Re: virus: Re: Virus: Sociological Change

Dave Pape (davepape@dial.pipex.com)
Mon, 16 Dec 1996 13:19:20 GMT

At 10:40 16/12/96 GMT, you wrote:
>> > Unless cleverly implemented, the description above would be in danger of
>> > wiping out from lack of stress. [lack of evolutionary pressure?]
>>
>> Lack of stress hasn't hampered the evolution of sharks and many other
>> fishes.
>
>But sharks and fishes have existed in that form for much longer than
>human kind. Perhaps they really don't evolve as fast.
>
>And anyway, how do you know sharks don't get stroppy? :)
>
>> (Punctuated equilibrium is the observation that many species do not under
>> go gradual evolution but instead, they will remain stable for many millions
>> of years (-- remain in equilibrium) before suddenly making many drastic
>> changes ( -- punctuated by "bouts" of mutations)).
>
>Very odd! Any idea why?

I thought it was because of genetic drift effects, whereby the genotype DOES
change, but (as long as conditions are stable) the phenotype DOESN'T.
Mutated genes will exist in very low numbers in the overall gene pool.

When conditions DO change, the genes in the gene pool don't change massively
by MUTATION, but the populations of various genes that're getting expressed
in phenotypes change radically, as conditions mean that different genes
become more favourable.

IS THAT CLEAR? Erm, nope.

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose (The more things change, the more
it's a meme thing)

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