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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p>Hi, Steve, and everyboy, <o:p></o:p></p><p>In a recent discussion concerning the efficacy of Natural Selection as a cause of evolution, I accused Steve of being a neutralist. Before I continued to sling that insult about, I thought I had best find out what it meant. <o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/neutral-theory-the-null-hypothesis-of-molecular-839/">https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/neutral-theory-the-null-hypothesis-of-molecular-839/</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p>Now I am not sure my slander should stick. Where the two positions seem to agree is that natural selection is not so important as We on the Other Side seem to think it is. Other explanations should be sought for the way things are. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Then I began to wonder if even this was correct. Is “least action” a mechanism distinct from natural selection or is it the principle on which natural selection works. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Nick <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>