The camera-type eye of humans (& in fact all vertebrates) is often held up as a classic example of what ‘intelligent design’ (ID) proponents call irreducible complexity. The argument goes like this: a) the camera-type eye needs all its parts to function. b) It couldn’t possibly be assembled randomly as Darwinian theory claims. c) The […]
Continue reading“intelligent design” – science or philosophy?
At my scholarship preparation day yesterday I was asked if students could expect an exam question about evolution and intelligent design. My answer? No, because “intelligent design” is not a scientific explanation for the diversity of life on earth. My reasons for saying this? Read on…
Continue readingThe risks of sex (well, one of them, anyway)
That got your attention, didn't it? Being male can be a risky business. In a butterfly called Hypolimna bolina, there's a rather nifty bacterial parasite called Wolbachia that has unfortunate effects on male butterflies. It's carried down the maternal line and kills off male embryos. Just the males. This can result in some pretty skewed sex ratios. (And presumably an […]
Continue readingStudent query: gene sequencing
James has asked: in gene sequencing, since the dd_PP will have made a cut every base, in order for us to read the sequence, how is it possible for us to read it using electrophoresis when the distance between these bases will be around 0.01 of a nm?
Continue readingThe nature of science
Do you tend to think that science is a body of unchanging factual information, and everything published in the scientific literature is correct? Read on…
Continue readingRichard Dawkins on the nature of science
Recently my favourite science blogger, Orac, provided links to a couple of videos that I think should be compulsory viewing for anyone interested in learning about critical thinking and the nature of science. So I’m going to give you the links through his website (because I’m pretty new to this blogging business and so far […]
Continue readingPCR – technique & application
One of the topics that you’ve probably covered in AS90718 is PCR – the polymerase chain reaction & its applications. You may have read quite a bit about it. Well, here’s one more item for your reading list.
Continue readingExtending our family tree?
You may have read the recent press coverage about the discovery of Homo erectus and habilis remains that suggest that these species coexisted for much longer than scientists had previously thought. The coverage was accompanied by headlines implying that the new finds overturned our current understanding of human evolution. But just how accurate is this?
Continue readingAncient data + modern technology = enhanced understanding
One of the attributes of a successful student is the ability to integrate material from across the curriculum – pulling together knowledge from (say) genetics, evolution, and biotechnology into a coherent whole. Here’s an example of a recent paper that integrates biotechnology techniques and genetics to clarify our understanding of our own evolutionary past.
Continue readingIs it a valid argument?
If you’re like me, you probably do quite a lot of net surfing, just looking for new science stories or something interesting to read. But I hope that you think critically about what you’re reading. Not all websites are created equal, and the material you find may contain one or more logical fallacies. Check them out – not […]
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