Comments On Book Reviews Part 3

(_Nature_ v. 431, 21 Oct. 2004, p. 907) "Food for thought for geneticists," a review by T. Colin Campbell of Gary Paul Nabhan's "Why Some Like It Hot: Food, Genes and Cultural Diversity" discusses the "observation of early genetic similarity and stability" throughout the human race which "has suggested to some observers that there is a one-size-fits -all diet," and how "Nabhan challenges this view." When we're talking about slight variations such as food preferences and tolerances, "A change of only one nucleotide can make a substantial difference." [paragraph] "Nabhan identifies a group of 26 'disease genes' that are likely to have been fashioned by food factors and endemic diseases." Problems that include "adult-onset diabetes, lactose intolerance and heritable food allergies" serve as examples, and "these genetic 'disorders', as some would call them...are so common that they should be considered normal." So much for natural selection, at least in humans, I guess.

What intrigues me most is the statement that "It is remarkable that meaningful genetic adaptation can occur in a few thousand years or so, but even more so that genetic-like adaptations can occur within only one or two lifetimes." This warrants further investigation.



Here's a gem of a quotation from "The sincerest form of flattery," a review by John Doyle and Marie Csete of _Imitation of Life: How Biology is Inspiring Computing_ by Nancy Forbes: "Generations of engineers have recognized that, in many respects, biology does it better."

(_Nature_ v. 431, 21 Oct. 2004) Judging from the review, there's not as much material that could be directly related to creation v evolution as we might have expected. There is a "section on the intriguing computational power in the organization of DNA" which "is particularly well presented."

The review also notes: "Making DNA computing work requires a firm grasp of the principles and careful design, but now anyone can download cellular automata or genetic algorithm software and run laptop artificial-life experiments." I've yet to see, however, any such software that coded for the virtual "life" forms on a realistic scale. They are all based on over-simplified systems, and much of the "living" is done by fixed computer code that can't be affected by the "mutations."

Most unfortunately, "The book contains almost no explicit discussion of complexity." As the review notes, "Computer control systems ...represent ... the main source of complexity in technological systems," so it's a shame that it is "barely mentioned either in this book or elsewhere." Such aspects of complexity "are the points of greatest contact between engineering and biology."

Until Next Time,

David Bump
Philippians 3: 13 Brethren, I
count not myself to have
apprehended: but [this] one thing
[I do], forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are
before, 14 I press toward the
mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus.

http://home.att.net/~david.bump