Evolution Matters

Posted 7 March 2008 by PvM

The University of California, San Diego (UCSD), the alma mater of Discovery Institute's spokesperson Casey Luskin, explores why "Evolution Matters". In cooperation with UCSD-TV, they bring us a fascinating lecture series:

For 2007-08, the Division of Biological Sciences is launching Evolution Matters: The Diversity of Development. In this series of 5 lectures, held over the course of the year, leading cell and developmental scientists will explore the evolution of plants, animals and humans and will discuss how their research into this field holds promise for finding solutions to key health and environmental issues facing us today.

Educational Website: Grey Matters Educational Website: Science Matters Atoms to Xrays

Clockwork Genes: Biological Rhythms in Health and Agriculture by Dr. Steve A. Kay

We are all painfully aware of our internal clock when we travel across time zones or when we undertake shift work. But did you know our clocks also control our blood pressure and fat metabolism, as well as our cognitive abilities? In many animals circadian clocks are responsible for behaviors ranging from courtship to insect pollinators. Plants even grow with daily rhythms and use their clocks to decide the correct seasons to flower. Join UCSD Professor and Dean of Biological Sciences Steve Kay and explore how these clocks are constructed, how they differ among organisms, and how the new field of systems biology may allow us ultimately to manipulate them to benefit health and agriculture.

The Diversity of Development: Embryos and Evolution by William McGinnis

How does variation in genes generate the beautiful diversity of animal body shapes that fill the world? UCSD Biologist William McGinnis explains that all animals, whether fish, fowl, or fly, share similar architectural control genes called Homeobox genes. The discovery and study of these genes has led to an understanding of how subtle changes in Homeobox genes can lead to changes in animal form during evolution.

The Diversity of Development - The Evolution of Complexity: From the Human Brain to the Rainforest by Christopher Wills March 19

The living world is made up of complex biological systems. At the level of the individual, the most complex of these systems is the human brain. But the process of evolution has produced even more complex systems, such as tropical reefs and rainforests, that are made up of millions of interacting species. UC San Diego Professor of Ecology Christopher Wills explores how this complexity evolved and what genetic and ecological processes complex systems have in common.

and two announced lectures The Diversity of Development: Unraveling the Mysteries of Flower Formation by Dr. Martin Yanofsky The Diversity of Development - The Genetics of Primate Evolution: A Rosetta Stone for Understanding Human Disease by Dr. Ajit Varki

5 Comments

David Stanton · 8 March 2008

Obviously evolution doesn't really matter to any of these things, even if the people who actually do the research say it does. If I don't believe it, it can't really be important to anyone. If it were, then I might have to admit that I might be wrong. And I'll never do that, because if I don't admit that I could be wrong, then I can't be.

Oh well, as a wise man once said: "reality doesn'r care what you think".

PvM · 8 March 2008

Obviously evolution doesn’t really matter to any of these things, even if the people who actually do the research say it does.

Yes, that seems to be the position of ID creationists who seem to be very interested in quote mining scientists when they believe their claims support the ID position but somehow they are far less reluctant to accept statements by said scientists when they contradict ID's position. Such is the problem when not doing much of any scientific research yourself. However, many people will quickly see through this and marvel at the stories told by these researchers.

fnxtr · 8 March 2008

more reluctant?

Nigel D · 9 March 2008

Looks like a very useful set of lectures.

I think it would have been helpful to me, when I was an undergraduate student, to have had a bit more direct tuition in evolutionary biology. Evolution and common descent were mentioned from time to time by my physiology and biochemistry lecturers, but I only really started to fully understand and appreciate evolution and the nature of the evidence that supports it after I received my PhD (i.e. some years later).

JOHN WRIGHT · 20 March 2008

Creationist do not beilieve science because they see science as evil. They only mine science because they see religion and science as two ways of looking at the same thing they are not they are incompatible. P.S genetic engineering is a thing called progress not a sin and niether is teaching evolution a sin.