Hi All
All traits are controlled ultimately by the genes ALL of which are undergoing the scrutiny of natural selection. Every individual is really a cluster of selectable elements.
That being said there's other processes to add to the mix. Here's two...
Firstly, genes can be preset in offspring by stresses and strains on the parents, especially the mother. This "sets the stage" for selection, enhancing both intensity of selection and heritability of traits.
Secondly, most traits are the end-points of multiple genetic activations/deactivations - a cascade of gene switchings on/off lead to the end product. Thus selection acts on more than one gene at a time when acting on most traits.
Plus all sorts of new stuff we're only just discovering about mutation being activated via stresses on bodies.
You're right about the mystery - it's what drives research and discovery. Glad you didn't take the Creationist option of ceasing to think about the puzzle by invoking the Gene Mechanic.
Space/Science » in reply to It would be hard to call it "wrong". The driver is a puzzlement.
Traits and genes are hard to correlate
The whole thread (31 posts)
- What if Evolution is wrong?
- Life's like that.
- habitats move during ice ages, they don't disappear and reappear
- Nothing in your statement suggests evolution is wrong
- So many traits, so much time, so many circumstances !
- re: What if Evolution is wrong?
- re: What if Evolution is wrong?
- It would be hard to call it "wrong". The driver is a puzzlement.
- Evolution isn't random mutations.
- re: What if Evolution is wrong?