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.
What mechanism are you suggesting for slowing the point mutation rate?
154 posted on 05/19/2006 7:10:43 AM PDT by Right Wing Professor
(...founder of African Amputees for Pat Robertson)
That the original mutation occurs, but the daughter cells *die* of causes other than the one the mutation gives an advantage for. Say predators, macrophages, or Pine Sol.
An isolated environment would help keep that from happening.
Cheers!
193 posted on 05/19/2006 6:50:24 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
(The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)