DNA is a character and like any other character it varies.  It is just fancier than looking at shell colors, etc.  I think many people fail to appreciate that DNA is just another character.


JKT
-----Original message-----
From: David Campbell [log in to unmask]
Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 11:27:11 -0500
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Forma of a Species

Different types of variation have different biological significance.
There are individual aberrations, such as albinism.  There are
variations triggered by environmental factors.  High variation within
a species may be a ploy to confuse predators.  For example, in Cepaea
nemoralis, it seems as though visual predators are able to cue on
particular patterns.  If one pattern is relatively abundant, then more
predators will catch on and get good at spotting that pattern.  This
creates a balance of multiple forms within a species.  Other
variations may be adaptations to specific habitats, etc.  Such
variation may lead to speciation.

Even if we had lots of DNA data for most species, the level of
variation in DNA is not constant between species, just as the
variation in pattern, etc. is not constant.

--
Dr. David Campbell
425 Scientific Collections
University of Alabama
"I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"

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