Genome complexity: DNA production of proteins (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, May 18, 2020, 20:35 (1437 days ago) @ David Turell

The series of reactions is actually discontinuous as explained:

https://uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/for-those-keeping-count-colorado-had-neg...

"I told you the critical physical condition of the system (described as such in the literature) that allows the system to function as it does, in a material universe determined by inexorable physical law. The gene system must have the physical freedom to specify itself, as well as any variation of itself. In case it has not occurred to you, there is no ”capacity to specify” recorded among the physical properties of matter listed on the periodic table, and binding those atoms together does not suddenly create that capacity. It is only established by a particular type of arrangement of matter; one that, as Michael Polanyi noted, “harnesses the laws of inanimate nature” but in an arrangement that is ”irreducible to those laws”. That is exactly what a physical analysis of the system has demonstrated, and is exactly what has been recorded in the literature. (my bold) (Polanyi is a highly regarded philosopher of science: "Polanyi argues that the information contained in the DNA molecule is not reducible to the laws of physics and chemistry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Polanyi

My entry continues: "Although a DNA molecule cannot exist without physical properties, these properties are constrained by higher-level ordering principles".

"Take out a piece of paper and write the words “DNA codon” at the top of the page. Drop down a few inches below and write the words “mRNA codon”. Drop down further still and write the words “charged tRNA anti-codon”, and below that write the phrase “amino acid presented for binding”. You can now draw a straight line from the top of the page to the bottom, indicating the chain of chemical interactions that begins with a codon of DNA and results in an amino acid being presented for binding during protein synthesis. This would include the processes of transcription, translation and polymerization. But as you will quickly notice, there is no chemical reaction in that chain of events that actually specifies which particular amino acid is being presented for binding. (my bold)

"You can now draw another line (joining your original line, but perpendicular to it) directly underneath the words “charged tRNA anti-codon”. At the end of this new perpendicular line, you can now write the word “aaRS”. The set of aaRS are the molecules in biology that specify which particular amino acids will be associated with each tRNA anticodon. And as I told you before, the work of the aaRS is both temporally and spatially independent of the chain of events represented by the first line you drew down the page. This independence, introduced only by the organization of the system, is what allows the system to function as it does – to specify itself among alternatives. Hence, the word “discontinuous” … as in the discontinuous association between a codon of DNA and the resulting amino acid being presented for biding. It is discontinuous because it has to be in order to function as it does. Check your Periodic Table for that. (aaRS refers to very specialized enzymes which specify specific amino acids to tRNA controls)

"What is also worth noting that not a single one of these interactions is even the least bit controversial."

Comment: This means the molecular reactions go on under precise coordination but each stepwise molecule does not know the end point to which it is directing a process. This demands design, because the chemicals do not get arranged this way on their own, with purposeful results all the time. Note Polanyi uses the concept of guidance by information.