Re: [asa] ChristiaNet blurb

Just to add what Keith has written here.

Macroevolution is also OBSERVED in the fossil record and in DNA and
protein sequence comparisons.

While the term macroevolution has been used in the professional
literature, e.g. the book by that title by Steven Stanley, its
significance is overplayed, especially by those with anti-
evolutionary leanings who need to distinguish between obvious (and
very short-term) examples of changes in gene frequencies caused by
natural selection such as industrial melanism, antibiotic resistance,
etc. and longer-term examples. As Keith pointed out, the same
processes at work in the short-term are also at work in the long term.

TG

On Sep 11, 2007, at 3:56 PM, Keith Miller wrote:

>
>> Anyone have a good definition of micro vs macro?
>
> These are highly misunderstood and misused terms. Microevolution
> refers to evolution of populations within a species.
> Macroevolution refers to speciation (particularly the splitting of
> lineages resulting in diversification) and patterns of evolution
> above the species level. Speciation has been observed and well-
> documented both in the field and experimentally -- and speciation
> is macroevolution. Many biologists and paleontologists would argue
> that there is no clear distinction between processes acting at the
> population level, and those resulting in speciation. I would agree
> with this, with the additional statement that there are also
> additional processes that can act in speciation.
>
> Keith
>
>
> To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
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________________
Terry M. Gray, Ph.D.
Computer Support Scientist
Chemistry Department
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
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Received on Tue Sep 11 18:31:33 2007