[furball4paws]

Lamark was put to rest a long time ago, deservedly so. I followed the thread back quite a way for the reference to E. coli. Environmental factors can trigger latent genes, such as UV light triggering a lysogenic phage to become lytic (lambda). This happens in humans too with UV (sunlight) triggering cold sore viruses, but the genetic information is already in the genome and is not acquired from the environment or because of the environment.

The closest stuff is the possibility of directed mutation as described by Cairns and Hall, using an IS in bacteria. Unfortunately these experiments are currently under a cloud because starvation of the cells, which was used as a selective pressure, induces IS excision. I haven't seen anything new in this area since 1998 so it may be dead.

Behavior can be learned and acquired, but genetic traits have to be in the germ line to be passed on.

[b_sharp]

Thank you for the update sir.

[grey_whiskers]

Behavior can be learned and acquired, but genetic traits have to be in the germ line to be passed on.

Sigh. You mean acquired characteristics like genetic mutations from radiation or various toxins (think mustard gas, it can affect the DNA, I've read) cannot be passed on?

Darn it.

[grey_whiskers]

Behavior can be learned and acquired, but genetic traits have to be in the germ line to be passed on.

Hi furball, thanks for your earlier freepmail about the hemoglobin. This weekend I may actually have time to READ it...!

With your permission, I'd like to Freepmail you again about that and 1 or 2 other points.

Cheers!

[johnnyb_61820]

"Environmental factors can trigger latent genes ... but the genetic information is already in the genome and is not acquired from the environment or because of the environment."

This is the creationist model of genomic change. It is quite Lamarckian -- the response was pre-coded into the genome, but it was itself a genomic (not just a phenotypic) change.

"I haven't seen anything new in this area since 1998 so it may be dead."

There's still work being done. See for example:

http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/full/156/2/477

and also:

http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/276/8/5700