Evolution is quicker than they thought

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Right, the species was modified in response to the threat, when the individual bugs who by random chance best handled the new food bred more. The individual flies didn't modify their genes to metabolize the new food better.

OK, I follow you. But the groups did change and diverge in response to outside stimuli. There must be an awful lot of fruit flies out there that can't get laid.... they're lucky then don't live long.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

OK, I follow you. But the groups did change and diverge in response to outside stimuli.

Right, that's the distinction I was trying to make. Groups evolve in reaction to outside stimuli, and individuals mutate with no particular direction.

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Right, that's the distinction I was trying to make. Groups evolve in reaction to outside stimuli, and individuals mutate with no particular direction.

Exactly, but individual mutation, if advantageous, ends-up in the whole population through time.
Both are mutations, just different forms and expressions, and both are evolution.
If it changes the genome, it is mutation, if it is adopted by the whole, or a portion which becomes a separate whole, it is evolution.