In article <01bc05b1$112ddd60$dac5a9c6 at dschmid.wbm.ca>, "Dirk Schmid"
<dschmid at eagle.wbm.ca> writes:
>Come to think of it, Darwin's principle of natural selection appears to
be
>flawed. Natural selection can not account for the evolution of microbial
>communities, and it can not account for the close association of
>microorganisms within a microbial community.
>>
Sure it can. It's not flawed at all. Read Richard Dawkins _The Selfish
Gene_ for an explaination of this.
He explains the changes in a community are not for individual survival but
survival of the genes. A biofilm acts as an organism for survival of the
community or if you like, the biofilm organism its self.
<<
If there is such a close association within a biofilm or community, then
competition simply can not exist.>>
And, the survivial of the biofilm community acts like a whole organism
survival, so the community will tend to compete with the non-associated
members. Your brain cells are not in competition with your blood cells.
<<Well, that sure throws Darwin out the window, doesn't it?>>
Non sequitur.
______________________________
<<Dirk Schmid
dfs846 at mail.usask.ca
University of Saskatchewan
Canada>>
