warri0r45

It counts, but obviously it only makes up a very small fraction of all the other votes that count too.

That's wrong, sorry. Slabs of genetic information, including genes, can duplicate due to unequal crossing over (genetic recombination) between chromosomes. The copied genes are then free to accumulate new mutations to suit different functions. Take the beta-globin gene family for example. [1] All of these genes and their corresponding proteins have similar but non-identical sequences and similar yet distinct functions. In fact, it's the subtle differences between the globin genes that make oxygen transport from mother to embryo/fetus possible. Next, there's exon shuffling. Again by unequal crossing over, exons can be shuffled between genes, if the break points occur in the introns of a gene. There's also retrotransposons such as L1 that have the capacity to take a small bit of genetic information with them as they move and "build" new genes with the exons they carry. [2] Many genes in higher eukaryotes like us appear to be have common protein domains (encoded by individual exons) sourced from a gene which has a completely different function. Finally, there's genome duplication. Due to a failure of meiosis (cell division), a particular organism can be left with extra copies of the entire genome, plenty of new information that can be sculpted by further mutations. When it really comes down to it, most of the raw novelty we see in biology comes from point mutations and things of that scale. All the mechanisms I've explained allow for the evolutionary process to happen, but they don't necessarily add much "new information". As it turns out, evolution is a massive innovator; it's not so much of an inventor. As Bauke explained, the same biological signalling and developmental pathways are seen in most animals with little need for massively different processes, hence why a massive remodelling when evolving a new species isn't necessary. It would seem most morphological difference between species is down to the timing of development and the selectivity of gene expression (including alternate splicing of introns). As for the second law, it's an easy argument to debunk. Consider the development of a human being from a zygote. It's a massively "order-intensive" (i.e. entropy defying) process, yes? Well how does that gel with the second law? The answer is the constant input of energy to overcome thermodynamically unfavourable reactions that synthesise complex polymeric molecules from monomeric precursors. As long as something can develop, it can evolve. All evolution requires, when you get down to it, is mutation, i.e. a change in the DNA of an organism's genome. Ironically, it's the allowance of these mutations - which by their nature disorder the status quo - that make evolution possible. As for the actual topic, it's an interesting find. Hopefully they can find more of these things. At least a discovery like this makes it easier to know where to look.

Rad a Trest by !T.O.O.H.! Great album... The outro to Kali is just about the coolest thing ever.

If it cuts out the smell and second hand smoke then I support it.

Nice list - I enjoyed reading through it.

I've not checked out much post-rock yet, but I always love to try new things. I like the sound of Mono so far. I think I'll check out Mogwai as well based on Intriguing's topic.

It's worth pointing out that the ad is purely satirical. Chicken kiev is pretty nice, but I'll be trashy and say KFC chicken nuggets.

Martyr Try the album Hopeless Hopes.

Part of school is learning how things work in the real world, or it should be, at least. No boss is going to be happy about plagiarism or submitting work late, in fact they very well may fire you for it, so I don't agree with this at all.

Then you might have a mind for physics, where every number has set significance and you are not left in a void of variables and symbols with no meaning. Perhaps. I think that I have a mind for molecular biology more than anything else. It's all easily understandable on a physical level. It's too late to seriously consider any other field of science anyway.

Just finished Unquestionable Presence by Atheist (album). Now listening to Illmatic by Nas (album).

I don't have a mind for maths, unfortunately. Whenever I think of a mathematical problem I do best to keep it simple and, if possible, think of each unit as a physical object. For example, I rationalise dividing by zero to be nonsensical because you can't divide a number of objects into zero groups. They'll always be in groups, even if it's just groups of one.

I second the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and the first Nas album. Truly great hip-hop.

Exactly. After a bit of practice you'll move to these points naturally. As for tapping, I'm no expert at it but my tip would be to to try and "flick" off with your tapping finger to keep the sound from going dead. Not so much that you hit other strings, but a little manipulation rather than just hitting the string like a button will help with the sound a lot. I suppose better equipment would make it much easier as well. I'm definitely a fan of anchoring with the pinky as well - it helps keep the picking hand stable for tremolo picking and other techniques.

Winds of Creation by Decapitated (album).

That doesn't prove metallica only exist to leech off their fans. That's a massive stretch if you ask me. You could take the view that they go for loud albums because they're purist businessmen and want to outcompete other artists for peoples money, or perhaps they just want to sound "metal" by recording their albums as loud as they can. A kind of "spinal tap syndrome", if you like.

Hopeless Hopes by Martyr (album). Damn this is good music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideomotor_effect There are other explanations apart from "spirits". No one should jump to conclusions.

I quite like them too. Being on MTV doesn't necessarily make something bad. I'm currently listening to Polyserena by George (album). Such beautiful music...

Agreed, The media made it seem like it was the next Spanish Flu. (For those who don't know what the Spanish Flu was, it was a influenza after WW1 that killed 40-60 million people globally.) Unless they explicitly stated that "this is going to be the next Spanish flu", then no, I disagree. It seems people can't judge uncertainty and speculation in the media properly. Scientists are uncertain about how bad it will be so there is some speculation.

Rad a Trest by !T.O.O.H.! (album).

I think it's pretty stupid to ban someone from entering a country based on their views, no matter how abhorrent most people may find them. I'm a fan of trying to talk sense into people rather than banning them from entering countries. Sure, it's probably a lost cause most of the time, but at least we can say we were rational and level headed about it.

Hopeless Hopes by Martyr (album). Has to be one of my favourite finds of recent times. Great stuff.

Red by King Crimson (album).

It's a tragic and completely appalling story. They should be charged with manslaughter. The fact that they thought they were doing a good thing is no excuse.