> > but more importantly, I think what I posted earlier was a thoughtful (and not often discussed) aspect of evolutionary biology and how it relates to concepts in artificial selection such as "inbreeding", "outbreeding" "fixing traits", etc.  I'd rather discuss them than simply present them.

Still waiting here, to discuss. On discussion: one simply cannot expect ideas to go unchallenged in even the most supportive environment. Especially ideas such as intentionality, design, and "natural law". It is not a trivial matter to discuss the meaning of strategy and tools in the context of evolution. 

We can say that the human hand, for example, is a product of evolution and development. There are definitely signs that it was "intended" for a purpose, but these are our own concepts and there is simply no support for such a point of view. The hand *evolved* to be like it is. 

On the other hand ;) when a hand picks up a rock and uses it as an axe, that is an act of intelligence, the designing of a tool. This was developed further by intelligent human beings, who created beautiful stone spear points, arrow heads, bone knives, etc. But neither the pollen basket nor the barbed stinger on honey bees, are designed tools, regardless of the use to which they are put.

Following this, it can be said that while humans use intelligence to breed plants, animals and insects for their particular aims, nature does not use sex as a tool to accomplish goals such as genetic recombination, improved fitness, extinction of the unfit, etc. These things happened as an evolutionary/developmental response to selective pressure, which sorted and gave an edge to beneficial mutations, while dumping the harmful mutants.

Human breeding has co-opted the evo/devo process to our own intelligence driven aims (more food, prettier flowers, bigger cows, pest resistant crops, etc)

The sharp distinction that is often made between mankind and the rest of creation, or between mankind and nature, again is purely artificial. There is no such distinction. Lightning strikes and everybody dies. There are no favored species.

PLB

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