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There are some basic misunderstandings at work here. "Directed process" does not mean "designed process". Most of the pro-creationist posters on this thread are making that leap. The "directed process" discussed in the article is a feedback mechanism that causes the result of the process to go in a certain direction.

"We delude ourselves into thinking the consequence, today's biota, are actually the result of random rather than "directed" processes."

Evolution is not simply some random process. It is a "directed process". It has always been understood to be so. That's the whole point. It is natural selection that provides the direction.

Evolution is not simply some random process. It is a "directed process". It has always been understood to be so. That's the whole point. It is natural selection that provides the direction.

Simplest and best statement of the facts that I've seen.

Evolution is not simply some random process. It is a "directed process". It has always been understood to be so. That's the whole point. It is natural selection that provides the direction.

If I may elaborate -- evolution is a stochastic process.

Natural selection is simply a "demigod". It's postulated as a mechanism whereby change can move in the obvious direction of greater complexity and sophistication (presuming being able to think is an improvement of course).

This mechanism in the mitochrondria pretty obviously PUTS A STOP to evolution. Whatever demigods there might be driving lifeforms, think of this one as a rather determined atheist.

The problem with mitochondria is that they have a fundamental purpose ~ providing chemical energy for the use of the cell as a whole. If they fail in their purpose the cell dies.

Obviously it is to the advantage of the cell that the mitochondria's DNA be kept in working order ~ and to the degree any part of the mitochondrial genome is critical to the fundamental purpose, this directed process makes darned sure it stays on track ~ with no experiments.

This has been going on ever since nucleated cells came along.

I'd suggest the biological supercomputer behind this directed process KNOWS all about evolution and wants no part of that game. If I am correct a myriad of other similar processes will be found throughout nucleated cells, and all will serve to make sure critical change doesn't happen.