Perhaps it is so frightening a concept to completely
abandon taxonomy based on the incomplete sampling of
the geological record and the simple fact that either
a branching tree with end products (successive
diversity) or nested ingrowth of lines to a common
trunk (interbreeding) may be both correct, and _no_
taxonomic hypothesis has so far found a way to
successfully distinguish and define these qualities
together. We would have to abandon our Dinosauria,
Mammalia, Aves, Bryozoa, Archaea, Echinodermata,
Arachnida, etc.; all that ... lost ... because either
competing hypothesis, nesting or branching, cannot
correctly show the distinction between genetic change
and mutation. Or how bacteria can literally pass genes
from one member of a generation to another, or
cross-generational, without fissioning (Lateral Gene
Transfer).
What a frightening concept, but something has to be
realized that allows parent-child relationships to be
classified in the same manner as sibling-sibling
relationsips, or that allows two different
classificatory hypotheses to operate in the same system.
=====
Jaime "James" A. Headden
Dinosaurs are horrible, terrible creatures! Even the
fluffy ones, the snuggle-up-at-night-with ones. You think
they're fun and sweet, but watch out for that stray tail
spike! Down, gaston, down, boy! No, not on top of Momma!