I just want to know what they mean by “high molecular evolutionary rate.” It can’t be mutations, since there is no such thing at the molecular level. You need genes for that. So what are they referring to? These scientists are so blinded by evolutionary dogma that they are having trouble making the appropriate distinctions.
32 comments
I have to admit, if I addressed the subject, I would be equally clueless.
Molecular evolution is looking at changes in the DNA, RNA, and protein at a molecular scale....so, yes, in a way, it is mutations, and genes are (drumroll please) composed of the molecules that are observed.
So I Googled "molecular mutations", and got some very long winded papers.
Then I Googled "tutorial molecular mutations" and this was the best I foundhttp://biology.kenyon.edu/courses/biol114/Chap09/Chap09A.html
This is not something one can understand from a quick read. So I leave it at that.
@JPCollado - see what I did there? I said the three magic words "I don't know". I know they're hard to say, but really they make you sound a lot smarter than rambling off on a topic you know nothing about. Also by saying the magic words, you may actually learn something, because people who are knowledgeable tend to enjoy sharing their knowledge.
"It can’t be mutations, since there is no such thing at the molecular level."
Scientists discover that everything is made of hydrogen and atoms do not technically exist.
It's pretty stupid of this guy to acknowledge that he doesn't know what the scientists mean by this, and then condemn them for not "making the appropriate distinctions." How the heck does he know they're not making appropriate distinctions, when he has already acknowledged that he has no idea what they're talking about?!? It's like me trying to tell jazz musicians that they're not musical, when all I know is three-chord rock!
Genes exist on the molecular level. Damn it.
DNA is a molecule that is composed of little legos that we call "nucleotides." These lego pieces come in four flavors: A T C & G. The different order that these lego pieces come in creates genes - which are parts of the DNA molecule which can be used as blue prints to make the rest of the molecules that your body is made of.
So when we talk about "molecular evolution" we mean that individual lego pieces in the DNA molecule are being replaced, added, or subtracted. We call these "insertions" (when a lego piece is added), "deletions" (when a lego piece is subtracted), and "substitutions" (when one lego piece is replaced by another one). All of these are collectively known as "mutations."
Now sometimes a mutation will happen in a part of the DNA where a gene is, and then the creature will be made of different proteins. Sometimes this isn't even noticeable because the new protein happens to work about the same as the old protein. And sometimes this is difficult to spot because the new protein only has a different effect on the microscopic level. And sometimes this is immediately obvious because the new protein changes the development of the organism so that it comes out in an entirely different shape. A lot of mutations are lethal, either immediately or before the creature has a chance to have children (because the changed protein is something that you need to live or reproduce). These mutations, while common, never make it into the general population because the creature is a one-off.
Argh. It's really not that complicated.
-Frank
Isn't it weird how they say we'll never understand the complexities of life so God must be the answer? Then they say science is crap because it's too complicated.
p.s.
These scientists are so blinded by evolutionary dogma that they are having trouble making the appropriate distinctions.
What distinctions? Genes are part of a DNA molecule. They code the building of other molecules. When the DNA molecule gets damaged, that's a mutation. It changes the building of other molecules. What's the distinction?
"It can’t be mutations, since there is no such thing at the molecular level. You need genes for that."
You, uh, might want to take a look at that new-fangled "deoxyribonucleic acid" stuff, bub.
"Anyone that disagrees with us' is not really a great definition and makes for relatively boring quotes like this one :)"
How is this quote boring? Uncommon Descent is supposedly staffed with the best and brightest "intellectuals" from the Discovery Institute, ready to defend Intelligent Design theory with "science," and this is the kind of reader they attract? Someone who actually thinks mutations do not occur at a molecular level? Irony overload like this is always entertaining.
However, JPCollado was corrected on this point by a dude named Jack Krebs to which he responded:
"Thank you Jack, I was careless here. What I really was referring to is the darwinian evolutionary process...there is no such thing at the molecular level
a point I tried to reiterate at post #23, viz., that a change in the sequence of nucleotides on a DNA molecule offers a defective framework for studying evolution."
"It can’t be mutations, since there is no such thing at the molecular level. "
Lie much?
Look up DNA *molecule* some time.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
To post a comment, you'll need to Sign in or Register . Making an account also allows you to claim credit for submitting quotes, and to vote on quotes and comments. You don't even need to give us your email address.
