Article

2006-08-07 Science & Technology

500 Million Years Of Evolution Reversed In Mice

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Posted by Anonymoose 2006-08-07 18:34|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Ummmm...I hate to break it to these guys, but mice (and most other mammals) aren't even close to 500 million years old as species.

It was the end of the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago that gave rise to the mammals - theretofore forced to remain small and relatively unassuming (and limited in territory and actual numbers of species) - and allowed the mammal species to differentiate and expand to what we see today.

It's possible that mice might be 65-100 million years old as species, but it's unlikely they've remained what they originally were way back when.

I understand what the article is trying to say, but they're saying it horribly and producing as fact what is merely fancy.

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg 2006-08-07 20:12|| www.fire-on-the-suns.com]">[www.fire-on-the-suns.com] 2006-08-07 20:12|| Front Page Top

#2 Essentialy, as Mario says, the BBC forgot to give al Rooters the photo credit, essentialy on the mouse. (FOTSGreg nails the time line error.) Grant money available?

Posted by Inspector Clueso 2006-08-07 21:07|| 2006-08-07 21:07|| Front Page Top

#3 Well, there is a major difference between evolution of a species on the macro level and evolution of a protien and the gene(s) which encode it.

Basically, this is very true at a genetic / protien level.

This is something that confuses many people, the difference between molecular evolution and evolution. The article is essentially correct in what it is saying.

Many genes can stay un-evolved for millions of years while others can change at amazing rates.

Again, the difference between protien evolution and evolution of a species.

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-07 21:51|| 2006-08-07 21:51|| Front Page Top

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