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Author Topic:   Any practical use for Universal Common Ancestor?
Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 318 of 1385 (850090)
03-31-2019 8:34 AM
Reply to: Message 282 by JonF
03-26-2019 12:31 PM


Re: Another useful application of evolutionary theory
JonF writes:
Yet this contradicts the creationist's belief that flatworms were created during the same creative week as everything else. You cannot have it both ways. This argument, at a stroke, completely and finally destroys the creationist case that the Precambrian gap in the fossil record can be taken as evidence against evolution.
... except there are many creationists who don't believe that all life on earth was created during the same creative week. Some creationists accept exactly the same billion-of-years time-frame of life on earth and exactly the same fossil record as you do - creationists like me, for example.
Sorry Mr. Dawkins, the Cambrian explosion still represents evidence of creation and evidence against ToE.
Then something happened half a billion years ago to allow animals to fossilize freely”the arising of hard, mineralized skeletons, for example.
Yes, the appearance of animals with hard bits was so sudden it is referred to as an "explosion". And another odd thing happened during this "explosion" - virtually all the animal pyhla that have ever existed appeared. Funny that.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

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Replies to this message:
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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 319 of 1385 (850091)
03-31-2019 8:37 AM
Reply to: Message 283 by RAZD
03-27-2019 4:47 PM


Re: Applied Science is the use of scientific knowledge
Deary, deary me. Please be advised that your entire post represents a complete waste of time - it has no relevance at all to what I was trying to say in post 267, nor to the OP. The OP isn't concerned with evidence for the theory that all life on earth shares a common ancestor. Neither is it concerned with refuting said theory. Rather, it is concerned with a practical use in applied science for the information that all life on earth shares a common ancestor.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 283 by RAZD, posted 03-27-2019 4:47 PM RAZD has replied

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 320 of 1385 (850092)
03-31-2019 8:41 AM
Reply to: Message 274 by vimesey
03-26-2019 5:38 AM


Re: Analogies
vimesey writes:
I've been trying to think of a decent analogy, to help you out with your misapprehension that LUCA forms part of the theory of evolution.
"The central idea of biological evolution is that all life on Earth shares a common ancestor" - evolution.berkeley.edu ("Understanding Evolution")
""The theory (of evolution) has two main points", says Brian Richmond, curator of human origins at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. "all life on Earth is connected and related to each other," and this diversity of life is a product of "modifications of populations by natural selection" " - livescience.com, "What is Darwin's Theory of Evolution?"
But here is an alterantive point of view:
"The theory of evolution is a body of interconnected statements about natural selection and the other processes that are thought to cause evolution ... In contrast, the statement that organisms have descended with modifications from common ancestors--the historical reality of evolution--is not a theory. It is a fact, as fully as the fact of the earth's revolution about the sun. Like the heliocentric solar system, evolution began as a hypothesis, and achieved "facthood" as the evidence in its favor became so strong that no knowledgeable and unbiased person could deny its reality" - Douglas J. Futuyma, Evolutionary Biology, 2nd ed., 1986, Sinauer Associates, p. 15.
Does Futuyma have everything back-to-front? He says, "The theory of evolution is a body of interconnected statements about natural selection and the other processes that are thought to cause evolution". But "natural selection and the other processes' are not THOUGHT to cause evolution - it is known that they DO cause evolution. So there is no "theory" here - it is a demonstrable fact "natural selection and the other processes" cause evolution.
On the other hand, it is a theory that "natural selection and the other processes" are the means by which all life on earht descended from a common ancestor.
Then he claims it is a FACT that "organisms have descended with modifications from common ancestors". Is he referring to the fossil record and his belief that all life on earth descended from a common ancestor? If so, that is not a fact, but a theory.
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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 329 of 1385 (850103)
03-31-2019 11:09 AM
Reply to: Message 296 by vimesey
03-28-2019 5:15 AM


Re: LUCA
If you were a highschool biology teacher and had to explain "the theory of evolution" to your students, what would you say?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 296 by vimesey, posted 03-28-2019 5:15 AM vimesey has replied

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 334 of 1385 (850132)
04-02-2019 1:38 AM
Reply to: Message 322 by JonF
03-31-2019 9:49 AM


Re: Pills
JonF writes:
It has nothing to do with the actions of antibiotics. That's why it's so strange you brought it up.
It's so strange that you should say this, as it wasn't me who brought it up - it was NosyNed who said "Every pamphlet with antibiotics warns you to finish the whole series. That is evolutionary theory in action" (#191).
And "make sure you finish the course" is a practical application of the Theory of Evolution.
Make up your mind - you just said evolution "has nothing to do with the actions of antibiotics"!
The aim of finishing the whole series of antibiotics is to render extinct a population of bacteria - extinction is evolution?
Regardless, this has nothing to do with the OP - the information that all life on earth evolved from a common ancesteor is irrelevant to the science involved in antibiotics.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.
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Replies to this message:
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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 335 of 1385 (850133)
04-02-2019 1:46 AM
Reply to: Message 333 by ringo
03-31-2019 2:12 PM


ringo writes:
You made the claim that there is no practical use for a UCA. You have been shown that scientists disagree with you.
Oh, I see - you lose the previous argument, so you're now trying to change the subject. No problem ... except I have no idea which practical uses you're referring to - I seem to have missed those posts!
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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 337 of 1385 (850135)
04-02-2019 1:57 AM
Reply to: Message 294 by Tangle
03-28-2019 3:52 AM


Tangle writes:
Without the Theory of Evolution there can be no principles of evolution
Well, considering the fact that "the theory of evolution" can mean just about whatever you want it to mean *, I have to concede that post #183 may describe practical uses for "the theory of evolution".
* For example, "ToE" can simply mean the mechanisms of evolution (as Tanypteryx seems to think) - ie, facts and principles of biology that have useful applications.But when you find an article or paper that describes practical uses for "the theory of evolution", wake me up.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 338 of 1385 (850136)
04-02-2019 2:20 AM
Reply to: Message 295 by Tangle
03-28-2019 4:21 AM


Tangle writes:
The principle of common descent is the integral part of the theory of evolution not the UCA. UCA is a conclusion/prediction derived from the principle of common descent.
I understand your point, but the definition of ToE I supplied takes the concept of common descent further - to say that "all life on Earth is connected and related to each other" is to say all life evolved from a common ancestor - ie, UCA.
"The theory (of evolution) has two main points, says Brian Richmond, curator of human origins at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. "ALL LIFE ON EARTH IS CONNECTED AND RELATED TO EACH OTHER," and this diversity of life is a product of "modifications of populations by natural selection"
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

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 Message 295 by Tangle, posted 03-28-2019 4:21 AM Tangle has replied

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 339 of 1385 (850137)
04-02-2019 2:24 AM
Reply to: Message 298 by Stile
03-28-2019 8:35 AM


edge writes:
theoried and practical applications are inherently linked an not be separated
Yep ... all applied biology would be rendered useless if no one believed all life on earth evolved from a common ancestor. So funny!
"evolutionism would appear as a theory without value, is confirmed also pragmatically ... none of the progress in biology depends even slightly on a theory" - Louis Bouroune (Professor of Biology, University of Strasbourg), Determinism and Finality, 1957, p.79.

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 Message 298 by Stile, posted 03-28-2019 8:35 AM Stile has replied

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 340 of 1385 (850138)
04-02-2019 2:26 AM
Reply to: Message 300 by RAZD
03-28-2019 9:18 AM


Re: The Theory of Evolution
Thank you for going to the trouble of supplying that information (and thanks for the reference links - I'll check them out). It's interesting that there's no mention of LUCA in your definition.
One of your reference links is "Berkeley U." Here is a quote from one of their articles:
"The CENTRAL IDEA of biological evolution is that all life on Earth shares a common ancestor" - evolution.berkeley.edu, "Understanding Evolution". (emphasis mine)

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 341 of 1385 (850139)
04-02-2019 2:38 AM
Reply to: Message 301 by edge
03-28-2019 9:50 AM


edge writes:
Perhaps. More likely, he understood that the fossil record is actually more than the known part of the fossil record.
In other words, Darwin pinned his hopes on imagined fossil evidence, not existing fossil evidence. That's strikes me as a rather odd approach to developing a scientific theory.
Wikipedia probably understands that 'sudden' in geological terms is not 'sudden' in human colloquial terms.
I very much doubt if the the Wiki article is using "sudden appearance" as a human colloquialism. Nevertheless, I understand your rationalisation - the last thing your average fanatical evolutionist (esp the atheist variety) wants to hear is that "The sudden appearance of most species in the geological record - from their initial appearance to their extinction - has long been noted." That's what one might call an "inconvenient truth".
How about you? Are you impervious to personal philosophical convictions regardless of inconvenient evidence in the fossil record?
I'm not aware of any evidence in the fossil record that represents an inconvenience to any of my personal philosophical convictions.
You said that you did not get your information from YEC websites and yet you parrot the same inconsistencies and quote-mines that we see published on hundreds of YEC websites.
Some of the points made by YEC sites are valid, imo.
Your opinion is noted. But please don't ascribe that same opinion to Darwin, Gould or Eldredge.
I don't believe I have. I'm not aware of any evolutionist who considers the fossil record to be "an embarrassment to evolution" - God forbid,that would be heresy!
gradualism is considered to be a only one simple element to the overall theory of evolution and perhaps not even that important.
Even with PE factored in, the fossil record is still going to one of gradualism. I mean, PE isn't going to produce huge jumps in the morphology of organisms.
I'm not seeing the serious problems.
This is perfectly understandable if you have a deep-seated phychological need (eg, atheism) to stick your head in the sand.
Ever heard of the Cambrian explosion? The evolution of birds from dinosaurs, for example, should have produced innumerable transitional fossils - where are they?
Maybe it's only the unintelligent folks who see such problems.
Stephen J. Gould, Harvard, "The Cambrian Explosion occurred in a geological moment, and we have reason to think that all major anatomical designs may have made their evolutionary appearance at that time. ...not only the phylum Chordata itself, but also all its major divisions, arose within the Cambrian Explosion. So much for chordate uniqueness... Contrary to Darwin's expectation that new data would reveal gradualistic continuity with slow and steady expansion, all major discoveries of the past century have only heightened the massiveness and geological abruptness of this formative event..." Nature, Vol.377, 26 10/95, p.682. "Since the so called Cambrian Explosion ... no new Phyla of animals have entered the fossil record." Lecture at SMU, 10/2/1990.
"The Cambrian explosion was the most remarkable and puzzling event in the history of life" - S. J. Gould.
"the paucity of fossils before the great Cambrian "explosion" 600 million years ago is perhaps the outstanding fact and frustration of my career" - the Panda's Thumb, p.219
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.
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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 342 of 1385 (850140)
04-02-2019 2:47 AM
Reply to: Message 303 by RAZD
03-28-2019 10:12 AM


Re: Wrong by definition, no wonder you're confused
RAZD writes:
For instance we have Pelycodus ...
Hey thanks - that's very interesting. The supernatural creation of a different genus (Notharctus from Pelycodus) is actually clearly documented in the fossil record - God is great!
This is why cladistics is generally preferred these days compared to traditional taxonomic classifications, it reduces confusion.
I see; okay, thanks for that. Well, I'd better learn something about cladistics - even though it's a big, scary word.
All the species above Pelycodus ralstoni clade in the chart are members of the Pelycodus ratstoni clade.
So the P. ralstoni clade ends at P. jarrovii?
LOL
Oh, so you think it funny that submarines descended from whales? For your information, the Bible actually describes the very event that initiated this evolutionary process - Jonah was swallowed by a whale, thereby creating the very first submarine (albeit a one-man version ... known as a Nineveh-clade (or class) submarine).
Don't scoff at what - as a result of your own pathetic ignorance - you don't understand.
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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 343 of 1385 (850141)
04-02-2019 2:58 AM
Reply to: Message 304 by Porkncheese
03-28-2019 12:05 PM


Re: Any practical use for Universal Common Ancestor?
PorknCheese writes:
Any practical use for Universal Common Ancestor?
I can think of one - it provides a comforting bed-time story for atheists.
Then there is theoretical science.
Yes, well, everyone knows theoretical science and science fiction have a lot in common and both can be equally entertaining.
Spontaneous Generation
The superstition of Spontaneous Generations still exists in the belief that the first life-form arose naturally from inanimate matter. Yep, rocks (or something close to it) gave birth to life.
The past 16 months iv been on an atheist forum. So now im really woke on their views and motives.
By frequenting such sites, it also becomes obvious where Loony-Left culture (eg, same-sex marriage, abortion, evolutionism) comes from ... but that's another story.

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 344 of 1385 (850142)
04-02-2019 3:03 AM
Reply to: Message 306 by caffeine
03-28-2019 12:53 PM


Re: Applied Science is the use of scientific knowledge
caffiene writes:
All of which renders Dredge's definition of macroevolution utterly meaningless.
1. How very dare you!! Do you have any idea of the calibre of intelligence and euridition you're dealing with?
2. The very fact that organisms can be classified into discrete groups suggests the evolutionary concept of a contiguous transitionals is a fig-tree of Darwinist imagination.
Now, however, that we know so much more about biology, we can see how much all life shares in common. It's all based on DNA and RNA, and the basic cellular machinery behind transcription and replication is the same in all organisms.
You seem blissfully unaware that going from this to "all life on earth evolved from a common ancestor" involves a massive extrapolation, a massive leap of faith and a massive dose of wishful thinking.

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Dredge
Member
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 345 of 1385 (850143)
04-02-2019 3:08 AM
Reply to: Message 307 by Tangle
03-28-2019 12:56 PM


Re: Any practical use for Universal Common Ancestor?
Tangle writes:
You realise I suppose that rational examination of our natural world didn't really kick off until the Enlightenment (clue in the name) in the 18th century? Up until then and for at least a century or two afterwards they gradually debunked the religious and supersticious baloney swimming around in ignorant people's heads.
Well may you mention the Enlightenment - it produced a culture of atheism which in turned produced the erroneous belief that the fossil record is the result of a process of biological (godless) evolution.
Btw, I thought it was common knowledge that it was the pre-Enlightenment, creationist belief that God created an ordered universe that gave birth to the scientific method.
Their only relevance is that science - unlike religion - adapts its ideas according to the facts as they are uncovered.
Er, no; that's not quite right. There are millions of science-savvy Christians today who - unlike most Christians who lived before the twentieth century - accept that the "six days" of creation is not a literal description of history.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

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