[ExI] the ethics of the Vile Offspring

[Damien Broderick]

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."

Damien Broderick