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Lajos Szkajvolker Posted 14 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

The speed of evolution

Hi there dear Teachers!:)

I'm back with another paragraph that I would like to be revised. I appreciate any kind of contribution or suggestion.

Here it is:

We can look at the DNA as the programming language of life. We also have actual functioning program codes written in this language, these codes make every organism on earth to be as it is.

A functioning program code can come into existence in two different ways: It is either written by someone or it is generated by an algorithm. Although Charles Darwin didn't know anything about DNA or genetic programming in 1859, his theory implies that our genetic code was created by an algorithm. But natural selection can not generate even a single character of new information. Natural selection selects for the more viable variations from an existing pool. What we have here is multiple gigabites of data and thousands of functioning genes so we need a mechanism that can create this information. The most accepted solution is that genetic information has been accumulated through duplications followed by other mutations. But only a certain type of mutation can contribute to evolution, one that is non lethal and can be transmitted to an offspring. Such mutation can occur during gametogenesis, storage in the body of sperm or ova, during fertilisation and/or development, but either way (just as natural selection) this mechanism is strictly bound to the process of reproduction. In terms of computer science, generation change is the iteration of the algorythm, and the reproduction rate is analogous to the processor clock speed.
This property implies that the speed of the evolution has to be the fastest in organism that reproduce the most, such as the bacteria. This is true: microorganisms change and adapt at the fastest rate.
But if someone extrapolates observations related to microorganisms he must be aware that with the increase of size and complexity the reproduction rates drop dramatically. Comparing the evolution of bacteria to fish is like running the same program on supercomputer then on a pocket calculator.
  

Top answer

Hi Lajos; I am curious if you would like feedback on the scientific accuracy of your statements, the soundness of your argumentation, or just the grammar of your sentences. Your English is very good; in my opinion, you don't need much assistance with your writing. If you are open to reconsidering the accuracy of your statements, I can recommend that you learn more about the subject matter you are writing about; that is, how does DNA work, what is information in DNA, and what Darwin (and biologists in the last 150 years) have said about natural selection.

  • Hi Lajos; I am curious if you would like feedback on the scientific accuracy of your statements, the soundness of your argumentation, or just the grammar of your sentences.
  • Your English is very good; in my opinion, you don't need much assistance with your writing.
  • If you are open to reconsidering the accuracy of your statements, I can recommend that you learn more about the subject matter you are writing about; that is, how does DNA work, what is information in DNA, and what Darwin (and biologists in the last 150 years) have said about natural selection.
  • For a good introduction to the state of genetic science, I suggest this youtube lecture series, or other lectures in the channel.
  • Best regards, A- s
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2 Answers
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Hi Lajos;

I am curious if you would like feedback on the scientific accuracy of your statements, the soundness of your argumentation, or just the grammar of your sentences. Your English is very good; in my opinion, you don't need much assistance with your writing.

If you are open to reconsidering the accuracy of your statements, I can recommend that you learn more about the subje
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Thank you Alphecca,

I expected to see comments on my grammar though, but thank you for the link.

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