Red Rain in 1361 | from Robert Temple | Sun, 22 Oct 2006
15:19:14 +0100: Dear Brig, Here are the details of the mediaeval red rain, ...From THE CHRONICLE OF LONDON FROM 1089 TO 1483 (published in London in 1827):
1361. Also in this yere, in the kal' of Juyn, fell a blody reyne in Burgoyn, and a blody crosse apered in the eire from the morwe unto myd day at Bologne, the whiche afterward moved hym and fel down into the see. ... And in this yere was the seconde gret pestilence, in whiche good Henry of Lancastre deyde....
Translation into modern English: Also in this year, in the kalends of June (i.e., in the beginning of June), a bloody rain fell in Burgundy, and a bloody cross appeared in the air from dawn until noon at Boulogne, which afterwards shifted position and fell down into the sea. ... And in this year was the second Great Plague, of which good Henry, Duke of Lancaster, died. (Note: Henry of Grosmont, first Duke of Lancaster and a member of the royal family, died 24 March 1361.)
...The same Chronicle (which I think astronomers have not consulted before) mentions comets appearing in 1337 (in June and July, 'in diverse parts of heaven'), and in 1367 (in March). It also mentions two novae or supernovae. The first was in 1456, and the second was in 1473: 'This year after Christmas appeared a blazing star, and it continued for more than 5 weeks.'
I hope all is going well with you. Best wishes from Robert.... Robert Temple | London
The red rain of Kerala is our first notice of the phenomenon, 23 Oct 2003.
Tiny Tampa Bay Fish Key To Evolution | from Stan Franklin | 6 Oct 2006
09:04 PM: "...Scientists studying a tiny primitive fish that makes up 70 percent of the biomass in Tampa Bay now say they have found the "missing link" marking the point in evolution that led to the development of the modern-day human immune system...."
Tiny Tampa Bay Fish Key To Evolution Of Immune System, University of Florida, 5 Oct 2006.
7 Oct, 09:49 AM: Dear Stan -- Thanks for this alert. The article states, "...scientists ...now say they have found the 'missing link'...."But it also states, "This is the first organism below the level of jawed vertebrates that expresses the type of proteins we use in our own complex adaptive immune system." And, "We were surprised ...by how similar the molecules are to our immune response proteins...."
From the posted text, I cannot see how the studied system is the "missing link" to the immune system of jawed vertebrates. Rather, it seems to be an example of a species more primitive than jawed vertebrates that has immune-system components quite similar to our own. It is surprising because we thought only jawed vertebrates possessed these components.
The question that darwinists do not answer is: How are the genetic programs for new features composed? As usual, that question goes unaddressed in this study. The interesting thing revealed here is that the programs now appear to have been available even before the evolution of jawed vertebrates.
I'll try to get the actual article. Thanks. Best regards. Brig.
We owe the repertoire of our immune system to one transposon insertion... is the related What'sNEW article of 25 Aug 1998.
Re: Is sustained macroevolutionary progress possible in a closed system?
from Thomas Ray | Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:53:06 -0500 (CDT) | continued from 31 Dec 2005
[31 Dec 2005, you wrote] ...I would like to ask you if I have overlooked some research that supports the standard source for new programs more convincingly. If so, would you tell me about it? In any case, may I ask you what your current opinion is on the original question, and what biological (or computer-model) evidence supports it?
I believe that the work we were doing together would have answered your questions, had we continued it. However, our first study was a test of the challenge that you made in the NASA poster, and our test rejected your view. You later accused me of having done nothing, because you ignored and forgot about the report I prepared for you.
I believe that the continuing expansion of the genome databases, especially the increasing number of species for which we have complete genomes, makes it possible to study evolution on the molecular level in a way that can answer your questions. Whenever I point you to a study that supports the standard Darwinian process, you respond by saying something like "I would need to know more about that", but you don't pursue it. You simply choose to ignore evidence for the standard process.
I can not tell you if you have overlooked some research that supports the standard source for new programs, because since the end of our work together, I do not spend my time reviewing that literature. ...Tom
to Thomas Ray | 08:50 AM 19 Sep 2006: Dear Tom -- I think your response to the issue raised in our NASA poster was hasty and superficial, your long review of protein evolution papers notwithstanding. You wrote:
The most important point that I learned from this review, is that protein sequences can and do evolve all the way to random similarity (~8%), while retaining the same structure. If we are to test between Darwinism and Strong panspermia as described above, based on evidence of changes in protein sequences, then we must absolutely reject Strong panspermia. -- http://www.panspermia.org/proteinevolution.doc
But even hypervariable proteins are not properly characterized by your expression, "random similarity." In fact, even they are astronomically unlikely to be derived from wholly unrelated ones by darwinian trial and error: Consider a protein of 300 amino acids, of which only 25 are fixed. Assume that the remaining 275 may differ without harm as long as they remain either hydrophobic or hydrophylic. Assume that life's twenty amino acids are equally divided into these two categories, meaning that any of ten residues could occupy each of the 275 variable positions. Under these relaxed, over-simplified constraints, the theoretical number of functional sequences of this protein would be 10^275. Sounds like a lot! Meanwhile, the theoretical number of all possible proteins of this size is 20^300, or about 10^390. Within that confined sequence space, what is the chance of selecting any functional example of this protein in one trial? It is about 10^(275-390), or 10^-115. In other words, no plausible number of trials makes success likely, even for proteins as hypervariable as this one. To rescue the mainstream account of new proteins, darwinists make additional untested assumptions, like, 1) there are functional stepwise pathways through sequence space connecting all the proteins in life, and 2) these pathways are easily found and followed often enough during evolution. -- http://www.panspermia.org/whatsne39.htm#051108
Of course I welcome and will publish any considered response, but I recognize that you are weary of this subject. I assume that you are grateful for the support you received from the Astrobiology Research Trust. Best regards. Brig
Is sustained macroevolutionary progress possible in a closed system? is the prior email of 31 Dec 2005.
New genetic programs in Darwinism and strong panspermia is the the referenced NASA poster, presented 7-11 Apr 2002.
Human Genome Search at University of Oklahoma is the the webpage announcing the research project, 18 Nov 2001.
Kerala rain | from Jim Galasyn | 02:17 PM 8/16/2006
Hi Brig,... I just read the interview with Chandra Wickramasinghe on the Red Rain of Kerala. There’s no mention of isotopic analysis. Wouldn’t that be the gold-standard for rejecting the extraterrestrial hypothesis? I recall you were involved in attempting a similar analysis for the Indian stratospheric balloon experiment. Seems there’s plenty of material to analyze, in this case. ...Jim
12:41 PM 8/17/2006: Right you are. But time on the dozen or so machines (NanoSIMS) in the world that can do isotopic analysis on a single cell is in very great demand. I have tried to get someone to do this analysis on the red rain without success. As you mention, there may be enough sample to do bulk analysis, which easier to obtain. Chandra is looking into that, I believe. Meanwhile, India has ordered a NanoSIMS. ...Brig Klyce
The red rain of Kerala is our first notice of this phenomenon, 23 Oct 2003, with links to later news.
EPrize at ALife X | to Evolution Prize mailing list
from Brig Klyce
| Mon, 5 Jun 2006 22:51:45 -0400
At the ALife X Conference in Bloomington IN, at a workshop cochaired with Mark Bedau the evening of June 4, I promoted a question, "Is Open-Ended Evolutionary Innovation in a Closed System Possible?" I also posed a followup question, "Can it be demonstrated?", and I proposed a cash prize of $100,000 sponsored by the Astrobiology Research Trust for a successful demonstration in an ALife model.
The workshop generated a high level of interest among the 50 or so workshop attendees and panelists. Some expressed important reservations about the terms of the question, prizes in general, the sponsor's affiliation with panspermia, and other issues. Most of those who spoke agreed that the issue was important, but needs more work.
Eleven interested people met over lunch on Monday to pursue the subject further. With the leadership of Jordan Pollack, we seemed to agree that the prize is too embryonic (Janet Wiles' term) to be simply announced to the world. Needed first are steps that would lead to clarification of the question behind the prize. For these steps, papers could be solicited, with lesser prizes (such as could be funded by the interest on a principal of $100,00) to be awarded for the best paper on a regular basis, such as annually, or biannually.
We discussed scheduling another meeting, but meanwhile we agreed that some kind of internet presence that would allow us to interact easily and frequently would be useful. To facilitate this I have, hopefully, secured the domain name "eprize.org". More on this as it develops. [The acquired domain name is evolutionprize.net.]
As mentioned in the June 4 workshop, the EPrize (although it may not yet be a prize) needs a Board of Directors to guide its development. I will ask Jordan Pollack and Mark Bedau to help with nominations, and hopefully there will be a Board of 5 or 7 members within a couple of months. Of course I welcome all who are interested to remain as collaborators and friends.
In summation here is what I am now proposing for further discussion and refinement:
A prize of approximately $3000 to be awarded annually to the best paper pertaining to open-ended evolutionary innovation in a closed system that either 1) advances our knowledge, or 2) further delineates and clarifies a question along that theme.
This prize will be awarded by a jury comprising a board of directors of 5-7 scientists who have credibility and standing in the ALife field. These directors will be chosen in a manner to be determined. The [Evolution Prize] and its board will have no affiliation with the topic or website "panspermia." Perhaps the first such prize could be awarded at ALife 11.
Let me know what you think. Thanks again for your interest and your support of this inquiry. I appreciate your hospitality and your willingness to provided education and insight into this challenging area.
Best regards, Brig ...(To be removed from the [Evolution Prize] mailing list, reply with "Please Remove" as the subject.)
====================
Brig Klyce | The Evolution Prize | phone [901-763-2222]
The Evolution Prize is the related CA webpage.
evolutionprize.net has its own website now.
...Evolutionary Scrap-heap Challenge: Antifreeze Fish Make Sense Out Of Junk DNA
FYI forwarded by Stan Franklin | Mon, 17 Apr 2006 07:59:23 -0500
Scientists at the University of Illinois have discovered an antifreeze-protein gene in cod that has evolved from non-coding or 'junk' DNA. Since the creation of these antifreeze proteins is directly driven by polar glaciation, by studying their evolutionary history the scientists hope to pinpoint the time of onset of freezing conditions in the polar and subpolar seas. Professor Cheng will present her latest results at the Annual Main Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology in Canterbury on Tuesday the 4th April [session A2].
Fish such as cod that live in subzero polar waters have evolved to avoid freezing to death by using special antifreeze proteins that work by binding to ice crystals to prevent the crystals growing larger and causing problems. Most of these antifreeze proteins evolve by natural selection from existing proteins when the DNA coding for them duplicates itself and changes over time to give new functions. However, Professor Christina Cheng and her group have found the gene for the cod antifreeze protein has come from a non-coding region of their DNA known as "junk DNA".
"This appears to be a new mechanism for the evolution of a gene from non-coding DNA", says Professor Cheng, "3.5 billion years of evolution of life has produced many coding genes and conventional thinking assumes that new genes must come from pre-existing ones because the probability of a random stretch of DNA somehow becoming a functional gene is very low if not nil. This cod antifreeze gene might be an exception to this because it consists of a short repetitive sequence that only needs to be duplicated four times to give a fully functioning protein". ...Full Text at ScienceDaily (original article from the Society for Experimental Biology).
Comment: Does this mean that junk DNA is the toolbox or parts store for the construction of new working genes? [from Stan's correspondent]
Antifreeze Fish Make Sense Out Of Junk DNA, ScienceDaily, 4 Apr 2006.
The Origin of Antifreeze Protein Genes is a related section of "Neo-Darwinism: The Current Paradigm".
Re: itinerant Japanese guitar player who never showed up | from Chip Morrison | 01:08 PM 4/14/2006
...I've been getting deep into classic R&B, trying to learn horn lines for Aretha, Etta, James, Motown standards, others like Eddie Floyd "Knock on Wood." Am actually playing in wierd pick-up band benefit performance (American Heart Association) this Sunday in Brockton, MA, featuring, among others, JB Jr. who claims, and I have no reason to doubt, to be cousin of James Brown. And who does pisser James covers. Sex Machine, Man's World, Super Bad, Feel Good, Please, Please, Please.
By the way, I take this music as further confirmation of CA. No way Darwinians can account for something as perfect as Sex Machine. "Get on up!" indeed....
Morrison
My compliment to you | from Anonymous | Sat, 1 Apr 2006 15:53:36 -0500
Hi Dr. Klyce, I was flattered to see that you put my compliment to you on the web, however, could you remove my name and place of work from your website? I would appreciate it very much. I am in the process of a job hunt and hope that prospective researchers will see links relating to my research rather than others when they "google" my name. Thanks so much for understanding, ...
Anonymous, Ph.D. | Unnamed Department | a Major Midwestern University
Sunday, c. 4PM: Given the date, I first thought you might be kidding. Anyway, OK, done. I hope some day you feel confident enough to "come out" as the open-minded person you really are. Best regards. Brig
PS: If you check "all reviews by Brig Klyce" on Amazon, at least two gush about certain X-Man games ("Fantastic!"), posted by my impersonating, then-minor son. What will people think?!
Thanks for your webpage is the related "Reply," 21 Dec 2005.
Left-handed chirality explained? | from Jerry Chancellor | Sat, 25 Feb 2006 11:30:05 -0500
...http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemScience/Volume/2006/02/water_handedness.asp... "Meir Shinitzky and colleagues at the Weizmann Institute of Science believe the humble water molecule to be responsible. ...Shinitzky dissolved polymers of left- and right-handed amino acids in water, and measured the pH at which they denatured from helices to random coils. This was 0.2 to 0.3 units higher for the right-handed molecules, which implied they were less stable. The effect disappeared when heavy water (D2O) was used."
The differences seem to arise due to the "different interactions between the weak magnetic field of ortho-H2O and the magnetic fields of left- and right-handed amino acids". If this is true, would left-handed chirality be a verifiably Earth-centric phenomenon? I don't think so; cometary bacteria could be expected to display the same preference. Of course, if any right-handed life were found, it could be immediately assumed to be from somewhere other than Earth. Controversial, but it seems more promising than anything else I have seen. ...Jerry Chancellor | President | VisionTech Training Solutions
Thank You Brig! | from Sheila Sasselov | 10 Nov 2006