Scientists Create Super Ants
Researchers use hormones on ant larvae
to turn them into supersoldiers.
Summary: An international team of researchers says it has
programmed ants to become “supersoldiers.” Writing in Science
magazine, the scientists say they worked with Pheidole ants, a large
group of 1,000 related species among whom only eight naturally have
a so-called supersoldier caste. Soldier ants protect their colonies by
using their large heads to block entrances from invaders.
Led by Dr. Ehab Abouheif from Montreal’s McGill U., the team found it
could treat ant larvae with a hormone at a very specific time during their
development in order to turn them into giant supersoldiers. They
accomplished this in two ant species that do not normally have a
supersoldier caste.
The idea for programming developing ants to become giant soldiers
came to Dr. Abouheif when he noticed a few strange big-headed ants in
a Pheidole ant species that lacks supersoldiers. This led to the
scientists studying the ants to discover what caused these “mutant
ants.” When a queen ant lays eggs, each egg develops into a certain
caste such as soldiers or workers depending upon its environment
(temperature; the nutrition it receives). However, switching into a specific
caste is controlled largely by one chemical called a juvenile hormone
inside the eggs .
"So if you treat any species at the right time in development, just with a
hormone, you can induce the development of the supersoldier,"
explained Dr. Abouheif. "The fact that you can induce it in all these
different species [that don't naturally have that caste], means that one
common ancestor of all these species had [supersoldiers]." He saw
this discovery as having far-reaching implications for evolution studies.
"This ancestral potential is locked in place for 35 million years and... if
you can find it, you can unleash [it]."
Abouheif thinks that unlocking hidden traits in many species could lead
to such advances as breeding more nutritious crops or even tackling
cancer.
(Photo of soldier ants from Wikimedia Commons.)
To read the entire article, click on BBC NEWS.
Comment: By using their evolution-tinted eyeglasses, these scientists
have interpreted their discoveries in terms of Darwinism. But I see this
story as having more to do with intelligent design.
Genetic engineering has been performed by intelligent scientists for
quite some time now and in many fields including medicine, research,
industry and agriculture. It involves direct human manipulation of an
organism’s genome by the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic
genes. Evolution is a blind, random process that has no particular goal
in mind. But genetic engineering performed by humans is different in
that there are specific outcomes that are desired such as a new
medicine or better food.
The lesson from this story is that we should critically read science
stories in order to detect statements that are colored by a scientist’s or
a writer’s worldview. There is no reason to see evolution in every new
scientific development. Science can be done quite well without
reference to evolution theory. Dr. Marc Kirschner of the Harvard
Medical School, as quoted by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, has said that almost
all of biology has proceeded independent of evolution. “Molecular
biology, biochemistry, physiology, have not taken evolution into
account at all,” Dr. Kirschner has said.
It was interesting to read Dr. Abouheif’s reference to “one common
ancestor” of all the ant species which he has been studying. That fits
in well with the biblical picture of one or a few ant species surviving the
Flood with the genetic potential to develop into the various modern
species. (Note: some creationists hold open the possibility that insects
were not on the ark but survived outside the structure on floating
debris.)
Genetic engineering may prove to especially be a blessing as scientists
discover how to use it better in treating human genetic-based diseases.
Meanwhile, the greatest disease we are dealing with, our sick, sin-filled
souls, will not yield to any human manipulation. It can be cured only
through faith in Jesus Christ, which brings with it complete healing.
“Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:2-3).
Researchers use hormones on ant larvae
to turn them into supersoldiers.
Summary: An international team of researchers says it has
programmed ants to become “supersoldiers.” Writing in Science
magazine, the scientists say they worked with Pheidole ants, a large
group of 1,000 related species among whom only eight naturally have
a so-called supersoldier caste. Soldier ants protect their colonies by
using their large heads to block entrances from invaders.
Led by Dr. Ehab Abouheif from Montreal’s McGill U., the team found it
could treat ant larvae with a hormone at a very specific time during their
development in order to turn them into giant supersoldiers. They
accomplished this in two ant species that do not normally have a
supersoldier caste.
The idea for programming developing ants to become giant soldiers
came to Dr. Abouheif when he noticed a few strange big-headed ants in
a Pheidole ant species that lacks supersoldiers. This led to the
scientists studying the ants to discover what caused these “mutant
ants.” When a queen ant lays eggs, each egg develops into a certain
caste such as soldiers or workers depending upon its environment
(temperature; the nutrition it receives). However, switching into a specific
caste is controlled largely by one chemical called a juvenile hormone
inside the eggs .
"So if you treat any species at the right time in development, just with a
hormone, you can induce the development of the supersoldier,"
explained Dr. Abouheif. "The fact that you can induce it in all these
different species [that don't naturally have that caste], means that one
common ancestor of all these species had [supersoldiers]." He saw
this discovery as having far-reaching implications for evolution studies.
"This ancestral potential is locked in place for 35 million years and... if
you can find it, you can unleash [it]."
Abouheif thinks that unlocking hidden traits in many species could lead
to such advances as breeding more nutritious crops or even tackling
cancer.
(Photo of soldier ants from Wikimedia Commons.)
To read the entire article, click on BBC NEWS.
Comment: By using their evolution-tinted eyeglasses, these scientists
have interpreted their discoveries in terms of Darwinism. But I see this
story as having more to do with intelligent design.
Genetic engineering has been performed by intelligent scientists for
quite some time now and in many fields including medicine, research,
industry and agriculture. It involves direct human manipulation of an
organism’s genome by the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic
genes. Evolution is a blind, random process that has no particular goal
in mind. But genetic engineering performed by humans is different in
that there are specific outcomes that are desired such as a new
medicine or better food.
The lesson from this story is that we should critically read science
stories in order to detect statements that are colored by a scientist’s or
a writer’s worldview. There is no reason to see evolution in every new
scientific development. Science can be done quite well without
reference to evolution theory. Dr. Marc Kirschner of the Harvard
Medical School, as quoted by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, has said that almost
all of biology has proceeded independent of evolution. “Molecular
biology, biochemistry, physiology, have not taken evolution into
account at all,” Dr. Kirschner has said.
It was interesting to read Dr. Abouheif’s reference to “one common
ancestor” of all the ant species which he has been studying. That fits
in well with the biblical picture of one or a few ant species surviving the
Flood with the genetic potential to develop into the various modern
species. (Note: some creationists hold open the possibility that insects
were not on the ark but survived outside the structure on floating
debris.)
Genetic engineering may prove to especially be a blessing as scientists
discover how to use it better in treating human genetic-based diseases.
Meanwhile, the greatest disease we are dealing with, our sick, sin-filled
souls, will not yield to any human manipulation. It can be cured only
through faith in Jesus Christ, which brings with it complete healing.
“Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:2-3).
LSI Blog - Friday, Jan. 6, 2012
