Genome complexity: modifying RNA controls of genes (Introduction)

by dhw, Saturday, April 08, 2017, 12:50 (2786 days ago) @ David Turell

QUOTE: "The new paper reports on a process called “RNA editing,” which involves enzymes swapping out one RNA base (or nitrogen-based “letter” in the RNA/DNA alphabet) for another, presumably in the interest of an organism adapting to its environment. (dhw’s bold)
QUOTE: No one’s around to show them how to figure out the world!” Ragsdale says, “How to make their dens. How to camouflage themselves and attack prey. They’re on their own, and fortunately for them they have big brains and can sort matters out.” (David’s bold)

DAVID’s comment: Note my bold. Is this a big brain running the genome, or is this a God dabble in setting up a genetic action which is different than all other evolutionary genomes? Then not common descent, but possibly differing descents are present in evolution? Raises new questions about Darwin's so-called common descent.

Once you accept that cells are intelligent beings, and that all multicellular organisms consist of cell communities cooperating and responding to the requirements or opportunities arising from environmental change, you have a clear explanation for all these adaptations and possibly for all innovations as well. Different cell communities (the authors here emphasize the cell community that makes up the brain) work out different ways of responding. Since as far as we know life began with single cells, this whole process of cellular cooperation makes for a logical progression of common descent that encompasses all organisms, including cephalopods – they all stem from cells/cell communities responding intelligently but differently to environmental conditions.

I would disagree profoundly with Sydney Brenner’s suggestion that octopi were the first intelligent beings on earth, but perhaps we need to know what he meant by “intelligence”.