Area of Research: DNA Barcoding

Our paper, “Why should mitochondria define species?“, is published open access in Human Evolution 2018; 33:1-40. It recently received a lot popular press attention claiming our work supports creationist views. This interpretation of our work is wrongheaded.

The article Why should mitochondria define species?
Stoeckle M.Y., Thaler D.S.
is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

Thanks to Marlowe Hood of Agence France Press (AFP) for an extensive article about Why should mitochondria define species? by Mark Stoeckle and David Thaler. Editing of Mr. Hood’s article resulted in a couple of inaccuracies.

While the opening sentence suggests that a handheld barcoding device already exists, such a convenient device remains a few years away, although the process of obtaining barcodes is now standardized, routine, and quick.

The fourth paragraph inquires about diversity increasing with time.  Diversity does increase with time.  What the paper shows is that while time matters, the population size achieved over the interval of time does not matter.

The study is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

The article Why should mitochondria define species?
Stoeckle M.Y., Thaler D.S.
is now fully open access:
DOI: 10.14673/HE2018121037

Coverage in Tekniikan Maailma, Finland: (Widespread genetic research revealed: Human genetic diversity is low – Two people do not differ by more than two percent) https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/laaja-perimatutkimus-paljasti-ihmisen-geneettinen-monimuotoisuus-on-vahaista-kaksi-ihmista-ei-eroa-toisistaan-enempaa-kuin-kaksi-pulua/

and Nachrichten Welt, Germany: Alles andere als besonders: Die winzigen DNA-Unterschiede der Menschheit sind “Durchschnitt” im Tierreich https://nach-welt.com/technik/alles-andere-als-besonders-die-winzigen-dna-unterschiede-der-menschheit-sind-durchschnitt-im-tierreich/

The study is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

Mark Stoeckle and David Thaler publish “Why should mitochondria define species?” open-access (DOI: 10.14673/HE2018121037) in the journal Human Evolution following a study of mitochondrial DNA from about 5 million specimens covering about 100,000 animal species. The paper argues that humans are far from special: humanity’s tiny mt DNA differences are “average” in the animal kingdom. Moreover, as with humans, over 90% of animal species today likely originated 100,000–200,000 years ago.

RealClearScience runs a good article about Stoeckle-Thaler, “What Can ‘DNA Barcodes’ Tell Us About Evolution and Ourselves?”

The study is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

Other coverage:

The Independent, UK Genetic differences between people across the world are no greater than differences between pigeons https://uk.news.yahoo.com/genetic-differences-between-people-across-184451249.html?guccounter=2

Europa Press, newswire, Spain La diferencia genética entre humanos, en el promedio de las especies https://www.europapress.es/ciencia/laboratorio/noticia-diferencia-genetica-humanos-promedio-especies-20180521172546.html

Agencia EFE, Spain Demostrado, no eres nada excepcional (Demonstrated, you’re nothing exceptional https://sevilla.abc.es/ciencia/abci-demostrado-no-eres-nada-excepcional-201805211531_noticia.html

RIA Novosti (newswire), Russia: Scientists have not found differences in the genetic diversity of humans and animals) https://ria.ru/science/20180521/1521018801.html?referrer_block=index_archive_1