An Alternative to Evolution: pt 2 (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Friday, July 06, 2018, 17:02 (2330 days ago) @ dhw

TONY: 5 There is no known natural process for increasing biological information.

dhw: Yes there is: endosymbiosis. But in any case, how do you define increasing biological information? If an organism is able to adapt its body to new information coming from the environment, how can it do so without adding biological information? Millions of bacteria may be killed by new antibiotics, but somehow eventually they find a biological way to counter the threat. Why does this not count as increasing biological information? And how can we know the limitations of cells to restructure themselves in the face of environmental change?

DAVID: Endosymbiosis does not increase biologic information. The info already pre-exists in the symbiotic organism. It is simply added to its host.

As I understand it – but I’m open to correction – the “symbiotic organism” is a merger between two organisms, the one living inside the other, which exchange biological information, each to the other’s benefit (in those cases where the merger is beneficial to both parties). If one set of biological information is “added” to another, doesn’t that mean an increase?

No, because:

• Symbiosis does not mean that genetic information was shared between parties.
  
• There is no indication that Symbiosis increases the genetic information in either organism
  
• If either party were to 'evolve' it would likely break the symbiotic nature of their relationship. Natural symbiosis works more like a trade deal then a research agreement, at least according to the observed data.

--
What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.