Glenn Morton wrote:
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Walter Hicks [mailto:wallyshoes@mindspring.com]
> >Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 7:19 PM
>
> >Glenn,
> >
> > You say here that a fossil discovery "will slow down the rate of
> >mutation".
> >Amazing! Will it also alter the rate radioactive decay and other physical
> >phenomena that have nothing to do with archaeology?
>
> Walter, Yes, I probably mis wrote. The rate of mutation is what the rate of
> mutation is. However, our perception of that rate can and does change.
> Why? Because the rate must be calibrated against the fossil record. When
> the fossil record changes, that would force a re-evaluation of the mutation
> rate. This shouldn't be that hard to follow. We know how many mutations
> (TM) there are between humans and chimps. Each lineage should have produced
> half of them from the time of the common ancestor. Thus, the rate is
>
> TM/2/t
>
> where TM is the total number of mutations between the species, and t is the
> time since the split. Change the time from the split--via a fossil
> discovery--and you change the rate.
snip
I guess that I would expect that the mutation rate is something that would be
measured by the probability of a mutation per person per generation
--- in some
particular area of the DNA. (then I would struggle a bit in believing that it
would be a constant -- depending upon what physically causes them to happen.)
Whatever that number is, I would expect that data would give me one number --
not a number that would vary with discoveries. How can it be that one gets one
piece of data that overrules other data that has been taken -- and still call
both of them "data"? I am talking about "data" -- not the refining
of theories.
(Sigh)
You are indeed correct tin saying that I do not understand evolutionary theory
but not from a lack of trying. (Sigh again) The most elementary steps keep
tossing me for a loop -- as in this situation --- when I try to use simple
logical steps. Evolution seems to the only area where my reasoning abilities
totally fail me (and I really am trying!).
Being an internet fan, I found a site at the universe of Colorado that listed
class notes for a course in evolutionary theory. It is at:
http://www.Colorado.EDU/epob/epob3250mgrant/public_html/lectlist.html
Would you have any comments on these notes?
With interest,
Walt
===================================
Walt Hicks <wallyshoes@mindspring.com>
In any consistent theory, there must
exist true but not provable statements.
(Godel's Theorem)
You can only find the truth with logic
If you have already found the truth
without it. (G.K. Chesterton)
===================================
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