How small can evolutionary steps be?
The mutation of a single gene is responsible for the change from dichromatic to full color vision. A single genetic mutation can shut down the immune system of a human. These seem like large leaps.
If you have a dimmer switch on a light, you might think of a resistor with an infinite number of settings. But a 3-way bulb in a lamp has only 3 settings.
As a hollow viper fang developes in the embryo, it starts out solid, and then becomes increasingly more deeply grooved. Finally enamel wraps around the front of the groove and encloses it. If this is also the way the fang evolved, how many steps would it take? Could it be done in 3, like the 3-way bulb? And would each step take a new genetic mutation?
The reason I'm curious about this is because it would affect the speed of evolution. The more genetic mutations needed the slower evolution would proceed.
I hope this question isn't too basic, and the answer is "do your homework". But if that's the case, the moderator probably wouldn't allow it to clutter the forum.
Thanks---IGIT
Edited by InGodITrust, : No reason given.
Edited by InGodITrust, : No reason given.
Edited by InGodITrust, : No reason given.