RE: evolution by mate selection, gene manipulation

From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Apr 16 2003 - 01:14:01 MDT

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    Spike66 wrote:

    > In any case, focus on the notion of evolution having two
    > distinct mechanisms, survival selection and mate selection,

    I'm not convinced that either of these mechanisms are fundamental. Maybe you
    should define them better so that I might understand your POV.

    As I see it, regardless of what we might want to happen in our minds in or
    out of the local singles bar, in the long run the only real natural
    selection process is for procreation -- not survival. Those gene lineages
    most likely to find willing mates would be most likely to pass their genes
    to future generations.

    With respect to traits like intelligence as measured by IQ, I'm thinking
    that in the final analysis it makes little difference whether mate-selection
    is male or female driven. Both sexes should want only that their offspring
    to be "intelligent" enough to create and rear more offspring. I bracketed
    intelligence in the previous sentence because intelligence in these terms
    might have nothing to do with IQ scores. Promiscuous and sexy people who
    know intuitively how to strut their stuff to attract a sexual mate would be
    very "intelligent" in evolutionary terms, even if they were never capable of
    graduating high school.

    -gts



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