tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post7205121372835252372..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: Darwin on VariationLarry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-76100384097380752312009-02-09T10:40:00.000-05:002009-02-09T10:40:00.000-05:00Of course everything can be reduced to physics, bu...Of course everything can be reduced to physics, but single nucleotide mutations operate on a few levels removed from quantum mechanics. <BR/><BR/>In other words, knowing quantum mechanics will not help you understand the mechanisms involved in a base pair change. Read "Godel, Escher, Bach".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-8710432711688212562009-02-09T08:43:00.000-05:002009-02-09T08:43:00.000-05:00I wouldn't say that variation = mutation. Variatio...I wouldn't say that variation = mutation. Variation depends on mutation at some level, but it's not the whole story. Mutation is essentially random, based on quantum mechanics. However, variation is not isotropic.<BR/><BR/>In a sense, mutation is trivial and can be described easily. However, how mutation translates into variation is quite another beast and includes mechanisms such as developmental stability, canalization, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com