Demonstrating evolution with a line
Interesting way of explaining the evolution of species. From BBC's 'Bang Goes the Theory' show.
People who liked this video also liked
Comments
19 comments posted so far. Login to add a comment.
40 
33 
28 
41 
45 
6. Xionbox (moderator) commented 13 years ago
#3 Yes and no. "Degraded" is subjective. Being more "degraded" corresponds to more complicated. If the line is perfectly straight, it can be represented by a unique vector: two abstract points connected by a single line.
At the end of this experiment, there are much more lines, hence, you need much more vectors to go from the top of the screen to the bottom. Therefore, this is an evolution into a more complicated line.
At the end of this experiment, there are much more lines, hence, you need much more vectors to go from the top of the screen to the bottom. Therefore, this is an evolution into a more complicated line.
54
7. loadrunner commented 13 years ago
It would be possible, drawing a curly line, and end up with a straight line at the end. but that's de-evolution. or isn't it?
26
9. ihateregistering commented 13 years ago
#7 Maybe that's like nowadays flightless bird-type creatures. (and if they had actually flown before)
But then again, the line wouldn't be the same..
I'd say theoretically possible..but in reality the conditions would have to be exactly the same and you still end up with so much randomness..
But then again, the line wouldn't be the same..
I'd say theoretically possible..but in reality the conditions would have to be exactly the same and you still end up with so much randomness..
43
Comment rated too low. Show this comment
11. OwenRay commented 13 years ago
If the lines eventuale formed a beautiful van Gogh, now that would proof something.
imho this only discredits evolution.
imho this only discredits evolution.
40 28
13. senseishin commented 13 years ago
#11
the idea is that if we allowed this experiment to go on for thousands (perhaps millions) of people, you would indeed, eventually get a beautiful van gogh or picasso... I've heard another interesting thought experiment.... if you have a thousand chimps randomly typing on a thousand typewriters... would they eventually reproduce shakespeare's hamlet?
probability suggests that, however diminutive the chances may be, they will eventually reproduce the entire play line by line.
In other words, OwenRay, 100 people is hardly a large enough sample is it? He kept mentioning millions of generations, not hundreds. That said, 100 people gets the idea across of how mutations and evolution occurs. Can't be so cynical or literal...
#12
interesting insight: thought-provoking at least... but the problem with the question which has also beleaguered philosophy is why we assume "who"
Perhaps the line was just always there just like the universe was always here before we were here... as Renee Descartes suggests with his famous "i think; therefore i am"... the "line" didn't exist until we called (thought) it a line, although it always existed. with our puny realization of self-existence and thought, we grant that the universe exists because we notice it... though it has always existed.
Put even more simply: does something exist because we say it exists or ask if it exists? Or has it always been, and we only failed to realize it existed until now?
The line metaphorically is atoms, molecules, simple and complex compounds... give enough time and they DO organize themselves into even more complex structures. Analogously, DNA, given time, "organizes" itself into even more complex sequences that can eventually express new genes.
the idea is that if we allowed this experiment to go on for thousands (perhaps millions) of people, you would indeed, eventually get a beautiful van gogh or picasso... I've heard another interesting thought experiment.... if you have a thousand chimps randomly typing on a thousand typewriters... would they eventually reproduce shakespeare's hamlet?
probability suggests that, however diminutive the chances may be, they will eventually reproduce the entire play line by line.
In other words, OwenRay, 100 people is hardly a large enough sample is it? He kept mentioning millions of generations, not hundreds. That said, 100 people gets the idea across of how mutations and evolution occurs. Can't be so cynical or literal...
#12
interesting insight: thought-provoking at least... but the problem with the question which has also beleaguered philosophy is why we assume "who"
Perhaps the line was just always there just like the universe was always here before we were here... as Renee Descartes suggests with his famous "i think; therefore i am"... the "line" didn't exist until we called (thought) it a line, although it always existed. with our puny realization of self-existence and thought, we grant that the universe exists because we notice it... though it has always existed.
Put even more simply: does something exist because we say it exists or ask if it exists? Or has it always been, and we only failed to realize it existed until now?
The line metaphorically is atoms, molecules, simple and complex compounds... give enough time and they DO organize themselves into even more complex structures. Analogously, DNA, given time, "organizes" itself into even more complex sequences that can eventually express new genes.
45
14. Xionbox (moderator) commented 13 years ago
#13 Very interesting answer.
About the second part of your answer, having an observer is also a question which arises in quantum mechanics. There's a problem often referred to as the "quantum mind-body" problem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mind%E2%80%93body_problem#Observation_in_quantum_mechanics .
About the second part of your answer, having an observer is also a question which arises in quantum mechanics. There's a problem often referred to as the "quantum mind-body" problem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mind%E2%80%93body_problem#Observation_in_quantum_mechanics .
44 
42
16. Usdevildoggmc commented 13 years ago
Last time i commented on his video on here he was wearing the ugliest pink outfit I have ever seen... I see evolution has worked for him 
(If u dont remember its the video where he boils n egg on newspaper.)
(If u dont remember its the video where he boils n egg on newspaper.)
28
17. senseishin commented 13 years ago
#14 thanks for that link.... very interesting. =)
30 
58
19. thundersnow commented 11 years ago
#13 and #14, thank you for discussing this intelligently and sensibly. Enjoyed reading your viewpoints. 
More videos
keyboard_arrow_left newer older keyboard_arrow_right
About this video
Category: Other
Published: 13 years ago
Submitted by: elchupacabra
Views: 8,095
Rating:
(107 votes)
Length: 5:27 minutes
Filesize: 29.8 megabytes
Dimensions: 400 × 225 px
+25 1. imagic commented 13 years ago