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From: keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: Where the Deer and the Cantaloupe Play
Message-ID: <584@cadovax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 16:08:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: cadovax.584
Posted: Tue Apr 30 16:08:05 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 4-May-85 08:03:38 EDT
References: <999@uwmacc.UUCP>
Organization: Contel Cado, Torrance, CA
Lines: 38

[..................]

Ok, I'd like to tirade a bit about mutations.  Several people on the net
seem to think that the only way evolution could occur is via major mutations
that generate wonderful new features (*poof* instant wings!).  Actually, 
partially due to the fact that evolution seems to take millions of years,
slight mutations are probably more useful than gross ones.  An example
might be a bird who feeds on insects that like to hide in certain flowers.
Any time a bird is born with slight mutations that cause a slightly longer
beak, this bird might have a better chance of survival if the food supply
is otherwise low.  Initially, perhaps this new characteristic is not
a significant enough improvement so that all other bird die out, so our
mutant bird mates with a normal bird.  The offspring then becomes a
'carrier' if you will, of this longer beak gene.  Over a some period
of time, enough of these genes may accumulate so that the entire general
population has 'evolved' longer beaks.  A similar situation has been proposed
as having happened to the moth which has changed its color for camoflage.
There's no particular reason to think that these type of cumulative effects
are prohibited from changing a snake into a lizard, a fish into a frog,
etc. given enough time.  Many mutations may be minimal to the point of being
unnoticed.  And in fact mutations may not be uncommon.  In addition, it may
be possible for a certain mutation to occur that has several effects, some
positive and some negative for a certain environment.  If the environment
suffers a significant change, it may be that a large part of the general
population might die out, thus leaving only a few organisms who have 
accumulated certain 'mutant' characteristics.  Thus, these characteristics
could effectively become the 'status quo' in very few generations.  And,
it may be possible for a positive mutant 'trait' to carry with it some
negative 'trait'.

What I'm really trying to get at though, is that not all mutations are
dramatic and debilitating.  In fact, I think you'll find that mutation is
going on all the time, most of them having very minor effects that 
accumulate over time.

Keith Doyle
#  {ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!keithd