COLOUR AND PATTERN
Sir,-Mr. William Cranston asks me for one evolution concept which is obviously grounded on facts. One such is the concept of the survival of the fittest; another is colour and pattern adap. tation in living organisms. These concepts were attacked in The Listener, quite unsuccessfully in my opinion, by L. R. Richardson, Professor of Zoology at Victoria University Coilege. One of the facts upon which both these concepts are based is that almost every plant and animal species existing at the present time is in a state of divergence, more or less, and each established ecotype or. variety is patterned (or adapted) to fit its peculiar ecological niche. This is only explainable when wé recognise the known plasticity and mutability of gene and chromosome structures. It is because of this plasticity that living organisms have survived all the geological and climatic vicissitudes through the ages. Had they been created as unchanging entities .I doubt if even one species, plant or animal, would exist today, for on this changeful earth nature’s challenge to living things must always be:. Reet mutate. or perish.
W. B.
BROCKIE
(Wellington). —
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 740, 18 September 1953, Page 5
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188COLOUR AND PATTERN New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 740, 18 September 1953, Page 5
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