The latest Nature has an article related to the issue of the probability of a particular complex biomolecular structure evolving: Salehi-Ashtiani and Szostak. 2001. In vitro evolution suggests multiple origins for the hammerhead ribozyme. Nature 414:82-84. This structure occurs in a wide variety of organisms. It turns out to be the commonest and simplest way of making the needed structure in vitro. This suggests that the probability of "undirected" evolution "happening" upon it (i.e., through ordinary providence) seems relatively good.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
46860 Hilton Dr #1113
Lexington Park MD 20653 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droigate Spa
________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.davidson.alumlink.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Nov 01 2001 - 15:56:34 EST