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Life is full of irreducibly complex systems. (If you take a part out of it, it will not work.) So how would one of these systems evolve? Below is an example of how it might happen, but if it did happen this way, everything should have a huge number of random, neutral body parts.
- Evolving a mouse trap - (a very simple irreducibly complex system)
1. Mutation creates the platform (Neutral trait)
2. A few generations pass so that the gene has time to be passed to many of the species.
3. Another mutation takes place, that has the following traits.
- The trait is either helpful or neutral
- Can be passed on to the next generation
- Is one of the shapes needed to form the final trap. (Catch,
holding bar, hammer, or spring)
- Is located in the correct place in the body to be part of the
mousetrap.
4. Repeat 2 and 3 until all the parts are formed.
If it did happen this way everything should have a huge number of random neutral body parts because of the third step.
It is more probable that the neutral, pass-on-able traits would neither be in the correct location, or shape.
The random traits that don't fit into the final product would always be produced faster than traits that do fit into the final product.
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Is the scenario described above simply setting up a straw man? If so, why.
Is the reasoning behind expecting a huge number of random body parts a sound argument? If not, explain why.
Does life have a huge number of neutral, non-functional body parts?