The Part Played by Recurrent Mutation in Evolution

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Abstract
Mutation is necessary but not sufficient for evolution. A theoretical discussion indicates that recurrent mutation can affect characters not subject to environmental selection. Since the majority of mutations affecting an organ reduce its size, recurrent mutation should diminish the size of vestigial organs. Since most gene''s on X chromosomes are dominant and deficiencies are stabler than ordinary recessive mutations, loss of genes from the Y chromosome should be expected. Since sex-linked lethals kill relatively many of the heterogametic individuals, the [male] should be the heterogametic sex except in races of strong monogamic tendencies because fewer [male][male] than [female][female] are needed to support the race.

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