Quote:
Originally Posted by marki
My real question would be "could the organism survive such a change for long enough to pass on its altered DNA  " |
Yes, I think. Almost certainly. It would only take one or several organisms to survive to pass on the "
defect", while the vast genome population is summarily sacrificed. This leaves a
niche for evolution or some other species to fill in the gap from the opportunity of the other species' widespread demise - either replacing it altogether or co-existing. Based then on natural selection or environment, one newly and significantly or slightly
evolved species prevails.
More interesting is RNA / DNA can even 'evolve' during the organism's lifetime, and could be passed on to the next generation.
Very profound, methinks! 
Note: Intelligent design has no answer to this. The process has been generally documented and observed, while it is rarely discussed because of its profound implications. Why people ever want to believe it is beyond me, when the biological processes are so outstandingly beautiful and complex - and logical. Thinking about it, the doubt reminds me of the meta-philosophy of the Björk song "
Human Behaviour";
"If you ever get close to a human
And human behaviour
Be ready, be ready to get confused
There's definitely, definitely, definitely no logic
To human behaviour
But yet so, yet so irresistible
And there's no map
and a compass
wouldn't help at all
They're terribly moody
And human behaviour
Then all of a sudden turn happy
But, oh, to get involved in the exchange
Of human emotions
Is ever so, ever so satisfying
Oh oh, and there's no map
Human behaviour, human
Human, human behaviour, human
Human, human behaviour, human
Human behaviour, human." 