Quote Originally Posted by Mendel's Balls View Post
Well put.
Natural Selection doesn't really create new information as slartibartfast pointed out. Instead natural selection acts on the tremendous amount of variation and information already in a genome. It hones and streamlines the information over generations to produce a population of organisms that have adaptations that allow those organisms to better survive and reproduce in their environment.
Agreed.

As for the nylon digesting bacteria..

A loss in information can actually give a bacteria that ability. Same deal with developing resistances to antibiotics.

All that needs to happen is a digestive enzyme recieving a mutation which renders it less specific.. enzymes fit their respective molecules sort of like a key. A slightly less specific one could bond with a new molecule (for instance nylon) thus giving the bacterium the ability to digest a new substance. The enzyme is going to be a bit less efficient however, at performing its original job. Both nylon and proteins are broken down by breaking amide (ammonia derived) links.. so it's quite concievable that the enzyme could mutate to digest nylon.

Another example is sickle cell anemia. This mutates the red blood corpuscles into a sickle shape. This renders anyone with this mutation immune to malaria, however it makes the hemoglobin less efficient in carrying oxygen.. not the best thing! Sickle cell anemia is co-dominant, and people who are heterozygous for it have minimal harm from the mutation, while still reaping the benefit of malaria immunity.