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Joe, your comment re mutations or mistakes reminds me that according to chaos science we probably wouldn't have anything without them, since their deviation creates or starts the pattern in fractals. You science guys don't hesitate to correct me if I have misrepresented this. Ray-- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Ryan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 5:04 PM Subject: Natural Selection Discussion > The term "Natural Selection" can imply there is somehow an "intention" to > move things toward a particular goal or direction, as if there is a plan > involved. I don't think nature plans ahead. Natural selection passes on > genetic information from organisms who were successful in having and > perhaps raising offspring. It seems like placing a bet on tomorrows > weather > based on what today's weather was. It's certainly right often enough to > create whole new species over time. > I think that's a purely physical activity that does not involve judgment, > intention or thought. I think of a series of gates that lets your genes > pass > or not to the next generation. Some of those genes may or may not increase > the "fitness" of your descendants, but also think about genes like those > that cause sickle cell anemia, they increased the fitness of your > ancestors > (Good Gene!!) by protecting them from malaria, but then cause serious > illness for you and your descendants (Bad Gene!!). > I'm comfortable knowing that other people see it differently, but I reject > the idea that my having PD is part of any kind of plan, natural or > otherwise. Accidents happen! Without accidents (mutations) I can't imagine > how we could have evolution. > I agree 100% that the big question, and our common cause, is what we can > do > about PD. > > Joe > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn