tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post4777365690819110228..comments2024-02-29T03:57:00.088-05:00Comments on The Mermaid's Tale: Ooops! The human genome does not exist! Part II. What kind of reference is a reference?Anne Buchananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-42667274600136753332012-08-08T09:03:38.364-04:002012-08-08T09:03:38.364-04:00Yes, though careful examination has always shown p...Yes, though careful examination has always shown problems with the very concept of species, and these are most problematic at the 'edges' of variation. <br /><br />Polyphenism, very different morpohologies in a given species due to environmental differences, present one problem.<br /><br />Separating 'varieties' (as Darwin called what we may call 'subspecies') from 'real' species is not always easy, and depends on the definition of species.<br /><br />Of course, nobody can confuse a human genome sequence even from a chimps, our very close relative, so your comment certainly fits with how we properly use a 'reference' sequence.<br /><br />Hopefully, we've properly discussed other nuances and thoughts in the later parts of this series.Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-47089378194622875632012-08-08T08:52:50.022-04:002012-08-08T08:52:50.022-04:00The idea behind type specimen is probably no longe...The idea behind type specimen is probably no longer that they truly represent the species, but that two specimen from two different species could more or less illustrate the gap that should exist between species (comparative approach).Joachim Dagghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00985198925581721229noreply@blogger.com