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Neutral Theory: The Null Hypothesis of Molecular Evolution | Learn Science at Scitable

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thompnickson2

Neutral Theory: The Null Hypothesis of Molecular Evolution | Learn Science at Scitable

Hi, Steve, and everyboy,

In a recent discussion concerning the efficacy of Natural Selection as a cause of evolution, I accused Steve of being a neutralist. Before I continued to sling that insult about, I thought I had best find out what it meant.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/neutral-theory-the-null-hypothesis-of-molecular-839/

Now I am not sure my slander should stick. Where the two positions seem to agree is that natural selection is not so important as We on the Other Side seem to think it is. Other explanations should be sought for the way things are.

Then I began to wonder if even this was correct. Is “least action” a mechanism distinct from natural selection or is it the principle on which natural selection works.

Nick

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Eric Charles-2

Re: Neutral Theory: The Null Hypothesis of Molecular Evolution | Learn Science at Scitable

When you have a decently-fitted organism in a long-term stable environment (evolutionary time scale), natural section should be mostly selecting for least effort, right? Within biological constraints of various kinds.

The various break adaptations of "Darwin's finches" are least-effort solutions to various food options, right? And also a prime example of Natural Selection? With the various constraints you get from starting with mainland finches as your breeding stock.

On Fri, May 8, 2020, 4:11 PM <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi, Steve, and everyboy,
In a recent discussion concerning the efficacy of Natural Selection as a cause of evolution, I accused Steve of being a neutralist. Before I continued to sling that insult about, I thought I had best find out what it meant.
https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/neutral-theory-the-null-hypothesis-of-molecular-839/
Now I am not sure my slander should stick. Where the two positions seem to agree is that natural selection is not so important as We on the Other Side seem to think it is. Other explanations should be sought for the way things are.
Then I began to wonder if even this was correct. Is “least action” a mechanism distinct from natural selection or is it the principle on which natural selection works.
Nick
.-. .- -. -.. --- -- -..-. -.. --- - ... -..-. .- -. -.. -..-. -.. .- ... .... . ...
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Zoom Fridays 9:30a-12p Mtn GMT-6 bit.ly/virtualfriam
unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
archives: http://friam.471366.n2.nabble.com/
FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/