>
> >These things don't come about during short periods of time (decades).
>

Can't agree with you on this Pete.  I assume that have read the recent
papers on how quickly major shifts in the genetics of populations can occur.

It all depends upon selective pressure.  Here in Calif, it took about 5
years for bee stocks to go from 70% mortality from tracheal mite to 0%.
That is fast track evolution in action, with the selective pressure applied
by a novel parasite.

You could easily demonstrate in any breeding operation in which you could
apply strong human selective pressure, say by killing off any queen that
wasn't bright yellow.  It only takes a few years to cause the population to
"adapt" to this strong selective pressure.

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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