Path: utzoo!yunexus!geac!syntron!jtsv16!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdcad!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!ascf.sdr.slb.COM!SCHOLTES
From: SCHOLTES@ascf.sdr.slb.COM ("SCHOLTES%ASC@SDR.SLB.COM")
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: cross-posting from info-evolution
Message-ID: <8810242341.AA07687@multimax.ARPA>
Date: 24 Oct 88 16:07:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: multimax.8810242341.AA07687
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
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From:	ASCF::SCHOLTES     "SCHOLTES%ASC@SDR.SLB.COM" 18-OCT-1988 15:13:58.63
To:	ASC::SDR::IN%"king@kestrel.ARPA"
CC:	SCHOLTES
Subj:	RE: test


Why is natural selection the dominant evolutionary mechanism of life?

I recently read of some cases of Lamarckian genetics (inheritance of 
acquired characteristics) at the microbial level.  While pondering the
dangers of successively more dangerous computer virii, looming threat of
self-replicating nano-machines, and the inefficiencies of genetic algorithms,
it struck me that being able to pass on acquired characteristics should have
a vast competetive edge over Darwinian selection, and the rate of change of
a population using that mechanism would be vastly higher, with a corresponding
decrease in wasted lives (failed random variations).  

So, why hasn't it happened naturally?   Is it infeasible in natural bio-
chemical systems?  Is it fundamentally flawed?  That possibility would have
serious implications for human social change, which is basically Lamarckian,
rather than Darwinian.  Soon it will be technologically feasible for people
to meddle with the genetic composition of their own offspring (eugenics has
dread connotations because former proponents have tried to modify the gene
pool by selection; direct genetic engineering is a different proposition).
So it is possible that human genetic evolution will soon be affected by
social evolution.  Have there been any fairly recent studies of Lamarckian
population genetics?  

-----------------------------
Mike Scholtes
Schlumberger Well Services
Austin Systems Center

disclaimer: I'm human.