ii8 WHAT EVOLUTION IS 



called hyper tely, is a common occur- 

 rence in nature and is beyond the 

 reach of natural selection. 



The most serious objection that 

 has been raised against natural selec- 

 tion is its apparent inability to launch 

 any real change. When we consider 

 how very slight and insignificant the 

 individual differences are in any 

 group of plants or of animals, it is 

 almost inconceivable that these dif* 

 ferences can afford sufficient grip for 

 what natural selection is supposed to 

 do in producing a new species. Once 

 well established, it is easy to see how 

 a new and advantageous trait can be 

 fostered and developed by this proc- 

 ess, but at the inception, it would 

 seem impossible that natural selec- 

 tion could start a new feature forward 

 from such small beginnings. Indi- 

 vidual differences are not sufficiently 

 life and death differences to enable 



