Comments on: Scientists Found Proteins That “Direct” Own Evolution. Maybe.

By: Athon

Athon — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:19:45 +0000

It’s less ‘directed evolution’ and more of a feedback mechanism. As CelticCatEyes said, it’s the environment feeding back on the changing of genes.

In some cases, you want a lot of variation. In others (such as in the proteins directing the electron transport chain in your cells ‘batteries’ – the mitochondria), changing what works so well isn’t a smart idea. These proteins are a feedback mechanism that keeps these genes working as they should, if I understand it correctly.

By: cheechman85

cheechman85 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:47:18 +0000

“Woosh” going straight over my head.

By: CelticCatEyes

CelticCatEyes — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:07:17 +0000

The mechanism they may have found or been talking about is what developmental researchers have already acknowledged in humans, that genes don’t just send out commands from an impenetrable biological safe, but that the environment can send information back into the genetic system and provide information about how genotype should influence phenotype.

To extend Darwin, as certain individuals develop, the ones who have genotypes which are able to produce phenotypes successful in the environment will be able to reproduce, ensuring that their specific gene & environment interaction patterns are available for the next generation in that location. (I think) changes to the genotype will probably occur (over time) during mating with other successful individuals.

So, in much more simple life forms, it may appear as if they are ‘choosing’ to evolve certain ways, but it may be something more along these lines…And they’ve found a model to show us exactly how it works.

http://www.uncg.edu/psy/courses/calogan/438/content/Gedev.html

By: silentwatcher24

silentwatcher24 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:20:05 +0000

Could you imagine being able to control directly how the human race could evolve… We’d so be able to fly, and have 10 arms, and other random, awesome things.

By: bleg

bleg — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:14:30 +0000

PZ Meyers gives an excellent commentary on this half-baked theory (much better than I could, especially at this hour!) Please go read most excellent post: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/11/prediction_selfpromoting_hy pe.php

By: MENLOHEAVYWEIGHT

MENLOHEAVYWEIGHT — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:36:11 +0000

How can they say that evolution is complety random, evolution tailors the gene pool torwards sustainabilty so at least in that one sense you can say that evolution is what causes the order in the universe toward a specific goal.

By: noahstrickland

noahstrickland — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:40:01 +0000

hmmmm…I wonder if Jesus knows about this?

By: Max Power

Max Power — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:11:55 +0000

No.

By: Rocky Rook

Rocky Rook — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:05:46 +0000

There really is no randomness in the universe. Everything has a purpose.