Biological complexity: bacteria use electrical signals (Introduction)

by dhw, Saturday, March 12, 2016, 13:46 (3178 days ago) @ David Turell

David's comment: Bacteria are highly complex, which means the original cells were probably not very simple. Design anyone?-Dhw's comment: Bacteria are highly complex, which means the original cells were probably not very simple. Intelligent cell anyone?-DAVID: My usual response. How did the intelligence originate? As kids we have to go to school to be taught much of what we know and use in planning.-dhw: My usual response. We don't know how the intelligence originated. Maybe God did it. The intelligent cell is a hypothesis to explain how evolution works, not how life and evolution began.-DAVID: Is there any semblance of proof that cells have intelligence or instead intelligently automated responses to stimuli? Back to square one.-You would have to ask those scientists who have spent a lifetime studying the behaviour of cells and have drawn the conclusion that they are intelligent, sentient, cognitive, decision-making beings. However, if you think such questions cannot be answered by studying behaviour (including our own), you will have to admit that one cannot prove humans are free agents and not automatons (free will versus determinism). Meanwhile, is there any semblance of proof that 3.8 billion years ago an unknown superintelligence placed a computer programme for all evolutionary innovations, lifestyles and natural wonders in the very first cells?