On Sun, 23 May 2004 18:07:21 +0000 (UTC), Tim Tyler  wrote:
> Larry Moran  wrote or quoted:
>> Anon.  wrote:
>> > Larry Moran wrote:
> 
>> >> In terms of total amount of evolutionary change, random genetic
>> >> drift is the main mechanism of evolution, by far. Almost all
>> >> evolutionary biologists know this.
>> 
>> > Doesn't that depend on how you measure evolutionary change? [...]
>> > At the sequence level, I would agree (well, until someone shows
>> > me some evidence to the contrary).
>> 
>> Okay. So, if we take into account ALL evolutionary change then you
>> agree that random genetic drift is the most important mechanism?
> 
> The means of quantifying "all evolutionary change" here is not clear.
> 
> State the metric used - and the question of whether genetic drift
> comes in at the #1 position will probably be clearer.

I mean the sum all evolutionary changes of any sort by whatever 
definitions are used by a large number of scientists.

Did you have something else in mind that would shift random genetic 
drift into second place? Is there some definition of "all evolutionary
change" that would cause you to question my statement? If so, perhaps
you could share it with me?



Larry Moran
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