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To: r9etb

What is your definition of "species"?

Also, is "species" an attribute of an individual entity?


893 posted on 12/01/2004 10:57:40 AM PST by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: Doctor Stochastic
What is your definition of "species"?

I was using the generic "produces fertile offspring" definition.

Also, is "species" an attribute of an individual entity?

Heck no -- individuals are members of a species, which is almost by definition a group thing.

It does bring up an interesting question, though: if species are separated by an inability produce fertile offspring, is it possible to be "the first of a new species?" If so, then it's not clear to me how that new species could possibly propagate beyond the first member.....

894 posted on 12/01/2004 11:12:38 AM PST by r9etb
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