Evolutionists how can mutations increase the genetic information?

Question

Mutations only mix genetic information that is already there.

How could single cell organism evolve into anything if mutations would cause it to lose genetic information?

http://www.angelfire.com/mi/dinosaurs/mutations.html

Answer 1

There are only four bases in genetics, yet that gives enough variety to describe everything from little old me to the microscopic organism that lives in my small intestine. It's like mixing the letters of the alphabet. I start with the word 'step', change 'p' to 'k', add an 'a', and I've got 'steak'. Notice how I didn't have to create any new letters to make a new word. Magical, isn't it?

Answer 2

When DNA is copied, it can happen that the DNA strand gets looped in the transcriptionase. This can cause duplications of genetic material and increases the number of raw base pairs in the new strand. That alone is technically an increase in the data. However, it may happen that an entire gene is transcribed twice by such an error. What this does is gives the DNA two copies -- meaning one can mutate and potentially lead to a new sequence with beneficial properties while the other gene remains relatively unchanged, continuing metabolic stability in the species. That would count as an increase in information.

Answer 3

It isn't mutations by themselves that cause an increase in genetic information. It is mutations combined with natural selection.

Here's a similar example that might help you understand the concept.

Imagine there is a casino in Las Vegas with a row of 10,000 slot machines. The owners have hired a mechanic that knows how to make exact duplicates of the slot machines. The owners have also decided that every day they will throw out the 5 least used slot machines and have the mechanic build exact copies of the 5 most used machines.

You may assume that this would have no effect on the odds of winning at the slot machines in the casino. You would be wrong.

Over time, the slot machines will slowly devolop wear and tear on their internal gears. Some will become more likely to stick on losing pictures. Others will become more likely to stick on winning pictures. This process of wear and tear is similar to mutations in DNA.

Also, people at the casino will choose to play more often at the machines that have a higher chance of winning and they will avoid those with a higher chance of losing. This is similar to the process of natural selection in nature.

When these two processes are combined, it is easy to see that the odds of winning at the slot machines in that casino will steadily rise because the losing machines will be thrown out and the winning machines will be copied.

Apply the same idea to nature and you can see how the process of evolution enables an increase in genetic information.

Answer 4

Let's say a protein is encoded on DNA as ATC.CAT.CGA.GGG.CAG

Let us say a point mutation occured and it became ATC.CAT.CGA.AGG.CAG

Same amount of information, different protein most likely (I don't have my codon cheat-sheet handy).

Now, let's assume that during duplication, the two strands get stuck end to end. This is another known mutation. So now we have ATC.CAT.CGA.AGG. CAG.ATC.CAT.CGA .AGG.CAG ... two copies of the same protein. So long as one remains functional, the other is free to mutate via point mutation, and the result may become useful. This is new information.

Via point mutations, you might end up with

ATC.CAT. CGA.AGG.CAG. ATG.GTT.CGA .ACG.CAG

And find that both of these proteins are useful for protein synthesis... but the second one is BETTER at it. So organisms with that gene will have a lower energy requirement and thus be better able to survive in the same environment.

Believe it or not, one of the proteins involved in your ability to form a blood clot is provably related to a digestive enzyme... this is likely how it happened to get changed around.

Answer 5

Mutations are most likely a way to survive in changing environmental conditions.Many earlier forms would have been mistaken for just plants. The will to survive in adverse conditions is academic. I think therefor I am; was and is and always shall be part of nature. Stop thinking like some dime store coloring book designer and think out of the crayon box. Many early life forms had tenticals that reached out for genetic and environmental information. Call it the; "I Am" Gene.

Answer 6

I always find the "information" debate puzzling.

DNA is built of four bases (A,B,C,D), basically you've got a loooooong string of letters. It strikes me that every time you mix the letters you're going to have a completely different book. But of course you don't - there ust be some way that the letters are kept together.

Still we do get new information. Your DNA for example carries new information, information that wasn't their before you were conceived - IT IDENTIFIES YOU. That's information, that's new. How much else it can say I don;t know, but the link below seems to show significant new information being developed.

Answer 7

Wrong. Gene duplications increase the copy number and point mutations alter the genetic information, clearly increasing information content.

Answer 8

I saw a cat
--->I saw a cat
--->i saw a rat

There, the mutation on the second child increased the amount of information.

Answer 9

Wrong! Imagine a mutation that makes an extra copy of a gene sequence. We know that this happens. Imagine it copies it out wrong. Like adding an extra word to a sentance but spelling it wrong, so it codes for something slightly different - means something slightly different. That's how you get new information and new species (eventually).

Answer 10

No, it doesn't work that way. Mutations CHANGE genetic information.