quote:
You are right that there is no "figuring out", and that is my point. Cells such as these slugs do not grow up with the ability to observe and then immitate their parents. Turning into this slug is then an obvious instinct which all of the examples I have been given show.
And those instincts are the result of their genes. As you said, they can't learn by watching so that leaves one option, genetics.
quote:
So somehow these cells attained within their DNA the ability to naturally turn into an irreducibly complex organism. (According to evolution). And I'd like an explanation(if you aren't too busy).
It's quite simple, actually. Mutations allowed for offspring to work together. This was beneficial, as were other mutations that made this relationship more effecient. As the cells became better and better at working together the genes needed for individual survival withered away. The cells could no longer survive on their own, but survived fine working as a colony. Therefore, mutations that reduced a cells ability to live on it's own did not hurt the cells chances of spreading it's DNA (ie kin selection) and so these mutations were neutral. Mutations that made working together more effecient did help the cells spread their DNA and so the mutations were selected for.
™ Version 4.2