Re: NANFA-- subspecies (was fantail darters)

mcclurg luke e (mcclurgl_at_washburn.edu)
Sun, 23 Jan 2000 13:52:24 -0600 (CST)

The one thing about categorizing species and what is a "sub-species" and
all that rot is that it won't ever be firmly established. One might think
that complete mapping of all DNA from all animals on the earth might take
care of it. But, if certain theories are correct, that same DNA will be
changed over a few years. So, we try to catgorize things as best we
can. The systems are constantly being changed or modified in some way,
and there is a tremendous amount of bickering and "turf" wars fought
because of it. The Evolutionary Species Concept of Wiley is probably a
more realistic approach than many other systems. It certainly has it's
flaws though and I'm sure someone will come up with something better
eventually. Oh well, such is science.

Just babbling away....

Luke

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