James Shapiro
James A. Shapiro is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago. He received a B.A. in English Literature from Harvard University in 1964 and a Ph.D. in Genetics from Cambridge University in 1968.
Dr. Shapiro argues that a 21st century approach to evolution should be framed in terms of systems engineering by integrating the emerging concepts of cellular computation, decision-making, genome system architecture, and natural genetic engineering. This position is summed up in the following quotation taken from an online chat discussion with James Shapiro:
Quote:
"Genomes constitute the long-term information storage organelles of every cell and are hierarchically organized as systems assembled from DNA modules. Each genome has a computational system architecture formatted by sequence elements that do not code for proteins. Whole-genome sequencing indicates that rearrangement of genetic modules plus duplication and reuse of existing genomic systems are fundamental events in evolution. Molecular discoveries about mechanisms of DNA restructuring show that cells possess the Natural Genetic Engineering functions necessary for evolutionary change by rearranging genomic components. These natural genetic engineering functions are sensitive to biological inputs, and their non-random operations help explain how novel system architectures can arise in evolution. Darwin himself recognized the potential for major hereditary variation "as leading to permanent modifications of structure independently of natural selection" (Origin of Species, 6th edition, Chapter XV, p. 395). By integrating the emerging concepts of cellular computation and decision-making, genome system architecture, and natural genetic engineering, we are now in a position to frame novel 21st Century evolutionary theories in terms of systems engineering."
Web Resources On James Shapiro
http://shapiro.bsd.uchicago.edu/21st_Cent_View_Evol.html
http://shapiro.bsd.uchicago.edu
http://www.iscid.org/james-shapiro-chat.php
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