Talk:Chemical evolution/Comments

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[edit] Toward Greater Uniformity of the Term "Evolution"

Evolution could be defined in a way that allows it to be used fairly uniformly across fields of knowledge. This would allow for clarity and useful cross-fertilization across disciplines. To do so would require that the core definition start with the most general use of the term in the mother discipline of the term, which is biology.

Principles: 1. "Evolution" refers to changes in a population over time, not to chenge within an individual over time. 2. Identifiable individuals (molecules in this case) need to replicate in some way strongly influenced by the composition of the "ancestor" individual. 3. Variation needs to take place in the replication process. 4. Some kind of "natural" selection process needs to occur to alter the characteristics of the population.

Not every use of the term evolution fits with this. I am not entirely sure that all parts of what is studied in chemical evolution involves replication. Some of it must involve the emergence of the conditions for chemical replicators to emerge.

Would it be unreasonable to indicate in some way that uses of the term "evolution" that do not conform with this definition are not "real" evolution ? Humbly suggested, DCDuring 20:53, 24 August 2007 (UTC)