In article <9401281501.AA23086 at net.bio.net> LYONSW at UCONNVM.bitnet (James) writes:
> In a closed ecosystem, evolution can occur which either increases, decreases,
> or does not effect the order around the group of organisms. This would
> depend on two factors: the population sizes of the new species, and the
> number of new species.
This is not correct IMO. A protist will evolve into a very similar protist,
an ape to an ape. The entropy DIFFERENCE between protist-A and protist-B
or ape-A and ape-B is all that you can lay at evolutions door. And
even here, we are handwaving and assuming a clear line between species.
The population size is an independent variable, and though evolution
may provide a upward or downward pressure, it is not the 'cause' of
the pop increase or decrease
The difference in entropy between any two even closely related species
is so small compared to the total entropy of one individual that the
question and its basis is laughable. "Not even wrong".
--
~Paul
prep at yarrow.wt.uwa.edu.au ( prefered )
zrepachol at cc.curtin.edu.au
