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To: CobaltBlue
Given that mutations happen, the change need not be a change in the environment. Any change in an individual that renders that individual more fit for the niche will lead to increased offspring for that individual, ergo change in the population.

How is what you write any different than what I have been stating over these many posts? When you use the words "more fit" you use them in relation to a point of stability. That drives them closer to the stable point not farther away. Now the consequence of having a stable point means that it has to be described in some way. Without a limiting factor, for instance, a longer jaw benefit will drive everything towards ever larger jaws. If the "best" jaw length is 1 meter, then everything will be driven towards 1 meter from every direction.

1,197 posted on 07/30/2003 6:37:14 AM PDT by AndrewC
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To: AndrewC
When you use the words "more fit" you use them in relation to a point of stability.

No, as I understand mutations there is never stability, per se. The target is always moving.

If the "best" jaw length is 1 meter, then everything will be driven towards 1 meter from every direction.

I have no idea what the above sentence means. What does "best jaw length" mean? What does "everything will be driven" mean?

In evolution, as in everything else, there are trade-offs.

Jaws need muscles to open them and close them. Jaw muscles need to be anchored to the skull. There needs to be a tongue proportionate to the jaw, and the tongue is also anchored to the skull. There are sinus cavities, and nerves and blood vessels and skin, and countless other bits and pieces. Teeth. Tooth sockets. A random mutation in the length of the jaw bone doesn't carry everything else along with it.

Lengthening the jaw will probably increase the ability to shred meat but decrease the ability to chew, by throwing the muscles out of whack, so the ability to utilize food sources will change.

Lengthening the jaw without lengthening the tongue will make it harder to swallow. Lengthening the jaw without lengthening the sinus cavities will make it harder to breathe.

1,200 posted on 07/30/2003 6:53:32 AM PDT by CobaltBlue (Never voted for a Democrat in my life.)
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