Please edit WALL OF TEXT... it's unreadable.
The Luke
I won't edit. It is perfedctly readable, you sissy. Ok, let's try this one last time. I am going to explin this in a way that your brain can understand
- I am not arguing that mutations are how genetic adaptations occur.
- If you define mutations as change, then obviously the only way a gene can code for a phenotypical variations is by changing.
- Whether this change occurs by changing the arrangement of nucleotides, by deleting or insertion of genetic data is immaterial.
- My point is that there must be a fundamental difference between at least two processes of mutation at the biochemical level.
- The reason for this is that there are genetic variations that have neutral value - say, a different eye or skin pigmentation -, and variations that have an intrinsecally negative value.
- Some genetic variations have a neutral value - eye color can be attractive or unnatractive depending on a myriad of factors -, whilst some have a negative value - being born with six fingers is deemed an unattractive feature almost invariably.
- So how does the DNA avoid the negative-value mutations? If there is no difference in the processes at the biochemical level, that result in the neutral-value mutations and the negative-value ones, then the negative value mutations are simply a by-product of normal genetic differentiation and cannot be avoided. In this case, the only mechanism to avoid the propagation of these types of mutations would be to bestow organisms with the capacity to asses the degree and severity of these mutations in potential mates and avoid mating with specimens that posses a high degree of these mutations.
- Whilst it seems like this is the case, Nature seems to be capable of recognizing the abnormal biochemical processes that lead to the negative mutations, evident in that cells that divide improperly tend to abort themselves or are attacked by the immune system. Conversely, people and animals seem to be endowed with the capacity to recognize morphological and in a few cases physiological signs of these negative mutations and avoid them.
- In conclusion, whilst neutral-value mutations and negative-value mutations both result from changes in nucleotide/allele arrangement, there must be some specific patterns of nucleotide/allele arrangement that leads to the unwanted mutations that the DNA can recognize and avoid.
SUCKMYMUSCLE
