[quote=“RonSewell, post:17, topic:16724”]
Frankly, I place little stock in Behe’s malarial calculations
[/quote]r
10^20, the number that Behe uses, is the number of parasite multiplications that is required for developing HCQ resistance. It is not the result of his calculation, it is not his number, but that of the eminent malariologist Nicolas White.
Reassure me, you’re kidding, right?
Ok, let’s extrapolate.
So we know that 10^20 organisms are required for p. falciparum to develop a modestly complex adaptation requiring a minimum of two mutations. Extrapolating this result, how many organisms would be required for a pig like creature to develop the much more complex adaptations able to morph it into a whale like creature?
To help you ponder the challenge, here is a non exhaustive list of the required adaptations:
- forelimbs transformed into flippers, reduction of hind limbs and pelvis, tail transformed into fluke (incl. ball vertebra for vertical movement)
- re-orientation of the foetus for subaquatic birth (tail-first)
- modification of mammary glands for nursing under water
- re-organization of kidney tissue for intake of salt water
- special lung surfactant (lung has to re-expand rapidly upon coming up to the surface)
- intra-abdominal counter-current heat exchange system (testes are inside the body next to the muscles that generate heat during swimming)