Does getting a flu shot every year mean evolution exists?

Answer 1

Uh....no. Not exactly.

There is a big difference between mutation and evolution. Influenza has an incredibly high mutation rate, meaning that you won't be protected for more than a couple of years at best.

Mutation: a relatively permanent change in hereditary material involving either a physical change in chromosome relations or a biochemical change in the codons that make up genes

Evolution: a theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations

Mutation and evolution are separate. However, without mutation, evolution wouldn't exist as it does today. This is because mutations create new alleles and this is a must in evolution. Without it, how would we have new genetic material?

Why the hell did I get four thumbs down? That wasn't very nice...

Answer 2

It does in a sense, because there is mutation, natural selection, and adaptation occurring, which is all that's required for evolution to be occurring. However, this is not always considered true (or at least "typical") biological evolution, because whether or not viruses can fairly be considered "alive" is a matter of dispute. The influenza virus is extremely mutable, and new strains evolve and become dominant each year, which is why a new vaccine is needed about once a year. Viral evolution is an important subject of study in evolutionary biology, but it might be better described as "quasi-biological" evolution, rather than traditional biological evolution. The study of viral evolution, however, can have important implications for normal biological evolution, because many of the same processes are involved and many viruses have remarkably high mutation rates and very brief generations. These two facts make viruses experts at adapting to their environments within mere months.

If you want a better example of rapid evolution that's indisputably biological, however, you should consider bacteria, which no one disputes are true life forms. The development of immunities to antibiotics by bacteria is one of the classical examples of rapid evolution at work. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_resistance for more information.

Answer 3

As a Christian, I can honestly answer Yes in this particular instance. Evolution means to mutate...to change. Viruses have the ability to become resistant to drugs used on them and can pass that resistance on to their next generation of viruses. However, one thing you must consider is that the next generation IS NOT a totally different virus..it is merely a slight change in the old virus.

The theory of evolution is based on the conjecture that things have changed through mutation over a period of time..i.e bacteria to modern man. This is impossible even from a science aspect. Keep in mind, that the change MUST take place fully within one generation in order to serve the purpose of the mutation (like with the virus for example) Can you imagine having a creature without eyes in one generation and the next generation suddenly having the ability to see? This took a lot more than just the eye itself becoming present. All of the factors involving sight and the brains interpretation of what it was seeing would have had to take place at the same time. The slow mutation that does take place in nature ALWAYS fulfills a specific purpose immediately. Natural laws of science are shattered if the mutation serves no purpose and the mutation would not be continued.For example, a frog born with three legs will not give birth to generation after generation that also has three legs etc. So, this being true, the initial cells that could possibly create the eye in lets say fifty thousand years would not be reproduced because it would serve no purpose in the first generation to have it. It is for this reason, that their has NEVER been discovered any fossils that are "midpoint" between one species and another. They were all created seperately.

Answer 4

The influenza virus mutates and adapts, yes. That's why every year you need a new vaccine to fight the strains they think will be popular that year.

But ifyou don't believe things evolve, maybe you don't need a flu shot, no? ;)

Answer 5

No, that just means you are listening to your doctor. The doctors needing to change it every year does. The only reason last year's doesn't work is the flu changes to be resistant to the shot that you got last year.

Answer 6

Yes, because the flu virus does itself build strength against prior immunization serums and therefore, has evolved. It is unlike other viruses which require only a single immunization.

Answer 7

YES

Because the flu virus evolves to be resistant to the previous years vaccination

Answer 8

Yes, it does.

The genome of the flu virus changes over time. This is evolution.

Answer 9

It means that one flu shot does not provide permanent immunity.

Answer 10

Not necessarily; it may mean only that you would prefer not to get ill. Evolution is a proven fact, whether someone believes it or not.