Re: Evolution is NOT random

In article <g0iael$1uvu$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
r norman <r_s_norman@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Wed, 14 May 2008 13:44:55 -0400 (EDT), Virgil <Virgil@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

In article <g0cmbb$1o1o$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
dkomo <dkomo871@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Why do I say this? The only truly random processes in nature are
quantum processes and, as far I know, this quantum randomness plays no
role in genetic mutations. Mutations are chemical and thermodynamic
phenomena taking place in the macroscopic classical world above the
quantum realm.

Which of two simultaneous sperm cells to reach an ovum will fertilize
it, is certainly an event on a small enough scale so that quantum
randomness could occasionally play a role.

Brownian motion is sufficient to explain the randomness, quantum
phenomena need not be invoked. Anyone who believes the "classical"
world of physics is deterministic does not understand the chaotic
nature of the system combined with the finiteness of our observational
and computational ability. Even if the philosophers say the classical
system is deterministic, there is no way we can use that to predict
the future so the world is for all realistic purposes as good as
random.

While I quite agree that there are random processes at scales sto large
for quantum effects to be relevant, my point is that there are events in
which quantum effects ARE relevant, despite dkomo's claim to the contrary

.

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