From: Scott Chase (ecphoric@hotmail.com)
Date: Fri 18 Nov 2005 - 12:12:16 GMT
Dace wrote:
No one knows how genes calculate the correct sequence of combinations to
produce complete organisms from a single cell. Given the laws of
combinatorics, this task would appear to be impossible.
My reply:
They used to rely on the abacus, but then calculators were invented ;-)
You need to read Sean Carroll's _Endless Forms Most Beautiful_. See the
parts where he talks about genetic switches.
[snip]
Dace: continues:
Every morphic field requires a morphogen (Sheldrake's terminology).
Without human DNA serving as a morphogen, human developmental fields
won't kick in, and no embryo will form. So too, without a receiver, no
transmission will enter a radio.
My reply:
Could you please explain how human DNA serves as a morpogen? How does
DNA, which is basically the same in each cell of the organism (with a
few exceptions) and confined to the nucleus, form a gradient based field
outside the cell? That would be a trick. Don't confuse genes for their
products (RNA and proteins). I've heard retinoic acid mentioned as a
possible morphogen and it certainly ain't DNA.
This causes me to ask a serious question: Do you know what you're
talking about? If not why should we listen to your objections to modern
developmental biology.
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