Freethought & Rationalism Archive

KC · 02-19-2003, 08:50 AM

I'm speechless. The discussion was whether or not alleles can become fixed in a population. The creationist's commengts are in italics.

Quote:

<<<Hardly. One can easily see alleles disappear from a population in selection experiments.>>>(KC)

That is a gross misunderstanding of the experiments. While severe selection experiments ultimately can lead to identification and isolation of only those who exhibit that trait being selected for, it does not mean that the allele for the other trait is erradicated. Most likely, selection pressures will simply not allow its expression in the morphology of the species.

:banghead:

KC

Non-praying Mantis · 02-19-2003, 09:37 AM

While I won't say that the creationist is right, it is not common that alleles get completely removed from a gene pool, as long as the gene pool stays large. A single organism can carry an allele without it having detrimental effects, if that organism is at least Diploid (which most organisms, except bacteria, are). They have two alleles (or more in the case of duplications) for each trait, and the dominant allele will tend to be expressed over the recessive allele that may be harmful. This is how alleles remain in a gene pool. They are maintained by those heterozygous organisms, which are called carriers.

If the gene pool drops in size, however, it is quite common for many alleles to disappear. Extinction will even eliminate ALL alleles in a gene pool!

NPM

pz · 02-19-2003, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Non-praying Mantis
Extinction will even eliminate ALL alleles in a gene pool!

Nah, they're just restin'. Or maybe stunned.

Advocatus Diaboli · 02-19-2003, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pz
Nah, they're just restin'. Or maybe stunned.

Once again Monty Python spreads to an innocent thread.

KC · 02-19-2003, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Non-praying Mantis
While I won't say that the creationist is right, it is not common that alleles get completely removed from a gene pool, as long as the gene pool stays large. A single organism can carry an allele without it having detrimental effects, if that organism is at least Diploid (which most organisms, except bacteria, are). They have two alleles (or more in the case of duplications) for each trait, and the dominant allele will tend to be expressed over the recessive allele that may be harmful. This is how alleles remain in a gene pool. They are maintained by those heterozygous organisms, which are called carriers.

If the gene pool drops in size, however, it is quite common for many alleles to disappear. Extinction will even eliminate ALL alleles in a gene pool!

NPM

Yes, all that is understood...well...at least by me..LOL

KC

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02-19-2003, 09:37 AM	#2
Non-praying Mantis Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Roanoke, VA, USA Posts: 2,646	While I won't say that the creationist is right, it is not common that alleles get completely removed from a gene pool, as long as the gene pool stays large. A single organism can carry an allele without it having detrimental effects, if that organism is at least Diploid (which most organisms, except bacteria, are). They have two alleles (or more in the case of duplications) for each trait, and the dominant allele will tend to be expressed over the recessive allele that may be harmful. This is how alleles remain in a gene pool. They are maintained by those heterozygous organisms, which are called carriers. If the gene pool drops in size, however, it is quite common for many alleles to disappear. Extinction will even eliminate ALL alleles in a gene pool! NPM

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