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Subject: 
Re: Why do we know all of this? (was Re: evolution)
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Tue, 7 Mar 2000 11:16:11 GMT
Viewed: 
1028 times
  
On Tue, 7 Mar 2000 04:58:37 GMT, "Ben Roller" <broller@clemson.edu>
wrote:

In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher Tracey writes:
Shiri's description is very good, I'll elaborate on a few points.
The moth in question is the Peppered Moth(_Biston betularia_).  Before the
industrial revolution, the predominant form seen in the woods of England
was white with dark brown spots,

Ok everyone, raise your hand if these guys are making you feel dumb too.
It amazes me that you all knew which moths were being talked about.  Man, some
people are just too smart. :)

Ben Roller

*blinks*  I was almost about to post about the difference between
Lamarkian and Darwinian evolution until it was cleared up by the later
poster.

But, for the fun of it, the example of Lamarkian evolution would be
that the giraffe's neck grew longer because it stretched it to reach
higher leaves and then it's children would inherit that advantage.
Obviously due to those wacky tiny things known as genes, this
evolutionary theory is invalid (hey how about that, we showed an
evolutionary theory invalid *coughs*).

Anyway, Darwinian evolution, as I understand it, relies much more on
natural selection, much as the story of the moths above demonstrates.
In fact, this moth story (that and the canaries in the...gelopegoes(?)
islands) are the usual example(s) of natural selection.

My .02 credits



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Why do we know all of this? (was Re: evolution)
 
(...) sorry :) I was an evolutionary ecology major in college, this stuff was drilled into my head. my wife says I talk about in my sleep. :) (...) Finches in the Galapagos. For a good pop science book on this, read "The Beak of the Finch." -Chris (25 years ago, 7-Mar-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: Why do we know all of this? (was Re: evolution)
 
(...) We did, but it didn't necessarily help--the Lysenko variant of Lamarckian genetics was eagerly taken up by Stalin and his totalitarian regime--"New Socialist Man" ring any bells? It was something that appealed to him because it implied that (...) (25 years ago, 7-Mar-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:
  Why do we know all of this? (was Re: evolution)
 
(...) Ok everyone, raise your hand if these guys are making you feel dumb too. It amazes me that you all knew which moths were being talked about. Man, some people are just too smart. :) Ben Roller (25 years ago, 7-Mar-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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