From ixedoc@SULEKHA.COM Mon Nov 1 16:26:17 2004
Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 21:50:02 -0700
From: Arunachalam Kumar
To: nathistory-india@Princeton.EDU
Subject: EVOLUTION:A NEW HYPOTHESIS
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Some time ago, a nat-history contributor raised a question or two on
the discovery or possible alternate theory to Darwinâ^À^Ùs. How will a
new theory be accepted or rejected, or debated? What could be the outcome
of a newer look in the content and impact on current stands on
evolutionary biology? Here is a very simplistic model on evolution, a
purely hypothetical one, that may set the debate rolling.
On a hypothetical basis, imagine just an individual with a very limited
number of genetic characteristics in its chromosomal make-up. Say 1 & 2.
If this pool finds fusion with another of its ilk, another 3 & 4, the
results could be 13,14, 23, 24, 31, 41, 32 or 42; put simply, any random
combination of any two of the four original genetic traits drawn from two
individuals. Now if the offspring unite, say 13 with any other, the
results should be yet another random combination of the original traits
of the eight sets of uniting genes. Let us go on thus, each duo
combining, at every generation with every other duo in the pool. The
population growth is exponential.
Now that we know that only 1,2, 3, and 4 are the originals and all other
generations are combinations of the four, soon enough, mathematically at
least, all possible permutations and combinations will be reached within
a given span of time, dependent on the rate, age and frequency of
multiplication of the particular species.
That is, within a certain finite time frame, all possible combinations
are exhausted, and by inference, any new offspring now spawned, will be a
repeat or replica or clone of any one of the existing or extant members
of the species. Soon enough, a point will b reached whence every other
member of the particular species will be replicas, either in genotype or
phenotype, and in extreme, both, to every other individual in the pool. A
critical â^À^Øgene-saturationâ^À^Ù stage is attained. The particular
species, say crow, becomes all black. Every crow becomes black. And all
crows look alike; If the original gene pool was just 1,2,3 and 4 in
crows, then all crows would not only look alike, but also behave and
react alike. They simply do not, because the original pool is much wider
in gamut, and despite the phenotype reaching the â^À^Øgene
saturationâ^À^Ù point, the genotype for behavior and other traits have
yet to exhaust their combination inputs. The crow population survives and
grows, but a time will come when all crows become clones of all others.
The species is then doomed. A single virus, or illness could wipe out the
entire species. This has happened, and does quite frequently (as
evidenced in phyto-clonal monocultures). And how does nature countenance
the early onset of â^À^Øsaturationâ^À^Ù? It just induces mutation. Not
random, or accidental, but selective and incidental mutation. Just a
single mutation of a single characteristic in one chromosome of the
offspring pool, now opens up an entire new range of permutations and
combinations. The species survives, and possibly forms sub-species, or
newer ones too in the process. A crow with a white patch is not an odd
ornithological specimen; it probably represents a mutant bearing bird
trying to introduce a new set of phenotype into the population for its
own survival against the a looming â^À^Øsaturationâ^À^Ù stage.
Everything in nature and life is finite, for it is mathematical. If
nature fails in its attempt to engineer mutation at the appropriate
juncture, annihilation and extinction are results. Dinosaurs or dodos,
not only lost, but were considered too stupid to survive too. The
mutations required to keep them alive, were either too late in their
introduction, or too weak in their potency.
At first glance, do not all Japanese and Chinese look alike? Is not most
of Africa black and Asia brown? A phenotype saturation stage is operating
here. Donâ^À^Ùt all lemmings commit mass suicide? Does not one sheep
follow another? A â^À^Øbehaviour saturationâ^À^Ù stage? Maybe?
Evolution may not just be a sequentially programmed survival of species,
it may yet be a case of simple mathematics applied in the right
proportion, at the right time.
Arunachalam Kumar
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