[ExI] the ethics of the Vile Offspring

Keith Henson hkeithhenson at gmail.com
Sun May 22 23:35:47 UTC 2011


On Sun, May 22, 2011 at 11:36 AM, Damien Broderick <thespike at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> On 5/22/2011 1:04 PM, Keith Henson wrote:
>
>> Where do their phenotypes come from?
>
> There are various contributors. Genes, epigenetic modulation from
> environmental factors, direct environmental inputs (cyclical or stochastic
> amounts of heat, water, necessary chemicals, other creatures), etc. Granted,
> there has to be a suite of genes able to generate proteins that can build
> and continue to adapt a workable phenotype--but I understand that in a lot
> of cases, very different genes are able to build critters of a convergent
> phenotype, and it's the phenotype that thrives and breeds. In other words,
> there are somewhat independent levels that all have to be taken into account
> in the complex process of "reproductive success."

Well, let me know when a cow gives birth to a horse or vice versa.

Keith



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