Quote: (08-14-2013 10:21 PM)La Familia Wrote:
Quote: (08-14-2013 10:05 PM)Wadsworth Wrote:
It's theoretically possible I suppose. Altered genotypes do cause altered phenotypes. But normally the most minute change in genotype produces massive changes in phenotype. Normal physiology and biology exists within a pretty narrow range, because I suppose one way of looking at it is just as one massive chemical reaction. If you change the conditions of the reaction, the most likely scenario would be a hugely deleterious effect.
Not always true; if that were the case, then all of our silent mutations would be visibly evident and therefore, not silent.
One answer to your question is that in order for one to obtain super human abilities, the mutations must be beneficial. On average, most mutations in our DNA are neutral or deleterious. Additionally, you have to consider the increased energy cost required to maintain those improved traits, and that is dependent on factors such as the availability of resources in your environment or the rate of ATP production.
It's fun to think in what ways we can evolve to become more biologically efficient humans. Too bad we will most likely be exterminated before we can evolve and inherit perceived super powers.
Silent mutations don't occur on highly evolutionarily conserved genes. They normally occur in DNA stretches between genes. Alot of that DNA is malleable, and often contains viral DNA. If a highly conserved gene were mutated, the fitness of that organism would almost certainly tank and the gene would be selected against. Most mutations to genes aren't silent, they change the phenotype significantly.