuels the fires of the creationist and "intelligent design" arguements.
It's time for rational minded scientists to start seriously challenging the ideas behind modern synthetic theory.
Lynn Margulis has been a champion of this fight, and her theory of symbiogenesis--the idea that symbiosis is a more primary evolutionary force than random mutation and natural selection--should be considered seriously by any open minded people. She has presented the theory in a very readable form in her book "Symbiotic Planet".
Michael Behe may be the bane of many modern evolutionary scientists because he is a scientist with a a strong Catholic belief who argues for the case for God having created the universe. But the fact is that he does not argue against the idea of "common descent"; and in fact, delevers a very compelling genetic arguement against the possiblity/probability for "random mutation" to have had any significant effect on the evolutionary process. I, myself, don't believe in God, but I don't dismiss his powerful arguements and irrefutable logic. His book "The Edge of Evolution" should not be overlooked by serious evolutionists.
Anyway, we should not be surprised to hear that evolution is taking place under our noses when it has obviously been going on since shortly after the birth of our planet (or before). What should be of interest to us is just exactly what processes are involved in this newly observed speciation.
Random mutation and natural selectiom may be operational in the "variation within" a species (anagenesis), but logic argues against it being a prime mover in the "differentiation of species" (the subject of this article).
lifetide,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Religious Psychos" have something wrong with their brains!
Don't waste your time talking with them. It's hopeless.
I wouldn't be surprised... if deep down... they know it's wrong,
but enjoy "Showing Off" how STRONG their FAITH is!
Bops, I think you have missed the fundamental disconnect with science most religious people tend to have. By its very nature "faith" tends to dictate that one ignore anything contrary to their pre-conceived notions. This doesn't make them "psycho" per se, just raised with a different set of conditions for belief. We should always strive to understand others motivations even if those motivations are so removed from our own that they appear crazy to us. The world would be a much better and calmer place if people adhered to this simple rule more often.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGreetings. It may mean a re-visit to the records that Smart compiled. He had a whole volume on Heliconnia variations, which may have been speciation in action. I don't have any other details to hand at present, but with regard to speciation, I cannot remember if it was stated that the variations inter-bred.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRegards, John K. Euers