Claim CB904:
No entirely new features or biological functions have evolved.
Response:
- Most, if not all, "entirely new features" are modifications of
previously existing features. Bird wings, for example, are modified
tetrapod forelimbs, which are modified sarcopterygian pectoral fins.
A complex, entirely new feature, appearing out of nowhere, would
be evidence for creationism.
- New features have evolved from older different features. There are
several examples of microorganisms evolving the ability to degrade
or metabolize novel manmade compounds:
- arsenobetaine degradation (Jenkins et al. 2003)
- naphthalene and related compound degradation (Annweiler et al. 2002)
- chlorocatechol degradation (Moiseeva et al. 2002)
- 2,4-dinitrotolule degradation (Johnson et al. 2002)
Also, a unicellular organism has been evolved to form mulicellular
colonies (Boraas et al. 1998); see also mutations producing
new features.
- An arbitrary genetic sequence can evolve to acquire functionality
(Hayashi et al. 2003).
Links:
Harris, Adam Noel, 2000 (July). An observed example of morphological
evolution. http://www.talkorigins.org/origins/postmonth/jul00.html
Thomas, Dave, n.d. Evolution and information: The nylon bug.
http://www.nmsr.org/nylon.htm
References:
- Annweiler, E., W. Michaelis, and R. U. Meckenstock, 2002. Identical ring
cleavage products during anaerobic degradation of naphthalene,
2-methylnaphthalene, and tetralin indicate a new metabolic pathway.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 68(2): 852-858.
- Boraas, M. E., D. B. Seale, and J. E. Boxhorn, 1998. Phagotrophy by a
flagellate selects for colonial prey: A possible origin of
multicellularity. Evolutionary Ecology 12:153-164. (See also
Harris, 2000, above.)
- Hayashi, Y., H. Sakata, Y. Makino, I. Urabe, and T. Yomo, 2003. Can an
arbitrary sequence evolve towards acquiring a biological function?
Journal of Molecular Evolution 56: 162-168.
- Jenkins, R. O. et al., 2003. Bacterial degradation of arsenobetaine via
dimethylarsinoylacetate. Archives of Microbiology 180(2):142-150.
- Johnson, G. R., R. K. Jain, and J. C. Spain, 2002. Origins of the
2,4-dinitrotoluene pathway. Journal of Bacteriology 184(15):
4219-4232. (Erratum in Journal of Bacteriology 184(21): 6084.)
- Moiseeva, O. V., I. P. Solyanikova, S. R. Kaschabek, J. Groning, M.
Thiel, L. A. Golovleva, and M. Schlomann, 2002. A new modified ortho
cleavage pathway of 3-chlorocatechol degradation by Rhodococcus opacus
1CP: genetic and biochemical evidence. Journal of Bacteriology
184(19): 5282-5292.
created 2003-7-4, modified 2003-8-6
