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[kotekzot]

What you are describing is called eugenics, not evolution. And even if we discard all notions of genes being complex, that still leaves us with the problems of dwarves living well past 100 years, meaning it wouldn't have a significant impact on a given fortress' population during their normal lifespan.

[Jiokuy]

Your all missing the point. Dwarves are supposed to be fat, and having them any other way is an Abomination unto Armok. We should instead pit the skinny ones in !!Magma!!.

[Number4]

No. Selection is a part of evolution and "throw all the small ones into a magma chute" is a form of selection. They also could die for example if badgers would be able to jump at the throats of small dwarves yet be unable to reach the throats of taller ones. Though dwarves live way past 100 years, they are able to give birth to children at age 12 IIRC so if your process of selection is strict enough you're probably going to see significant results in generation 3 or so.

[kotekzot]

Generation 3 being born is 26 years in and matures in another 12 years, at best. That's way past what most fortresses survive.
Also, evolution = natural selection. Eugenics = artificial selection.

[Organum]

Evolution is done specifically by "natural" selection. Eugenics is sort of like artificial evolution. The end result of both is a creature that is the product of it's ancestors living long enough to procreate. Exactly why the competition lost is the difference between the two.

Edit: Kind of ninja?

[Number4]

Selection = Selection. The end result is the same.

By the way, there are examples of extremly quick evolution even by so called "natural" means. A virus can cull your population strongly until only resistant individuals are left...

[Organum]

Viruses occur naturally, therefore that is evolution rather than eugenics. If humans cull a species specifically in order to achieve a future creature it's eugenics. Selection by naturally occurring phenomenon/=selection due to intent.

[kotekzot]

Selection = Selection. The end result is the same.

Is it "stupid argument day" already? How time flies.

[Number4]

Viruses occur naturally, therefore that is evolution rather than eugenics. If humans cull a species specifically in order to achieve a future creature it's eugenics. Selection by naturally occurring phenomenon/=selection due to intent.

You're talking as if intelligent species weren't a part of nature. Anyway, back from the nitpicking about natural or not natural (sounds elfy to me anyway), more to whether we can select our dwarves for certain traits. And "100 years lifespan" doesn't sound as enough to discourage Dwarven Breeding. You could also do it with chickens or somethings, less years between clutches and many young.

[kotekzot]

That still doesn't change the fact that generation 3 will become relevant at best after 38 years of playing a single fortress.

[Organum]

Well, this is science we're talking about. Why not edit the raws so your dwarves grow up much more quickly? Maxage modification might help to keep the population reasonable, too.

[Aachen]

Domestication = eugenics?

edit: Also, what if we take the case of a non-human species (like the aphid-farming ants)?

[Organum]

Domestication is sort of like eugenics...I suppose if the ants show a preference towards supporting aphids that poop out more delicious aphid poop, and if "I poop like a madman, yo" were a heriditary trait that would be eugenics.

[kotekzot]

Well, this is science we're talking about.

I thought the thread was about OP's dwarves getting fat after a couple of years. Besides, what's there to science? Is fatness hereditary in DF? I'm pretty sure that's already determined to be a "yes", considering all the people breeding their livestock for maximum butchering returns.

Domestication = eugenics?

The word "eugenics" is generally only applied to humans, or, in this case, sentient creatures in general.

[Organum]

Science doesn't always have to be about discovering new things. Breeding your dwarves for maximum sveltness seems like science to me, so that's why that.