There is an assumption in your argument (or Remine's argument), that genetic evolution ceases during the equilibrium phase of punctuated equilibria. To me, that seems most unlikely. That is, during a period of relative equilibrium, I would expect genetic evolution to continue, and to increase the amount of variation available to the population group. The punctuation part can then involve rapid phenotype evolution, precisely because it is largely selection from variation built up in the equilibrium stage.
Just say no to McCain 2008; he abandoned principle when he caved on habeus corpus
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