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In Galapagos Finches, Biologists Catch Evolution in the Act

Posted November 18, 2009 8:46 AM

From Discover Magazine | rsslist:

On the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin's observations led to his evolutionary theory, scientists are now reporting that they're witnessing a single species splitting into two, according to a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Power-User
Popular Science - Biology - New Member

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#1

Re: In Galapagos Finches, Biologists Catch Evolution in the Act

11/18/2009 10:02 AM

If geographically isolated finches with accents constitute a new species of finch, are geographically isolated people groups with unique languages all different species of people?

P.S. Doesn't this sound like a set-up for a bad joke:

"These offspring became isolated because they have the avian equivalent of a strange accent... So the immigrant bird's descendants have bred only with each other for three generations."

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Power-User

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: In Galapagos Finches, Biologists Catch Evolution in the Act

11/18/2009 2:12 PM

Good point.

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Guru
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#4
In reply to #1

Re: In Galapagos Finches, Biologists Catch Evolution in the Act

11/19/2009 6:07 AM

<...If geographically isolated finches with accents constitute a new species of finch, are geographically isolated people groups with unique languages all different species of people?...>

Wars have been fought on this topic.

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Guru

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#3

Re: In Galapagos Finches, Biologists Catch Evolution in the Act

11/18/2009 11:40 PM

This article is unbalanced as it fails to mention the alternatives to godless evilution.

Before you scoff, remember much work has been done in recent years and many of the earlier objections have been overcome. In particular FSM creationism has potential to become a rich source of answers to the questions these scientists ask.

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