> > >The subject has many variables that have to be addressed and I think > mathematics has come up short to explain the problem > I guess that I've been unclear. The math does not predict what will happen. The math applies only in retrospect about the outcome. That outcome being a shift in the proportion of heritable characteristics. That shift occurs when some variants in a population (for whatever reason) exhibit a consistently greater degree of reproductive success over several generations--meaning that their offspring, carrying their particular heritable traits, then make up a larger PROPORTION of the breeding population. This process is called evolution. The only math that I'm talking about is proportion. When one practices selective breeding, one shifts the proportions of traits in the breed away from the proportions in the wild type. This doesn't necessarily require novel mutations, but may. -- Randy Oliver Grass Valley, CA www.ScientificBeekeeping.com *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html