Freethought & Rationalism Archive

David Gould · 03-05-2002, 05:54 PM

I have a friend who is a creationist (the second one I have ever met)

He claims that he has read of an experiment where someone had two groups of fruit flies and then bred selectively for a different trait in each group (for example, spiky edge wings over smooth edge wings - I am not sure what trait it was but it was supposedly something not considered to be deleterious).

After many generations, both populations became sterile.

Does anyone know of any references/rebuttals to this experiment anywhere?

Supposedly it was in a creationist book, but my friend cannot remember the title.

He claims that this demonstrates the barrier between micro and macro evolution.

Thanks for any help.

Utnapishtim · 03-05-2002, 06:03 PM

I once did learn about an experiment similar to the one described in which three traits were selected for. In that experiment, the flies ended up with a tendency to breed with others that have had the same three traits selected. While the flies could breed with members of the other group, they preferred, almost 100% of the time, to choose members of their own group. If this is the experiment that he is refering to, than he is wrong.

tronvillain · 03-05-2002, 06:48 PM

Pathetic. "I read about this experiment that proves a barrier to macro-evolution, but I can't remember where."

03-05-2002, 05:54 PM	#1
David Gould Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 759	Fruit fly experiment that proves barrier to macro-evolution? I have a friend who is a creationist (the second one I have ever met) He claims that he has read of an experiment where someone had two groups of fruit flies and then bred selectively for a different trait in each group (for example, spiky edge wings over smooth edge wings - I am not sure what trait it was but it was supposedly something not considered to be deleterious). After many generations, both populations became sterile. Does anyone know of any references/rebuttals to this experiment anywhere? Supposedly it was in a creationist book, but my friend cannot remember the title. He claims that this demonstrates the barrier between micro and macro evolution. Thanks for any help.

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03-05-2002, 06:03 PM	#2
Utnapishtim Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 330	I once did learn about an experiment similar to the one described in which three traits were selected for. In that experiment, the flies ended up with a tendency to breed with others that have had the same three traits selected. While the flies could breed with members of the other group, they preferred, almost 100% of the time, to choose members of their own group. If this is the experiment that he is refering to, than he is wrong.

03-05-2002, 06:48 PM	#3
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	Pathetic. "I read about this experiment that proves a barrier to macro-evolution, but I can't remember where."

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