Fellow Listers, With current advances in genetics applying to genealogy, I'm sure most of us have an interest in these developments and an opinion about them. About the debate between evolution and creation. I would be interested in comments from listers about the following controversial statement: "Civilisation is the enemy of evolution" This statement no doubt invokes different thoughts and comments from different people. Some examples may be as follows: · A tribal hunter suffering from a genetic mutation causing short-sightedness was unlikely to survive and generate offspring. In a civilized society such a disadvantage can be corrected. · The complexity of a DNA genome makes it very hard to believe it has happened by chance and not by design by a creator. · In tribal times, survival was dependant on adequate food supplies. Such supplies varied according to many factors such as climatic conditions and competition with other animals. Individuals who had the adaptability to find alternative food sources survived, while others did not. Farming as an early aspect of civilisation allowed those less adaptable to survive. · In earlier times competition for resources was a constant problem for individuals and tribes, often leading to conflict. Such conflicts of individuals often led to the survival of one and the death of the other. Probabilities suggest that the next generation will have eliminated the genes of the less capable combatant. Civilisation has reduced the frequency of such combat. · If we assume members of our species recognise and admire beauty in each other, then over the countless millennia of our distant past, births would be heavily influenced by the parents' choice of partner. Should a mutation occur in an individual which changes some aspect in the person's appearance which us humans see as more attractive, then that person has an advantage over others when choosing a mate. Theoretically after countless generations, all humans would become beautiful to each other. We certainly see people in the present population who we regard as beautiful. But not all! The simple selection process postulated above has one significant exception - the strength and aggression of the male hunter and his sexual drive would force a union where no attraction applied and his genes would be passed on. In our civilised world there are countless unions resulting in offspring where mutual appreciation of beauty plays no part. You may think this has little to do with genealogy. It will be interesting to see if it is just ignored by listers or if some think it is worth commenting about!!!! Regards to all! John Keynes, Salisbury Heights __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 8895 (20131009) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

What has this got to do with genealogy ???????????