Re: Difference between random and non-random Natural Selection?

On Aug 4, 11:54 pm, Timberwoof <timberwoof.s...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
In article <1186260714.872588.266...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,

backspace <sawireless2...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Aug 4, 9:24 pm, Timberwoof <timberwoof.s...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Two things, with some background. DNA contains the instructions for
building an organism; it is normally duplicated along with the organism
during reproduction. First, "Random Mutation" means that during the
process of reproducing the DNA for a new organism, errors sometimes
creep into the copy. The location and effect of the mutations is not
predictable.

Second, "Natural Selection" means that the environment then
allows or does not allow the organism to survive and reproduce.
This can't be falsified. No matter what happens you would tell me the
same story.

Actually I have already explained to backspace that, for there to be
*selection*, it is required that there be a statistically significant
difference in the reproductive success of two different phenotypes in
a population due to a particular environment. Without this
*significant* effect of *selection* (as defined by my dictionary,
which does not require that there be a conscious 'selector')
occurring, what we observe is "neutral drift". And I even pointed out
that most selection is conservative in nature; that is, it preserves
already reached optimi rather than causing change. Change, in the
absence of significant conservative or non-conservative selection, is
impossible to prevent. It will occur at a specific rate that is a
consequence of the mutation rate.

Actually, yes, it can be falsified. The hypothesis is that the
environment does not permit certain organisms to and reproduce. Thus
only certain organisms reproduce, and as the environment changes, some
species will die out and others change to become new species more suited
to the changed environment.

A disproof of this hypothesis would be that all organisms would
continue to reproduce unchanged despite changes in the environment, that
there would be a myriad of species, and there would be no extinction of
species.

Actually, the disproof of *selection* is that the rate of reproductive
success between two phenotypes is not significantly different on a
generation to generation basis. Again, conservative selection is
required to *prevent* phenotypic change over time. In the absence of
selection, we would see the 'drunkard's walk' and fixation of new
neutral variants producing change in a fashion that is stochastically
predictable.

However, some species do go extinct and other do change into new forms.

--
Timberwoof <me at timberwoof dot com>http://www.timberwoof.com
"When you post sewage, don't blame others for
emptying chamber pots in your direction." ?Chris L.
an important web site:http://www.muslim-refusenik.com/



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