Category: Genetics

Theology According to P.Z. Myers

Over on The Panda’s Thumb blog, Darwinian apologist P.Z. Myers recently posted a pejorative laden critique of a review article by Casey Luskin. Luskin was responding to a recent New York Times article on a study purporting to show how certain genes in fish might hold an important clue on how fins turned to feet.… more

Surprising Similarities between Genetic and Computer Codes

Here’s what we read in this PhysOrg blurb: It may seem logical, but the surprising part of this finding is how universal it is. “It is almost expected that the frequency of usage of any component is correlated with how many other components depend on it,” said Maslov. “But we found that we can determine… more

Is Human Intellect Degenerating?

Geneticist Gerald R. Crabtree reviews evidence showing genomic mutations are degrading the 2000 to 5000 genes needed for our intellectual and emotional function: New developments in genetics, anthropology, and neurobiology predict that a very large number of genes underlie our intellectual and emotional abilities, making these abilities genetically surprisingly fragile. . . . more

Was four-stranded, ‘quadruple helix’ DNA designed or mutated?

‘Quadruple helix’ DNA seen in human cells Balasubramanian’s group has been pursuing a four-stranded version of the molecule (DNA) that scientists have produced in the test tube now for a number of years. It is called the G-quadruplex. The “G” refers to guanine, one of the four chemical groups, or “bases”, that hold DNA together… more

Prof: We have a “moral obligation to select ethically better children” through genetic screening

It’s unclear why Savulescu thinks that bad people such as ourselves would be inclined to engineer “good” babies, more

Free stuff online: Texts on the history of genetics

an online collection of texts relating to the history of genetics and inheritance, from Aristotle to the 1960s. more

Ann Gauger on genetic drift

“The theory is that in small populations (smaller than a trillion, say) drift can overwhelm the power of selection.” more

James Shapiro: Genetic recombination is not random

Like you were probably taught in school more

From the “Genetics isn’t what we used to think” files

“Bioengineers have made an artificial jellyfish using silicone and muscle cells from a rat’s heart.” more

Vid: John Sanford on genetic entropy

Plant Genetic Engineer – invented the biolistic (“gene gun”) process more

Epigenetics: Are all those twin studies just a big racket?

Human twins are not bacteria colonies. The reasons why one or both are even available for adoption must be factored in to any findings. more

Darwinism can even explain stuff that doesn’t need explaining

This is an excellent example of Darwinism explaining only itself, to intrude itself into an otherwise useful conversation. more

Revamping genetics courses, to include meaning

“… our students appeared to avoid this challenge by simply memorizing the rules and problem-solving rubrics that well-meaning instructors provided.” more

Epigenetics: Twins show differences at birth

But then what about all those politically correct twin studies that claim to show that whether you are gay or religious or … more

Genetic determinism hell: A gene for pedophilia now claimed

The more we hear about some directions in genetics, the more we love epigenetics. more

Free e-book on Genes, Chromosomes, and Disease

” Social Implications of Genetics lectures that Gillham gave for many years at Duke University.” more

Epigenetics: AKA Why identical twins are not really identical

“These differences are giving new insights into how our genes and environments interact – and raise the question of whether we have more control over our genetic destinies than we might think.” more

John Sanford: Mutations produced “no meaningful crop improvement”

“Vast numbers of mutants were produced and screened, collectively representing many billions of mutation events. ” more

Gattaca, g’bye. Knowing more about your genes may not predict disease risk

“For most people, your doctor’s advice before seeing your genetic test for a particular disease will be exactly the same as after seeing your tests.” more

How would Richard Dawkins improve a squirrel’s tail?

Those of us who live in zones where gray squirrels are a serious foe of gardens hope that Dawkins will refrain from offering any improvements whatever. more

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