Evolution Occurs in the Blink of an Eye

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texo

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A population of butterflies has evolved in a flash on a South Pacific island to fend off a deadly parasite.

The proportion of male Blue Moon butterflies dropped to a precarious 1 percent as the parasite targeted males. Then, within the span of a mere 10 generations, the males evolved an immunity that allowed their population share to soar to nearly 40 percent—all in less than a year.
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Source

Is this really "evolution" -- I'd call it natural selection.
 
I've often wondered where collies learned to herd from and how long it took them to learn. It's definately in their blood - a friend had one that would jump over his fence and herd the neighbours chickens! :D
 
What I meant was that this is an example of genes being "selected for" ... call me stupid, but doesn't evolution require the organism to change a bit more than this?

At which point (x% change, for example) can you declare that "evolution has occured"!

@NoADSLyet HEY YOU stop laughing at me! :D
 
texo said:
What I meant was that this is an example of genes being "selected for" ... call me stupid, but doesn't evolution require the organism to change a bit more than this?

At which point (x% change, for example) can you declare that "evolution has occured"!
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Basically, when there's a change in the gene pool. Species are constantly evolving, but the rates of changes can vary, depending on the type of change, typical lifespan, and population size.
 
Very interesting! As I understand it, genetic mutation is random but if the mutation results in some sort of advantage for the species, then natural selection will take over and enhance the original mutation in order to aid survival in one way or another.
Ordinarily, this can take a very long time, but every now and again there will be a "lucky" mutation, just what the species needs at a particular point in time, and then the natural selection process will appear to be accelerated.
 
texo said:
Source

Is this really "evolution" -- I'd call it natural selection.
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Evolution is a function of Natural selection. Lets assume that a minority of the male butterfly population had a gene that rendered them immune to the parasite. The majority get killed off because they have no immunity, this is a process of natural selection. Now only the minority, with the gene is present oto amte with the females. The gene gets passed on by the fatehr and now the next generation of males all have the gene. The butterfly as a species has now "evolved" to have the immunity gene.

The process of natural selection lies in the fact that males without the gene died, while those with lived on to mate. The evolution lies in the fact that the species as a whole have now developed the immunity
 
Thanks. I think what I was trying to wrap my head around was: natural selection is part of the evolutonary process. At what point can one say that "evolution has occured"? Surely the range of genotypes within a (most?) species is wide enough to require a substantial shift before we can declare that a new species has evolved?

This is actually rather fascinating. I need to google/wiki the topic.
 
texo said:
Thanks. I think what I was trying to wrap my head around was: natural selection is part of the evolutonary process. At what point can one say that "evolution has occured"? Surely the range of genotypes within a (most?) species is wide enough to require a substantial shift before we can declare that a new species has evolved?

This is actually rather fascinating. I need to google/wiki the topic.
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Well, technically, evolution has occurred once the gene pool has changed. What I think you're looking for is the term "speciation" - there's a nice article on Wikipedia about it.
 
sci·ence n. 1 the state or fact of knowledge 2 systematized knowledge derived from observation, study and experimentation carried on in order to determine the nature or principles of what is being studied
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Definition of science?... do you agree...
 
Please stay on topic (evolution, not the definition of science) or stay out of this thread.
 
One of the most frequent objections against the theory of natural selection is that it is a sophisticated tautology. Most evolutionary biologists seem unconcerned about the charge and make only a token effort to explain the tautology away. The remainder, such as Professors Waddington and Simpson, will simply concede the fact. For them, natural selection is a tautology which states a heretofore unrecognized relation: the fittest—defined as those who will leave the most offspring—will leave the most offspring.
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http://www.trueorigin.org/ng_ap01.asp

Dear Texo concerning the cornerstone of evolution natural selection and a supporting link...
 
Mr TB said:
http://www.trueorigin.org/ng_ap01.asp

Dear Texo concerning the cornerstone of evolution natural selection and a supporting link...
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cr@p. The definition of the"fittest" is not based on the number of offspring, but rather on the ability of the organism to adapt to its environment. Trying to poke holes in a concept because it is self evident and makes sense, is a very low form of debate.

Please go away until you can add to the debate, you're trolling and it is annoying to the forumites that actually want to discuss this rationally. Please go back to the philosophical section if you want to discuss superstitions.
 
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