[maro]

I can't tell whether you're with me or against me on this. The PROPORTION of useful sequences must be small. Consider Hiroshima. Due to the nuke we set off there, many thousands of people died, and the level of radiation increased. The increased radiation seems to have caused harmful mutations that resulted in stillbirths and birth defects. Have you heard of one useful mutation that came out of Hiroshima? Any X-men type mutants around? I think not. Mutations generally are harmful.

[edsheppa]

Have you heard of one useful mutation that came out of Hiroshima?

How would we know? It's not very often that someone goes to the doctor because they're too healthy.

The PROPORTION of useful sequences must be small.

Small has no absolute meaning. I think it can't be too small or that random string of amino acids wouldn't have been a useful enzyme.

Mutations generally are harmful.

My understanding is that most mutations are neutral. Of the remainder more reduce fitness than improve it in a well adapted organism, but there are more of the latter than you think.

[Nebullis]

Have you heard of one useful mutation that came out of Hiroshima?

There is a beneficial effect of low levels of ionizing radiation. Above a threshold there is a linear dose response of damaging effects.