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Re: Re: Selectivity
Current species may have more or less set life spans, but only as a result of previous selection through evolution. After all, those species here today are the product of more than half a billion years of evolution, which is a long time for selection to refine certain traits. They are certainly not independent of random events, but the product of them.
posted by
mousehop
on October 14, 2008 at 7:52 AM
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Re:
Yes! But do we not all already fit into this "pre-determined" category, and are we not all subject to becoming "dinner" for others; that, maybe, there is much more than at first "meets the eye" here?
posted by
GEPRUITT
on October 12, 2008 at 1:55 PM
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Re: Selectivity
I follow your (and Evolution's) standard thinking on this matter, but don't you think it "strange" that the lifespan of each species on earth is already preset to its own average (and different) length, regardless, and independent of, these so-called random events? And, does this fact not warrant some "re-thinking" and modification?
Thank you, Mouehop, for your input!
posted by
GEPRUITT
on October 12, 2008 at 1:39 PM
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Selectivity
Life span is certainly a selected property, in the sense of evolution, but like all selected properties, it is the result of random changes. So selective pressures mainly affect properties that let an individual survive to reproduce. Quality of life is not a factor in evolution.
posted by
mousehop
on October 12, 2008 at 8:43 AM
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I think this is a good point. Those with predetermined life span really don't fit in the survival of the fittest for they are probably dinner! sam
posted by
sam444
on October 12, 2008 at 5:21 AM
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