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SkepticLance, Since you couldn't read the first time, I reiterate. Respond here: http://scienceforums.net/showthread.php?p=312643 I have posted my response on that thread.

SkepticLance, so as not to derail the GM foods thread, I suggest that you reply here: http://scienceforums.net/showthread.php?p=312643

Here's the statement at question in this thread: (original context) Were seedless bananas the result of selective breeding or a natural mutation first discovered in a wild banana plant?

No, but you did: So now you're changing your story. The mutation happened twice. One line of mutant wild seedless bananas somehow became the Gros Michael. The other line became the Cavendish. And somehow, with no selective breeding, this: Turned into this: TWICE! So, you admit seedless mutants cannot be selectively bread. So you just contradicted yourself again. But at least you're admitting the truth this time. Except, wait, you're wrong again... the real way you produce a new cultivar is to go back to the seeded varieties, which have been selectively bred for centuries, and begin a new selective breeding program to breed them for seedlessness. Do you have any clue how stupid what you're saying is? A seedless plant is, by definition, sterile. Any seedless mutants are doomed to instant death. That makes finding one highly improbable. And furthermore, no selective breeding for things like flavor, texture, or easy peelability, can take place, because you can't selectively breed clones. There is no breeding! Bananas were selectively bread for seedlessless. It is not the result of a random mutation which happened twice in a century. And you still haven't given me the source of your information. Your ass?

That's entirely incorrect. I don't know where you get your information. You might start by reading this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana Considering there have been at least two cultivars of seedless bananas, Gros Michael and the Cavendish, your account cannot possibly be correct. And have you ever seen a wild banana? Both yellow and red bananas are the result of centuries of selective breeding. How the hell are you not contradicting yourself with that statement?

I think when the price drops a little more you'll see an overzealous sysadmin building a scientific computing cluster out of them.

What a terrible reaction. Frog dissection was invaluable to me in my understanding of biology. It was not my first exposure to the internal organs of an animal, but it was my first opportunity to go through the dismantling of an animal in order to observe and learn its precise internal structure. I do not believe frogs should be afforded moral status. PETA should be far more concerned with the mammal-derived products being sold in the store, rather than a legitimate biological teaching tool.

Note: it's from Argentina, as opposed to America, where political ads are 99% mudslinging and lies.

That, precisely, is the point I'm trying to make.

I have an alternative solution: revoke driving privileges for life Anyone driving drunk cannot be trusted to operate an automobile I mean, call me a bike riding hippie who lives in bicycle paradise (we even have a bike parade every thursday!) but... if you're going to drink, ride a goddamn bike, dumbass

I think it would be more relevant to compare a percentage decrease in gun violence after gun control was implemented. Yes, they would appear to be straight from Michael Moore's propaganda film Bowling for Columbine. I'm going to hazard a guess and say gang violence and drug smuggling

Re: OP The draft isn't going to fly... another solution is needed

Urban warfare has generally been the stumbling block of any highly organized, systematic military force. Look at the American Revolution.

Ever met an American denied coverage for an organ transplant or cancer by their HMO?

I'm hoping that it's possible to create wireless brain/computer interfaces which do not require implants whatsoever.

When your system spends the most as a percentage of GDP and polls as one of the worst worldwide, something is wrong

Evolution is change over time. You're confusing evolution with progress (i.e. successive as opposed to fluxuative changes)

The real reason the banana plant can't adapt is because it has been bread to be seedless and must reproduce with cuttings, eliminating its ability to adapt to the ravages of Panama disease.

It shows whoever designed that background wasn't conscious enough of value (i.e. chrominance) separations to ensure that it would display correctly on a variety of different displays.

Corn starch/shear thickening rocks How the hell did they mix so much of it though? An industrial mixer?

I think the real issue is trying to leverage life systems as an engineered technology, when life systems operate in a way which naturally diverges from its present state. There's a lot of fear that GMOs could diverge in undesirable ways. It can, and has happened. I'm not too worried though. And I think starvation and poverty in Africa are much more pressing issues, although the WTO, more than GMOs, is likely the answer to that question.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/17/inhofe-hoax/ His argument in a nutshell: 1) The globe is not warming, only parts of it are 2) The effect of greenhouse gasses is negligable 3) What warming is occuring (only in the northern hemisphere) is the result of (unnamed) natural forces 4) There is no scientific concensus 5) Global warming is a fabrication of the far left, including "George Soros, the Hollywood elitists," and "the far left environmentalists on the committee that I chair" I felt this was a pretty clear indication of how global warming has been politicized. Is there a need for a basic degree of competency in holding an office where you make policy decisions based on the available scientific evidence? I'm really having trouble seeing how this guy could be more out of touch with present scientific knowledge of global warming.

Roll up, roll up! Behold as the amazing magician Pangloss demonstrates his magical strawman powers. He will dazzle you as he transforms this statement: into this one: Ladies and gents, there's really nothing quite like it! It must be seen to be believed!

Your view contradicts a number of comprehensive surveys of healthcare systems around the world in which Americans consistently rank their system lower than socialized medicine programs. I've linked one... can you link one which would contradict this assessment?

$9,100: http://cgi.ebay.com/PRE-SALE-SONY-PLAYSTATION-3-PS3-PRESALE-60GB-CONSOLE_W0QQitemZ330047524577QQihZ014QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem