http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/ ... nutrition/ (http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/nutrition/)
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Quote from: "baddogma"http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/nutrition/
This article says nothing about mutation... random or otherwise.
So, what's going on in this thread?
It just shows diet can influence genes, along with other factors. I think we would see a lot more freaks being selected from if mutations were just "random". This almost seems intelligent.....without the consciousness if you follow.
Lot's of things going on in evolution beyond random mutations that we are just beginning to learn about. (viral insertions)
Some of the mutations that are random are exactly what makes you not identical to your siblings, so there is definitely randomness in there.
This confusion is the result of bad science fiction, in which "mutation" is synonymous with "physical change." The vast majority of genetic mutations have no effect whatsoever on the phenotype.
I don't think "random" is really a good word. They aren't necessarily random. They are just unpredictable.
Many mutations, being caused by things like cosmic ray hits, are as random as anything can be. But mutation is just a small part of evolution.