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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Revisiting The Waxy Locus And The Capsicum Annuum L. Complex, Robert L. Jarret, Phat Dang Jul 2017

Revisiting The Waxy Locus And The Capsicum Annuum L. Complex, Robert L. Jarret, Phat Dang

Georgia Journal of Science

Waxy locus introns from 35 accessions of the species comprising the Cap­sicum annuum complex [C. annuum (7), C. frutescens (10), and C. chinense (11)1, C. baccatum (5), C. chacoense (1) and C. pubescens (1) were cloned and sequenced. These data were combined with existing GenBank waxy intron data on these same species, C. tovarii, C. ciliatum, Lycianthes heteroclita, L. lenta, and L. glandulosa in order to examine the phyloge­netic relationships within this group of plant materials, and to re-examine the strength of the delimitation of the members of the C. annuum complex provided previously by analysis of indel …


Countering Public Misconceptions About The Nature Of Evolutionary Science Jul 2017

Countering Public Misconceptions About The Nature Of Evolutionary Science

Georgia Journal of Science

Challenges to modern evolutionary science are often rooted in fun­damental misconceptions about the nature of science itself. Among the public, there is a widespread perception that the focus of science on natural cause-and-effect explanations is a thinly disguised effort to promote a godless worldview, rather than an inherent methodologi­cal limitation. Furthermore, the general public often view theories as merely unsubstantiated guesses, rather than as the unifying concepts that give our observations coherence and meaning. Theories within the historical sciences, in particular, are seen as being inherently untestable without an objective basis for assigning validity. Science for many is simply an …


Human Evolution And Divine Agency, Alexandra Rakestraw May 2017

Human Evolution And Divine Agency, Alexandra Rakestraw

Dialogue & Nexus

Modern Christians often find themselves at a crossroads when confronted with the two predominant understandings of human and universal origins. Plain sense readings of Genesis lead many to believe in a historical six-day creation that occurred in the past ten thousand years while proponents on the other side of the spectrum use current scientific understanding to support a creation that occurs through evolutionary means. How one views human origins has a profound impact on one’s concept of how God works in the cosmos. In this paper, I will lay out a background to better understand the characters of Adam and …


Moral Awareness, Original Sin And The Atonement, Tanner Gregory May 2017

Moral Awareness, Original Sin And The Atonement, Tanner Gregory

Dialogue & Nexus

I will explore how evolution impacts the Christian notion of The Fall of man, and, ultimately, the atonement. Various theories of atonement in the Christian tradition generally assume universal and individual sinfulness in humanity. In some cases, this sinfulness is thought to be the result of a distinct moment of rebellion against God, and is transmitted to all of the descendants of Adam. Here, atonement involves Christ’s sacrifice as the means liberate humanity from the bondage of our sinful nature. Evolution collides with these traditional models. Instead of a creation originally void of death and later corrupted by sin, evolution …


Evolution And The Fall, Andrew Tate Apr 2017

Evolution And The Fall, Andrew Tate

Dialogue & Nexus

Within Christianity, there are a spectrum of beliefs regarding the function and mode of baptism, what constitutes original sin (or in what form it exists), modes of worship, gender roles (or if they even exist). I will argue here that despite varying dogmas and ideologies one consistent position over two millennia is that Jesus, as the Son of God, came to the earth, died on a cross, and was raised from the grave. Following this is the belief that in some way through these actions, either natural or supernatural, he has given humanity the opportunity to be redeemed. Through this …


Divine Action And Teleology In An Evolutionary World, Emily Sparks Apr 2017

Divine Action And Teleology In An Evolutionary World, Emily Sparks

Dialogue & Nexus

In this paper I explore three possibilities: 1) whether or not there is room for divine action in a dynamic, undetermined, evolutionary world; 2) if divine action is necessary to explain the outcome of creation; and 3) if there is purpose (e.g. teleology) in such a world. I will address the implications of indeterminacy, parts-and-whole behavior (or emergence), and directionality for divine agency. Models of God’s action informed by these trends will be provided. Finally, I will explain the teleological implications of these discoveries and God’s action and conclude with implications to the Christian faith.


Cognitive Continuity In Cognitive Dissonance, David R. Brodbeck, Madeleine I. R. Brodbeck Jan 2017

Cognitive Continuity In Cognitive Dissonance, David R. Brodbeck, Madeleine I. R. Brodbeck

Animal Sentience

Zentall’s (2016) model of cognitive dissonance is compatible with cognitive continuity between humans and nonhumans. It may help explain cognitive dissonance-like behavior in many species, including humans. It is also consistent with Tinbergen’s (1963) ‘four whys’ in ethological explanation.


Consciousness Is Not Inherent In But Emergent From Life, Jon Mallatt, Todd E. Feinberg Jan 2017

Consciousness Is Not Inherent In But Emergent From Life, Jon Mallatt, Todd E. Feinberg

Animal Sentience

Reber’s theory of the cellular basis of consciousness (CBC) is right to emphasize that we should study consciousness (sentience) in its simplest form, taking its evolution into account. However, not enough evidence is presented to support CBC’s unorthodox claim that even simple, one-celled organisms are conscious. As pointed out by other commentators, the CBC seems to be based on outdated ideas about evolution and does not acknowledge that consciousness could be an evolutionary novel feature. Such emergent features are abundant in living organisms. We review our own emergentist solution, in which consciousness evolved in the elaborating nervous systems of the …


The Emotional Brain Of Fish, Sonia Rey Planellas Jan 2017

The Emotional Brain Of Fish, Sonia Rey Planellas

Animal Sentience

Woodruff (2017) analyzes structural homologies and functional equivalences between the brains of mammals and fish to understand where sentience and social cognition might reside in teleosts. He compares neuroanatomical, neurophysiological and behavioural correlates. I discuss current advances in the study of fish cognitive abilities and emotions, and advocate an evolutionary approach to the underlying basis of sentience in teleosts.


The Development And Expression Of Canine Emotion, Allison L. Martin Jan 2017

The Development And Expression Of Canine Emotion, Allison L. Martin

Animal Sentience

In her review of canine emotions, Kujala (2017) discusses how humans often attribute emotions such as fear, love, and jealousy to their canine companions. This attribution is often dismissed as anthropomorphism, suggesting that only humans can possess these emotions. I argue that emotions are not something we possess but features of certain behavioral patterns. Both human and canine emotions arise through evolution and conditioning; examining their development and expression may lead to new insights about both canine and human behavior.