Natural Science Forum / Biology / Evolution / December 2005

James Lovelock proved that the atmosphere and the biosphere are functionally
interlinked.  It is only in the context of this observation that we can
understand the patterns in the paleo record that have been described as
punctuated equillibrium.  True?  False?

To S.B.E. Readers:
It is "clear to me" at least kin selection and biological altruism is
indirectly tied to genocide. Perhaps to some evolutionary biologists
this is obvious and mentioning it produces a "big yawn". However, it is

Scientists fish for origins of genome complexity
Mon 19 Dec 2005 04:37 PM CST
ATLANTA (myDNA News)
(I linked to this article from a post here in SBE but I lost track and now I

I gather the meme idea is not taken all that seriously by (most)
geneticists.
What are the major disanalogies between the two concepts which make it
untenable to give a rigourous scientific treatment of memes?

I have recently been reading about the RNA World theory of precellular
evolution. Among the many problems with the theory is the availability
of Ribose. I am interested in any ideas on what process might have
created the abundant ribose that is apparently necessary for the RNA

Lovelock (The Ages of Gaia) had this quote about the
atmosphere which supports the sun as the key ingredient
to the chemical change needed for any origin of life.
"There are many reasons why the atmosphere is

Challenge,
Does anyone know of an origin scenario where life starts
without an energy source? Can life begin independently from
all energy sources?  Can anyone suggest an origin scenario

Currently David Attenborough has an excellent series on BBC TV (Life in
the Undergrowth). The last programme was on parasites and it reminded me
of something I've often wondered about: how did complex parasitism
evolve? This seems to me to be sometimes harder to explain than many of

I don't know if the following is accurate. If so it raises many
interesting questions and possibilities:
"The data suggest it is genetic drift (an evolutionary force whose main
component is randomness), not natural selection, that preserves junk

Mice thrive without 'junk DNA'
20/10/04. By the DOE Joint Genome Institute
Researchers have deleted 3 per cent of the mouse genome, but the mice
show no apparent ill effects.

"Peter F" fell_spamtrap_in@ozemail.com.au wrote:-

"Perplexed in Peoria" <jimmenegay@sbcglobal.net>

Someone said that it is obvious that inorganic
chemicals are more stable than organic ones.
I don't think so.
IF you consider life as all life collectively, then

Lovelock quote from The Ages Of Gaia:
It begins with this quote from Alfred Lotka,
The Elements of Physical Biology, then adds Lovelocks
ideas at the end.

ATP, amino acids, etc. don't have genes to pass on -
thus there is no advantage to these chemicals to
exist in prebiotic scenarios.
There is no advantage to them using energy or