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I had a long conversation with a biologist friend over the weekend, and  
concluded that semantics plays a big role in the general public's  
resistance to--or reluctance to accept fully-- the concept of  
evolution.

To illustrate, we take this fairly basic lesson of evolution: mutation  
happens when an accident occurs in DNA replication.
The word "mutation" carries plenty of negative connotation in popular  
parlance, and the word "accident"--which biologists seem very  
comfortable using--makes evolution seem like a rather haphazard  
circumstance.  My biologist friend casually used words like "mistake"  
and "bad strand [of DNA]" as well.

Using this vocabulary is a result of humancentric thinking (I think).   
It looks like accidents and mistakes to us, because similar scenarios  
on a human-scale, in our day-to-days lives, are in fact accidents and  
mistakes.

As I now understand it, cells are constantly trying new DNA patterns,  
maintaining readiness for changes in the environment.  The majority of  
these changes in the genetic code are useless, or even fatal for  
individuals, but, on balance, they allow life a greater amount of  
flexibility, and the benefits far outweigh the costs.

Evolution and mutation is a very elegant means by which life can  
continue on this planet despite radically changing climates and  
landscapes.
It's no accident.  It is the solution.


___
JasonJayStevens
exhibits . annArborHands-OnMuseum . [log in to unmask]
art . potterBelmarLabs . www.potterbelmar.org . [log in to unmask]
On May 31, 2005, at 9:00 AM, Lisa Jo Rudy wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *********************************************************************** 
> ******
>
> I did see the article.  I believe that article included a survey that  
> said
> that 55% of people believe that we were created as we are!  wow.
>
> HOWever!  In the survey was this question (I belive this is how it was
> worded) -- "do you believe that human beings adapted from less  
> advanced life forms?"
>  This is an intriguing and concerning way to word the question.
>
> Here's why: by suggesting that we evolved from "less advanced" life  
> forms, we
> are essentially suggesting that, adapatation by adaptation, we are  
> evolving
> toward perfection.  That is -- any species which is NOW on earth is, by
> definition, MORE EVOLVED and therefore more PERFECT than species that  
> were on the
> earth before us.
>
> If we are teaching that concept as science -- and I believe many of us,
> inadvertantly, are doing just that -- then we are reinforcing the idea  
> of
> intelligent design.  How could things get more and more perfect  
> without something
> intending (and defining) such perfection?
>
> What's very important -- and yet very difficult -- to get across is the
> notion that life evolves to changing circumstances.  That dinosaurs  
> were as perfect
> (or more perfect) for their circumstances as we are for ours.  That  
> humans
> have many adaptations that cause as much trouble as they create  
> opportunity.
> Bipedalism is not a universally good thing -- given back injury,  
> difficulty with
> birth, slower gait, etc. etc.!
>
> Lisa
>
>
>
> Lisa Jo Rudy, Writer/Consultant
> 625 Chelten Hills Drive
> Elkins Park, PA 19027
> http://www.lisarudy.com/
> 215-635-9735
>
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