>Anyway, Joseph claims that the probability of evolving a protein randomly
amino acid by amino acid is 2.3 E-75. Well, what do you think would be the
chance of performing a "frame-shift" mutation on a functional gene (one
that already codes for a functional protein) and getting a completely
different functional protein as a result? I wouldn't know, but it has
happened.
I don't think that this address the original point which claimed that
abiogenesis was unlikely because the chance of generating the first protein
was very sllim. Frameshift in the already created genetic code to
introduce a new protein is not really relevant to here.
>
>Back when I first joined this list I submitted a post that gave examples
of genetic changes that resulted in increases of information. One example
was an enzyme that could digest nylon. This enzyme, called linear oligomer
hydrolase, we now know was created by just such a "frame-shift" mutation
I don't agree that frameshifts increase information. They simply change
the information that is already there.
Steve
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Steven S. Clark, Ph.D. Ph: 608-263-9137
Associate Professor FAX: 263-4226
Dept. of Human Oncology ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine
600 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53792
http://www1.bocklabs.wisc.edu/profiles/Clark,Steven.html