A little acid... is all it takes... (Evolution)

by David Turell , Friday, January 31, 2014, 00:43 (3730 days ago) @ xeno6696
edited by unknown, Friday, January 31, 2014, 01:00

Matt: It seems that putting adult human cells... under selective pressure puts them into a state that they can become any other kind of cell. 
> 
> This directly undermines the idea that natural selection is incapable of massive, rapid changes in the development of an organism. If, given enough pressure, a bone cell can be coaxed into a neuron, or skin cell, or an eye cell... then it stands to reason that the same plasticity applies to the entire organism.-I think this is a misuse of the term natural selection. The environment, not NS, acts on the organism which changes by this mechanism. NOW natural selection steps into determine if the change is sufficient for survival. NS is the end judge of the whole process and can only act on what is presented to it.-On the other hand I really appreciate your showing the stem cell stress article to us. Fascinating.