Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: CWRWinger
An amoeba does not contain the code elements necessary to be come a fish or a monkey. It does not have any mechanism to add the code either.

But code does get added! Duplicate copies of genes arise through replication errors. Transposons spread extra copies of themselves throughout the genome. Viruses attach their own code. Extra copies of entire chromosomes can be added.

But extra code is not always necessary to create a radically different creature. The number of genes in a man or a mouse are not so very different. The genes a simple animal has are enough to produce a gigantically large number of wildly different species, if exploited to their full potential.

And finally, there do exist "genetic toolkits" in nature that are capable of making highly complex, coordinated changes to a large number of genes at a single throw. (I recommend The Wisdom of the Genes by Christopher Wills for a description of some examples of this.) The ability to evolve does itself evolve.

962 posted on 06/18/2002 10:17:09 AM PDT by Physicist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 959 | View Replies ]


To: Physicist
The number of genes in a man or a mouse are not so very different. The genes a simple animal has are enough to produce a gigantically large number of wildly different species, if exploited to their full potential.

So, do you believe that mouse DNA contains enough info to make a man? I think there are 3 billion polypeptides in human DNA so that would seem like a lot more than needed to make a mouse.

976 posted on 06/18/2002 12:27:38 PM PDT by biblewonk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 962 | View Replies ]

To: Physicist
RE: Post# 962

Hogwash.

977 posted on 06/18/2002 12:33:19 PM PDT by CWRWinger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 962 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson