First there have been some shows on PBS lately called Evolution. I have always been of the thought that we are all related. I mean all living things. On one of the show the told about scientists that uncovered in 1994 that all living animals share the same basic gene package just put together in different combinations. They were able to color code genes and see exactly what they do. For instance the gene that produces eyes in a mouse when transplanted into a fruit fly also promoted the appropriate many eyes it should have. They also believe that not only did our common ancestor came from the water but that as evolution tinkered some returned to the water. Their example was the whale which has bones similar to wrist and fingers within their fins. Also if you look at the movement of the whale, it undulates it's spine like a land mammal. But true fish move from side to side to move. I thought it was very interesting.

On another episode called the Big Bang of the Mind they answered a question I had often thought about. Are we still evolving? They said that biologically we haven't evolved in 40,000 years but instead we have evolved by means of memes(sp) instead of genes. Memes is the cumulative recollection and use of intellectual and social discoveries over time. And meme evolution is at this time moving at an astounding rate. I had never heard the term meme before. I also found this very interesting.

Another interesting question that came to mind and was mentioned in the show is have we interrrupted the biological survival of the fittest with our cures for disease or is it just a natural part of our evolution. I thought of this in light of conversations we've had about population.

I have taken into consideration that in my own case that probably some or all of my 4 children would not be living if we hadn't developed certain medical technology. But on the other side of the coin would we have the overpopulation problems we do now. Also another point brought up is that the better educated people (smarter) people are more likely to use birth control therefore not passing on their genes where the less educated and the poor tend to have more children.

I know that many of the things I've mentioned can be controversial and can involve much emotion. So I am suggesting if you comment,it may be a good idea to comment or add to the discussion but refrain from commenting on other peoples comments. And if someone makes a comment that you don't agree with please just take it as their opinion and not a personal affront or something you need to convince them otherwise. It's not my intent to cause trouble. I truly found these shows interesting and wanted to share our varied opinions.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Answers

I enjoyed these shows, too.

Re: memes. This concept was new to me when I was involved (obsessed!) with preparing for Y2k. Some of the pollies kept saying that it was the meme of Y2k that was carrying us on to prepare, despite logic that suggested otherwise. (You old TB2000 folks remember that, surely!)

I winced, too, at the comment about which population choses birth control and which doesn't. In my early potentially child-bearing years that was discussed a lot, as many of my friends chose not to have children and yet regretted that they weren't going to contribute to the gene pool. Guess that was before sperm and egg donations (but really, kind of arrogant, don't you think?! In retrospect, anyway.)

I have such a large bunion on one foot (so does my mom, brother, and nephew) that I can see evolution in progress! We are trying to get back to our former chimpanzee status with an opposable thumb on our feet! ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Wow Denise- and I thought there wasn't going to be anything interesting here today!

First of all evolution is a fact. Animal species can be seen evolving in as little as ten years. Does that mean God didn't create things. No, to me it means God created the heavens and the Earth and things evolved from there. I think God mostly uses/used natural physical laws when he did something. For example, many people who believe in creationism say there could not have been a "big bang". Well why not, I say? "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" could very well have been accomplished by a "big bang" now couldn't it?

Are we still evolving? I think probably slowly because natural selection has been messed up. I'm sure I would have died when I was ten if not for modern medicine. Is my being here a good thing? Well, for me personally it might be, but my being here is not a benefit to the earth as a whole. No matter how hard I try I'll always consume more than I can replenish.

My husband thinks he works with people who are direct decendants of Neanderthals. : ) I have to admit I've known a few people who make me wonder about that too.

One of the reasons I'm all for education is because the more educated a person is, the fewer children they tend to have. (I have 16 years of schooling and have 0 children.) Helping everyone to get a college education who could handle it would go a long way toward reducing the population. For those who can't handle college some sort of universal birth control information must be available.

I've been watching portions of "Evolution" also. Thanks for the post, that was fun.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Sheepish, I know what you said about going back to a chimp was a joke but it brought to mind another thing they talked about. the scientists don't think that the chimp is our ancestor but that we share a common ancestor. Scientists that study movement seem to think the lemur is our most recent link to the chimp. They say it becvause the lemur shares the movent of both humans and chimps while also sahring a very similar anatomy.

Oh yes, my husband has also reported sightings of modern neanderthals!

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

I particularly found the show about "killer genes" fascinating, it stated that one researcher has found that 10% of northern Europeans are resistant to the HIV virus, due to the same genetic abnormality that allowed these same people to survive the Black Plague in the Middle Ages, I think this scientist is on the right track here about discovering a vaccine to fight HIV, and other non-curable viruses.

I believe evolution is happening all the time, Nature abhores stasis, the whole planetary lifeforce is constantly evolving to fit changing conditions.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Very interesting stuff its been......

I would be reluctant, however, to draw conclusions about 'education' and size of families. Course everybody here knows how I feel about mass, formalized schooling, and that's its something I feel strongly about. Interesting factoid though is that in an informal survey of the kids at my girls' unschooling camp (about 100 kids who have by and large never been to school), over half of em plan on having NO kids, and very few want more than 2. And I surely do not agree that most people should go to college.......its a silly waste of time for many,and I am not talking about dumb ones either. I'm talking about really creative ones, people who know who they are and what they want, who manage to make their own way in the world on their own terms, no degree required. Its a beautiful thing to watch.......

-- Anonymous, September 29, 2001