Re: [asa] Amazing Proteins

Hi PvM,

"Of course, the possibility of a design explanation always exists but the
question is not one of marveling at what proteins can do but rather, can
science explain the success of evolution?"

I see no need for the binary choice. On the contrary, perhaps we all could
do with a bit more wonder than simply treating proteins as a brute given.
After all, the success of evolution would seem to be largely dependent on
proteins. Take away proteins and where is the success of evolution?

"While early guesses suggested that time was insufficient to search sequence
space,
science has found that sequence space translates to a much smaller set of
proteins."

This would simply speak to the amazing versatility of proteins and enhance
the sense of marvel. And my point.

"We can of course always marvel at the physics involved but how do we turn
this into a scientifically relevant position?"

It's not just physics. Take Physics + Natural Selecion - Proteins. Are you
sure evolution would still be a success?

-MikeGene

----- Original Message -----
From: "PvM" <pvm.pandas@gmail.com>
To: "Nucacids" <nucacids@wowway.com>
Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 1:22 AM
Subject: Re: [asa] Amazing Proteins

> Of course, the possibility of a design explanation always exists but
> the question is not one of marveling at what proteins can do but
> rather, can science explain the success of evolution? While early
> guesses suggested that time was insufficient to search sequence space,
> science has found that sequence space translates to a much smaller set
> of proteins.
> We can of course always marvel at the physics involved but how do we
> turn this into a scientifically relevant position?
>
> Of course, contrary to what you suggest, it may not have been that
> fortuitous after all.
>
> On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 7:45 PM, Nucacids <nucacids@wowway.com> wrote:
>>
>> Of course, if it all began, as they say, by coopting certain amino acids
>> to
>> act as catalytic groups, or fortuitously latching on to small peptides to
>> function as cross-linkers, it was perhaps the Most Lucky Event of all
>> that
>> such simple cofactors/linkers contained within them the latent potential
>> to
>> turn the blind watchmaker into a rather impressive designer-mimic. ;)
>>
>> -MikeGene
>
>
>
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Received on Fri May 2 19:58:45 2008