Comments on Gpuccio: Functional Information Methodology

[Mercer (John Mercer)]

@Giltil

There are 2 steps in the humoral response to a foreign antigen. The first is the recognition of the antigen by some B cells patrolling the human body that happen to express a receptor with, most often, a weak affinity for the antigen. The second step occurs when these activated B cells migrate into follicles and proliferate to form germinal centers where they undergo V-region somatic hypermutations that improve affinity for the antigen.

Wow. As @glipsnort pointed out, you’re completely ignoring the literal generation of massive FI produced by recombination of V,D, and J segments in the germline.

That’s a truly staggering omission.

@Giltil

Now, let’s look at the NEW FI produced during these 2 steps.

Why wouldn’t you look at the NEW FI produced by VDJ recombination?

@Giltil

For the first step, the function is for a B cell to bind the antigen. But the important thing to see here is that in most cases, the function is already there so that no NEW FI is produced during this step.

No, most of the NEW FI is produced by recombination after birth. Why are you ignoring it?

@Giltil

The bottom line is that the amount of new FI produced by the immune system is, to say the least, ridiculously low compared to the 500 bits threshold required to draw a design inference.

The bottom line is that you’re ignoring the new FI produced by VDJ recombination. Why?

I do, however, give you credit for at least trying to address this.