Sunday 21 June 2009

Peppered moths back to form

The Daily Mail is reporting that the peppered moth, Biston betularia is now reverting back to its light form because of improvements to the environment. Of course this story is presented as evidence of evolution, but in reality it is just a change in the ratio of the numbers of the light and dark form. In other words, evidence of natural selection on pre existing genetic material, not an example of evolution at work.

The Daily Mail account can be read here

Other factors may also be involved. Judith Hooper's book 'Of Moths and Men' provided some interesting discussion about environmental factors that may change the moths colouration during the caterpillar stage.

Thursday 11 June 2009

Intelligent Design in the Telegraph


An interesting article has recently appeared in the Daily Telegraph about 'biomimicry' - 8th June 2009 by Sanjida O'Connell.
The Gecko for instance has specially adapted feet for climbing, technology that has been put to good use by the Pentagon.

Thursday 4 June 2009

Are animal experiments about to end?

Those concerned about experimentation on living animals may find the following news encouraging. According to The Times advances in science mean that new drugs will soon be able to be tested on virtual computer systems, and on cultures of cells. Read the news story at the following link.
Sam Lister at The Times - Animals experiments could end in a generation
Andrew Sibley

‘Induction over the history of science suggests that the best theories we have today will prove more or less untrue at the latest by tomorrow afternoon.’ Fodor, J. ‘Why Pigs don’t have wings,’ London Review of Books, 18th Oct 2007