Hi Dave,
Again, somebody made a point I've been wanting to get to!
I was once pointed out to me that biological evolution doesn't require increasing complexity - what it requires is successful adaptation and if this involves a LOSS of complexity then so be it.
Indeed, it occurs to me now that YEC's are quite right to point out that one reason that artificial selection is a bad analogue for biological evolution is that it results in a net loss of complexity/information. Certain breeds of dogs may be brilliantly adapted for life in Paris Hilton's handbag, but I doubt they are genetically more complex than their wolf ancestors!
Anyhow, I think it right to point out, as you do, that the idea that evolution involves progress and that a more complex organism is necessarily more involved is perhaps something we impose upon the data than infer from it.
Blessings,
Murray
D. F. Siemens, Jr. wrote:
> Bernie,
> Don't forget that parasites have simplified their structure over time.
> It's not always from simple to complex, although there have been people
> obsessed with the notion of universal progress.
> Dave (ASA)
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Received on Thu Jan 15 15:52:33 2009
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