Innovation and Speciation: earliest fully a whale (Evolution)

by David Turell , Thursday, May 30, 2019, 01:15 (2003 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: My comment about cell intelligence relates only to the momentary activities of individual cells as they respond to stimuli or manufacture necessary proteins. It does not apply to your fantasy that cells can invent new complex forms of whole animals.

dhw: I have never suggested that they can invent new complex forms of whole animals. Whole animal invention is the prerogative of Creationists. I believe in common descent, that is to say each new species is directly descended from preceding species. However, as we have agreed over and over again, NOBODY knows the cause of speciation, which is why the proposal that cellular intelligence may extend as far as innovation remains a hypothesis, just like your proposal that 3.8 billion years ago your God provided the first cells with a programme for every undabbled innovation in the history of life.

DAVID: As usual you have skipped over the obvious need for preparatory design, and therefore a designer.

dhw: As usual you have skipped over the fact that in my hypothesis, evolution does NOT require preparatory design, but proceeds through responses to changing conditions. I do not believe that your God operated on pre-whale legs and turned them into flippers BEFORE they entered the water; I find it more logical that legs turned into flippers as a result of intelligent restructuring in response to new demands. In my theistic version, the designer has designed the autonomous mechanism that makes restructuring possible.

Sure I skipped over your belief design is not required in advance, but that cells invent new forms on the fly. Not possible, so I've discounted it.