I think claiming that you don't understand the process is not a good defense for you. Of course, you could cite something from biology that defends you position, but please note that the theory of evolution is a foundation of ALL modern biology.
The DNA in any individual doesn’t just spontaneously change. Babies with four arms have occurred and is considered a defect of birth, but such offspring would not be considered an individual of a new species. Unusual Birth defects do happen more frequently than many might realize, think for instance conjoined offspring, unusual appendages, hermaphrodism, webbed digits and many other rare, but, unusual conditions including dual DNA signatures (chimera syndrome). Most defects are ‘normalized’ by surgery (for instance, I had two cousins born twins with hermaphroditism where gender was surgically assigned shortly after birth, making one physically male the other female). But, again, such occurrences do not constitute a new species, by any of the competing definitions of a species that at their core are based on the inability to sexually reproduce with their parent species, and where these offspring can reproduce and effectively pass their genes to subsequent generations. One of the inherent ‘features’ of DNA and the reproduction systems of most life is the system is propagates genetic variation in every species’ gene pool. Whether a specific genetic sequence increases in frequency in a species gene pool is often the result of natural selection or potential human selection (selective breading). The bottom line is it is less appropriate to suggest any species is evolving and more appropriate to suggest every the genetic variation of any species has the potential for change, depending on natural or artificial selection. With humans, the potential for controlling the genetic signature of a species DNA (and RNA) is a rapidly approaching reality that can be tracked by reading research of CRISPR technology. https://phys.org/news/2018-07-crispr-based-tool-gene-function-human.html DNA is basically a base 4 coding system, which through the use of CRISPR, can be directly edited. The The DNA base 4 coding system is not unlike the binary, octal, or hexadecimal coding schemes used in computing. And, in fact, software has been developed to create a means for designing DNA editing applications, the predominant one, created at MIT, called Cello, that is in the public domain and accessible on line by anyone (create a free account, sign on and explore the tutorials). https://news.mit.edu/2016/programming-language-living-cells-bacteria-0331https://news.mit.edu/2016/programming-language-living-cells-bacteria-0331 A DNA base 4 encoding scheme can be used as a digital system for doing nearly anything we can do with digital computing, with the added advantage, that edited DNA, can be, passed to successive generations. For instance, encoding and reading of video has already been demonstrated. https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/scientists-encode-video-in-dna-of-live-bacteria/ Note, you can purchase your own CRISPR kit and sample bacteria from several sources, like the following one for less than $200 (IMO a little scary considering the potential for designing/reengineering deadly pathogens floating about in the public domain... something some were suggesting was used with the creation of COVID... but CRISPR has been used to identify various mutations of COVID, track it’s geographic spread, and even for use in designing vaccines). Human kind is on the verge of playing God (so to speak), and the potential for designer genes is emerging from science fiction as a not inconceivable reality. So, human kind continuing to evolve? Well, one perspective is natural selection resulted in a life form that is developing the technology to design its genome and the future of it’s species. Hmmm.... what would be the genetic fads of tomorrow?
Yes, the opportunity for terrorism is certainly present. And, natural viruses and bacteria causing serious disease have been entering the humnan population naturally in just about every region of the world. That's not going to stop. It's just a startling example of ignorance that Trump would dismantle our program of making America more resilient to biological threats immediately upon gaining office.
There’s science for you. Interesting how you leveraged the discussion as an opportunity to trash Trump. Aside from Trump being the source of all ills, why would you feel the need to shift the discussion? If you want to open a thread on the assertion that Trump dismantled “our program of making America more resilient to biological threats immediately upon gaining office” inviting debate, then by all means do so, and despite the fact the election is over, I will happily debate that assertion with you. But, here, it serves to derail the discussion path defined in the OP.
This isn't a shift. The issues of THIS pandemic are the same as for past pandemics and future pandemics. Our failure here is NOT just that our American approach to this pandemic was a MIND BOGGLING and continuing failure. We need to have an approach to this problem that is carried forward on a permanent basis. We STILL don't have PPE. Our hospitals are in horrible shape. The population is NOT behaving in a way to stem this storm, as there is NO national leadership on this national problem. There is no rational response plan to address the level of unemployment, the number of people unable to pay rent, an understanding of what's best for education, etc., etc., etc. It's the same as FEMA. We know there will continue to be hurricanes, floods, tornedoes, earthquakes, etc., and we will need an organization that is prepared to address these events - prepared to marshall our forces. And, I mentioned that Trump KILLED that effort, because people should know that we have actually started this effort - we've just failed to follow through.
I disagree that your post wasn’t a shift, a derailing post. Were were discussing the continuing evolution of humans and issues related to that. Your post, if followed with a line of rebuttal, derails the discussion to a partisan political blame game. As I suggested, if you want to debate/discuss the blame Trump for something, open a thread for doing that...it will however, be a rehash of another. You can follow with way Trump is responsible for global warming, hurricanes, and any other fault you wish to attribute to Trump... and, as I indicated, I will engage. But, doing that here is a tangent topic.
OK - It looks like I really screwed up somewhere by responding to the wrong post or something. I mean, my first post on the pandemic was a total nonsequitor. So, thanks. I'll watch that.
Not sure it that's an example of evolution or that entropy is gaining ground and things are increasingly running of the rails.
~ Yes the human will continue to evolve until extinction. Society too is constantly evolving - hopefully for the better.
And increased prevalence of a structure in the human body is due to entropy?? In what way is human anatomy and physiology "running off the rails"?
When that structure has always been present during fetal development but used to disappear but suddenly and increasing isn't this is as likely to be something not working right as something beneficial. Note the first step in cancer growth is when a cell stops doing what it has always done and starts doing something different. Please note I'm not saying this is that just that the info provided isn't nearly conclusive.
I don't know how to evaluate your example of change. Cancer is a disease that never provides a positive result. Perhaps more importantly, the effects of cancer can't be passed on to new generations. I don't believe this has anything at all to do with how evolution works. Scientists have studied the mechanisms of how genetic change occurs, including speciation. It has been pointed out that humans developed blue eyes, the ability to digest milk as adults in the last 20,000 years. Also, human brains have shrunk by about the size of a tennis ball in that period. It's not easy to tell, but it has been strongly postulated that increased brain complexity made up for the loss in size - leaving humans no less mentally capable. Human brains are really expensive in terms of energy requirement, so a brain that is less expensive to maintain would be an advantage.
I think the total population of our forebears once got down to something like 250k individuals at one time. Maybe you know more than I on that. Whatever the serious problem was, having lower amounts of energy required for survival could seem like a serious advantage.
How is that evolving? We are still human beings and more artery in the forearm may only be a change but not evolution.
Maybe I'm shallow and one dimensional. But on its face, the theory of evolution is absurd to me. When I look at or interact with people, I don't see animals. I do not believe we came from apes or evolved from non responsible animals to upright responsible humans, holding to concepts of good and evil, along with the free agency to define ourselves. No creature on the face of the earth can do good or evil, but man. I think that it has always been that way. I do not believe there exists a missing link but as a concept which diverges away from reason and ration, like a tangent or distraction drawing us away from our purpose and goal. People tend to live and delight in their imaginations which creativity notwithstanding might be considered insanity.
There has never been a missing link found. That's for all creatures of our God and King. There are variations and adaptations. But, not new creatures from evolution. However, I do believe in evolution. We began as intelligences. We were given spirit bodies. Now, we have physical bodies as we progress spiritually. Eventually, our spirits and bodies will reunite and resurrection will take place making us eternal physical personages. Some will evolve into Gods and Goddesses procreating new universes. While those of little faith will no longer progress or evolve.
