Evolution Quote by Lee Spetner
““The bradys must hold that, on the average, cumulative selection has to add a little information to the genome at each step. But of all the mutations studied since genetics became a science, not a single one has been found that adds a little information. It is not impossible, in principle, for a mutation to add a little information, but it is improbable. The NDT was an attractive theory. Unfortunately, it is based on the false speculation that many small random mutations could build up to large evolutionary changes.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Evolutionary Biology Textbook, 1990s
The quote argues that mutations rarely add new information to DNA, challenging the idea that many small random changes can drive major evolutionary leaps.
In simple terms: Mutations seldom increase genetic information, questioning gradual evolution.
Key Takeaway
Question the sufficiency of random mutations for complex traits.
Themes
evolution
genetics
information
mutation
theory
Mood
skeptical
analytical
critical
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- biology lecture
- research proposal
- policy discussion
- public outreach
Key Concepts
incrementalism
information theory
randomness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do organisms acquire new genetic functions?
- What evidence supports incremental evolutionary change?
A Different Perspective
The argument overlooks mechanisms like gene duplication and regulatory changes that can add information.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
