Re: [asa] Lab speciation

Hi Burgy,

In the piece posted, it was the following that most interested me;

<snip>
   ... A few mutations occurred which actually were mildly
> harmful but did not outright kill the strain. Then a few more
> mutations occurred that combined with the previously harmful ones to
> provide a huge net positive benefit.
</snip>

One of the most obvious difficulties in biological evolution - as least
for a layman like myself - is that the formation of new information
within genomes (i.e. "mutations") seems almost always to be harmful. And
I add the "almost" as an exercise in charity - every mutation I'm
personally aware of is detrimental, usually fatal.

This point has always puzzled me as it really seems a block to
understanding the "how" of evolution. So this strikes me as a very
intriguing finding.

A few related questions, however;

(1) Are my remarks re "detrimental, usually fatal" effects of mutations
a fair assessment of the data - or an expression of ignorance of same?

(2) How does the finding in the snippet from your post (above) strike
practicing biologists? Is it remarkable or merely mundane?

(2a) If remarkable, is it so because it confirms what has been suspected
but not experimentally open to confirmation, or because it is actually
quite unexpected?

(2b) If mundane, am I right in thinking there must be OTHER confirmatory
examples of mutations which are in themselves harmful, but when taken in
conjunction with other mutations have provided a net benefit?

Thanks for a very informative piece and I look forward to any
constructive comment which might be forthcoming on questions (1) to (2b)
above.

Blessings,
Murray Hogg
Pastor, East Camberwell Baptist Church, Victoria, Australia
Post-Grad Student (MTh), Australian College of Theology

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Received on Wed Jun 4 16:59:47 2008