Eric wrote:

A friend of mine, a biologist, has been studying a subtle and interesting
aspect of this debate.  He has been asking teachers and students if they
understand the distinction between "evolution" and "natural selection."
"Evolution" is a phenomenon, like the refraction of light.  Defined as
change, it happens to everything at rates that can be well predicted by the
understanding of physics, chemistry, and systems.  "Natural selection" is a
theory, in the scientific sense of the term.  It is the mechanism that
drives evolution in biological systems. Predictably, everyone conflates the 
phenomenon "evolution" with the mechanism "natural selection.

	Thank you Eric for making this a little clearer.  I apologize for
having been mistaken myself.  I do admit my confusion to the "Evolution" and
"Natural Selection" terminology.  I'd like to blame my 10th grade Biology
teacher... come to think of it, I'd like to blame him for a lot. He really
was a painful experience.  
	
	Regardless, it is my understanding that evolution and natural
selection are not mutually exclusive of each other, or do I still have
things confused.  Isn't evolution the effect of natural selection?  

	I'm willing to take any responses off list as to not flood our
friend's in-boxes.

Have a nice day,

Christopher Reeves

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