Evolution: an ability Darwin does not explain (Introduction)

by David Turell , Saturday, July 22, 2017, 15:06 (2470 days ago) @ dhw

Quote: “we conclude that human cells are equipped with a robust and efficient adaptation potential when challenged with altered gravitational environments." (David’s bold)

David’s comment: Why should this ability be present in the human genome when there has never been any environmental pressure to create such an ability? It might be speculated that God did this so we could do space travel!

dhw: Aw shucks, what are you bolding about? Before we humans went up into space, we magnanimously sent dogs, monkeys and lots of other fellow creatures up there to see what would happen to them. Many died for reasons other than “altered gravitational environments”, but if others hadn’t survived, humans would never have gone up in the first place. Here’s a website with the history. (Sorry, I can't seem to get the direct link.)

A Brief History of Animals in Space - NASA
history.nasa.gov/animals.html

QUOTE: “ A biological payload record was set on April 17, 1998, when over two thousand creatures joined the seven-member crew of the shuttle Columbia (STS-90) for a sixteen-day mission of intensive neurological testing (NEUROLAB).”

I conclude that the cells of lots and lots of organisms are equipped with a robust and efficient adaptation potential when challenged with altered gravitational environments. Would you like to put that in bold?

Comment: agreed cells have it but again missing the point, or deliberately avoiding it. Why should cells contain space adaptability in advance of being in space (low gravity)?