Theistic evolution vs. Darwinism: design evidence (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 18:34 (1 day, 3 hours, 46 min. ago) @ David Turell

Protein produced far before need:

https://phys.org/news/2025-01-crucial-protein-millions-years-predating.html

"Wageningen researchers have discovered that a vital plant protein originated more than 600 million years ago, long before the first plants existed. They traced its origins back to an evolutionary event in a distant unicellular ancestor, during which genetic material was reshuffled. This process gave rise to the Auxin Response Factor (ARF), a protein that continues to play a key role in the growth and development of plants and trees today.

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"The researchers found clues to the origins of the ARF protein in the green alga Chlorokybus melkonianii, a distant cousin of the plants we find on land. His research revealed that this protein emerged from the fusion of two protein fragments: a chromatin factor and a transcription factor. Neither of these fragments originally had anything to do with the plant hormone auxin.

"'This fusion created an entirely new protein that took on a central role in the auxin signaling pathway," says Dolf Weijers, Professor of Biochemistry. The chromatin factor enables ARF proteins to collaborate, while the transcription factor allows the protein to bind to DNA and regulate gene activity.

"Interestingly, the chromatin factor found in the crucial plant protein is not exclusive to plants. It also occurs in humans, animals, and fungi. Although biologists have studied the ARF protein for over twenty years, they had overlooked this connection until now. Therefore, the post-doctoral researcher was cautious when presenting his findings to Weijers.

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"Over time, the evolution of ARF led to two classes of the protein: one that activates genes in the presence of auxin and another that suppresses genes. "This competitive interaction is essential for the fine-tuned regulation of plant growth," Hernández-García explains.

"The research also revealed that some features of ARF, such as its ability to bind DNA, were present from the very beginning, while others, like gene activation, developed later in evolution.

"The scientists were able to reconstruct the origins and evolution of the ARF protein thanks to newly available genomic data. "Over the past decade, it has become clear that we can better study the core traits of plants in those that have been around a bit longer in their current shape," says Weijers."

Comment: the ARF appeared long before required its current use. If it had a use at its appearance, none is known. If it is a de novo phenomenon, if is evidence for pure design, not Darwinian natural selection.