quote:
Originally posted by ksc:
ksc:Whether natural selection is or isn’t is debateable. What you have forgotten is that the mutations that you claim are naturally selected are RANDOM
Mutations in sexually re-producing organisms MUST occur in
the gametes. You cannot have a mutation that effects an already
existing organism, only a mutation which is created by a modification
to the DNA in the sex cells.
Males tend to produce millions of gametes on a very regular basis.
Gametes that have 'bad' mutations are likely incapable of
causing fertilisation.
If an organism produces 10 million gametes, and 1% of those carry
mutations which are potentially beneficial, that would mean
100,000 mutant gametes ... and so potential for offspring
carrying mutations.
It is also possible that 'bad' mutations have beneficial side-effects
in co-dominant situations (like sickle cell aenemia).
Mutations are NOT that rare ... I found a news article of research
that suggests there are up to four copy errors everytime a cell
divides (or some astronomical figure like that ... I'll try
to find the article again).