Claim CB904:

No entirely new features or biological functions have evolved.

Response:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.)
  3. 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.
  4. Jenkins, R. O. et al., 2003. Bacterial degradation of arsenobetaine via dimethylarsinoylacetate. Archives of Microbiology 180(2):142-150.
  5. 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.)
  6. 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.
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created 2003-7-4, modified 2003-8-6