Modern-Day Debate DEBATE: Evolution on Trial | @MadebyJimbob Vs @DrGregShow
Jan 23, 2026
MadebyJimbob (philosophical critic of evolution) and Dr. Greg (molecular biologist and science communicator) face off on origins and evidence. They spar over taxonomy, speciation, fossils, molecular clocks, directed evolution and whether lab observations scale to deep-time change. Tension rises around defining transitions, experimental detection, and how randomness plus selection produces complex features.
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Fly On A Cactus Example
- Dr. Greg opens with a fly-and-cactus analogy showing selection for an enzyme variant that neutralizes a toxin.
- He uses this simple story to illustrate allele frequency change and adaptive survival in populations.
Evolution As Observable Mechanism
- Dr. Greg frames evolution as change in allele frequency over time and as a practical lab tool biologists use.
- He links laboratory-directed evolution and natural examples (nylonase, long-term E. coli) to illustrate mechanisms and measurable molecular clocks.
Use Directed Evolution Iteratively
- Use directed evolution and large mutant libraries to find improved proteins or new functions in the lab.
- Screen massively and iterate to select variants with the desired activity, as done by Nobel winners like Frances Arnold.