In a message dated 31/10/05 14:22:10 GMT Standard Time,  [log in to unmask]
writes:

<<If I wanted to raise small bees, I would either: 1) use regular  sized comb
and measure the bees to find which ones are genetically smaller.  If you use
smaller cells, you will create an environmental effect that  would mask any
real genetic variation. Or 2) use bees that are already  small: African Bees.
I suspect this is what they have down there in  Arizona.

I am sorry to bring this up again, but people should think  about the
implications of a statement like "Environment  changes  breeding". It is not
only unscientific, -- it's anti-scientific. Which is  fine, be anti-science.
But then you cannot turn around refer to changes in  the  "DNA" .



Isis  Glass>>



I'm not sure this oft-repeated idea is entirely  correct. If you want to
select for a particular characteristic, say small size,  create conditions which
favour it over large size; that's the basis of natural  selection. Isn't it
likely that small cells favour small bees, and thus select  for a smaller,
genetically somewhat different, strain? This isn't a matter of  introducing a new
gene, rather one of changing the ratio of the alleles which  are already present.

    Regards,

    Robert Brenchley

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