Article View: bionet.molbio.evolution
Article #6629Re: Definition of evolution
From: Tom Schneider
Date: Sat, 02 Nov 1991 14:30
Date: Sat, 02 Nov 1991 14:30
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1568 bytes
In article <1991Nov1.171612.4442@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> lamoran@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (L.A. Moran) writes: >... I propose the following definition; > > Biological evolution is the process of change in the genetic > makeup of a population. > >This definition is necessary and sufficient (IMHO). Consider the molecules in a glass of water. Over time they rearrange themselves (if the water is not frozen). This is similar to random mutation and drift in a population. So your definition includes changes which have no phenotypic result at all. Surely the rearrangements of molecules in a glass of water are not an interesting kind of "evolution". Why not simply call the genetic changes 'mutations' and be precise about it? Shouldn't the term 'evolution' be reserved for something more important? Tom Schneider National Cancer Institute Laboratory of Mathematical Biology Frederick, Maryland 21702-1201 toms@ncifcrf.gov
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X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 10a7a9,e7380973eaa7c74a X-Google-Attributes: gid10a7a9,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1991-11-03 02:48:10 PST Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!gmdzi!unido!mcsun!uunet!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!bionet!lhc!ncifcrf!fcs260c2!toms From: toms@fcs260c2.ncifcrf.gov (Tom Schneider) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.evolution Subject: Re: Definition of evolution Message-ID: <2505@fcs280s.ncifcrf.gov> Date: 2 Nov 91 14:30:33 GMT References: <1991Nov1.171612.4442@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> Sender: news@ncifcrf.gov Organization: NCI Supercomputer Facility, Frederick, MD Lines: 23