However, there is nothing in Darwin's thinking that precludes a layer of intelligence. If DNA is modified over time to produce offspring of various types, why not have DNA evolve some simple decision making mechanisms?
Once we realize that DNA may itself have a layer of intelligence, we see that evolution may in fact be intelligent without the need of a god to make this come true. To illustrate, we can consider some examples where a layer of intelligence may be involved in the production of offspring.
Let us say that one or both parents of an offspring suffered multiple starvation episodes in the past. Wouldn't this information be useful in the production process performed by the DNA? Offspring from such parents should be conservative, with a desire to save for rainy days. If the mother has but one child and that child is born at a late age, wouldn't it make sense for the DNA to respond by producing offspring that age slowly?
There are all sort of lived experiences that would aid in the production process if taken into account. This would greatly speed up the rate at which organisms can evolve, so it would be a great benefit to the DNA to develop this kind of sensitivity.
Taking this one step further, we can imagine a DNA in which a detailed historic record is kept. This or that ancestor survived starvation. Another ancestor was one of at least ten children. Yet another one got pregnant at a very advanced age. Etc. With this kind of record, DNA can mix and match available attributes so as to maximize the chance of survival.
Once we start seriously considering the alternatives to pure chance as the only driver of evolution, we see that all sorts of possibilities exist, and no god is needed for this to work.
Charles Darwin
By Charles_Darwin_seated.jpg: Henry Maull (1829–1914) and John Fox (1832–1907) (Maull & Fox) [2]
derivative work: Beao - Charles_Darwin_seated.jpg, Public Domain, Link
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