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Article #6575Re: What is evolution?
From: Francis A. Chiafari
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1991 14:22
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1991 14:22
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I would describe the cytochrome C polymorphisms as genetic variation, not evolution. Evolution would involve the constriction of that polymophism by Founders effect or selection such that a particular type became indicative of the species...in other words, a genotype became most prevalent when selected for in that population. Not until then has evolution occurred. Before that, you have a pool of polymorphism and nothing more. I remember reading (somewhere!) that aligators have stopped evolving. Assuming this is true for some species, does that represent the lack of polymorphism within the population of that organism or a lack of selective pressure...or both. If the amount of polymorphism is reduced in reference to other species, does that relate to a reduced mutation rate? It seems that we are trying to define the difference between polymorphism, gradual evolution and punctual evolution. I believe they are all different, and not gradations of the same phenomenon. New insights in these areas would be welcome. -frank chiafari -- Science and engineering must be linked, or science degrades into philosophy... Francis A. Chiafari -Molecular Biologist- Balt. Rh Typing Lab w (301)225-9595 h (301)719-9007
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X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 10a7a9,39219d7a5ed37f7 X-Google-Attributes: gid10a7a9,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1991-09-20 02:38:59 PST Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!gmdzi!unido!unidui!math.fu-berlin.de!ira.uka.de!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!samsung!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!purdue!haven.umd.edu!umbc3.umbc.edu!umbc4.umbc.edu!chiafari From: chiafari@umbc4.umbc.edu (Francis A. Chiafari) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.evolution Subject: Re: What is evolution? Message-ID: <1991Sep20.142207.24130@umbc3.umbc.edu> Date: 20 Sep 91 14:22:07 GMT References: <1991Sep15.125452.8523@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> <2375@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov> Sender: newspost@umbc3.umbc.edu (News posting account) Organization: University of Maryland Baltimore Campus, Academic Computing Services Lines: 24