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Politics : Impeach George W. Bush -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jttmab who wrote (14809)	9/23/2002 3:18:08 PM
From: TigerPaw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93284

Selective evolution can be a relatively short process. Evolution always works through a selection process. What you term "natural" evolution just means that the selection criteria is not chosen by anyone. The speed of evolution is a function of the strength or decisiveness of the selection and the amount of mixing allowed with individuals who have not been through the same selection criteria. Humans are still in a gene collecting mode as they have been for the last 100 years or so. More novel genes survive than has been the case in the past. The novel genes are combined via sex into vastly more varied groups than ever before. Genetic manipulation will only add more variety to this mix. This is an equilibrium phase where many many different characteristics can survive and thrive. Some day, especially if population keeps rising, the selection process will be more pronounced. That is where success or failure of new genetic information will be determined. It's virtually impossible to predict what the first or most powerful selection criteria will be. It may be pollution, particular disease, ultraviolet light, a new weapon, or geneticly modified competitors. There is no way to know which genes will be targeted to the actual selection that comes along. If all the energies of the researchers go into genes for straight teeth and thin noses instead of resistance to skin cancer, for example, the entire effort may turn out to be a short term anomoly. TP