ELECTRIC EELS: Electric Eels are a remarkable demonstration of design in just how their bioelectric generators are capable of discharging hundreds of volts of electricity. This new paper published in Science by geneticists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studied how different species of marine life developed the same electric organs. Being able to perform this development just once was an exceptional achievement for natural selection. But, it appears this stunt was accomplished at least three times in different clades, and possibly as many as six (6) times. Its called convergent evolution, but design theorists usually called it a case of common design. The researchers found that the same genes in different genre of marine life forms were similarly engineered, all with the same effect: Tweaking the muscle cell genetic code as a blueprint for a little organic battery. So, here we have two evidences for design: (1) The bio-electronic engineering sophistication of the bioelectric generators and organic batteries, and (2) the fact that the same design occurs in multiple clades of marine life. The Wired Science report explains how the electrical charge is generated: The electric organ discharge starts when the fish’s brain sends signals that release a neurotransmitter onto the electrocytes. This opens tiny molecular doors that allow positively-charged sodium ions to rush in, creating an electric current. The Wired Science journalist ascribed this to evolution, but what evolution? Sure, these different marines species are all phylogenetically connected, as all life forms are supposed to be because of universal common ancestry. But, obviously natural selection received some assistance along the way by other intelligent-like processes that guided the nearly identical development such as in knifefish and eels. It looks like the only thing evolution actually did do here is pass on inheritable traits to the next generation in these isolated populations.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 22:39:45 +0000
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