Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:09:17 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Proof of Torah mi-Sinai

QUESTION:
<  <  I disagree on behalf of the Rambam, why not say one hump camels are a
different species than two humpers? We have to clarify how we are going to
define 'Min' species. By the various groupings during days 5 and six of
Creation when there was much more diversity in the genes. Or after the...>  >

ANSWER:
No--my understanding is that MIN=SPECIES is defined by the CAPACITY of two
different animals to produce offspring that can similarly reproduce.

SO....a 1-hump and 2-hump camel are considered the same species because a
1-hump male and 2-hump female can produce good camels. By contrast a
wolf-dog or horse-mule or mule-donkey cannot so reproduce (All the Rambam
says in Hilchot Kilayim 9:4 is that 'looking alike' is not a criteria for
species.)

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA
Moderator Rashi is Simple; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/