An very interesting study has now made the press cycle. Susanne Dobler and Anurag Agrawal studied the genetic mechanism employed by monarch butterflies to resist cardenolides, a powerful toxin which binds the cell’s sodium pump, and which is common to milkweed and foxgloves.
They found that a single ” specific mutation — called N122H — of the Na,K-ATPase gene” was enough to confer resistance.
They then looked in other insect lines to see what genetic mechanism was employed by these other lines.
“Already knowing how monarchs deal with the toxin, we wanted to see if it was the same molecular solution used by beetles, flies and true bugs that are also resistant to cardenolides,” said Anurag Agrawal, a Cornell professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.
What did they discover?
By examining molecular changes in the sodium pump gene, the researchers found the mutation N122H in all four orders of insects studied. Furthermore, they discovered a second mutation in the same gene that also conferred resistance in 11 of the 18 species.
What do you know? Not just any old mutation worked. A very specific one. (So much for neutral drift coming to the rescue.) And, an second mutation conferred a higher level of resistance.
What do you know? Evolution at work, and what do we see? Two specific mutations in the gene involved with the cell’s sodium pump.
Doesn’t that sound familiar? Yes, it does. When Michael Behe studied the malarial parasite to see how it developed resistance to quinine, he found two specific mutations. And then he was roundly criticized by the evolutionists for his The Edge of Evolution.
Here we have it in spades!!!! Four different orders of insects, and the same, two mutations show up. And, one mutation generally suffices, with two being the maximum needed for development of resistance. Just as with the malarial parasite, faced with imminent death, evolution’s answer—that is, NS’ answer—was TWO mutations.
Read about it here.
Another day; another bad day for Darwinism.