That could very well be similar to our own attempts at genetic modification. It can easily be argued that the plant has evolved to the point to where it can detect "bad" genes and modify them itself. Much like we are moving towards.

I kind of lean more to genetic adaptation than mutations, I think the only reason humans has lasted so long on earth is its ability to adapt to the environment.

Occurs I am not expert, I am just guessing here.

Originally posted by BlackJackal
As you see adaptation is tied to mutations as well.

While that is a good point, not all 'mutations' adapt. There's plenty of animal branches that stopped and never evolved past a certain point. Many animals that went extinct because they couldn't adapt. If these plants survive another million years as they are, then maybe it's because they've mutated enough to where they don't need to. Maybe they're also halfway intelligent in this respect, and can trigger their own mutations as needed. I don't think this is a coffin nail or a booster shot to evolution at this point in time. Really it only remains to see how well this species survives over time. But you are right, one way or another it is fascinating.

I do to, I find it fascinating, taken in consideration that my daughter is majoring in biology and she probably have more knowledge than me on this matters.

But, you are right genetics play an important role on what we are and how we fight our environmental changes.

Plus I always feel that we humans are special after all, we can also use our minds to come out with ideas to keep our species proliferating and we are very good keeping our species also enhanced with technology and ways to survive again our environment.

I wonder if we are fighting the natural state of ourself in relation with nature and if that is a good idea.

If we were not a thinking species do you imagine if we still be here?

I find Darwin theory very interesting but I doubt that we came from the monkey.

We are special.

Originally posted by marg6043
I find Darwin theory very interesting but I doubt that we came from the monkey.

We are special.

I agree with you here 100%. I can beleive to a certain extent that a mayfly, dog, monkey, or horse evolved by some mindless alogrithmic process but, not humans. Humans are self aware and have consciouness, the ability to ask the questions of where did we come from and where are we going. I can stomach quite a bit but I cannot believe that Consciouness is nothing but a bunch of molecules bouncing into one another.

Originally posted by marg6043
I find Darwin theory very interesting but I doubt that we came from the monkey.

We are special.

I agree with you here 100%. I can beleive to a certain extent that a mayfly, dog, monkey, or horse evolved by some mindless alogrithmic process but, not humans. Humans are self aware and have consciouness, the ability to ask the questions of where did we come from and where are we going. I can stomach quite a bit but I cannot believe that Consciouness is nothing but a bunch of molecules bouncing into one another.

Originally posted by BlackJackal

Originally posted by marg6043
I find Darwin theory very interesting but I doubt that we came from the monkey.

We are special.

I agree with you here 100%. I can beleive to a certain extent that a mayfly, dog, monkey, or horse evolved by some mindless alogrithmic process but, not humans. Humans are self aware and have consciouness, the ability to ask the questions of where did we come from and where are we going. I can stomach quite a bit but I cannot believe that Consciouness is nothing but a bunch of molecules bouncing into one another.

Just curious, but why not? What makes us so special? How can we be so sure that dogs and mayflies aren't conscious? I mean, the only thing that we can prove is that we cannot communicate back-and-forth with other species, and even then certain animals can be trained to understand us and even respond. I think it's quite arrogant to say that humans are the only thing that's that special. And looking at how some people in this world are, I think we've still got much further to go before we can truly separate ourselves from monkeys.

Actually, gene flow and genetic drift are far more common between related species, than the survival of a mutation in a species. Tried finding the anthropolgy site I use for class but couldn't, forgot the address. If I find it I'll post it. As far as google goes too many university class description pages.

Also genetically, like Rren said we are very closely related to chimps genetics wise. But there is also a theory by a Dr. Swalterz or something, that believes oraungatangs is our closet related species, even though most science and genetic data is generally accecpted in the chimp relationship.

intelligent design is as valid a scientific theory as evolution.

Please point me to any ID papers that make testable predictions please. I'd like to see it as until they stop preaching and actually try to prove thier point with actual sound science it's still ... bad science IMO...

Originally posted by sardion2000

until they stop preaching and actually try to prove thier point with actual sound science it's still ... bad science IMO...

Quite frankly that's the reason I've always believed more in evolution than creationism or intelligent design. Evolution is, for one, still admittedly a theory. Second, it's based on a logical thought process that has been illustrated and scrutinized by many individuals. To me, the more religiously motivated ideas have always sounded like someone saying "It's this way just because." I've never seen anyone try and prove any kind of intelligent design, other than pulling out the Bible. Can we see something that can be reproduced? Something that can be quantitatively measured and recorded? No, evolution cannot necessarily be reproduced either, but it has been recorded.

Granted, one of the biggest holes in the evolution of humans is the missing link. There is a gap somewhere in the evolutionary tree. Yeah, that may be because God decided to step in and try his hand at it. It may be because Grays from Zeta Reticuli decided we were worth the price of the intergalactic chemistry set they bought at Wal Mart (Yes, Wal Marts do exist on other planets; the shipping costs are astronomical...). Then again, maybe it's because we just haven't dug in the right place yet. This is a big chunk of rock to try and scrape all the surface off of until we find every bone and fossil that was ever laid to rest. Maybe we'll never find the missing link and the debate will always be there. There really isn't anyway to tell right now.

i totally agree with you offthestreet

hes absolutely correct in his assertions and they can be backed up with Mountains of research
ill testify to that

offthestreet your getting my last 'coolest guy on ATS' award
even tho i disagree slightly with your chemtrail/contrail theory

im all with you on this one

plus; about the plant being "able to correct the mutations its parents gave it"

this is not a hole in evolution at all; in fact , it can prove it even further if you look at it the right way

RNA , or ribonucleicacid , is a chemical found in every cell of our bodies
the purpose of this chemical varies depending on which version we are looking at
i recall there is Messenger RNA, Transfer RNA and so on *(correct me if i got it wrong)

well; as i was saying
one of the versions of RNA is responsible for "cleaning up mistakes in our DNA code"
it runs up and down the DNA; looking for something wrong; when it finds it ; it replaces it with the correct part Cytocine Thymine Actinine Guanine and i forgot the 5th one *there is 4 usually but sometimes i believe a 5th one exists in other instances to replace one of the 4 i listed above*

my memory of Biology class is admitedly foggy; but i remember the basic concept

anyhow;
the particular plant named in the top of this thread; could have a very active RNA that corrects all those mutations right away; so that it can start from a clean slate and develop its own individual mutations that are relevent to its current enviorment

what would be interesting to know is the history of this plant
has it moved around alot?
has its enviornment changed often over the last million years??

this is important because all of these sudden enviornmental shifts could have caused the RNA to become overactive so that the plant would have higher chances of survival

keep in mind im only speculating , a hypothesis if you will

Also, in response to the flawed statement that Chimps dont have conciousness or self-awareness

i believe you have been proven incorrect over 35 years ago
thats quite a long time ago

i will go dig up the actual name of the Scientists and the research they did in regaurds to this
basically what they did was

they put a huge Mirror in the jungle near where a group of chimps lived

well one of these chimps found the mirror and began to look at it curiously
then once he realized it was HIM in that mirror
he turned around and USED the mirror to pick ticks off his back!!!

amazing isnt it!?
the chimp was self aware = Concious of himself and his surroundings

if you wanna make any other statments about how "monkeys dont make technology", or"chimps are incapable of communication with humans through sign language"
or any of that other rubbish ill devote myself to digging up all the reasearch to prove you wrong

i support those little critters they are quite smart

just read the awesome book

The Dragons of Eden
by Carl Sagan

or
Shadows of Forgotton Ancestors
by Carl Sagan

its all about this subject
just go to a book store pick it up and skim thru it

you will love it

Carl Sagan didnt attain 20+ honorary PHDs for nothing
hes was one of the smartest men to ever walk this planet earth
just go check it out

Originally posted by MCory1
Granted, one of the biggest holes in the evolution of humans is the missing link. There is a gap somewhere in the evolutionary tree. Yeah, that may be because God decided to step in and try his hand at it. It may be because Grays from Zeta Reticuli decided we were worth the price of the intergalactic chemistry set they bought at Wal Mart (Yes, Wal Marts do exist on other planets; the shipping costs are astronomical...). Then again, maybe it's because we just haven't dug in the right place yet. This is a big chunk of rock to try and scrape all the surface off of until we find every bone and fossil that was ever laid to rest. Maybe we'll never find the missing link and the debate will always be there. There really isn't anyway to tell right now.

I have read (articles only in scientific magazines, so no current link, sorry) that the idea of evolutions missing link discrediting it so, is just a major misunderstanding of evolution. I can't seem to find the article right now, so someone please correct me if I am wrong. I do believe the basic idea is that evolution is not so much a gradual thing, or at least not as some believe it, but instead something that happens in leaps and bounds. Again, correct me if I am wrong, I'm tired and not thinking completely straight