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MA: Because this is such an important concept to understand I would like to take a moment and discuss it with you.

J: Are we getting back to r = n - m?

MA: Laughing, why yes we are, this is just a little groundwork to help with that discussion.

Do you remember any genetics from school?

J: Yes a little.

MA: Good, because the term intermediate expression is very useful in our understand of a continuous spectrum.

In genetics we have two heterozygous genotypes, say a red flower and a white flower, the result of blending these two dominate traits is called intermediate expression.

You will have white flowers, red flowers, pink flowers and an entire spectrum of colors representing the range of expression between these two positions.

MA: Another way to speak of a continuous spectrum is to frame it in terms of variations within a species.

You are quite aware that within any species you have wide differentiation. Size, coloration, abilities etc. It is a never ending list of differences that make God's creation such a wondrous joy.

These differentiations are the result of all the possible combinations of genes in an individual member of any species.

So we can say that the intermediate expression of genes results in a wide variety of variations within any species.

Pretty much ABC stuff but it is incredibly important in the discussion we are having.