Natures wonders: bacteria control insect reproduction (Introduction)

by David Turell , Saturday, March 04, 2017, 14:50 (2819 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: You apparently did not read this sentence of mine: Since infections occur, it may have happened by chance. we don't know if God has a role, since we don't understand the process or see if purpose might be inferred. The Wolbachia simply infected the Crustaceans and the rest followed.

dhw: I dealt with purpose above. I agree with you that it is perfectly possible for organisms to discover new lifestyles by chance, and indeed I suspect that may well be the origin of many parasitic and symbiotic systems. The next step, of course (glossed over by the expression “the rest followed”) concerns those twin pillars of intelligent education, observation and communication, both of which bacteria are obviously perfectly capable of. And so, theistic version, once your God has given them the powers of observation and communication and the ability to use the information obtained and communicated, who knows what discoveries bacteria and other organisms might make, whether by chance or by experimentation, and entirely without your God having to play any further role at all?

I agree with you but I still think their reactions and communications are more automatic than you do.