If there is, wouldn't you say that we could possibly be calling things random mutations, when in fact they are "on-purpose mistakes.
The Luria-Delbruck experiments in 1943 pretty much killed that idea. Mutations are the cause of most variation, and are not generated by need. {Added in edit: by "not generated by need" I mean they are not generated to
meet a particular need; some organisms do have wasy of generating more mutations when they need them, but the mutations themselves are random with regard to their effect.}
Bacterial Mutations: Luria and Delbruck Hit the Jackpot (1943)The Luria & Delbruck Fluctuation Test.
This message has been edited by JonF, 02-02-2005 12:42 AM
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