Warp wrote:
>   Defining "species" based on the decisions made by groups of living beings
> (even if those decisions are instinctive) is just silly.

Here's my problem with that:

By this very statement, the fruitflies are different species. It's simply 
the decisions made by a group of *humans* that determines whether the fruit 
flies reproduce. They're not going to do it on their own. The only way it 
would happen is if humans decided to pick up teeny tiny scalpels and make it 
happen.

And isn't instinct driven by genetics? How can you say genetically-dictated 
behavior doesn't contribute to two creatures being different species, but 
then say a species in theory can be determined simply by looking at the 
genetics?

Imagine if a whale and a dolphin were genetically compatible. I'd still call 
them separate species, because it would be impossible to bring a cross of 
those two to term without the genetics of human beings. Namely, the genetics 
of human beings that gave us hands and brains big enough to invent 
artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization and artificial wombs. I'd 
argue that if trying to bring a child to term kills the mother and the child 
before the child is born, the two creatures are a different species.

-- 
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
   Serving Suggestion:
     "Don't serve this any more. It's awful."

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