Innovation (Introduction)

by David Turell , Friday, May 17, 2013, 22:27 (4209 days ago) @ dhw


> DAVID: I can only look at the record we see. We do not know how speciation occurs. We just know that it is abrupt and very new complete organisms appear. How much control the genome, itself, has in specialtion is simply a very open question.
> 
> dhw: If it is a very open question, there is no way that you can state so emphatically that genetics does not provide speciation. -There is nothing we see currently in the mechanics of the genome that can create the the huge jumps beween individuals in a series of organisms that seem to lead up to a new species. We find modifiers of gene expression, and we see mutations that do not have large effects when and if they have any effect. I can presume you are right under these circumstances, and I should allow for the possibility of genome produced speciation, but there is no apparent mechanism found at present and from what we know, little likelihood of finding one.-
> dhw: It is not the prolific ability to adapt that advances evolution ... it is the prolific ability to INNOVATE. This inventiveness would still apply whichever of the above scenarios you believed in. -There is no question that innovation occurs. It is built into life. But how are those innovations created? All I see is adaptability. The innovations we observe are mind staggering, but how were they achieved? We do not know. Your guess is not by chance. My guess is not by chance. What is left?