Life as Evolving Software... (Chaitin) (Humans)

by xeno6696 , Sonoran Desert, Monday, December 26, 2011, 17:54 (4515 days ago) @ David Turell

Yet even mechanisms such as epigenetics don't appear (to me) to correspond to the kind of "fits and starts" you see in the fossil record. I agree, that the record progresses as you discuss above--with bursts of "innovation" if you will.

You will need to reconsider if you read James Shapiro's book, Evolution. There are layers upon layers of controls, feedback loops, kill switches, etc.
the organisms can run their own destiny at times.

And I don't see where mainstream theory is at odds with this claim. Humans are a prime example of a species who have engaged in artificial selection for longer than recorded history. We've created thousands of foodcrops and domesticated animals using nothing more than selecting for specific traits... as I said once before, once organismal intelligence comes into play you have a much more difficult time arguing that genetics is purely a crap-shoot. If we can select for traits, so can other organisms.

Another claim made ex-nihilo. Even among primates, the mapping differences based on Hemoglobin make the strongest case for a "gradualism" that I have ever seen.

On page 289 in Denton's book, Evolution, a Theory in Crisis, is this quote: " comparing the amino acid sequences [of hemoglobin] it is impossible to arrange them in any kind of evolutionary series". I know Denton believes in purpose as I do. See his second book. What is your reference for gradualism, especially since we see these jumps in species?

My reference is a genetics lab I worked on when I was still a biotech major. We created a pedigree sequence based on hemoglobin differences of 28 primates, and as would be predicted, the sequences match when fossil diversions between new-world and old-world primates began. The differences between a rhesus and us is much more drastic than a Gorilla and ourselves, or to Chimpanzees. (Which if I recall have identical hemoglobin.) I don't know another way to say it: If Denton said that he is absolutely wrong.

I'm not saying that my mind concerning evolution is "made-up," what I'm saying is that the thinking I've heard from you and others has failed to come up with a strong and material case. However, those challenges I posed above would actually resolve the question in my mind, to your favor. (Insomuch as that there is something other than a generation 1 to generation 2 mechanism to evolution.)

We will have to wait for more research to find out whether you or I are closer to the final story. Happy Christmas!

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"