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Author Topic:   Adding information to the genome.
Blzebub 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5262 days)
Posts: 129
Joined: 10-10-2009


(2)
Message 25 of 280 (532149)
10-21-2009 4:31 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Kaichos Man
10-20-2009 8:41 AM


The mechanism by which MRSA has evolved from Staph. aureus could be described as adding "information" to the genome, depending on how you define "information".
The mechanism is that an alternative penicillin binding protein (PBP2a), is produced in addition to the usual penicillin binding proteins. The protein is encoded by the mecA gene, and because PBP2a is not inhibited by antibiotics such as flucloxacillin the cell continues to synthesise peptidoglycan and hence has a structurally sound cell wall.
Note that there is no loss of function, no loss of information. The opposite is true: the bacterium has evolved the ability to survive flucloxacillin therapy, by acquiring a new gene (extra "information").

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 Message 1 by Kaichos Man, posted 10-20-2009 8:41 AM Kaichos Man has replied

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Blzebub 
Suspended Member (Idle past 5262 days)
Posts: 129
Joined: 10-10-2009


(1)
Message 60 of 280 (532438)
10-23-2009 12:37 PM
Reply to: Message 58 by Kaichos Man
10-23-2009 6:44 AM


Re: laugh first think second?
You appear to be a worshipper of "the god of the gaps". Finding any gap in mankind's scientific knowledge, on any subject whatsoever, leads the gap-god-believer to declare that "god did it".
If we all behaved in this way, we'd all still be sitting in damp, cold caves.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 58 by Kaichos Man, posted 10-23-2009 6:44 AM Kaichos Man has not replied

  
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