Re: [asa] New foray by the DiscoverY Institute

On Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:23:40 -0500 Dave Wallace <wdwllace@sympatico.ca>
writes:
> Gregory
>
> If evolution is defined as "the generation of complexity through
> mutation and selection" then I think lots of things in various
> fields of
> study evolve:
>
> -stellar
> -biological
> -social systems
> -culture
> -behavior in animal groupings
> -linguistics
> -...
>
> Dave W
>
I find a problem with the use of "mutation and selection." While
"mutation" may merely mean "change," the commonest usage seems to be in
connection with a specific kind of change in the genome. There are other
changes in the genome, even, which are not commonly termed
mutations--crossovers, deletions, inversions, etc. I think perhaps
"variation, especially unidirectional" would cover matters better. As to
selection, it seems not to apply to stars or galaxies. There does seem to
me to be application of some kind in the other groupings. Directional
change seems to characterize all that evolves, but other
characterizations seem more remote.
Dave (ASA)

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Received on Mon Dec 24 17:39:28 2007