Artificial Evolution
By William F. Hamilton III
Are we on the verge of engineering our own evolution? Geneticists are now unraveling the genomic sequences of chromosome 5 which contain clues on how humans evolved. We are also going through a paradigm shift from new discoveries regarding the complexity of the human genome. What was once considered junk DNA has been discovered having a vital function in the development of living organisms. Advances in understanding how nature and nurture work together as well as how viruses spread genes among bacteria and humans and other cells and how these viruses through this mechanism may have been a chief cause of evolution from primitive to advanced forms of life and have now made artificial evolution possible. Advances in genetic engineering may eventually put us in control of our own evolution as well as that of other plants and animals we share the planet with.
We may be learning
that gene mutations are not the driving force behind changes in organisms, but recombination
of genes. Brig Klyce has stated that
“Recombination is a much more powerful way for DNA to change. If an organism's
genome were written out as text, mutations would be single-letter mistakes,
whereas recombination takes whole words, sentences, paragraphs, pages or groups
of pages and moves them to different locations. These new locations could be
elsewhere in the same paragraph, page, bookshelf, or library. Obviously a
powerful mechanism like recombination should be incorporated into anyone's
understanding of the theory of evolution.” (Cosmic
Ancestry).
Evolution may have been triggered by new viruses arriving on earth from space and some think that these mechanisms may have been used by advanced alien geneticists to produce modifications to existing forms of life or producing new forms of life. Does this mean the aliens were playing God? Not necessarily. Just as mechanical engineers take both natural and artificial materials and combine these into new forms and designs, genetic engineers are taking both natural and artificial genes and combine these into new forms of life or make modifications to existing forms of life. New transgenic species can be created such as the new non-allergenic cat. Transgenic Pets is now researching the removal of the gene that produces a protein called Fel d1, known to cause many allergic reactions in humans.
The vast subject of
genetically-engineered humans has tremendous implications for society and even
science-fiction has explored the ramifications of new humans among the existing
population. In a recent episode of Star
Trek Enterprise, genetically enhanced humans called augments who
are both stronger and smarter than average humans pose a threat to the unaugmented
human and alien crew of the starship
Will we someday encounter aliens that have advanced beyond our normal standards of human who have found it more to their benefit to enhance intelligence and strength while minimizing those qualities we consider important for our own survival; qualities such as compassion and altruism?
One paper on evolutionary biology states, “Accumulating prokaryotic gene and genome sequences reveal that the exchange of genetic information through both homology-dependent recombination and horizontal (lateral) gene transfer (HGT) is far more important, in quantity and quality, than hitherto imagined.”
In light of my previous article on “Life Begins in Space” which refers to Fred Hoyle’s hypothesis on space bacteria incorporated into protoplanetary dust, the further potential for seeded life to evolve into the diverse forms of multicellular organisms through such mechanisms as recombination and gene transfer becomes an item of interest. The gap between prokaryotic single celled creatures to that of eukaryotic multicelled creatures (eukaryotic indicating cells which have a nucleus that encloses its DNA) is such that Dr. Lynn Margulis has proposed the Serial Endosymbosis Theory of Eukaryotic Evolution. This theory departs from the Darwinian theories involving evolution by mutation.
“The term "endosymbiosis" specifies the relationship between organisms which live one within another (symbiont within host) in a mutually beneficial relationship. The SET states that the evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotes involved the symbiotic union of several previously independent ancestors. According to the theory, these ancestors included a host cell, an ancestor of mitochondria, an ancestor of chloroplasts, and, more controversially, a prokaryote that brought with it the structures that today provide cellular motion.” (http://www.oocities.org/jjmohn/endosymbiosis.htm)
In Scientific American in an article entitled the Unseen Genome the shifting paradigm is
highlighted in this statement, “Journals and conferences
have been buzzing with new evidence that contradicts conventional notions that
genes, those sections of DNA that encode proteins, are the sole mainspring of
heredity and the complete blueprint for all life. Much as dark matter
influences the fate of galaxies, dark parts of the genome exert control over
the development and the distinctive traits of all organisms, from bacteria to
humans. The genome is home to many more actors than just the protein-coding
genes.”
We may be on the verge of
a Brave New World as suggested by the
title of Aldous Huxley’s novel on a future of human eugenics. Just as likely as this urge to create new
technology from new scientific discoveries is the reaction that will put the
brakes on further development from those sectors of society who oppose
interfering with God’s natural world.
However, not all societies hold the same beliefs and that country which
gives a green light to artificial evolution may have a selective advantage that
will challenge those ludites who refuse to change.