Information Changes in DNA by logical Analysis

Mustonnen and Lassig writes:It is instructive to contrast this view of adaptive evolution with Muller's ratchet, a classical model of evolution by deleterious substitutions [citations removed] . This model postulates a well-adapted initial state of the genome so that all, or the vast majority of, mutations have negative fitness effects. Continuous fixations of slightly deleterious changes then lead to a stationary decline in fitness (i.e. to negative values of Φ). Similarly to the infinite-sites approximation, this model neglects compensatory mutations. In a picture of a finite number of sites, it becomes clear that every deleterious substitution leads to the opportunity for at least one compensatory beneficial mutation (or more, if the locus contributes to a quantitative trait), so that the rate of beneficial substitutions increases with decreasing fitness....Thus, we reach a conclusion contrary to Muller's ratchet. Because selection in biological systems is generically time-dependent, decline of fitness is less likely even as a transient state than suggested by Muller's ratchet: the model offers no explanation of how a well-adapted initial state without opportunities of beneficial mutations is reached in the first place.

If you're only considering the genes of a single individual then reproduction cannot be part of the conversation, so you must be looking at DNAs role in controlling the cell machinery. Do I have that right?

It is hardly news that creationist/Iders use logically flawed arguments. I'm just pointing out that these are the arguments they use.

Dr Adequate writes: What I'm analyzing is the question of "information" (whatever that is) increasing or decreasing...

If you want to know whether information is increasing or decreasing then you need to be able to quantify it. What I haven't been able to figure out yet is how you're quantifying information.

Dr Adequate writes:Well, I think everyone would have to admit that λ contains no information by any sensible metric; which is why I introduced it into the argument.

SkepticWiki writes:The most obvious problem with this argument is that the creationists who use it never say how information is to be measured in this context.

So once someone explains what is I'll continue rereading the thread.

SkepticWiki writes:Any mutation that lengthens the DNA will increase the number of "bits" in it...

PaulK writes:The section you quote actually precedes the argument that Dr Adequate refers to (labelled "Problem 2: A Mathematical Argument") which partly explains your problem.

I think that the specific point you object to refers to a straight binary encoding, rather than your arbitrary selection of "messages".