Isint mutation evolution?

Question

My point is this;

There are autistic/retarded children being born. Most of them are like literally retarded, but some look retarded and are autistic in most aspects, but they can look an this insane math problem and solve it in like 2 seconds. Do you think this is a type of evolution?

I don't know, im just thinking.

Answer 1

Mutation is not evolution in itself, but is a factor in evolution. Mutations are only important to evolution if they in some way increase the mutant organism's likelihood of surviving and passing on the mutated gene so that it becomes part of the population.

High level maths skills can be very useful in technologically advanced societies, but aren't much use elsewhere, and they don't really give the individual a greater chance of surviving or reproducing.

Savants (that's what these gifted but disabled people are called) generally only thrive in wealthy modern societies, where medical care, therapy and social support are the norm. Although they may be astonishingly gifted, they are often poorly equipped to survive in the wider world by themselves.

Ask the question: "Would this person's particular skills make him more likely than normal to survive or improve his chances of reproducing, and will they continue to do so through subsequent generations?"

If the answer is 'no', then you have a mutation that may be interesting but is not going to make an impact on the future of the wider population, and thus is not evolution.

Answer 2

My opinion?  Not evolution, but variation

Answer 3

"Mutations are the necessary raw material of evolution."

Mutation: A permanent change, a structural alteration, in the DNA or RNA. In humans and many other organisms, mutations occur in DNA. However, in retroviruses like HIV, mutations occur in RNA which is the genetic material of retroviruses.

In most cases, such changes are neutral and have no effect or they are deleterious and cause harm, but occasionally a mutation can improve an organism's chance of surviving and of passing the beneficial change on to its descendants. Mutations are the necessary raw material of evolution.

Mutations can be caused by many factors including environmental insults such as radiation and mutagenic chemicals. Mutations are sometimes attributed to random chance events.

For more information about specific kinds of mutations, see:

Mutation, acquired

Mutation, germline

Mutation, hereditary

Mutation, missense

Mutation, nonsense

Mutation, null

Mutation, point

Mutation, private

Mutation, somatic

for links to the above, go here:

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art....

Answer 4

I don't think so Alex, but