Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 59 (9164 total)
3 online now:
Newest Member: ChatGPT
Post Volume: Total: 916,929 Year: 4,186/9,624 Month: 1,057/974 Week: 16/368 Day: 16/11 Hour: 0/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Small Steps---how small can they be?
Dr Jack
Member
Posts: 3514
From: Immigrant in the land of Deutsch
Joined: 07-14-2003
Member Rating: 9.2


Message 14 of 14 (532384)
10-23-2009 5:52 AM
Reply to: Message 4 by Dr Adequate
08-24-2009 1:01 AM


In principle, the smallest change possible is a single nucleotide substitution: the change of one base of DNA into another. Or, similarly, the insertion or deletion of a single base.
At the genetic level this is true; but natural selection can only act on phenotypes (and I think that is what the OP was talking about). Point mutations can have quite large effects, or almost no effect; larger changes can also have large effects, or almost no effect.
Look at the plants and animals around you, InGodITrust, and consider the range of individual variation you can see; consider the smallest difference that might be possible between two such individuals - evolution can work with that; whether it's fur a millimetre longer, or a slightly enlarged leg muscle, or a tiny difference in the light wavelengths that are best percieved.
(Although, as should be noted, a decent portion of individual variation is environmentally influenced)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 4 by Dr Adequate, posted 08-24-2009 1:01 AM Dr Adequate has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024