To: gomaaa
The process by which mutations are selected follows very specific rules which apply under specific conditions. What are you talking about? Are you saying an organism somehow selects its own mutations before they happen? It somehow "knows" a mutation is about to occur before it occurs and can then let or not let it happen? Who determined that?
To: lasereye
Mutations happen all the time. Individuals within a species can vary wildly in appearance, abilities and other characteristics. It doesn't have to be anything so drastic as suddenly growing a third arm. Such a mutation is almost always harmful to the individual and might well make it harder for it to survive. Little differences, though, can give certain organisms an advantage. Individuals with that sort of trait are more likely to survive and over time this can shift the original distribution. The rule is not "chosen" by anyone, certainly not by the organism. Survival is the only criteria. If it works, it keeps propogating. If it doesn't it goes away.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson