Evolution (Evolution)

by David Turell , Monday, March 31, 2008, 02:27 (6082 days ago) @ whitecraw

Whitecraw stated: "Natural selection, unlike mutations in DNA sequences, which occur entirely by accident in nature and according to no rule or method but entirely by mistake, is thus a non-random process. To say that evolution happens 'by chance' ignores half the picture." - I'm afraid I disagree. Any competition that has participants chosen by chance or at random is not a top rate competition, in any area. The problem is presented by my comments on Haldane's Dilemma in the "Quote from Darwin" thread, dated 3/29/08. Since beneficial mutations are in a minority, individuals in a species may survive, but survival of the species may be in doubt because the quality of the individuals presented for 'selection' may actually decline over time. Natural Selection is a competition it is true, but unless top-notch competitors appear, the species may disappear. And there is no guarantee from random mutation, that top-notch organisms will be there to compete. No capitalist corporation would chose its upper officers by a method that has its board pick from candidates that had never been evaluated prior to their presentation. That would be asking for chaos. What is amazing is that evolution has proceeded from simple to complex despite the passivity of the process. Remember 99% of species are extinct.