I have a funny feeling that evolution should be approach
with a heavy dose of chaos theory. It definately has constraints
on it (i.e. selection for traits that are beneficial etc and the whole
survival of the fitest argument) but I can't help but think that there
is a completely random element too. I am always pleasantly surprised
when I hear statements like, "Lemarck was right!" etc. because it lets
us know that evolution and heredity is not so easily definable. Lemarck's
giraffe inspired axiom (and later tested on poor mutilated mice) that an individual
could adapt to its environment and pass this on to its offspring was later
proved an actual possibility in some bacteria. As well the evolution of modern
man from his early mammalian ancestors, as far as we can tell, is far from a steady
climb to our present state. It is punctuated by vary rapid changes in physiology
which has spurred rabid searches for the "missing link" to maintain a tired paradigm
held dear by too many anthropologists. To many models have been developed around
the sample size of one (read "Lucie").
Just some musings
any comments are welcome
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