can you add new information to DNA? i don't believe that you can, and am looking for some evidence.?

Question

if you search it on the internet, you will actually find many examples of how it cannot be done! i don't believe in evolution either, and have evidence to support it.

Answer 1

Many times what happens is a specific gene or stretch of DNA is duplicated in an organism. If this doesn't cause any harm, one copy of the gene can mutate, leaving the other one intact to carry out its original function. The extra gene can then become something entirely different over time, occasionally mutating into something useful.
A word of warning- don't start with a belief and look for the evidence. You will find evidence (not good or true evidence, but you will find something) for whatever you go out looking for, especially on the internet. Find the evidence first and see where it leads you, or you will end up very, very wrong about some important things.

Answer 2

First of all in answer to your additional information, you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. No one ever checks if what is posted is correct, so you could put that God resides in Tony Blair if you so wish and it could still get posted somewhere. The internet is a great source of information, but unless the source is reputable, just ignore it.

Genetic engineering does work, sometimes, and it does add to DNA. It's not a particularly efficient process to begin with, but after its been taken up by a host, usually a bacterium, then it starts to reproduce quite rapidly. It's just that so few hosts actually take up the new DNA. Genetic engineering includes the addition of genetic information to DNA strands.

Answer 3

It's very easy for "information" to be added to DNA. One of the most common mutations that happens is for a stretch of DNA to be duplicated. The original DNA carries on doing its function, but the new stretch is free to mutate futher to do a new function. By any definition, this is new information.

A practical example of this is the evolution of the nylon-eating bacteria within the last 50 years. Scientists have actually examined the DNA of this bug and can point to the new genes involved.

For a specific refutation of the claim that mutations can't add information to DNA, see the talkorgins article: http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB102.html

The same site has a refutation of the claim made by a poster above that Dawkins was stumped when asked to provide an example of new information: http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB102_1.html. In fact, as the link states, he paused because he realised that the people interviewing him were creationists who had lied about their motives.

Answer 4

The obvious answer is yes - otherwise how do you get from animals that use gills to ones that use lungs or seedless plants to those that produce seeds.

Here are a couple of simple examples.

A simple point mutation in the DNA triplet can add a new allele to a gene. Some genes such as those for esterases have lots of alleles and code for proteins that have a general purpose function of mopping up molecules from the blood. More alleles = more molecules cleaned up. These are among the genes involved for example in insect resistance to insecticides and act as sponges to absorb toxins.

Another relatively straightforward mechanism is gene duplication. This arises at least through unequal crossing over, where during recombination in meisosis one daughter chromosome (chromatid) ends up with both copies of the gene, while the other has neither and would have no function.

The chromosome carrying both copies has one that carries on functioning normally, leaving a second copy which freed from the constraints function can mutate into a new form.

Such a scenario seems to explain the existence of gene families where there are multiple genes performing related but different functions. The evolution of globin genes, which code for proteins in haemoglobin and myoglobin fits this model well and in fact the timings of divergence of these genes corresponds with evolution of different groups, including the splitting of primate lineages. Globin genes show an increase in gene number, diverged function such as 2 different globin types in adult globin chains and the existence of foetal heamoglobin.

Those who would argue that everything originated in a single creation would no doubt be surprised that mammals and humans in particular do not have the largest genomes. Among vertebrates this is reserved for amphibians and plants have more genes still. This just underlines that genomes are dynamic systems to which new genes and functions can be added or removed, according to the demands of natural selection.

Answer 5

Only a very ignorant person could ask such a question, considering that the genome of humans has been sequenced and the add-ons elucidated. This is a common creationist argument that holds no water. Instead, creationist go to any lengths, witness the Dawkins innuendo, to support there nonsensical beliefs. Many of the answers here have explained to you what is really going on, but only you can overcome unsupported belief with the evidence extant.

Answer 6

You actually can. You can do it by inserting DNA into a plasmid and electroporating the plasmid into the cell. Or you can use naturally occuring bacteriophages that infect the cell using there own machinery. Also bacteria have high competency and uptake and integrate DNA from the surrounding mellieu.

Dont listen to the guy above. Mutations in DNA can delete supressors that allow for new genes to be turned on. Also recent evidence has shown that ancient retroviruses have inserted genes into our DNA.

Answer 7

Viruses add information to DNA all the time. In fact, that's the primary form of self replication some viruses have. Retroviruses, in particular, use reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA to DNA and integrate it into the host DNA.

Once integrated in the host DNA, the viral DNA is transcribed repeatedly into mRNA, which is translated by ribosomes to make specific parts of the virus such as the capsid protein, envelope protein and the virus' own reverse transcriptase. Also, some of the RNA produced by transcription is used as the virus' very own RNA, so once it leaves the host cell, it can insert that strand of RNA in another host cell.

Answer 8

Richard Dawkins (arch-evolutionist) was asked on video tape for an example of a mutation which has added information.
After about 10 seconds of embarrased silence he asked for the tape to be turned off.
The link below is rather kind and cuts him off a little early.

Your question is at the heart of the evolutionary hypothesis. In order for evolution to occur there must have been countless billons of instances of information being added to DNA. There are none observed.

Good evidence that Evolution is just a fairy tale.

Answer 9

yes you can. GM food is a great example of that for example they made square mellins for a while. As for you not believing in evolution thats your choice and not may people would agree for you, look at virsues they have evolved woth their patricular cell.

Answer 10

Genetically modified food is a great example of how you can change DNA.

This site has more infomation about recombinant DNA technology...

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml