Creationuts are often heard squeaking that 'macroevolution + common descent have not been observed', hence 'there is no evidence for it', and that it is 'not real science'. Therefore evolution and Creationism are on equal footing.
When presented with such evidence which demonstrates evolution, and smashes Creationism (until Creationuts pull a dozen ad hocs out of their ass), Creationuts flee like rats from a sinking ship. The next day, they pop up on another 'ship' (aka. thread) and squeak the same old song. "No evidence, not observed, all based on blind faith, blah blah blah."
I wish to demonstrate the Creationut's method of operation here in this thread, by posing Creationuts with the Chromosome challenge. I've adapted it from Scigirl's great post here: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=116447
which is merely drawing on this source:
http://www.gate.net/~rwms/hum_ape_chrom.html
and added a highly relevant picture from another source: http://webpages.charter.net/rufusatticus/YunisFig2.GIF
Now, without further ado... the Chromosome Challenge!!! *drumroll*
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The Chromosome Challenge
In the lab, scientists have determined that chimpanzees have 24 chromosomes in their sperms and eggs, whereas humans only have 23.
Therefore, these 'evolutionists' theorized that two of our chromosomes might have fused together sometime in the recent past (aka million years ago.)
Their theory made 3 predictions:
1) One of our chromosomes would look like two of the chimp chromosomes stuck together.
2) This same chromosome would have an extra sequence in it that looked like a centromere. Centromeres are the things in the middle that microtubules grab onto to divide a pair of chromosomes during mitosis.
3) It would also have telomeres (ends) but in the middle - and they would be in reverse order. Sort of like this:
ENDchromosomestuffDNEENDchromosomestuffDNE
See the "DNEEND" in the middle? That's what two telomeres would look like if two chromosomes were stuck together.
The 'evolutionists' decided to test these predictions (so much for the Creationut claim that evolution theory doesn't make useful predictions!)
To test prediction 1, know that chromosomes all have a unique banding pattern. A "fingerprint." To test 2 and 3, you need sequence data. Telomeres and centromeres have characteristic DNA sequences.
What did those scientists find:
H=human, C=chimp, G=Gorilla, O=orangutan.
and
Also note that the similarities do not stop at the 2nd chromosome, they can be found throughout the karyotype.
Now the ball is in your court, Creationuts. Here is very powerful evidence that human and chimps share a recent common ancestor, but also a very well supported explaination of how humans and chimps branched out from that common ancestor. Our 'human ancestor' had his two chromosomes fused, which altered gene expression in ways to change body plans, whereas our 'chimp' cousin did not have his two chromosomes fused.
Clear the water, audience! I have a nasty feeling that the rats are about to jump ship! But not before they hurl out ad hominems, non-sequitors, smokescreens, strawmen and red herrings!
When presented with such evidence which demonstrates evolution, and smashes Creationism (until Creationuts pull a dozen ad hocs out of their ass), Creationuts flee like rats from a sinking ship. The next day, they pop up on another 'ship' (aka. thread) and squeak the same old song. "No evidence, not observed, all based on blind faith, blah blah blah."
I wish to demonstrate the Creationut's method of operation here in this thread, by posing Creationuts with the Chromosome challenge. I've adapted it from Scigirl's great post here: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=116447
which is merely drawing on this source:
http://www.gate.net/~rwms/hum_ape_chrom.html
and added a highly relevant picture from another source: http://webpages.charter.net/rufusatticus/YunisFig2.GIF
Now, without further ado... the Chromosome Challenge!!! *drumroll*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chromosome Challenge
In the lab, scientists have determined that chimpanzees have 24 chromosomes in their sperms and eggs, whereas humans only have 23.
Therefore, these 'evolutionists' theorized that two of our chromosomes might have fused together sometime in the recent past (aka million years ago.)
Their theory made 3 predictions:
1) One of our chromosomes would look like two of the chimp chromosomes stuck together.
2) This same chromosome would have an extra sequence in it that looked like a centromere. Centromeres are the things in the middle that microtubules grab onto to divide a pair of chromosomes during mitosis.
3) It would also have telomeres (ends) but in the middle - and they would be in reverse order. Sort of like this:
ENDchromosomestuffDNEENDchromosomestuffDNE
See the "DNEEND" in the middle? That's what two telomeres would look like if two chromosomes were stuck together.
The 'evolutionists' decided to test these predictions (so much for the Creationut claim that evolution theory doesn't make useful predictions!)
To test prediction 1, know that chromosomes all have a unique banding pattern. A "fingerprint." To test 2 and 3, you need sequence data. Telomeres and centromeres have characteristic DNA sequences.
What did those scientists find:
H=human, C=chimp, G=Gorilla, O=orangutan.
The second prediction - remnants of the 2p and 2q centromeres is documented in reference 4. The normal centromere found on human chromosome 2 lines up with the 2p chimp chromosome, and the remnants of the 2q chromosome is found at the expected location based upon the banding pattern.
and
Telomeres in humans have been shown to consist of head to tail repeats of the bases 5'TTAGGG running toward the end of the chromosome. Furthermore, there is a characteristic pattern of the base pairs in what is called the pre-telomeric region, the region just before the telomere. When the vicinity of chromosome 2 where the fusion is expected to occur (based on comparison to chimp chromosomes 2p and 2q) is examined, we see first sequences that are characteristic of the pre-telomeric region, then a section of telomeric sequences, and then another section of pre-telomeric sequences. Furthermore, in the telomeric section, it is observed that there is a point where instead of being arranged head to tail, the telomeric repeats suddenly reverse direction - becoming (CCCTAA)3' instead of 5'(TTAGGG), and the second pre-telomeric section is also the reverse of the first telomeric section. This pattern is precisely as predicted by a telomere to telomere fusion of the chimpanzee (ancestor) 2p and 2q chromosomes, and in precisely the expected location.
Also note that the similarities do not stop at the 2nd chromosome, they can be found throughout the karyotype.
Now the ball is in your court, Creationuts. Here is very powerful evidence that human and chimps share a recent common ancestor, but also a very well supported explaination of how humans and chimps branched out from that common ancestor. Our 'human ancestor' had his two chromosomes fused, which altered gene expression in ways to change body plans, whereas our 'chimp' cousin did not have his two chromosomes fused.
Clear the water, audience! I have a nasty feeling that the rats are about to jump ship! But not before they hurl out ad hominems, non-sequitors, smokescreens, strawmen and red herrings!