- Jul 18, 2005
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Taken largely intact from a clever IIDB member.
The claim: No genetic mutation may increase information.
1. Point mutations are reversible.
2. Suppose a point mutation in gene G at nucleotide N changes a T to an A. Per the claim, this represents a decrease in information.
3. Suppose a point mutation at N changes the A back to a T. Per the claim, this also represents a decrease in information.
4. It follows from premises 3 & 4 that two chemically identical configurations of G have distinct information contents.
It seems almost too neat.
The claim: No genetic mutation may increase information.
1. Point mutations are reversible.
2. Suppose a point mutation in gene G at nucleotide N changes a T to an A. Per the claim, this represents a decrease in information.
3. Suppose a point mutation at N changes the A back to a T. Per the claim, this also represents a decrease in information.
4. It follows from premises 3 & 4 that two chemically identical configurations of G have distinct information contents.
It seems almost too neat.