Here you can find information on current happenings in the world of Darwin and Evolutionary Science. If you have some news that would be appropriate for this section, please contact us.
8/15/2005 |
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"The 'Origins of Life in the Universe Initiative' is still in its early stages, scientists told the Boston Sunday Globe. Harvard has told the research team to make plans for adding faculty members and a collection of multimillion-dollar facilities." "Evolution is a fundamental scientific theory that species evolved over millions of years. It has been standard in most public school science texts for decades but recently re-emerged in the spotlight as communities and some states debated whether school children should also be taught about creationism or intelligent design." |
3/23/2005 |
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Arabidopsis with the mutated gene, left, making the plant's floral organs bunch together. Right, an offspring with a corrected gene. |
"... geneticists at Purdue University say they have found plants that possess a corrected version of a defective gene inherited from both their parents, as if some handy backup copy with the right version had been made in the grandparents' generation or earlier. ..." "The discovery also raises interesting biological questions - including whether it gets in the way of evolution, which depends on mutations changing an organism rather than being put right by a backup system. ... " - Nicholas Wade, New York Times Demonstrating how science works, the scientists interviewed were questioning whether the result was reproducible, and forming new falsifiable hypotheses about how this surprising discovery might occur. Most ideas involved storage of the "correct" genetic sequence using RNA rather than DNA. For more details, see the New York Times (free registration required) by 30 March 2005, or see the full article in the current Nature magazine (in some libraries). |
3/19/2005 |
Discover the Art of Evolution |
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An exhibition by renowned artist Shirley Chubb, which explores Charles Darwin's life and work, is taking place at Darwin's home - Down House, Luxted Road, Downe, Bromley - a property maintained by English Heritage.
On Tuesday 22 March and Tuesday 17 May, between 2pm and 4pm, Charles Darwin's great-great grandson, Randal Keynes, will be discussing the life of his famous ancestor with Shirley Chubb. The exhibition will run until 29 May 2005. The exhibition, entitled Thinking Path, was inspired by the sand path around Down House where Darwin would walk whilst contemplating his theories on the origin of the species. The exhibition includes original pieces by the artist, alongside specially selected museum pieces. Admission to the exhibition costs £6.60 for adults, £3.30 for children and £5 for concessions. Opening times are Wed - Sun 10am to 4pm until March 23; then Wed - Sun 10am to 6pm until 29 May. Admission to the Randal Keynes/ Shirley Chubb discussions is by voluntary donation. Booking is essential: to reserve a place please contact Gemma Squibb at Down House on 01689 859119 or via gemma.squibb@english-heritage.org.uk |
Courtesy of Robert E. Pruitt/Purdue University 