Rapid evolution or epigenetics? (Introduction)

by dhw, Saturday, April 30, 2011, 12:17 (4935 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: In this article bacteria create a new chemical way to methylate DNA and become resistant to seen classes of antibiotics. This is epigenetics at its best. You misunderstand my 'pre-ordained' theory of evolution. Part of the theory that evolution has built in directionality includes giving organisms the ability to protect themselves from sudden environmental changes within the framework of driving evolution to create humans. It is quite clear that epigenetic changes are a powerful evolutionary tool.-http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-04-bacteria-evolved-unique-chemical-mechanism.html-Fascinating stuff, as is your later post on possible communications between bacteria, though it was much too technical for me and I'm grateful for your summary. I would regard it as supporting the suggestion that cells may have an intelligence of their own that is responsible for innovations.-I have absolutely no problem with the idea that the mechanisms of epigenetics enable organisms to protect themselves against environmental changes, but firstly these mechanisms, as far as we know, do not change organisms into different species ... they result in adaptations not innovations. Secondly, it's your preordained "framework of driving evolution to create humans" that I find unconvincing in the light of the higgledy-piggledy evolutionary bush of species which come and go. Adaptation to change does not indicate that bacteria are preordained to evolve into humans! On the contrary, their being "programmed" to remain as bacteria suggests to me that they are an end in themselves.