Cell-Directed Mutations

This video shows the evidence that, rather than being entirely haphazard, cells can direct their own mutations. This means that evolution is a regulated cellular process, just like any other bodily function.

A new definition of species

I had predicted this a number of times before.  As we study genetics further we will find a better way to classify species.  Alas, here we have a new paper that

Proteins and Genes, Singletons and Species

Recent experimental data from proteomics and genomics are interpreted here in ways that challenge the predominant viewpoint in biology according to which the four evolutionary processes, including mutation, recombination, natural selection and genetic drift, are sufficient to explain the origination of species. The predominant viewpoint appears incompatible with the finding that the sequenced genome of each species contains hundreds, or even thousands, of unique genes – the genes that are not shared with any other species. These unique genes and proteins, singletons, define the very character of every species. Moreover, the distribution of protein families from the sequenced genomes indicates that the complexity of genomes grows in a manner different from that of self-organizing networks: the dominance of singletons leads to the conclusion that in living organisms a most unlikely phenomenon can be the most common one. In order to provide proper rationale for these conclusions related to the singletons, the paper first treats the frequency of functional proteins among random sequences, followed by a discussion on the protein structure space, and it ends by questioning the idea that protein domains represent conserved units of evolution.

Designed changes vs random changes

This paper shows that some "mutations" are designed changes directed by cellular machinery.

Genomic "tuning knobs" with implicit range are strategies for organisms to change and adapt as needed.  We know about fine tuning in the universe, now we see it in life.

Remember the Genetic Piano post (here)?  Which keys are chosen to play?   What decides?


------------------------

and

How Bees Decide What to Be: Reversible 'Epigenetic' Marks Linked to Behavior Patterns

and

Harvard cracks DNA storage, crams 700 terabytes of data into a single gram -Must see.....

and

Is There Enough Time For Humans to have Evolved from Apes? Dr. Ann Gauger