[Right Wing Professor]

I wasn't thinking of the *rate* per se, but of the "coverage" necessary.

For each point mutation, there were about 25 instances per generation. The key is, that if the population is large enough to be mutationally saturated, the element of chance is eliminated.

Think stat. mech.. The population was large enough to be thermodynamic (barely). Once you get above the level of fluctuations, the result is inevitable.

[grey_whiskers]

For each point mutation, there were about 25 instances per generation. The key is, that if the population is large enough to be mutationally saturated, the element of chance is eliminated.

That *is* my point. The design of this experiment seemed to limit other environmental factors. If this had been done in vivo (whatever *THAT* means in this context) with the same number of bacteria, maybe the coverage wouldn't have been 25 point mutations per site; and the rate of change would've slowed down.

Or maybe if they'd just dropped a pair of nylon panty hose in the vessel, there's not telling *what* might've happened :-)

Full Disclosure: You've got a private freepmail coming...

Cheers!