[lbo-talk] Re: Evolutionary Theory [was...]

[Miles Jackson]

Simon Archer wrote:
> If it ever did, I don't know that evolution 'happens to us' as a 
> species. In the past we may have evolved in the Darwinian sense, and 
> the mechanics of that was sorted out in the mid-20th century, but 
> whatever the chance elements involved in genetic mutation that create 
> the new traits in the phenotype, which may help, hinder or neither in 
> any given environment [which is my super-basic understanding of Darwin 
> updated by genetics] can we say that this is any longer valid given 
> the broad degree of control exerted over the "natural world" or the 
> "environment"? I don't know if it's a sensible proposition any longer 
> to say we "evolve" in any sense that is not beyond our control. I 
> guess the exemplary case is toying with genes of fertilized eggs, but 
> even Darwin saw this by introducing his whole work with a description 
> of breeding animals. Pigeons and dogs, I think he used.
> -- 
> simon.archer at gmail.com <mailto:simon.archer at gmail.com>
> 647.406.2724
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
As long as there is (a) genetic diversity and (b) environmental 
conditions that "select" for certain traits, evolution in any 
species--including homo sapiens!--will continue.

Miles