RE: [asa] New foray by the DiscoverY Institute

Agreed and as Pim also suggested earlier, "variation" is a much better
choice of terminology instead of mutation when referring to changes in the
genome since this covers all the possible sources of change that natural
selection can act upon.

Also from my experience this distinction is usually not appreciated by ID
proponents because they are hung up on the single point mutation pathway to
complexity so they can use Darwin's quote against him and purport to cause
his "theory to breakdown", so it is therefore also useful when engaging them
and you have the need to clarify this concept.

Merry Christmas,

John

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
Behalf Of D. F. Siemens, Jr.
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2007 5:37 PM
To: wdwllace@sympatico.ca
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: 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 17:54:59 2007