Genome complexity: what genes do and don't do (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, February 06, 2019, 23:46 (2116 days ago) @ dhw

dhw: So whereabouts in the cell have you found the evidence for a 3.8-billion-year-old library of information and instructions for every single undabbled innovation, lifestyle and natural wonder in the history of life?

DAVID: It is theoretical just like your cell committees.

dhw: Of course it is. But despite the lack of evidence you are convinced that this astonishingly convoluted hypothesis is true, and you see no reason even to consider the possibility that one single mechanism might explain all the developments that have led to the vast higgledy-piggledy bush of life, allowing – theistic version – for dabbles.

But my opinion is based the fact that life continues through automatic activity,with no evidence of inventive activity except in Shapiro's bacterial studies..

dhw: So now we should ignore the findings of Margulis, McClintock, Shapiro, Buehler, and the authors of the different articles you have quoted, because they are/were all only touting these views in order to gain grant money. I hope Shapiro never sees your comments.

DAVID: I did not bring up MMSB. They existed before the current mess of ecstatic fake reviews of science overstating what the results mean, fraudulent peer reviews ,and actually proven fake results. I see what you don't. Chasing grant money for the sake of income. You sidestepped my question to you.

dhw: Of course I sidestepped the question. Our subject is cellular intelligence, not the shenanigans of grant-hunting! Suddenly, an article which you quoted and said was an exact expression of your thoughts has become the product of fake results because you realize that its conclusions contradict your own beliefs. You could end up in court over such allegations!

I think you know I use current science news reports and some actual papers to present here. We can only conclude a view or views based on the information presented, not the hyperbole that always seems to accompany their description. Note my entries about origin of life and how each new piece of lab work provides a way for life to easily appear, until you note the 'maybes' or 'possiblies' interspersed in some of the verbiage. My caution above is right on point. You love to look into the articles and quote, which I think you should, but I see you swallowing the hyperbole.

DAVID: Of course cells use the information they have. Each cell follows what it is told to do by the genome.

dhw: Even if you were right, it could simply mean that the cell’s intelligence is located in the genome. But according to you, there is no intelligence. As above, your fixed belief is that the genome is a library containing not only all the passive information but also all the instructions necessary for the whole of evolution, and furthermore instructions on how to pick out the one and only instruction applicable to each individual situation.

How do stem cells become a whole organism? Follow instructions to make an identical copy.

DAVID (under “Magic embryology”): The stem cells (blastocyst cells) must follow exact directions in their genomes to make perfectly functioning kidneys. This is the expectation of the authors of this study. True automaticity of cells following instructions to make perfectly functional kidneys. […]

All the processes of life must follow instructions or result in an aberration that is not viable. This is the theory behind my position on automaticity.[/i]

dhw: Of course all the processes must follow instructions. The great question is where those instructions come from in the first place. You have no evidence for your “library” hypothesis, as described above, but you don’t need any for it to be your fixed belief. Only alternative hypotheses require evidence.

I have my view of God the designer and instructor.

dhw: I would love to know more about stem cells, as it seems to me that their versatility could provide a vital clue as to how evolutionary innovation works.

The zygote (sperm and egg joined) become a hollow sphere of blastocyst cells, each one determined to direct construction of different parts of the embryo. A head/tail axis is established, and both genetic instructions for protein production and mechanical-biological forces play a role, as cells grow and push push other cells around. Most of it is still poorly understood.