tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post138249346563912006..comments2024-02-29T03:57:00.088-05:00Comments on The Mermaid's Tale: Darwin the Newtonian. Part IV. What is 'natural selection'?Anne Buchananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-3596577688634398882016-05-19T12:26:38.543-04:002016-05-19T12:26:38.543-04:00On a quick look, even before there were much relev...On a quick look, even before there were much relevant 'genetics' (in 1960), this mechanical model showed the nature of complexity, and the author seems to have been clear about that. If the machine exists, and you can find it, let me know as I'd be curious to see what you can do with it.Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-57087561656036366892016-05-19T12:21:57.118-04:002016-05-19T12:21:57.118-04:00Thanks. I'll take a look as I didn't know...Thanks. I'll take a look as I didn't know about it. When I was in high school a friend, who had lived for some time in Japan, had a pachinko machine, and we played on it a lot (while we were putatively studying for our physics or chemistry exams).Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-73812641463339323872016-05-19T11:59:42.811-04:002016-05-19T11:59:42.811-04:00With reference to your pachinko machine, (if you a...With reference to your pachinko machine, (if you are unfamiliar with it) you should check out the paper by Oliver P. Person in Ecology 1960 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/1933324). He built a "population dynamics" machine and it simulates all sorts of population processes using steel balls that fall through various holes and/or are channeled through various slots. I wish I could track this machine down, I would love to see it in person. rich lawlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13353965284524429553noreply@blogger.com