Re: [asa] Amazing Proteins

On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 10:22 AM, Nucacids <nucacids@wowway.com> wrote:

> Look at it this way. What do we need for the blind watchmaker to exist? A
> finite, changing world, something that replicates, and imperfect
> replication. The first and the third are givens due to the nature of
> creation. The second is more iffy. In living cells, proteins play the key
> role in replicating things (they replicate the DNA, they divide the cell,
> and coordinate both). But if we entertain the notion of an RNA world, the
> proteins are not needed for replication (then again, proteins are not needed
> for chemical reactions to take place). But what the proteins do is amplify
> and enhance this replication property, and thus enhance the blind
> watchmakers' abilities. What's more, the same molecule that enhances
> replication also opens up a whole vast world of phenotypes not available to
> the blind watchmaker earlier. You can almost think of proteins are a form
> of tech material designed to exploit and prop up the blind watchmaker. And
> maybe even give the blind watchmaker a little guidance. ;)

You could almost think of this but too bad there is no scientific
hypothesis here. We have two 'competing options' where one places some
form of intelligence at the initial condition and one which does not
and relies instead fully on known laws of nature. One is observed the
other one isn't. As to giving the blind watchmaker a little guidance,
selection and neutrality will do that to you. Neutrality, found in the
degeneracy of the genetic code, is a selectable trait. It is not hard
to envision how such a degenerate code may have evolved under these
selective pressures.
Yes, we can be all amazed how the outline of the puddle exactly fits
the shape of the puddle. So what...

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Received on Mon May 5 01:25:50 2008