darwinday

In fact, Darwinistic evolution can be defined as natural selection action on mutations (setting aside the
origin of life). No evolutionists deny this, and given what we know about the cell and DNA, there is no
alternative possibility. Evolutionists tend however to be a bit shy about, since the word 'mutation' rings
alarm bells with people. There is a very good reason for this: mutations are random, chaotic, and
although most are too small to make any noticeable difference, when they are big enough to alter the
phenotype, they are almost always harmful. Typical examples of phenotypic mutations are, Down's
syndrome, Huntingdon's disease, cystic fibrosis, and all known forms of cancer.

Mutations occur at the genetic level. They occur when the DNA molecule which contains the encoded
information of life is disrupted in some way. This occurs due to random jumbling up during the process
of cell division or if the DNA is damaged by some external insult such as radiation or poisons
damaging the DNA. Different kinds of mutation include duplication ( a piece of DNA is doubled, as in
Down's syndrome), deletion (the DNA section is destroyed or lost) substitution (2 pieces of DNA
exchange places). This is by no means an exhaustive list, the "official" Darwin Day website has a very
good section on mutation, which shows the nuts and bolts of how things go wrong, but fails to
demonstrate how beneficial mutations might arise. Since the process of DNA replication normally runs
very well, mutations are relatively uncommon compared to the millions of times DNA is replicated in
the life of an individual plant, animal or human. However, there is more. Each cell has DNA check and
repair mechanisms which study the DNA during replication and fix any misplaced base pair
sequences. In the case of a very badly damaged section of DNA, something rather wonderful called
DNA excision repair takes place. The damaged section of DNA, having been identified, is snipped
out with special enzymes, disposed of, and a new correct section of DNA is synthesised and stitched
back on so that the information encoded in the DNA is as good as new. This remarkable check and
repair mechanism has all the appearance of being designed, and in fact in rare genetic disorders in
which it does not work such as Xeroderma Pigmentosum, affected people tend to age prematurely
and die young from skin cancer. This begs the question, how did DNA manage to survive before it's
check and repair mechanism (which is coded for in the DNA) supposedly evolved? DNA check and
repair exists and appears to be essential in all known life forms, so there is no evidence that it
developed gradually.

Theoretically it is hard to see how any supposed 'primitive' life forms could
have existed without it, since DNA is DNA is DNA. It wears out in use �
more quickly if there is no ozone layer (which there could not have been
before the earth was full of plant life to create the free oxygen necessary for
ozone), and if it isn't fixed, the organism will cease functioning and die. The
"killer point" is that evolution predicts and requires beneficial mutations
which add coherent genetic information that leads to new and better
structures. Science observes the opposite.

Beneficial mutations
Although some beneficial mutations do exist, we don't know of any which add new information, and
would be interested to learn of any. A small number of debatable changes have been seen in clones
of bacteria, but pretty well nothing else and an internet search on the word mutation will bring up vast
numbers of diseases. However, as has been shown, since DNA is very well organised with all the
appearance of deliberate and very skilful design when anything is changed randomly, you would
predict that functionality would decrease. In fact , this is what we find.

Two commonly cited examples of so-called beneficial mutations will be dealt with: sickle-cell disease
and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Sickle-cell Disease:
Otherwise known as sickle cell anaemia, this is a genetic condition prevalent in Africa in which due to
a random DNA mutation changes the molecular structure of haemoglobin (Hb) the complex protein
which carries dissolved oxygen in red cells through the bloodstream. Just one molecule is wrong on
the Hb, as a result of which it does not fold properly. �S. H.