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Letter: Evolving backwards?

Published 7 April 2009

From Alex Nuan

Though I much enjoyed the review of Jack Horner’s new book, How To Build A Dinosaur (28 February, p 44), I have to say I was a little disappointed that the reviewer, Jeff Hecht, continually made the common mistake of referring to a “reversal” or “rewind” of evolution.

Has he forgotten the number of evolutionists who are completely against the idea of evolution going any other way than forwards? Modifying a chicken to become more like a dinosaur would be less like making a traveller go back the way he came, and more like pointing him towards his original destination.

Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, UK

Issue no. 2703 published 11 April 2009

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