Tim Tyler wrote:

> This is all after distinguishing "species selection" from
"species 
> sorting" - and *only* considering the former.

There is absolutely no difference between sorting 
and selecting.  So this is a distinction without a 
difference.

> Species sorting may be important. It may produce traits in individuals
> that apparently make little sense in terms of short-term selection 
> pressures - and /only/ make sense when considering the selection
> pressures present during occasional periodic extinctions.

Excellent!  Very well stated Tim.  This represents 
a major breakthrough for you.  But I suspect you 
don't (or don't yet) fully realize the gravity of 
this breakthrough.  Let me just say this, what you 
are saying here is fully applicable to describe the 
relationship to any level of biological phenomena 
to the levels below them.

Jim
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