> > Many insecticide resistance mutations involve a minor (minor in the sense
> > of requiring only a small point mutation) alteration in amino acid sequence
> > of a particular receptor protein which renders the particular pesticide
> > ineffective.
> Please be aware that mutation is not evolution. Mutation provides the
> ultimate raw material upon which natural selection can act.
Precisely, which is why I followed up my statement in my _next paragraph_:
> Such mutant haplotypes exist naturally, albeit in
> very low frequency, in natural populations and are not "recognized" as
> beneficial until the proper kind of selective force comes along . . . in
> this case, humans and their insecticide arsenals.
Susan Glueck
