Changes happen slowly. Even if they gain one change or another it's not like one day they wake up as a new species.SeattleGriz wrote:Certainly, yes. Cannot be refuted as incorrect.Grizalltheway wrote:
What about viruses and bacteria developing resistance to vaccines and antibiotics? Couldn't that be considered microevolution?
As I rehash this thread every year, I have come to realize that evolution means different things to different people. I am not saying certain aspects of evolution don't happen, for that is obvious. What I am trying to say, is that we don't slowly turn into a different species over time (from ooze to man).
In your example, the viruses and bacteria both undergo microevolution, but in the end, they are still just that - a virus and a bacteria. With the two's ability to swap genes with scary efficiency, shouldn't we have seen a new organism by now? Especially considering how many experiments are performed on both not only in academia, but corporate America as well. All that messing with their DNA and still no new species.
Check out things like this for some cool examples of bacteria evolving new traits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._coli_lo ... experiment" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Even though they evolved new traits and characteristics they are still E. coli. The change to becoming a new species all together would take much longer than you or I could witness in a lifetime.








