Re: A Further Note

Ralph L Holloway (rlh2@COLUMBIA.EDU)
Thu, 1 Aug 1996 17:51:20 -0400

On Thu, 1 Aug 1996, Robert Snower wrote:

> At 03:40 PM 8/1/96 +0000, Ronald Kephart wrote:
> >Not true. Mutations will still occur, and these mutations can still have
> >effects on the gene pool even if mating remains random. Not all evolution is
> >due to natural selection.
> >
> >Ron Kephart
> >University of North Florida
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I think I am right that mutations would make no difference. They have no
> place to go. They would not change the relative gene frequencies in the
> gene pool as long as the mating was absolutely random beeause of the
> Hardy-Weinberg law. Ask a population geneticist--if you can find one. And
> let me know.

The H-W law assumes that that there are no mutations, or that the
mutational rate of A to a equals the rate of a to A.Kephart is correct
that not all evolution (change in gene frequencies through time) is
through natural selection. Other processes such as random genetic drift
and mutation can produce evolutionary change.
R. Holloway