Changes

:As for the origin of a new species, no it would not be clear since speciation usually involves relatively small changes, be they physiological, morphological, behavioral, or, as often the case, simply genetic.  The only way for us to determine if a new species had evolved would be through a series of comparisons of the organism to the parent species.  This can be a problem due to horizontal gene transfer which can make it even more difficult to define a new species. All definitions of species assume that an organism gets all its genes from one or two parents which are very like that organism, but horizontal gene transfer makes that assumption false.  So in regards to finding a new species, it will not be evident.  All that can be shown to provide evidence for evolution in organisms in a controlled environment would be the small mutations that cause physiological change in the offspring such as antibiotic resistance in bacteria.  Would this be considered a new species of bacteria, no it would be a new strain.  However what would define a new species of bacteria?  A change of shape, say from rod to sphere?  This might be possible if the bacteria were subjected to gradual environmental stresses.  Perhaps I should try this in the lab (could make a very interesting observation).--[[User:Tims|TimS]] 17:19, 11 April 2007 (EDT)

:As for the origin of a new species, no it would not be clear since speciation usually involves relatively small changes, be they physiological, morphological, behavioral, or, as often the case, simply genetic.  The only way for us to determine if a new species had evolved would be through a series of comparisons of the organism to the parent species.  This can be a problem due to horizontal gene transfer which can make it even more difficult to define a new species. All definitions of species assume that an organism gets all its genes from one or two parents which are very like that organism, but horizontal gene transfer makes that assumption false.  So in regards to finding a new species, it will not be evident.  All that can be shown to provide evidence for evolution in organisms in a controlled environment would be the small mutations that cause physiological change in the offspring such as antibiotic resistance in bacteria.  Would this be considered a new species of bacteria, no it would be a new strain.  However what would define a new species of bacteria?  A change of shape, say from rod to sphere?  This might be possible if the bacteria were subjected to gradual environmental stresses.  Perhaps I should try this in the lab (could make a very interesting observation).--[[User:Tims|TimS]] 17:19, 11 April 2007 (EDT)