Genome complexity: genes control different stress responses (Introduction)

by dhw, Thursday, October 04, 2018, 10:56 (2030 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: Studies in E. coli shows that cells can have different responses to different stresses:
https://phys.org/news/2018-10-cells-specialised-protein-factories-stress.html

QUOTES: "Most functions in a cell are controlled by proteins. They are formed inside the cells in special protein factories called ribosomes. Different cells, i.e. in different tissues, need different sets of proteins and there are several ways that a cell can control how they are produced. However, it has long been an established "truth" that the composition and function of the ribosomes are the same in all cells and in all conditions. (David’s bold)

"This truth is now being disputed and in the present study the researchers show that E. coli bacteria can form specialised ribosomes that influence which proteins are produced. (dhw’s bold)

DAVID: This study in a stand-alone bacterium logically was bound to show this result, as the animal must accept all the different stresses and stimuli that might appear. It had to be designed that way. In a multicellular animal organ cells will also have different protein responses although since they are responsible for a specific organ function and their responses may be coordinated. Note the automaticity: the genes are programmed to know how to respond to specific challenges with specific proteins.

No animal “must accept every stress and stimulus that might appear”. Over time, the vast majority have failed to accept them and have gone extinct. Were they designed that way, i.e. preprogrammed 3.8 billion years ago to fail? Or were the coordinating cell communities simply unable to cope? But apparently your God preprogrammed lucky old E-coli 3.8 billion years ago to cover every single challenge they will meet for the rest of life’s history. Here’s a theistic alternative: he gave them the means to work out for themselves how to respond to specific challenges. This is not my fantasy. Some scientists who specialize in the study of bacteria strongly support the concept of bacterial intelligence, as opposed to “noting the automaticity”.