Mitochondria from lung tissue. Credit: Louisa Howard.
By Rich Bowden
An international team, including scientists from Melbourne’s Monash University, has found proof of the theory of evolution in their research into molecules.
The findings of the research, which was funded by the Australian Research Council and published recently in the prestigious journal PNAS, “…provides a blueprint for a general understanding of the evolution of the ‘machinery’ of our cells,” said a Monash news release.
The university’s Professor Trevor Lithgow said the research proved that this ‘machinery’ behind all cells, evolved over time in accordance with Darwin’s principles.
“Our cells, and the cells of all organisms, are composed of molecular machines. These machines are built of component parts, each of which contributes a partial function or structural element to the machine. How such sophisticated, multi-component machines could evolve has been somewhat mysterious, and highly controversial.” Professor Lithgow said.
Evolution or Intelligent Design?
Believers in Intelligent Design reasoned that the cell’s machines were so complex that they couldn’t have evolved and therefore were the result of design (Creator). However Prof Lithgow said his team’s study showed this not to be the case.
“Our research shows that these machines although complete and complex, were a result of evolution.
“Simple ‘core’ machines were established in the first eukaryotes by drawing on pre-existing proteins that had previously provided distinct, simplistic functions,” Professor Lithgow said.
The team’s research centred on one specific molecular machine, the TIM complex, which transports proteins into mitochondria – a compartment of human cells that serve as the energy-producing ‘powerhouses’.
Monash University, Clayton Campus. Credit: Donaldytong
“Our cells literally are chimeras of a ‘host’ cell and these intracellular bacteria. Yet bacteria don’t have TIM complexes — to understand where the TIM complex came from we simply applied scientific reasoning and looked at a modern-day bacterium akin to the organism that gave rise to mitochondria.”
“Our work … shows that Darwin’s theory of evolution beautifully explains how molecular machines came to be,” Professor Lithgow added.
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