genetic selection in humans -- different rules

Ted Shoemaker said:

Hello,

Much has been written about genetic selection. Among other factors, it is figured that an
individual with superior characteristics is more likely to survive and reproduce than one with
inferior traits.

For example, a strong and healthy person is more likely to find mating partners than a weak and
sickly person.

Now suppose that a mutation occurs, and a human is born with 4 eyes. It could be argued that 4
eyes are superior to 2 eyes, provided the arrangement is right (placement on the head, brain
connections, etc). But we all know that such a person is far less likely to find a willing mate
than a 2-eyed person. Thus, the human race is likely to change in very different ways than other
species are.

Frogs and flies and flowers don't care about aesthetic matters.

Judson. She describes some examples of aesthetics in other organisms (for example, flies with eyes
on stalks), in a thoroughly entertaining manner.

Bob

--
Bob O'Hara

Rolf Nevanlinna Institute
P.O. Box 4 (Yliopistonkatu 5) FIN-00014 University of Helsinki Finland Telephone: +358-9-191 23743
Mobile: +358 50 599 0540 Fax: +358-9-191 22 779 WWW: rni.helsinki.fi~bohOpen ↗

in article [email hidden], Ted Shoemaker at
[email hidden] wrote on 10/8/03 8:16 PM:

Quoted message said:

Much has been written about genetic selection. Among other factors, it is figured that an
individual with superior characteristics is more likely to survive and reproduce than one with
inferior traits.

For example, a strong and healthy person is more likely to find mating partners than a weak and
sickly person.

Now suppose that a mutation occurs, and a human is born with 4 eyes. It could be argued that 4
eyes are superior to 2 eyes, provided the arrangement is right (placement on the head, brain
connections, etc). But we all know that such a person is far less likely to find a willing mate
than a 2-eyed person. Thus, the human race is likely to change in very different ways than other
species are.

Frogs and flies and flowers don't care about aesthetic matters. Humans do. So the rules for
genetic selection are more complicated for humans than for most species.

organisms like frogs and flies has demonstrated that such organisms commonly DO care about
"aesthetic matters".

Quoted message said:

Certainly, psychologists and sociologists have studied this phenomenon. What what has been
written, in terms of biology, evolution, etc., in this regard?

Guy