"DSK" wrote in message
...
Jeff Morris wrote:
OK, another set of examples. All of the plant and animal species that we
now
called "domesticated" are quite different from their wild predecessors. All
of
these new species "evolved," largely as an accident of interaction with
human
culture, in a time span of less then 10,000 years. Actually, many occurred
in
less than 1000 years - Wheat for instance (IIRC) evolved quickly because
several
naturally occurring mutations were very compatible with human cultivation.

Or, in the case of the Pekinese dog, we have definitely influenced
evolution to produce a creature that Nature would never could have, for
reasons that nobody can explain.


Funny you should mention that - there was a study of Canine DMA published
recently that was looking at the "distance" of various breeds from their wolf
ancestors. There were some obvious results, like huskies and other sled dogs
are "original" breeds, but they also found the Pekinese are an ancient breed,
and one that as billed as an "ancient Egyptian dog" (I forget the name) was
developed in the last few hundred years.