Re: One more hurtle for evolution

Cliff Lundberg (
Tue, 12 Oct 1999 13:26:00 -0700

Arthur V. Chadwick wrote:
>Los Angeles Times, October 12, 1999, Tuesday, Metro Desk
> Before Blobel's work, it was unknown how newly made proteins were directed
>to their correct locations in the cell and how large proteins could traverse
>the tightly sealed membranes surrounding individual structures within the
> Blobel speculated in 1971 that this extra section of protein was a tag
>signaling the protein's ultimate destination. Over the next several years,
>Steiner said, "he provided clear, elegant, decisive experimental evidence that
>showed exactly how this signal . . . was functioning."
> The system has subsequently been shown to be universal, functioning in
>plants, animals and microorganisms as well as humans.

A mechanism has been elucidated, a mystery has been cleared up; the
relationship of terrestrial organisms has been affirmed.

Why is this a setback for evolutionary biology?

Cliff Lundberg  ~  San Francisco  ~