In article <7892 at krafla.rhi.hi.is>,
Helgi Briem Magnusson <hbriem at rhi.hi.is> wrote:
>I would like to point out that almost all mutations are due to
>mistakes made by the DNA polymerase when making copies and not
>due to external agents such as radiation or mutagens. Also,
>while we do not know if the rate of evolution depends on the
>mutation rate, it is extremely unlikely to unless a trait has
>been under extremely severe selection (selective death > 0.5*N)
>for a long time. Such severe selection would tend to deplete
>genetic variability, making mutation a limiting factor.
Is this true in self-fertilizing organisms? It certainly is not
true in facultative or obligate apomicts or parthenogenotes, and
these take in a lot of territory in flowering plants.
-Toby Bradshaw
toby at u.washington.edu
