Random Mutations: what does this mean?

There seems to be a general distaste amongst creationists for the idea of "random mutations". A thread about logic is drifting off topic on the subject at this moment. So, if anyone wants to discuss what is meant in biology by the phrase "random mutations", here's the place to do so.First, a definition of random, pulled at random from the first dictionary that comes up when one googles "dictionary".Online Dictionary:1. proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern: the random selection of numbers.
2. Statistics. of or characterizing a process of selection in which each item of a set has an equal probability of being chosen.On the other thread, I compared genetic mutation to lightning strikes. Lightning may be more likely to strike some things than others, as some parts of the genome may be more prone to mutation than others, but lightning and mutations both strike "without definite aim, reason or pattern" as in the definition above.So why do some creationists have a problem understanding this?(You don't have to be a creationist to give an opinion).

Do you want to discuss mutation and the extent to which it is random or do you want to discuss creationists problems in understanding the concept?If it is the first then I think there are a number of threads on mutation where this would be suitable and it needn't require a new thread of its own. If it is the second point you wish to focus on maybe you can retitle and reframe the post around that issue a bit more as it seems a bit slight as it stands.TTFN,AW

I'll have a look at the other threads, Wounded, and think about whether this one's worth it. Discussing the second point couldn't really be done without discussing the first, I suppose, anyway.

Wounded, there's a thread that you yourself started called:

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Mutation and its role in evolution: A beginners guide

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It's only run for about 60 posts, and questions on randomness seem to fit the fairly broad O.P., so forget about this one and the question of why creationists don't understand/like the word random if you're happy with people discussing the extent to which mutations are random here:http://EvC Forum: Mutation and its role in evolution: A beginners guide -->EvC Forum: Mutation and its role in evolution: A beginners guideI might bump it if the discussion goes on (off topic) elsewhere.

That sounds good to me. I'll close this PNT down just now.TTFN,AW