(September 11, 2014 at 4:33 pm)Pickup_shonuff Wrote: While we're on the the topic of genes, I have a question that will admittedly probably sound naive.
When biologists talk about an "evolutionary arms-race," do they in any sense mean that otherwise generally random gene mutations somehow directly respond to the competition? Like, say, an organism develops an eye spot that would give it such a hunting advantage so as to prospectively eliminate all its competitors; in an "arms-race," would its competitors' offspring also mutate the genes necessary for the allowance of an eye spot or...? How exactly does that work?
No.
It is the effect of selection on random mutation. It just looks like an arms race.
Skepticism is not a position; it is an approach to claims.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
Science is not a subject, but a method.