Hypothetical Falsification

[crjmurray]

Here's a hypothetical scenario for you guys.

While out on safari in the wilds of Oklahoma, I come across a brand new species of bird. The noble and majestic Sula Ubera.

(artist's depiction)
​

If you look carefully you may notice that this bird has a unique feature uncommon amongst other birds. It has a pair of breasts (as well as a blue bikini). The breasts are similar to those found on female primates (the bikini may or may not be found on primates). Being the scientifically minded and adventurous man that I am, I capture the bird, name it, and present it to my local ornithologist/barber, Spivey.

(artist's depiction)
​

Needless to say, Spivey is stymied. So I take to the Internet to find an explanation for this bird.

This is where you come in. I've gathered the best scientists this discussion forum has to offer, to provide an explanation for why this new bird has breasts. Is there one? Or is this a falsification of our current understanding of common descent?

​

 

[Loudmouth]

Here's a hypothetical scenario for you guys.

While out on safari in the wilds of Oklahoma, I come across a brand new species of bird. The noble and majestic Sula Ubera.

(artist's depiction)
​

If you look carefully you may notice that this bird has a unique feature uncommon amongst other birds. It has a pair of breasts (as well as a blue bikini). The breasts are similar to those found on female primates (the bikini may or may not be found on primates). Being the scientifically minded and adventurous man that I am, I capture the bird, name it, and present it to my local ornithologist/barber, Spivey.

(artist's depiction)
​

Needless to say, Spivey is stymied. So I take to the Internet to find an explanation for this bird.

This is where you come in. I've gathered the best scientists this discussion forum has to offer, to provide an explanation for why this new bird has breasts. Is there one? Or is this a falsification of our current understanding of common descent?

​

That would be a falsification of common descent. My first suspicion would be genetic modification by humans.

 

[crjmurray]

That would be a falsification of common descent. My first suspicion would be genetic modification by humans.

That would explain the teeny bikini.

 

[pgp_protector]

Do we know if they're actual mammary gland or just lumps?

 

[crjmurray]

Do we know if they're actual mammary gland or just lumps?

Oh they're real. And they're spectacular.

 

[JustHisKid]

Oh they're real. And they're spectacular.

That's just wrong.

 

[crjmurray]

That's just wrong.

 

[AV1611VET]

This is where you come in. I've gathered the best scientists this discussion forum has to offer, to provide an explanation for why this new bird has breasts.

They were put on there by someone who has flashbacks to when he took s_x education?

(I'd hate to see what he came up with in art class.)

 

[The Cadet]

An examination of the creature's DNA would be in order. We see nothing like this on the tree of life; birds do not have mammary glands. Is it actually a bird? Does it show homologous genetics to other bird species? It would almost certainly be a problem.

 

[crjmurray]

An examination of the creature's DNA would be in order. We see nothing like this on the tree of life; birds do not have mammary glands. Is it actually a bird? Does it show homologous genetics to other bird species? It would almost certainly be a problem.

It is actually a bird. Other than the gene for breasts, it is genetically similar to other birds.

 

[Split Rock]

Here's a hypothetical scenario for you guys.

While out on safari in the wilds of Oklahoma, I come across a brand new species of bird. The noble and majestic Sula Ubera.

(artist's depiction)
​

If you look carefully you may notice that this bird has a unique feature uncommon amongst other birds. It has a pair of breasts (as well as a blue bikini). The breasts are similar to those found on female primates (the bikini may or may not be found on primates). Being the scientifically minded and adventurous man that I am, I capture the bird, name it, and present it to my local ornithologist/barber, Spivey.

(artist's depiction)
​

Needless to say, Spivey is stymied. So I take to the Internet to find an explanation for this bird.

This is where you come in. I've gathered the best scientists this discussion forum has to offer, to provide an explanation for why this new bird has breasts. Is there one? Or is this a falsification of our current understanding of common descent?

​

I have to say my first suspicion is that this is an example of one of Ray comfort's "crocoduck" Photoshop jobs.

 

[crjmurray]

Update​

After a delightful shave and mustache trimming, Spivey has done a DNA analysis on this new specimen. This bird is genetically similar to other birds in the genus Sula but also has the mammalian gene for mammary glands. It's looking more and more like the theory of common descent may be overturned by this lil birdie.

 

[Willtor]

Update​

After a delightful shave and mustache trimming, Spivey has done a DNA analysis on this new specimen. This bird is genetically similar to other birds in the genus Sula but also has the mammalian gene for mammary glands. It's looking more and more like the theory of common descent may be overturned by this lil birdie.

Good on Spivey. I also go to him for a regular trim and rigorous scientific discussion.

If it's got the mammalian gene for mammary glands, it doesn't fit in the nested hierarchy. I would more likely to go with Loudmouth, though, and say it's some kind of abomination made by a cabal of evil scientists. But if there's evidence of this bird dating back more than ~100 years, I would probably start to have some doubts about evolution.

 

[crjmurray]

Good on Spivey. I also go to him for a regular trim and rigorous scientific discussion.

If it's got the mammalian gene for mammary glands, it doesn't fit in the nested hierarchy. I would more likely to go with Loudmouth, though, and say it's some kind of abomination made by a cabal of evil scientists. But if there's evidence of this bird dating back more than ~100 years, I would probably start to have some doubts about evolution.

Coincidentally I also came across several native american cave paintings depicting the animal that date back roughly 100 years.

 

[Willtor]

Coincidentally I also came across several native american cave paintings depicting the animal that date back roughly 100 years.

Okay, fine. Evolution is wrong. But that doesn't make it not widely applicable: it doesn't mean humans and chimpanzees don't share a common ancestor, or that the divergence was due to evolution as we understand it. Just... there's apparently something more going on, too.

Also, Spivey is losing my business.

 

[Loudmouth]

Update​

After a delightful shave and mustache trimming, Spivey has done a DNA analysis on this new specimen. This bird is genetically similar to other birds in the genus Sula but also has the mammalian gene for mammary glands. It's looking more and more like the theory of common descent may be overturned by this lil birdie.

I would lean towards an intelligence manipulating the genome of said bird.