Evolution: more genomic evidence of pre-planning (Evolution)

by David Turell , Tuesday, February 16, 2021, 17:44 (1166 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: The point is preparatory changes in DNA.

DAVID: But it only took 61 new genes to do the job. The article just proves the difference at the genetic level. And we learned to use the better brain much later than its appearance with those genes.

dhw: The fact that it only took 61 genes to make our brains different from Neanderthal brains tells us nothing about how or why or when the brain changed, and it certainly does not mean that your God changed them in preparation for anything. I have suggested that stasis is common to ALL stages of brain change and only ends when there are new activities or requirements. And finally, there is no evidence provided by the modern brain that changes take place in preparation for new activities.

The facts are exactly the opposite. Sapiens big brains appeared over 300,000 year ago with no new use of them until the last 10-15,000 years ago. Why do big brains in any group appear before new use is learned?

DAVID: My pre-programming thought always included the concept that early bacteria contained coding for further advances, as shown in current research in a new entry today.

dhw: What do you mean by “coding”? Why have you switched from “mechanism”?

DAVID: Why the question. DNA is coding and DNA changes ran/runs evolution.

dhw: We don’t know what ran/runs evolution! You say God preprogrammes or personally dabbles the changes to DNA, but I - and certain scientists who are far more knowledgeable about these matters than I am – have suggested that there is a mechanism within the cell/cell community, i.e. the equivalent of a brain (possibly God-given) which organizes the changes.

Again stretching Shapiro's findings into your cellular intelligence theory.

dhw: I agree with you that this mechanism may well have been designed by a designer, and I suggest that his plan may have been to allow life forms a free hand, resulting in the vast diversity of the life forms that make up life’s history.

DAVID: You stick to your theory and it favors God I think.

dhw: No it doesn’t. I have named three possible “first causes” and can believe in none of them. But if God exists, then I am offering you a theory concerning his possible motives and methods.

You view His motives as very humanizing.