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My inability to predict a grandmaster's moves on the chessboard does not make them random. Your inability to predict where recombination will take place does not make it random.
Yet another grandmaster would be far more successful at predicting the moves - because they are not random. But experts cannot predict where recombination will occur.
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And what are "normal mechanisms of mutation"? How can that which is normal produce abnormality? And if we were to call mutations "normal", what word would we use to designate that which is not mutated?
Your response is based on confusing the mechanism with its output. To call the mechanisms normal is not to call any specific result they produce "normal".
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As for bacteria requiring a source of additional genetic material before recombination can occur, I've been informed otherwise by more than one source I consider to be more reliable.
Then perhaps you can provide references. Here's mine
Recombination in Bacteria
It may seem somewhat surprising that bacteria can undergo recombination. After all, as was outlined in the module on recombination, the process requires two homologous DNA molecules, and bacteria have only one chromosome (and are therefore haploid). Bacteria, however, have mechanisms by which they can 'obtain' extra DNA, which creates opportunities for recombination to occur
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And would you really agree with Taz that the same mutation is going to crop up fresh time after time, in spite of enormous odds against it? That right there should be a tip-off that it cannot be a mutation, but must be either the result of an exchange mechanism or recombination. Please try to resist your conditioning.
I'd say that it is better than your idea that recombination is responsible. However there's no need for the SAME mutation to crop up each time. You make the mistake of assuming that only one possible mutation could increase resistance to an antibiotic.
But why would recombination do any better ? And where is your evidence ? What is the source of the DNA for recombination or exchange ?
I'll add that the idea that I have been "conditioned" into not unquestioningly beleive whatever you say is even more laughable.
Here's an actual study showing that disablng a mechanism that generates mutations prevents the development of antibiotic resistance. That's a lot more than you've offered.
Inhibition of Mutation and Combating the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
In this work, we show that preventing induction of the SOS response by interfering with the activity of the protease LexA renders pathogenic Escherichia coli unable to evolve resistance in vivo to ciprofloxacin or rifampicin, important quinolone and rifamycin antibiotics
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I notice a couple of things. If you had said 'unpredictable' instead of 'random' you would have been correct. If you had said 'most common mechanisms of mutation' instead of 'normal mechanisms of mutation' you would have been accurate. Remedy these, and your post has a lot less potential to mislead. So which post was it that set of the spin detector, mine or yours?
Yours. Since the changes you suggest make no difference to my post - unless YOU intend to spin them - you've got no real basis for your accusation. On the other hand there's plenty of spin coming from you - "Try to resist your conditioning" indeed !
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