Here is an article from the Electronic Telegraph at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000113078204876&rtmo=rhQmQmFX
&atmo=FFFFFFtX&pg=/ et/99/8/19/ecnbom19.html
which reports that the Bombardier Beetle is even more well-designed than
previously thought, using "a pulsed rocket mechanism very similar to that
of the V-1 or doodlebug, the first operational cruise missile which the
Germans used to bomb England in the Second World War", with "the
ability...to track their target for example a hind leg being bitten by an ant -
through their normal range of motions...", and having "a pair of shield-like
deflectors near the opening of the tip of the beetle's abdomen..." which the
beetles "use one at a time to enhance their marksmanship."
The article points out "that there is the `vexing problem' of how the beetle,
which inevitably drenches itself when discharging, can withstand the heat
and irritant effect."
I would be interested to see an explanation from the scientific literature of
how: 1) Darwinian mechanisms of random mutation and natural selection
could build up the evident design of the Bombardier Beetle, and 2) the
evidence that they actually did.
Note: I am aware of the `hand-waving' explanation on the Talk.Origins
website at:
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/bombardier.html
I would be interested if someone tried to defend that `Calvin and Hobbes'
explanation in terms of 1) and 2)!
Steve
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Scientists get exploding beetle in their sights
Roger Highfield reports on nature's forerunner of the doodlebug
The bombardier beetle at work. Photo: Reuters
THE stunning marksmanship of a beetle armed with a chemical weapon has
been revealed by making the insect carry out target practice.
The ground-dwelling bombardier beetles can spray a boiling, toxic fluid from
the tip of their abdomens in virtually any direction, according to a study
published this week.
They use a pulsed rocket mechanism very similar to that of the V-1 or
doodlebug, the first operational cruise missile which the Germans used to
bomb England in the Second World War.
In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Prof Thomas Eisner
and Dr Daniel Aneshansley of Cornell University display flash photographs
that show the remarkable degree of accuracy with which bombardier beetles
can aim their toxic spray at attackers.
The photographs were taken using electronics which triggered a flash in
response to the heat and popping sound. They show Kenyan bombardiers
curling and revolving the tips of their abdomens to target their spray to
whichever part of their bodies had just been pinched or poked with fine-tipped
forceps.
The pictures also demonstrate the ability of these insects to track their target for
example a hind leg being bitten by an ant - through their normal range of
motions. There is virtually no place on the beetle's body that ants can bite
without running the risk of being sprayed.
Finally, this study reveals the existence of a pair of shield-like deflectors near
the opening of the tip of the beetle's abdomen. The insects appear to use one
at a time to enhance their marksmanship.
The bombardiers' spray is generated by tiny explosions and is ejected at a
temperature of 100C. The scientists estimate that the beetle can produce
about 500 to 1,000 pulses of chemical per second and 20 discharges overall.
After the first explosion, reservoirs of chemicals in the beetle's abdomen are
drawn into a reaction chamber by a drop in pressure. There an explosive
reaction occurs to eject yet another hot mist of irritant chemicals called
benzoquinones.
The scientists point out that there is the "vexing problem" of how the beetle,
which inevitably drenches itself when discharging, can withstand the heat and
irritant effect.
[...]
(c) Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998. Terms & Conditions of reading.
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"Through use and abuse of hidden postulates, of bold, often ill-founded
extrapolations, a pseudoscience has been created. It is taking root in the
very heart of biology and is leading astray many biochemists and biologists,
who sincerely believe that the accuracy of fundamental concepts has been
demonstrated, which is not the case." (Grasse P.-P., "Evolution of Living
Organisms: Evidence for a New Theory of Transformation", Academic
Press: New York NY, 1977, p6)
Stephen E. Jones | sejones@iinet.net.au | http://www.iinet.net.au/~sejones
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