Hi Didymus,
I'm a regular lurker over at IIDB. Great site.
quote:
I strongly disagree with interpretations I have read in this thread that refer to speciation as a microevolutionary phenomenon. That does not gel with anything I have read on the topic.
I think the reason for attempting to justify a distinct division between micro and macroevolution is that creationists often claim they believe in micro but not macro evolution and have succussfully drawn non-creationists into debating the terms. The distinctions as you have noted by most definitions, is in time scale but not in underlying process (at the molecular level).
quote:
I strongly disagree with interpretations I have read in this thread that refer to speciation as a microevolutionary phenomenon. That does not gel with anything I have read on the topic.
However, the underlying population genetic principles are identical for both which then begs the question, why even bother defining it as micro and macro. I think it is better to think in terms of RuffusAtticus' definition coupled with the definition from Campbell . The problem is compounded as there is no absolute clear species definition. So trying to assign a clear distinction between micro and macro evolution based on a fuzzy concept like species will naturally lead to a muddled concept as well.
cheers,
M
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