Subject: wing bars
Date: Apr 26 19:04:00 1995
From: "Michelsen, Teresa" - TEMI461 at ecy.wa.gov



I'd like to add my two cents, esp. on Dennis' comments. Don't forget that a
visually identifiable trait that occurs in many related birds may have no
function whatsoever, but may have originally occurred as a random mutation
and been propogated to offspring simply because it is LINKED with (e.g.,
physically located next to) a gene on a chromosome that does have an
important function and is selected for. Like Burt says, if the mutation
doesn't cost the bird anything, it won't be selected against and will remain
by default, or may even be selected into a population if it is linked to a
desirable gene. - Teresa Michelsen