Morgan BellBacteria evolving in weird ways
June 20th 2008 03:13
Skeptics of modern evolutionary theory like to ask questions that suggest that the world is too weird, too perfect to have occured by chance. Personally, I find it perfectly acceptable that the universe evolved in its way, and we grew to sentience, only to marvel at our surroundings.
The answer lies in the power of natural selection over time. In our frame of reference, things happen to slowly to see the changes, but over thousands, tens of thousands of years, changes are apparent.
Researchers at Michigan State University found an incredible example of evolution after breeding bacteria for 40 000 generations.
I suggest you read the article, which describes the experiments in depth, but the basics are as follows: the researchers were attempting to breed E. Coli since 1988 to eat glucose faster. In a controlled environment, this worked extremely well - the modern bacteria breed 75% faster than that old '88 strain.
Recently, though, the researchers were amazed to find that the bacteria had evolved to eat a different substance in the flasks. No contamination was found, and it appeared that the bacteria was evolving into a different form to take advantage of the situation.
A small experiment like this demonstrates the power of breeding - though we try to push in one direction, Nature is adept at finding multiple solutions to the situations, including ones we haven't anticipated...
Read the article!
The answer lies in the power of natural selection over time. In our frame of reference, things happen to slowly to see the changes, but over thousands, tens of thousands of years, changes are apparent.
Researchers at Michigan State University found an incredible example of evolution after breeding bacteria for 40 000 generations.
I suggest you read the article, which describes the experiments in depth, but the basics are as follows: the researchers were attempting to breed E. Coli since 1988 to eat glucose faster. In a controlled environment, this worked extremely well - the modern bacteria breed 75% faster than that old '88 strain.
Recently, though, the researchers were amazed to find that the bacteria had evolved to eat a different substance in the flasks. No contamination was found, and it appeared that the bacteria was evolving into a different form to take advantage of the situation.
A small experiment like this demonstrates the power of breeding - though we try to push in one direction, Nature is adept at finding multiple solutions to the situations, including ones we haven't anticipated...
Read the article!
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Fascinating stuff - the American Scientist piece isn't too bad either.
What first grabbed my attention was the astonishing patience and quest for answers some people have.
Thank goodness the enquring mind is not dead.
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Cibbuano
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Fat Cult
Techbreak
Kleo - natural selection seems obvious to me, too... the scientists were leaning in one way, but this almost spontaneous change is incredible! It really says something about the power of natural selection...