IV.3. Genetic variability

The main reason of proposing a complete new theory of evolution is the different approach to the origin and sources of the genetic variability.

While for the Darwinian theory of evolution, the genetic variability is due to random mutations, for the General Theory of the Conditional Evolution of Life it is not possible this character of the genetic variations, bearing in mind the complexity of the living beings and their quick evolution time line.

These ideas about complexity in evolutionary biology are explained in the objectives of the evolution section.

Current genetic regulation is something similar to when modifying a computer programme without knowing its structure, functions or even the programme language. It is not my intention to over exaggerate the risks that may be involved in genetic engineering, they undoubtedly exist, but I think that they are minimal.

When a programme is modified, it may stop working, but it is difficult to create a computer virus by accident. With random genetic variability or an accident the same thing could occur, the new being would not be viable but that is all. Genetic problems designed deliberately for bacteriological war would be a different issue.

Likewise, this supposes that, the more that is known about how DNA works, the easier it will be to be convinced that it is impossible for systems so complete and perfect to have arisen as a result of random genetic variability.

In fact, it seems that the random character of genetic variability is due to not understanding their cause and full functionality or the way they really work, so, the unknown is random for pure conventionalism.

IV.3.a) Concept, origin and sources of genetic variability

There is a problem in the terminology of evolutionary biology along with genetic variability because it normally has the meaning that uses the Darwin theory of evolution.

The first precision about genetic information is that I am referring to the genetic information that has been or will transmit to progenitors or descendants.

Genetic variability
(Public domain image)

This restriction is important given that all cells contain an individual’s complete genetic code. It is possible that a genetic modification originates in a cell that does not have reproduction functions, the concept used here includes these modifications insofar as they end up moving to the reproductive system in any way possible.

Logically, in current science, the possibility that a method may exist it is not admitted.

Something else that needs to be clarified is the use of the expression changes in a gene or similar, that refers to expressions like modifications to genetic code or genetic information that is passed on to descendants or received from ancestors, to avoid repeating it too many times.

This practice will be avoided as far as possible but, sometimes, it simplifies the reasoning; I will even use it to refer to genetic information that could be situated in different genes, when this case is not relevant.

Normally, we think of genetic information and genetic variability as something that is very complicated: DNA’s tridimensional molecular structure, etc. It is therefore useful to point out that the idea used here is perfectly similar to other much more commonly concepts that are probably more useful when following complex ideas.

Finally, the study of the genetic variability is a functional analysis and not in its chemical or biochemical composition; therefore, in this sense the genetic information can be assimilated to the following concepts or examples:

• Source code of a computer program
• Technical definitions buildings
• Technical definitions of a car
• User instructions of a computer program

 

IV.3.b) Types of genetic variability

Let us see some of the multiples classifications of genetic modifications that can be done in evolutionary biology:

• Genetic variations derived from the objectives of the evolutionary system:
  
  
  • Improve the efficacy
    
    • Improvement characteristics of materials: new proteins
    • Rationalisation and simplification of the structure of the genetic code
    • Improve the functionality of any element of the genetic information
      
  • Guaranty and security
    
    • To create different genetic variations to deal with changes in environment
    • Associate the idea of structural genetic information to some of it, to know the consequences of any future change or variation
    • Keep genetic code not operative for possible future utilisation
      
  • Cohesion and compatibility
    
    • Associate the condition of verification of the genetic information with the genetic information of the other progenitor in the cases of sexual differentiation
    • Balance development of genes with the complementary characters
      
  • Optimization
    
    • To make risky modifications of genetic information relying in the mechanism of natural selection
    • To make risky modifications of genetic information relying in the use of the method of Verification of the Genetic Information
    • Genetic variations to improve the use of the resources
      
      
• Depending on the methods of genetic evolution:
  
  
  • Trial and error
  • Natural selection
  • Thorough testing
  • Partial testing
  • Initial endogamic sexual differentiation and other variants
  • Sexual differentiation
  • External verification of genetic information
  • Back-up or historical archives
    
    
• Origin or cause of genetic variability
  
  
  • Accidental or random mutations/ directed
  • Internal / external (to the individual)
    The first would be the group of improvements made to the genetic code, produced as a consequence of the individual’s learning, working or life experience previous to the transmission of genetic information.
    
  • Endogenous (to the genetic system) / exogenous (environmental)
    
    
• By the nature or expression of genetic variations
  
  
  • Operative code / not operative
  • Discrete / continuous
  • Restrictive (Conditions of external verification...) / additive / special
  • Variations of genes with cComplementary character / independents / dependants
  • Immediate / not immediate (confirmation needed in next generations)
  • Initial moments (of the new being) / posterior
  • Visible (macro scale) / not visible (micro scale)
    
    
• By the mechanisms of genetic variability
  
  
  • Random / design
  • Predetermined random (random between fixed options) / Totally random
  • Simple / complex
    

IV.4. Mechanisms of genetic variability

After accepting evolutionism it is necessary to clarify some similar terms that sometimes have specific connotations. I am referring to terms of procedure, methods, processes, and mechanisms of evolution used, at least, normally by current science within evolutionism or the generally accepted stance regarding the theory of evolution.

Some terms are very similar and almost synonyms but, normally, I used them with certain special characteristics while talking about evolutionary genetics. Normally, I am thinking about human genes and human gene expression but I believe the ideas are valid for, at least, any evolution of life with sexual differentiation.

These concepts represent instrumental and functional relations between macro-biology and microbiology and between genotype and their genetic expression or phenotype.

An important note is that not always all the methods or mechanisms of genetic variability are possible.

IV.4.a) Concept of procedures, methods, processes and mechanisms

• Procedures and methods of evolutionary genetics

  These two concepts are almost the same regarding genetic variability; the first one could include various methods. For example, sexual differentiation, verification of the genetic information, natural selection characterizes as procedures, methods and even as a mechanism in evolutionary genetics.

  Normally procedures and methods are related to ideas or immaterial concepts.

• Process

  I consider them as a set of activities with a common finality.

• Mechanism of genetic variations

  A mechanism of genetic variations would be a singular process or activity that has an immediate finality or purpose.

A basic outline can be presented as follows: A procedure that includes one or various methods, consisting of a group of activities or processes formed by an undetermined number of related mechanisms, normally in a sequential way.

Likewise, nothing prevents various independent or conceptually different procedures or methods from acting simultaneously in the dynamic of evolutionism. In fact, in evolutionism, it is known that a mechanism of evolution (or method) exists which acts a posteriori in many cases, so-called Natural Selection, collaborating with the other procedures and evolutionary methods.

 

IV.4.b) Glossary on genetic variability

The evolutionary mechanisms allow evolutionism to be explained in a way that agrees with scientific method. Natural selection Is not the only evolutionary method.

James D. Watson
(Public domain image)

Among the most important evolutionary mechanisms are the following:

• Procedures and methods of evolutionary genetics

  • Trial and error

    The simplest of all the evolutionary methods; in principle, it is typical of microorganisms who have lots of descendents in each generation and based on the subsequent method of natural selection.

  • Natural selection

    Strictly and exclusively speaking, it would act as a single, effective evolutionary method, so random modifications alone would not achieve the evolution seen in living beings. In the case of accepting the random character of the modifications, the previous method of trial and error would be more general than natural selection, since this does not always operate.

    It does not seem to have much relevance in the evolution of human beings, except in the very long, rather than long, term. Nor is it guaranteed that it would act in the future, unless we take it tautologically.

    In any case, natural selection can be characterized as an exogenous verification method to the evolutionary system in strict sense or the system producing the genetic modifications, because it acts a posteriori.

  • Exhaustive check of gene expression

  • Partial trial of gene expression

  • Primary sexual differentiation or endogamic sexual differentiation

  • Sexual differentiation

  • External verification of the genetic information or its functionality (VGI)

  • Security copy or archive of genetic information

• Processes
  
  
  • Creation and design of genetic modifications (genetic research at cell level)
    
  • Initial development of the new living being
    
  • Growth of the living being
    
  • Choice of the partner or sexual selection
    
    
     

    NEWS ABOUT THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION " Scientific progress and society. A lot to learn. The living systems depend on the management and processing of enormous quantities of genetic information…" El País 26-11-1992. Eric H. Davidson

    
    
    
• Mechanisms of genetic variations
  
  
  • Operational conditions of the genetic information
    
  • Creation of random operations
    
  • A particular activity of the decision making process