Got Flu? Blame Evolution

I got a series of texts this morning from a friend who has been AWOL for a few days due to the flu. It sounds like it's going to be a long, protracted thing. The flu virus' DNA evolves very quickly to survive and avoid a massive attack by the latest flu vaccine. So, scientists use what they know about evolution to stay one step ahead and create vaccines that fight the majority of the ever mutating flu strains each year. Of course, if you don't get the vaccine, you are extremely vulnerable, but you can still get hit by it if you are unlucky enough to be exposed to a strain that has figured out a work around. The Chron has an excellent article about how scientists use evolution to create new technologies:

using DNA evidence to free or convict people accused of crimes (don't believe in evolution? don't agree to DNA analysis if you are falsely accused) create antibiotics and vaccines (don't "believe" in evolution? don't partake of modern medicine) treat diseases such as wet macular degeneration (don't "believe" in evolution? go blind and quit complaining) improve detergents (don't "believe" in evolution? don't wash your clothes)

This year is the 150th anniversary of the writing of The Origin of Species, and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. For a list of events that mark these occasions, go to www.darwin2009houston.org