Evolution and ControversyEvolution and Controversy

Evolution and HealthEvolution and Health

The virusThe virus

If a person is infected and If a person is infected and survives, they will have life-long survives, they will have life-long immunity.immunity.

They can steal genetic code They can steal genetic code from other virusesfrom other viruses

Always seem to be at least one Always seem to be at least one step ahead of everything step ahead of everything

The Flu The Flu

Influenza (flu) is a respiratory Influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection in mammals and birds. infection in mammals and birds.

Rapid evolution of the influenza Rapid evolution of the influenza virusvirus

A A zoonosiszoonosis is an infection or is an infection or infectious disease that is infectious disease that is transmissible from vertebrate transmissible from vertebrate animals to people. animals to people.

The Swine FluThe Swine Flu

It appears the H1N1 swine flu may It appears the H1N1 swine flu may be a reassortment of the H be a reassortment of the H (hemagglutinin) gene from typical (hemagglutinin) gene from typical North American pigs with the N North American pigs with the N (neuraminidase) and M (matrix) (neuraminidase) and M (matrix) genes from European pigsgenes from European pigs

If so, this new virus is an example of If so, this new virus is an example of the importance of recombination in the importance of recombination in evolution. evolution.

Human Immunodeficiency Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Virus (HIV)

HIV-1 originated in non-human HIV-1 originated in non-human primatesprimates

Through blood contact that Through blood contact that occurred during hunting and occurred during hunting and field dressing of the animals. field dressing of the animals.

HIVHIV

Destroys certain white blood Destroys certain white blood cells called CD4+ T cells cells called CD4+ T cells

RetrovirusRetrovirus RNARNA Uses RNA to synthesize DNAUses RNA to synthesize DNA Prone to mutationProne to mutation

Evolution’s CriticsEvolution’s Critics

Fundamentalist MovementFundamentalist Movement

Saw evolution as a threat to Saw evolution as a threat to Christian beliefs.Christian beliefs. John Scopes trial in TennesseeJohn Scopes trial in Tennessee Susan Epperson in ArkansasSusan Epperson in Arkansas

Russian advances in space Russian advances in space helped reintroduce evolution in helped reintroduce evolution in American textbooks.American textbooks.

Scientific Creationism Scientific Creationism MovementMovement

““Creationism is just as much a Creationism is just as much a science as evolution and science as evolution and evolution is just as much a evolution is just as much a religion as is creation.”religion as is creation.”

““Equal-time” bill Equal-time” bill Struck down by the Supreme Struck down by the Supreme

CourtCourt

Intelligent designIntelligent design

Alternative to evolution. Alternative to evolution. Life is too complex for natural Life is too complex for natural

selection and must reflect selection and must reflect intelligent design.intelligent design.

Why ID and CS are not in Why ID and CS are not in science classscience class

Explanations that cannot be Explanations that cannot be tested and potentially rejected tested and potentially rejected are not science.are not science.

If someone invokes a nonnatrual If someone invokes a nonnatrual cause in their research, and you cause in their research, and you decided to test it, can you think decided to test it, can you think of any way to do so such that it of any way to do so such that it could be falsified. could be falsified.

What do you think?What do you think?

About creation science and About creation science and intelligent design being taught in intelligent design being taught in science class?science class?