The Myth of Creation Math

There's a zombie going around that goes something like this.

The sequence of codes in DNA is so long that it couldn't possibly have evolved.  The chances of the code for even one gene happening by chance is beyond astronomical. There are four base nucleotides and if a gene has 10,000 pairs then that represents a four to the power of 10,000 probability and that won't happen without divine intervention.

There are a number of things wrong with the argument but I'll focus on one as it's a show stopper.

Firstly, you need to understand what DNA is for. Each section (or gene) is the template for a strand of RNA. Nothing more.

RNA carries the code for a protein. RNA can also intertwine with one or more protein strands to do other jobs but primarily it carries the DNA code that is translated into a protein chain.

A protein chain is one or more strings of the 20 (or 21) amino acids.

Most proteins fold up into a ball and since the amino acids don't have identical sidechains, they fold up in a repeatable pattern. More like a wooden puzzle than a ball of string. Molecules assume positions of minimum energy so the differing amino acid side chains dictate the eventual ball the protein assumes. Same every time.

Most proteins are enzymes. An enzyme allows a reaction to take place quickly where, without it, the reaction would be too slow, require too much energy or not happen at all.

So, mostly, DNA is the code for protein enzymes.

But how does an enzyme work? Google 'aldehyde dehydrogenase wiki' for an example in detail and come back here for the kicker.

But the gist of it is that protein enzymes have an activation site. For aldehyde dehydrogenase (important if you partake in intoxicating drink) the activation site is a fold with a cysteine (residue) (one of the amino acids) positioned with  a sulphur ion pointing the right way. Also there is a glutamate (another amino acid) residue for a second stage of the process. Water is also required.

So now we have a wound up ball of protein with an activation site that performs an essential task.

But what about the other 9,998 amino acids and associated DNA code? What do they do?

Nothing.

They add bulk so the protein can't escape the cell membrane. They may even provide some polarity to the molecule. Mostly they just help build the ball.

What are the chances that a random sequence of amino acids would roll up into a ball with a fold on the outside and a sulfion rearing it's head? One in 1000? One in 1,000,000? Protein enzyme balls can have many folds, even shapes other than a ball.

So the math goes from one in four to the power of 10,000 (practically impossible in our universe) to inevitable, trivial, unavoidable.

 This won't be the end of this zombie (google 'zombie') but at least thinking people can dismiss it.

Plagiarism in music

All music is plagiarised. All the accidental melodies that don't sound bad have already been discovered. 

Hearing a new song that subconsciously reminds you of one from your past can be comforting - it can invoke fond memories. Also, having an idea of what note should come next gives us a sense of security. We also tend to stick with one genre of music for the same reason - we are comfortable with what we are familiar with.

My musical tastes are varied and that gives me the opportunity to find similarities others wouldn't notice. Sometimes an entire song is a copy of a classical piece and sometimes it's just a few seconds.

If you think you are going to write a brand new melody, you are deceiving yourself. Try as hard as you can the notes that come out are from a brain primed with a warehouse of existing music. And trying to find random combinations of notes that are new and pleasing ... well they're all already taken.

There are two ways to write music. 

The first is to play away at your chosen instrument and with your knowledge of quads, triads and timing, play randomly away until you find something that sounds good to you. You can build this up with your training into a complete with. Just think 'It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth ...'.

The second way is to use mathematics. And I don't mean the relationship between notes. I mean listen to every genre of music over every era and just take less that four seconds of anything you like. This is how you make the big money. Just don't take too long a bite or you will be criticised or even sued. 

My musical taste is diverse so to me

• 'We're not gonna take it' sounds like 'O come All Ye Faithful'
• 'I'm on Fire' sounds like 'Afternoon Delight'
• ;Just Like a Woman' sounds like 'As time Goes By'
• 'Mad World' sounds like 'Matthew and Son'
• '(Just Like) Starting Over' sounds like 'Don't Worry baby'

There are countless examples. The songs are different, but the catchy part in the middle sounds too familiar.

This doesn't take into account complete copies like Billy Joel's 'This Night' (Beethoven) or just taking the whole song as in Elvis's 'Surrender' (Torna a Surriento). These are acknowledged by the artist.

Suing another artist for plagiarism is a nonsense but it goes on.