Replies

“For those of you in Rio Linda” is a favorite expression of Rush Limbaugh, from the time he was just broadcast out of Sacramento (and I used to listen to him when I was in High School) and the small Sacramento community of Rio Linda, from where he always seemed to get some rather interesting callers.

You said “ It would not, however, undergo a change in genetic makeup”.

What do you mean by “genetic makeup” if not its DNA code?

Is not its DNA code altered by increasing production of error prone DNA polymerase?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14617178?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

"Rio Linda" ... Very cool! Thanks for filling me in.

"It would not, however, undergo a change in genetic makeup"
I did say that, didn't I. And, as we pursue the details, that comment does lack necessary specificity. I see your point.

Sorry for my delay in responding -- I had a bit of work to do :-) You asked what I meant by genetic makeup if not the organism's DNA code. Fair question, and certainly DNA is the sandbox where mutation occurs. In order to fully respond, we would first have to discuss the hypothesis of Natural Genetic Engineering. Then I would raise the subordinate hypothesis that perhaps all possible morphological changes potential to a bacterium are pre-programmed into its instruction set. Thus, there is an extent to which the organism can change in response to various stresses. (This is contradictory to the opinion held by Dr. Shapiro, et al. I am not putting words into their mouths. I'm only stating an alternative hypothesis exists for which support exists in observation.) Then we could discuss how this could be tested and whether such testing would be conclusive or not.

I guess the point is, going back to the thread article, that no one with an interest in the science is "Too Dumb to Understand Evolution". We can engage in intelligent discourse from either point of view. And monocular viewpoints combined with arrogant elitism from either side is unacceptable to the debate -- my opinion only. And thank you for having a strong opinion yet courteous dialog!