To the OP,
A professor explained your exact question by the use of bacteria. Not a perfect example, but should help you understand the issue.
If man evolved?
by tornapart 427 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
TD
prezwalski's horse is a close relative to the horse.
That's a valid observation, but I don't think you're taking it to its logical conclusion.
Yes, E. przewalskii and E. caballus are relatives. They share a common ancestry.
But the two populations have also diverged from each other in ways that cannnot be denied. They don't even have the same number of chromosomes anymore.
Almost all animals are surrounded by an entire spectrum of relatives. A Bengal tiger is more closely related to a Sumatran tiger than it is to an African lion. And it is more closely related to an African lion than it is to a Cheetah.
If you're willing to accept that, then the next most logical question is how extensive a common ancestry you're willing to acknowledge.
For example, the bear and racoon are believed to be related and share a common ancestry in the distant past. Is that idea reasonable to you?
-
rawe
Hi Lost,
"That millions of years ago, species accidently wandered off and seperated far from each other" I mentioned earlier that is is unlikely that under the current circumstances humans will split into two species that live at the same time. Because there is no physical separation between one group of humans and another. However, if a group of humans left earth and colonized Mars it is possible, in fact almost certain, Martians would evolve into a new species. In the future it may then be hard to imagine the very different looking Humans and Martians once had the same a great-great-great-times-X grandmother.
If the theory of evolution is true one of the things we should see this effect. Namely we should see that when a life form becomes isolated it takes a different path and becomes unique to its environment. That is why islands were such interesting places to Darwin. Yet, the idea all have a common ancestor, should show that even a very odd life form on a remote island has some relation to another species on nearby larger land mass.
It is also important to consider every form of separation. The most common one is time. While it is important for the survival of humans that a current male and female can mate and reproduce a fertile off-spring that grows to maturity and repeats the cycle. We must remember it is impossible for a human today to mate with a human who lived 200 years ago. So for evolution to be believable we want to see some evidence of balance here. We don't want evolution so loose that new species are generated willy-nilly because the inability to inter-breed would lead to extinction. Yet evolution would not be possible if species were so solidly established that they litterally could not change.
The example of hair lice I mentioned earlier wasn't a case of wandering as much as the body (land if you will) itself changed wherein a huge vast desert of hairless region between the head and the pubic area developed. This combined with basic texture difference lead to a distinction between head lice and pubic lice. Kind of a eeewww example, but a facinating nonetheless. Maybe one day there will be an Awake! article on these wonderful creatures ;-)
Cheers,
-Randy
-
*lost*
prezwalski's horse was in danger of extinction due to the narrowing of the gene pool.
They were crossed with other horses to preserve them. Not so long ago.
Comatose thanks, putting it on my wish list.
Also, if the gene pool becomes to narrow, the species becomes endangered, and health issues become a big problem. Cheetas for example are struggling. This is why inbreeding is currently frowned on, before it was the norm.
-
DATA-DOG
DATA-DOG said:
"Those that are strong enough to survive will be those that could adapt. Their genetic strengths will be passed on to their offspring." - DATA-DOG
Cofty said:
"This is the exact opposite of evolution.
Nothing ever adapted to its environment - Its like you never read a science book written in the past 150 years."
Jgnat said:
" New species don't arrive through hybridization. They change over time as groups are isolated from each other and the different groups adapt to their environment. "
It's like I am reading WT quotes...
-
jgnat
A bit about inbreeding. We all carry recessive genes for obscure diseases. This is usually not a problem because we marry broadly, and our partner has a different set of hidden obscure diseases. We pass on this potential to our progeny but the prevalence is low because the potential is recessive. The problem comes in when couples with the same set of recessive genes marry. Which is why the Tasmanian Devil and the Cheetah are in trouble. In Tasmania, they are trying to set up separate colonies for the Devils so that greater differentiation can develop between them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish#Health
In this example, two parents, carrier of a recessive gene, have a one in four chance of siring an affected child. 3/4 of the children will carry the recessive gene.
-
jgnat
DATA-DOG, I admit I took a semantic short-cut.
Animals don't adapt; those with the fittest makeup have more progeny. It looks like they have adapted to the environment.
-
*lost*
we marry broadly now in the sense of our modern lives adn travel and large populations, etc.
what about a oh say 100, or 200 yrs ago in smaller less modern societies, with less populace, in breeding was quite common, cos everyone was also related.
there are still today some culture groups that marry within their own, first cousins. To keep the wealth in the families.
-
TD
Also, if the gene pool becomes to narrow, the species becomes endangered, and health issues become a big problem. Cheetas for example are struggling. This is why inbreeding is currently frowned on, before it was the norm.
Another valid observation, but a non-sequitur vis-a-vis the question posed to you.
-
*lost*
comatose where's the name of the book
Yes. I don't think it would sound too far out there to think Bears and racoons may be related, fro the same type of species.
Just as the domestic feline cat is with the big cats
