Re: Darwin quote

From: Terry M. Gray (grayt@lamar.colostate.edu)
Date: Wed Aug 13 2003 - 16:26:43 EDT

  • Next message: Jay Willingham: "Re: different thread"

    Brian,

    Interesting twist here. I've always been inclined to say that
    "fine-tuning" as you call it is the product of natural selection. The
    origin of the adaptation may come by a variety of means more than
    likely not involving natural selection. Of course, that's just
    another way of saying that natural selection acts on variation
    (however it arises).

    TG

    >At 11:18 AM 8/13/2003 -0400, Walter Hicks wrote:
    >>I agree that all of these (and ones offered by Terry) affect
    >>evolution, but I don't see most of them as alternatives to natural
    >>selection. For the most part they introduce variation and then
    >>natural selection filters out the ones that are not useful for
    >>survival. Catastrophic changes are an exception and certainly would
    >>represent a non-"Darwinian" effect.
    >
    >I think you raise an interesting question. Let me try
    >rephrasing it, hopefully without destroying your intent.
    >
    >Suppose we limit ourselves to the most "interesting"
    >results of evolution. Things that Dawkins would say
    >appear to have been designed for a purpose. Or,
    >better stated, adaptations. Cases where there seems
    >to be a fine-tuning between form and function.
    >
    >Are there any scientific explanations for adaptations
    >other than natural selection?
    >
    >Brian Harper

    -- 
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    Terry M. Gray, Ph.D., Computer Support Scientist
    Chemistry Department, Colorado State University
    Fort Collins, Colorado  80523
    grayt@lamar.colostate.edu  http://www.chm.colostate.edu/~grayt/
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