At ScienceDaily (July 27, 2011), we are asked to consider this, “Are Cancers Newly Evolved Species?”:
In a paper published in the July 1 issue of the journal Cell Cycle, Duesberg and UC Berkeley colleagues describe their theory that carcinogenesis — the generation of cancer — is just another form of speciation, the evolution of new species
The idea that cancer formation is akin to the evolution of a new species is not new, with various biologists hinting at it in the late 20th century. Evolutionary biologist Julian S. Huxley wrote in 1956 that “Once the neoplastic process has crossed the threshold of autonomy, the resultant tumor can be logically regarded as a new biologic species ….”
Last year, Dr. Mark Vincent of the London Regional Cancer Program and University of Western Ontario argued in the journal Evolution that carcinogenesis and the clonal evolution of cancer cells are speciation events in the strict Darwinian sense.
Duesberg has a history with respect to the AIDS virus. We knew we’d heard the name somewhere.
Say it isn’t so, Dr. Liddle.
OT: recent new video
Astonishing Molecular Machines – Drew Berry
http://www.metacafe.com/w/6861283
Here is a article related to the last machine(s) Berry talked about:
Getting a tighter grip on cell division – November 2010
The molecular machinery that shepherds and literally pulls the chromosomes apart consists of paired microtubules radiating from opposite poles of the dividing cell and an enormous, but precise, molecular complex called a kinetochore.
http://www.physorg.com/news/20.....ision.html
Drew Berry is really a talented animator; Note how in the last minute of this video he zooms in on a Bacteria community;
Animations from E O Wilson’s Lord of the Ants documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX2e0il1qpg
If cancer is a species, does cancer have “rights”?
Mung:
It ain’t so, Mung, as far as can see, for the same reason as it’s a bit of a stretch to say tht any non-sexually reproducing population “speciates”.
But in the sense that they are going down a separate and diverging lineage with a markedly different genotype and a characteristics phenotype, well, um, up to a point, Lord Copper.
i.e. no.
IMO.
News,
Indeed. Another familiar name has also been active in denying the HIV/AIDS link. The following letter was published in Science (17 Feb. 1995, vol.267 pp.945-946):
Also see here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7863335
Spot anyone you know?
WR:
Well, since it’s just me, all alone in the world, no one to play with but myself, and I don’t see my name, I’d have to say no.
BA thank you for the kinetochore video. I love his stuff.