It looks as if even prions (lifeless proteins) can evolve.

[rjw]

Hey folks,



Take a look at this link:-

BBC News - 'Lifeless' prion proteins are 'capable of evolution'

From the opening paragraphs:-

Scientists have shown for the first time that "lifeless" prion proteins, devoid of all genetic material, can evolve just like higher forms of life.

The Scripps Research Institute in the US says the prions can change to suit their environment and go on to develop drug resistance.

Prions are associated with 20 different brain diseases in humans and animals.

The scientists say their work suggests new approaches might be necessary to develop therapies for these diseases.

In the study, published in the journal Science, the scientists transferred prion populations from brain cells to other cells in culture and observed the prions that adapted to the new cellular environment out-competed their brain-adapted counterparts.

When returned to the brain cells, the brain-adapted prions again took over the population.

Charles Weissmann, head of Scripps Florida's department of infectology who led the study, said: "On the face of it, you have exactly the same process of mutation and adaptive change in prions as you see in viruses.

Weissman went on to say:-

"In viruses, mutation is linked to changes in nucleic acid sequence that leads to resistance.

"Now, this adaptability has moved one level down- to prions and protein folding - and it's clear that you do not need nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) for the process of evolution."

If you don’t know what a prion is, then have a read here:-

Prion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If I remember correctly, back in the 1970s, many if not most scientists claimed that the existence of prions was codswallop. As time went by, however, more and more began to accept their reality. **

Now it appears that these lifeless proteins can undergo Darwinian evolution.



Regards, Roland


** All ideas in science have a history. Often, new ideas are claimed by most, initially, to be crap. What happens then is that the advocates of an idea press on and eventually get their evidence looked at by a few skeptics. It is then that the idea either stands up to critical examination or it continues to fall, and remains rejected. If those few skeptics think the idea has merit, then it brings others into the picture. More and better evidence may then accumulate, until a point is reached that the idea becomes the norm. However, by one means or another, the idea becomes the norm, based on evidence.

The history of the acceptance of ideas by scientists is often as interesting as are the ideas themselves.

 

[Gracchus]

This brings out the point that abiogenesis =/= evolution. There was descent with modification and differential selection before cellular life appeared. Evolution predates life.

 

[FreezBee]

Hey folks,



Take a look at this link:-

BBC News - 'Lifeless' prion proteins are 'capable of evolution'

Interesting

"The abnormal prion proteins multiply by converting normal prion proteins.

So, the abnormal prions do not exactly replicate (copying themselves from the ground up), but multiply by converting normal prions.

I suppose the normal prions cannot do any conversion?


- FreezBee

 

[Wedjat]

Once you understand chemical evolution, abiogenesis becomes much easier to grasp.

 

[Naraoia]

I read this on Not Exactly Rocket Science. Very cool.

And now it makes me wonder if a similar process could have played a role in the early evolution of nucleic acids. How flexible is the secondary structure of a given RNA sequence?

I don't know if that could have anything to do with the origin of life, but I like throwing out random ideas

 

[PhilosophicalBluster]

All proteins are lifeless. Rawr biology.

 

[Gracchus]

All proteins are lifeless. Rawr biology.

I bleive that is exactly the point. If differential suvival and reproduction are processes observed in lifeless molecules, why would you deny them in living things?

 

[PhilosophicalBluster]

Yes, I understand the concept, but the title said "prions (lifeless proteins)" All proteins are lifeless, that is an unneeded qualifier. Should have said "(defective proteins)" or something.

 

[sandwiches]

Yes, I understand the concept, but the title said "prions (lifeless proteins)" All proteins are lifeless, that is an unneeded qualifier. Should have said "(defective proteins)" or something.

I think it was to stress the importance of the fact that they are not alive and to give those who might not understand what are prions or proteins a better idea of what the thread is about.

 

[rjw]

I think it was to stress the importance of the fact that they are not alive and to give those who might not understand what are prions or proteins a better idea of what the thread is about.

Yes.

I'm simply emphasising a point to some creationists.


Regards, Roland