Favorable Mutations? Help me!!

Hi Itz,Just a quick note on this part (all I have time for, unfortunately): I'm not sure that this is a very strong argument. I remember at least two studies on nest parasitism which would seem to show that selection really does play a major role in host specificity, rather than a significant genetic component. I don't have either study easily to hand but could probably dig them up if pressed. One of the studies showed differential nest parasitism as a result of an evolutionary arms race between host and parasite. IIRC, it discussed increasing complexity of parasite adaptations (like egg color, chick chirping, mouth color, etc) in several populations of one host based on egg/chick rejection - stronger discernment in potential hosts = increase in complexity of the camouflage, etc. It also talked about the high failure of nest parasitism in a geographically adjacent species with different eggs, calls, chicks, etc. The other study dealt with a study showing differential success rates in two populations of a host species based on a "least cost" tradeoff (one host population "accepted" a higher level of nest parasitism because nests without parasites suffered an even higher level of chick mortality due to the presence of a parasitic fly that was controlled by the cuckoo's chicks when present in the nest. The other population nested in an area where the fly was controlled by parasitic wasps who used the fly as hosts. This population of birds rejected nest parasitism.)Obviously there's going to be a genetic component in both cases, as the behaviors are apparently inheritable (although an argument could be made on how MUCH of the behavior is inherited rather than learned.) However, my point is that we see differential rates of nest parasitism leading to changes in host specificity based on variable selection pressures happening right now. Therefore, Noah didn't have to have multiple female cuckoos on board the putative Ark.Of course, I doubt any creationist would be able to come up with that rationale.