Princeton Scientists Discover Proteins That Control Evolution

[Stealth Hunter]

http://io9.com/5083673/princeton-sci...trol-evolution

Evolutionary changes are supposed to take place gradually and randomly, under pressure from natural selection. But a team of Princeton scientists investigating a group of proteins that help cells burn energy stumbled across evidence that this is not how evolution works. In fact, their discovery could revolutionize the way we understand evolutionary processes. They have evidence that organisms actually have the ability to control their own evolution.

Let's get a few possible misconceptions out of the way first. The Princeton group, composed of researchers Raj Chakrabarti, Herschel Rabitz, Stacey Springs and George McLendon, haven't proven that intelligent design is a valid scientific theory. Nor are they claiming that DNA is making a set of conscious decisions about growing extra legs or wings (though that would admittedly be cool).

What they are saying is that evolution is not entirely random, as Darwin believed. The researchers were tinkering with a set of proteins forming the electron transport chain, a system that regulates energy use in cells. They discovered that the proteins were correcting any imbalance imposed on them through artificial mutations, constantly restoring the chain to working order. A mathematical analysis revealed that these proteins seem to make these minute corrections all the time, steering organisms toward evolutionary changes that make the creature fitter.

This has been an interesting day for science...

[Catfish]

Hello Stealth Hunter,

i have read about this a year ago in a german newspaper, but it was not very detailed.
When i first read your post i instantly thought of Lamarck, or this old Lamarckism theory, where a Giraffe develops its long neck to better reach those leaves, until i read this constant protein control of changing imbalances according to exterior environment changes. Makes on think which genes are then changed when it comes to birth - is there a list of exterior impacts, that is then pressed into any genome form, and passed on ?
I already expect some people those proteins to be god's executives, but wait - they say there IS no evolution and the earth is 7500 years old

Thanks and greetings,
Catfish

[Skybird]

In "The Swarm", Frank Schätzing introduced the concept of an superior intelligent maritime race made of one-cellular life forms, that is capable to transport knowledge and experience by genetic manipulation comparable to the principle outlined in this article; the novel also focusses on the different morals coming from the fact that this lifeform survives and developes by simple chemical activation of "killing triggers" in the DNA once the swarm finds a single cell not being up to date with the code's most actual status - cell's with older levels of knowledge in the swarm' s cells simply die. In the novel, this of course brings apocalyptic problems for mankind having messed up the environment of this species for so long, since the "alien(s?)" do not know no moral value in differing between life and death, living cells and killing people - such values are just human projections that beyond human culture have no meaning at all. Like with many of his ideas, Schätzing was basing with his conception of an alien race on real sciences, and his novel is presenting one of the most alien "aliens" that I ever have read about in Science Fiction - without being that much science fiction at all.

As it sometimes is the case, Science Fiction once again maybe is ahead of science (Jules Verne can sing a song of this...)

Very good and exciting science- and envrionment-thriller. It almost minimises the apokalypse in Emmerich's "Independance Day".

[kurtz]

From the comments below the article;

It's neat that there's a proteinomic correction mechanism, but how are those changes heritable?
Changes that can't be inherited aren't evolution. Your child doesn't inherit your peg-leg.
All this article seems to be saying is that protein expression is elastic, and that the system exists in an equilibrium state that can react to mutations; but we already kind of knew that you could substantially mutate the DNA "behind" a protein without significant effect on the function and activity of the protein.
I dunno, it's hard to get a sense of what's really going on from two levels of interpretation-for-the-layman away, but I really don't think this is as groundbreaking as is suggested. Or, it may be totally awesome.

People seem to be again confused over evolution: it happens to your offspring at the moment of conception, not after. We'd be evolving all sorts of cool things if that was the case.

[Letum]

Are we talking about single generation mutations here?

[caspofungin]

what i read in the linked articles seems to be a long way from evolution/natural selection, more of a intracellular homeostatic mechanism. it's a leap to go and say, "these proteins may control evolution."

[Skybird]

"Evolution" has no independant existence of itself. It is a theoretical meta-term that serves as a crutch for our thinking. we use it to add sense and meaning to reality as we perceive and interpret it. Beyond human thinking, and even for many humans, "evolution" has no meaning and substance at all.

[Frame57]

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter

http://io9.com/5083673/princeton-sci...trol-evolution

This has been an interesting day for science...

I believe Mendel had that pegged years ago...