Why does this even need to be said? Evolution is the change of allele frequencies over time in a given population. The assumption inherent in that definition is

Why does this even need to be said? Evolution is the change of allele frequencies over time in a given population. The assumption inherent in that definition is that there are no black and white shifts, it is generally incremental if you assume natural selection is working (codified assumptions included here). I don't know exactly why your comment annoys me, but I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it "isn't even wrong". You say flowery things like "Human adaptability is quite amazing" and it just emphasizes to me that your thesis about variability is sloppy and vague. "Gene mechanism" differences definitely exist, and they definitely affect the world around us. At a certain point, "human adaptability" doesn't count for shit. If I am a double APC mutant with abnormal Beta-catenin signalling guess what is overwhelmingly likely to happen to me by age 40? Colorectal carcinoma. Forty or more CAG repeats on an obscure part of chromosome 4? Huntington's, full penetrance. Mutations in my hemoglobin locus? Sickle cell, beta thalassemia and a rogue's gallery of other blood diseases are in my future. "Adaptability" is not a useful concept when these are the problems we face when we inherit genetic diseases. The empirical method has proven that our genes matter for our life outcomes; glossing over this with some handwaving about "adapting" is counterproductive at every level of knowledge.