Donald Forsdyke <forsdyke at post.queensu.ca> wrote:
> Drs. Hickey and Lobry have both accepted Dr. Samudrala's premise
>that base composition changes "before selection kicks in".
The premise is that the amino acid composition is different in a gene
prior to selection (i.e., before selective pressures arise for the
protein encoded by the gene) and after selection [*]. I believe this
follows from the Neodarwinian theory of evolution. If the
compositions are identical what purpose would selection serve (I do
think that proteins in general are fairly well-clustered around their
average amino acid compositions)?
>How do we know when "selection" first "kicks in"?
That's related to my question. You can argue selection cannot be
present in a gene that isn't functional. But I think it is a
difficult question to answer, which is why I asked.
I thank Drs. Hickey and Lobry for their papers which I will look up.
--Ram
* - The data for the latter is present in many text books.
email at urls || http://www.ram.org || http://www.twisted-helices.com/th
God is a conjecture; but I desire that your conjectures should not reach
beyond your creative will. Could you /create/ a god? Then do not speak
to me of any gods. But you could well create the overman. ---Nietzsche
