[MD] Oneness, Dualism & Intellect

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Horse <horse at darkstar.uk.net>:

> Hi PLatt
> 
> OK, forget viruses, as they are not strictly life. However, bacteria 
> (single and multi-cellular organisms) are true life and constitute the 
> majority of life on the planet. Bacteria are the bugs and super-bugs 
> that Ian referred to.
> 
> Here's something from Wikipedia:
> 
> "Bacteria, as asexual organisms, inherit identical copies of their 
> parent's genes (i.e., they are clonal). However, all bacteria can evolve 
> by selection on changes to their genetic material DNA caused by genetic 
> recombination or mutations. Mutations come from errors made during the 
> replication of DNA or from exposure to mutagens. Mutation rates vary 
> widely among different species of bacteria and even among different 
> clones of a single species of bacteria. Genetic changes in bacterial 
> genomes come from either random mutation during replication or 
> "stress-directed mutation", where genes involved in a particular 
> growth-limiting process have an increased mutation rate.
> Some bacteria also transfer genetic material between cells. This can 
> occur in three main ways. Firstly, bacteria can take up exogenous DNA 
> from their environment, in a process called transformation. Often, the 
> genes transferred are not from within the main bacterial chromosome, but 
> are carried on a small circular piece of DNA called a plasmid. Genes can 
> also be transferred by the process of transduction, when the integration 
> of a bacteriophage introduces foreign DNA into the chromosome. The third 
> method of gene transfer is bacterial conjugation, where DNA is 
> transferred through direct cell contact. This gene acquisition from 
> other bacteria or the environment is called horizontal gene transfer and 
> may be common under natural conditions.[94] Gene transfer is 
> particularly important in antibiotic resistance as it allows the rapid 
> transfer of resistance genes between different pathogens."
> 
> Bacteria are constantly evolving into new forms without human or other 
> interference and thus constitute ongoing biological evolution.

Well, that explains mutations that I just asked Ian about. But, I don't 
consider changes in types of bacteria evolutionary since they don't evolve
into anything other than bacteria -- to the best of my knowledge. Do you know
if anyone has observed bacteria evolving into something other than 
another species of bacteria? Thanks.





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