Re: Darlington's evolution of genetic systems



joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Joe Felsenstein)



> > TT:-
> >I can't say I can make much sense out of the idea of a genetic
> >system being a "level of selection".
> >Basically I don't see how it differs from individual traits -
> >like "number of legs" or "number of vertebrae" in this respect.
> >I can regard selection as choosing between groups of species
> >whose individuals have four or six legs about as easily as
> >I can imagine it choosing between groups of species with
> >differing genetic systems.
> >...and if any trait you care to mention qualifies as having
> >an associated "level of selection" then the term is in danger
> >of losing its meaning.

> JF:-
> You're absolutely right. Only if "genetic systems" were
phylogenetically
> related, so that all species that had one genetic system were
relatives,
> would talking about the genetic system as a level of selection make
> sense.

JE:-
My understanding is that the commonality of the genetic code represents
an on the face of it verification that all species did have the one
genetic system so they are relatives.

> JF:-
> People do talk about there being (quite probably) greater
> probability of extinction of apomictic (clonally reproducing) species,
> but they do not describe this as occurring at a different level of
> selection than species selection.
> If I agreed with Darlington that the "genetic system" was a level of
> selection, and I guess I did, you have set me straight.

JE:-
So what does Prof. Felsenstein agree constitutes an _empirical_ level of
selection within nature? Species? Genetics Systems? Individual Genes?,
individuals or just fertile individuals?

Regards,

John Edser
Independent Researcher
PO Box 266
Church Pt
NSW 2105
Australia

edser@xxxxxxxxxx



>
> --
> Joe Felsenstein joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Department of Genome Sciences and Department of Biology,
> University of Washington, Box 357730, Seattle, WA 98195-7730 USA
>




.

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