Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Bigh4u2

Note that "same species as" isn't a transitive relationship. I'l use the (middle) character (of) "=" as "can interbreed with" just to shorten thing; also elipses "...". There may be a chain (geographical one have been observed) of individuals such that along the chain, neighbors can interbreed:

A = B = C = D = E

However, it does not follow that A = E. Were C to be cut out, then there would be two differing "species."

This can happen over time, A1 = A2,....A10000000=A10000001 but A1 cannot interbreed with A10000000. So even though each parent-offspring population is "of the same species," it may happen that the billionth generation would be "a different species" from the first.


330 posted on 10/21/2005 6:45:28 PM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch ist der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 283 | View Replies ]


To: Doctor Stochastic

"However, it does not follow that A = E. Were C to be cut out, then there would be two differing "species."

Cut out as in removed from the chain? Or nonexistant?

If it's nonexistant that how would you get from A to E?

If A=B=C=D=E and D were cut out, would that also lead to differing species? Or would the final step not occur?



334 posted on 10/21/2005 6:57:58 PM PDT by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 330 | View Replies ]

To: Doctor Stochastic; Bigh4u2
A thought experiment about ring species, in this case domestic dogs.
354 posted on 10/22/2005 10:29:46 AM PDT by Virginia-American
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 330 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson