cncabej{at}aol.com (CNCabej) wrote in
news:c0bu0o$2jvb$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org: 

> On>Tue, 10 Feb 2004 00:14:44 +0000 (UTC) >Tim Tyler tim{at}tt1lock.
> wrote: 

>>The environment coming to affect gene expression - and even the 
>>inheritance of genes - is old news - see "The Baldwin Effect".
 
> Sorry, but my question was neither the one you "quote" nor related to
> "The environment coming to affect gene expression - and even the
> inheritance of genes." My question was essentially different: "If
> information implies a sender and a receiver, do you believe that the
> environment is the sender and genes are the receivers of environmental
> information?" "Can you substantiate this Lamarckian concept?"

I don't think this idea is all that controversial. A good book on the 
subject is "The Dependent Gene", by David Moore, who gives numerous 
examples of how gene expression relies on environmental cues (information 
if you will) for proper development. It is of course well known that the 
proper contents of the cytoplasm of the ova are essential for normal 
development. The social insects are replete with examples of how external 
influences determine the caste of the larva. IIRC, there are several 
species of fish in which individuals change their sex in response to 
changes in the environment. 

Yours,

Bill Morse
---
þ RIMEGate(tm)/RGXPost V1.14 at BBSWORLD * Info{at}bbsworld.com

---
 * RIMEGate(tm)V10.2áÿ* RelayNet(tm) NNTP Gateway * MoonDog BBS
 * RgateImp.MoonDog.BBS at 2/15/04 11:00:06 AM