Category Archives: evolution

Bloody hell

Posted on December 14, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

This might make me think twice before getting into any more arguments with creationists. I did once have an argument with a cancer research conspiracy theorist that almost became physical. He was verbally abusing me and someone alerted my hubby … Continue reading →

Posted in bad people, creationism, evolution | 5 Comments

Hooray for Mutation

Posted on October 28, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I’ve always tried to cover the most up-to-date research in my journal club series, but today’s paper is an exception. “Strong Selective Sweep Associated with a Transposon Insertion in Drosophila simulans“ was published in 2004, and I actually covered it … Continue reading →

Posted in creationism, evolution, journal club, original research, publishing, science | 4 Comments

Scientists Scrutinise Chimp Changes

Posted on August 16, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Today’s paper revisits a topic that seems to have become a recurring theme for this blog – the evolution of gene regulation. (It also involves primates, which is always a bonus). Ryuichi Sakate, from the Japanese Biological Informatics Consortium, and … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, journal club, original research, science | 2 Comments

Evolutionary Solutions to the Hairy Back Problem

Posted on August 7, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Some creationists like to complain about macroevolution. They claim that this microevolution stuff is all well and good, but when has it ever produced any kind of meaningful change at the whole organism level?This week’s paper is an excellent rebuttal. … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, journal club, original research, science | 6 Comments

Bits and Bobs…

Posted on August 4, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

…a suitably lazy Friday post. 1) ERV and Colbert take down Michael Behe. Our chief weapon is reason, reason and mockery.Our two chief weapons are reason, mockery, and empirical evidence.Amongst our weaponry are such things as… 2) Another reason why … Continue reading →

Posted in apes, creationism, evolution, nature, personal, Primate Party, silliness, Vancouver | 3 Comments

Field dispatches from the war on viruses

Posted on July 15, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I have yet to be formally challenged, so I will take the initiative to venture ever so slightly away from the very centre of my usual comfort zone…I have written before about the ongoing arms race between viruses and the … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, journal club, original research, science, virology | 2 Comments

Evolving regulation

Posted on July 8, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

For the latest installment of my Sunday Journal Club, I had initially thought of summarising this paper, but half of the internet seems to have been there before me. All I will contribute to the debate is to say that … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, journal club, original research, science | 2 Comments

Tonight’s entertainment provided by…

Posted on July 6, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

A very entertaining 64th Skeptics’ Circle is now up at the skeptical alchemist – and I get to make my first contribution! I must be going up in the world. Here’s something else that is enormous fun to read, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Carnivals, creationism, embarrassing fan girl, evolution, science, silliness | Comments Off on Tonight’s entertainment provided by…

Spot the Difference

Posted on July 1, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Apologies for the shockingly unsophisticated use of images below. I will try and find someone to help me fix it… Here is the Reasons to Believe 2003 archives page, as printed on 19th April 2004, kept in a folder for … Continue reading →

Posted in creationism, evolution, Reasons not to believe in lies | 6 Comments

Fun with yeasty beasties

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I’ve always been quite envious of researchers who work with yeast; there are some amazing tools available for microbial genetic analysis that just don’t exist for mammalian systems. You do have to put up with some unpleasant odours in your … Continue reading →

Posted in evolution, journal club, original research, science | 6 Comments