--- In geneticsandevolutionclub@yahoogroups.com, "cristi_t.geo"
<cristian.tota@v...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> What is the process that updates the genetic code of an organism
in
> order to increase its adaptability to the environment?
>
> This process is present in any living organism, but here are a few
> examples, to let you know what I'm referring to: a butterfly that
has
> eye-like circles on its wings, to give predators the impression of
a
> snake / lizard. A snake that has the skin pattern/color of the
> ground, to make it less detectable. An insect that has the
appearance
> of the plant it's living on. A fish that has a thorn on its
forehead,
> which prevents it from being swollen down by a bigger fish.
>
> I exclude the possibility of random changes in the genetic code
that
> eventually lead to the best configuration of genes. This theory
> appears to be to inconsistent with any physical process in the
> universe, that we know of. It seems too work-consuming.
>
> So, excluding randomness, it appears that for any given
environment,
> the genetic code of any organism "knows" to constantly update
itself
> to bring future organisms closer to the best body structure for
> surviving that environmental conditions. This happens independent
of
> the _rational_ awareness of the organism. For the fish example, it
> seems that the genetic code knew how to modify itself so that a
thorn
> grows on the head of the fish, which will help him survive that
> particular threat, of being eaten by a particular species of
bigger
> fish.
>
> It appears that the conscience of the creature it the one that
> controls the genetic configuration (not its rational mind, but
some
> other form of its awareness). The fish _wants_ to have a defense
> against this threat. As a result, over many generations, the
genetic
> code modifies itself according to its will. It's as if the genetic
> structure is directly subordinated to the necessities of its
> conscience.
>
> How are you thoughts on this matter? I'd love to read debates on
this
> subject.
>
> Regards,
> Cristian


Cristian,
We cannot extract randomness from the equation. Nor can we say that
genetic code modifies itself according to will. It is random,
however one can expect genetic mutations at 'regular'
intervals...some are adaptable, other's not. There is no rational
motivation for the organism, any more than there is rational
physical processes in our universe.

~anne rozlyn~