Further Proof That Evolution Exists

I always have to laugh at people that don't believe that there is any sort of evolutinoary process. No matter what sort of lifeform is being discussed, the ultra-religious will stick to their guns.

This next case study is rather intriguing, and I'm inclined to agree with it.

If more attractive parents have more daughters and if physical attractiveness
is heritable, it logically follows that women over many generations gradually become more physically attractive on average than men.

"In men, by contrast, good looks appear to count for little, with handsome men being no more successful than others in terms of numbers of children. This means there has been little pressure for men’s appearance to evolve.

More here from the Times Online.

The only problem with this hypothesis is that there has to be a set definition of what "beauty" is. And that, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder.

Socialized Medicine + Stem Cells = Success?

And now we watch conservatives and their media counterparts twitch and seeth with confusion.

BRITISH scientists have developed the world’s first stem cell therapy to cure the most common cause of blindness. Surgeons predict it will become a routine, one-hour procedure that will be generally available in six or seven years’ time.

The treatment involves replacing a layer of degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. It was pioneered by scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital.

This week Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical research company, will announce its financial backing to bring the therapy to patients.

The treatment will tackle age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness. It affects more than 500,000 Britons and the number is forecast to increase significantly as people live longer. The disease involves the loss of eye cells.

Via The Times Online.

The only problem that I see with this procedure being done in America is that, if there is not sweeping changes done to our own healthcare system, it will be virtually unaffordable.