Logic and evolution: DARC mutation and malaria lessens (Introduction)

by dhw, Saturday, September 26, 2020, 11:27 (1518 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: I suggested that this article shows how cells respond autonomously to parasites resulting from the freedom you say your God gave to molecules to do their own thing. I have questioned the logic behind your belief that God wishes us no harm and yet designed these harmful organisms, and why he would have singled out the good folk of Cap Verde for a “backup”, leaving the rest of us to find our own cures. I have suggested that God may have given cell communities the intelligence to work out their own solutions, and also that this example supports Gould’s theory about isolated populations. None of this has anything to do with chance versus design or with convergence. Meanwhile, you know perfectly well that I propose design (by perhaps God-given intelligence) and not chance, and that I am all in favour of convergence by way of intelligent cells reaching similar solutions to similar problems. Now how about answering the questions I have raised?

DAVID: My suggestion about bacteria and viruses is that most of them have purposeful functions, as you know.

There is no disagreement here. The question is why a God who wishes us no harm would design the harmful bacteria and viruses.

DAVID: Of course convergence is an issue as brilliantly raised by Conway Morris. You always slip into the position that cell intelligence may b e from God. He and I feel it is from God. Depends on which side of a coin you favor.

We agree on convergence, which is not an issue between us. Whether God designed every example of convergence or gave cells the intelligence to solve each problem as it arose IS an issue, but this has nothing to do with bad viruses and bacteria and the good folk of Cape Verde having evolved a defence against malaria. You are dodging again.

DAVID: Note the Y chromosome article and the counter point to Gould and woolly Darwin pontifications, none of which hold water. As for DARC we all recognize an occasional chance mutation is beneficial. And therefore note, not God-given. But this is not speciation where God rules.

See the relevant article on Y and on Gould. Are you saying here that the Cape Verdian immunity was due to a chance mutation? This opens the door to your original “errors” theory that chance mutations changed the course of evolution. How “occasional” is occasional, and if chance can create a defence against a disease which even now we humans have trouble controlling, then why stop there? I seem to be the one who detects purpose, while you endow your God with less and less control: off go the molecules, disobeying your God’s instructions, and now we have beneficial mutations resulting from chance. See "error corrections" for further discussion.