The predictability of evolution.

[shunyadragon]

In many threads, I have argued that other than the randomness of the timing of individual outcomes of individual cause and effect events the processes of evolution and actually the entire nature of our physical existence is not random. The following article addresses this issue. I question some of the terminologies, but the article does refer to some new analysis of the research and genetics of evolution.

[cite=https://scitechdaily.com/yale-study-suggests-that-evolution-can-be-predicted/]



Evolution might be less random than we thought.

Evolution has long been thought of as a relatively random process, with species’ features being formed by random mutations and environmental factors and thus largely unpredictable.

But an international team of scientists headed by researchers from Yale University and Columbia University discovered that a specific plant lineage independently developed three similar leaf types repeatedly in mountainous places scattered across the Neotropics.

[shunyadragon]

In many threads, I have argued that other than the randomness of the timing of individual outcomes of individual cause and effect events the processes of evolution and actually the entire nature of our physical existence is not random. The following article addresses this issue. I question some of the terminologies, but the article does refer to some new analysis of the research and genetics of evolution.

[cite=https://scitechdaily.com/yale-study-suggests-that-evolution-can-be-predicted/]



Evolution might be less random than we thought.

Evolution has long been thought of as a relatively random process, with species’ features being formed by random mutations and environmental factors and thus largely unpredictable.

But an international team of scientists headed by researchers from Yale University and Columbia University discovered that a specific plant lineage independently developed three similar leaf types repeatedly in mountainous places scattered across the Neotropics.

The terminology I question is 'Evolution might be less random than we thought.' It is either random or not. Similarly you cannot be 'almost pregnant.'

See the following reference:

Reference: “Replicated radiation of a plant clade along a cloud forest archipelago” by Michael J. Donoghue, Deren A. R. Eaton, Carlos A. Maya-Lastra, Michael J. Landis, Patrick W. Sweeney, Mark E. Olson, N. Ivalú Cacho, Morgan K. Moeglein, Jordan R. Gardner, Nora M. Heaphy, Matiss Castorena, Alí Segovia Rivas, Wendy L. Clement, and Erika J. Edwards, 18 July 2022, Nature Ecology & Evolution.
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01823-x

[rogue06]

Sort of like how humans have evolved different mutations that do basically the same thing in order to adapt to high altitudes in Tibet, the Andes and Ethiopian highlands?

[shunyadragon]

Sort of like how humans have evolved different mutations that do basically the same thing in order to adapt to high altitudes in Tibet, the Andes and Ethiopian highlands?

Yes.

[shunyadragon]

There are many many examples of parallel evolution determined by environmental factors throughout the history of life,

[Sparko]

Almost like evolution was guided by intelligence or something.

[rogue06]

There are many many examples of parallel evolution determined by environmental factors throughout the history of life,

Everything from convergent evolution to what I was mentioning -- another example of which would be how an allele conferring lactase persistence has evolved separately at least seven different times in the last 7000 years (among pastoralist groups ranging from Northern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Northeast Africa and India), allowing adult humans to drink milk. This provides them with another source of food to consume that those who are lactate intolerant can not use, which would definitely come in handy during periods of decreased food supply.

[rogue06]

Almost like evolution was guided by intelligence or something.

Evolution is God's Intelligent Design. I heard that before somewhere.

[shunyadragon]

Almost like evolution was guided by intelligence or something.

Almost all?!?!? It is either Created by God (An intelligent Source) or not. Created by God would be a Theistic 'belief,' which we share. Nonetheless science has more than adequate objective verifiable evidence that the nature of our physical existence and, of course, evolution can come about simply naturally. There is absolutely no objectively verifiable evidence for ID,

[rogue06]

Almost all?!?!? It is either Created by God (An intelligent Source) or not. Created by God would be a Theistic 'belief,' which we share. Nonetheless science has more than adequate objective verifiable evidence that the nature of our physical existence and, of course, evolution can come about simply naturally. There is absolutely no objectively verifiable evidence for ID,

This naturally leads to the question of how would life on earth differ if it arose and evolved solely through natural processes as opposed to being the result of a mechanism that God establish for doing His will.

[TheLurch]

This naturally leads to the question of how would life on earth differ if it arose and evolved solely through natural processes as opposed to being the result of a mechanism that God establish for doing His will.

A very large number of people seem to be uncomfortable with the idea that it's not possible to distinguish the two using scientific methods. Which I personally find amusing, for equally non-scientific reasons.

[Ronson]

This naturally leads to the question of how would life on earth differ if it arose and evolved solely through natural processes as opposed to being the result of a mechanism that God establish for doing His will.

Depends on the size of the petri dish. Is it the entire universe or just Earth?

Sort of like asking "what percentage of planets have life on them?" Not enough information about possible "life" to even venture a guess, not to mention the composition and distribution of planets and similar bodies. Hurts my brain.

[rogue06]

Depends on the size of the petri dish. Is it the entire universe or just Earth?

Sort of like asking "what percentage of planets have life on them?" Not enough information about possible "life" to even venture a guess, not to mention the composition and distribution of planets and similar bodies. Hurts my brain.

And that is why I try using mine as little as possible.

[tabibito]

Depends on the size of the petri dish. Is it the entire universe or just Earth?

Sort of like asking "what percentage of planets have life on them?" Not enough information about possible "life" to even venture a guess, not to mention the composition and distribution of planets and similar bodies. Hurts my brain.

The hypothesis that evolution might have a set of natural governing laws was proposed long since. As to life on other planets, it would depend on how tight the parameters of those laws (assuming they can be considered a theory) might be. Every combination of the composition of star and planet might be unique, so it would be a matter of how broad the parameters promoting the development of life might be.

[shunyadragon]

The hypothesis that evolution might have a set of natural governing laws was proposed long since. As to life on other planets, it would depend on how tight the parameters of those laws (assuming they can be considered a theory) might be. Every combination of the composition of star and planet might be unique, so it would be a matter of how broad the parameters promoting the development of life might be.

It would not be best to call them a 'set of naturally governing laws.' Natural Laws are pretty much universal. The criteria for life as on earth is the environmental conditions and the changing environmental conditions. Yes, other planets with life would have to fit within a range of environmental conditions suitable for life to begin and evolve.

My estimate is life may be fairly common in the universe, but the likelyhood of a planet that meets the criteria that life would evolve as on earth maybe rare.

Mars is a classic example for the possibility of the beginnings of life, but no more. Mars likely had the environment for abiogenesis and early life forms, but it was short lived. Also it is likely only for the possibility for abiogenesis and early life forms, because of the short life of the ideal conditions for abiogenesis and the evolution of life.