Mutations (Evolution)

by dhw, Saturday, April 12, 2008, 19:14 (6067 days ago) @ George Jelliss

My thanks to George for pointing out the two interesting websites by Ken Miller on blood clotting. I can't make Miller out. He is a theist, and yet he has a Dawkins-like antipathy towards design. His account makes the increasing complexity sound very simple and natural, although as usual the process begins with "fortuitous" interactions and combinations which then change everything. How many chance mutations does it take before natural selection can come up with a perfect system? David's scientific comment confirms my unscientific suspicions. - I also found the video a bit strange, as Miller set out to demolish the argument that every single one of the factors was essential in humans by stressing that they were not all essential in dolphins or puffer fish! But maybe I've misunderstood something. All the same, George, you have provided stimulating material for us to think about. I hope that we can widen the discussion to mutations in general, since this element of "chance" is such a major bone of contention in all our discussions.