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Why does evolution occur so rapidly in HIV?
Several reasons: high reproduction rate, short generation time,
much variation in progeny, strong selective pressure.
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Organisms face environmental challenges. For example zebras must contend
with lions, oak trees must survive drought and so forth. What is the principal
environmental challenge faced by a population of HIV particles?
There are two: the human immune system, antiviral drugs.
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Why would halting a regime of antiviral drugs for a while be an effective
strategy against HIV?
When antiviral drugs are halted, strains of HIV that are not
drug resistant become proportionally more common. When drug therapy is
resumed, these can be combated.
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Why was Owen so intent on showing that there are major anatomical differences
(e.g. in the brain) between apes and humans?
The greater the difference between apes and humans, the less
likely that there could be the transitional forms predicted by evolution.
Owen was, of course, intensely antagonistic to the idea of evolution, especially
human evolution.
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Both Owen and Darwin recognized that there are similarities of structure
in vertebrates that underlie the superficial dissimilarities. For example,
a dolphin's flipper and a bat wing are constructed using the same set of
bones. Contrast their (Owen's and Darwin's) explanations for the existence
of these similarities of structure.
Owen: similarities of structure reflect divine plan.
Darwin: similarities of structure reflect descent from a common ancestor
with that structure.
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Is the human eye a perfect structure? Why or why not? Why was this question
so important to Darwin and to the video producers?
Certainly not. Myopia, astigmatism, retinal detachment, night
blindness, etc. are all examples of the imperfection of the eye. These
can be used as evidence against creation by a perfect Creator. This leaves
evolution as the better explanation.
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Why does the video show the experiments (Dr. Nilsson, Denmark) with ever
more sophisticated mechanical eyes? The scenes show increasing image quality
(skulls).
To show that complex structures (like an eye) can arise gradually
(step by step) if each small step provides some improvement in the functioning
of the structure.
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The video producers present a scientist for whom there is no conflict between
conventional religion and evolution by natural selection. In your view,
does the video make a good case for the lack of conflict?
I don't think it did, but I was curious what you thought.
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Why did Darwin delay publishing his theory of evolution so long? What event
convinced him to publish?
Two reasons: a concern to build the strongest case with the base
evidence, and fear of the reaction it would create. Receipt of Wallace's
letter pushed him to publish.
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Identify the following people and briefly describe their relationship with
Darwin and any influence they had on the development of his thought: