Do new beneficial mutation evolve simultaneously andindependently with several individuals of the same specie or onlywith one specimen who then transfers it to all of the specie?
In other words, when we talks about common ancestor we usuallymean a specie, so for example, all earth dwelling reptiles, birdsand mammals are the descendants of Tiktaalik (to the best of myknowledge), and we know that Tiktaalik was the first (or one of thefirst) species to come to land, but was there a first individualTiktaalik who went to the land, like Tim Minchin's Tony thefish.
Imagine being the first dude ever to have feet...
Imagine you're a fish, and you are swimming in the ocean ... andsuddenly out of nowhere Tony just goes "I'm getting out, I'mfreezing, I'm just gonna pop out for a bit, maybe lie on my towel,I'll bring you an ice cream"
-"Don't bother ,Tony, you are a freak! Tony is a freak, let'sgo, let's ostracize him for being different"
It seems to me that from the same species of ancestors there areseveral descending distinct species, so it seems to me that thatthat there was a species of reptiles that at some point someindividual of that group developed Dinosaur features and traits andwhose descendants became Dinosaurs and then Birds, and anotherindividual of that specie or a descending specie (not necessarilyat the same time) developed mammary glands whose descendants becamemammals, and other individuals who didn't mate with those two whosedescendants remained reptiles.
Was there ever a first dinosaur with feathers who is the fatheror mother of all birds, or the first fish with lungs, the firstmonkey with opposable thumbs from whom all apes descend, or thefirst mammal that decided to go for a swim and all dolphins, whaleand seals are his direct descendant of that first swimmingmammal?
And also for traits that don't lead to speciation, was there afirst human who was lactose tolerant, and all the lactose tolerantpeople on the world are his/her descendants, or the first personwith no wisdom teeth, the first person with slanted eyes, and thefirst person with red/blond hair?
*- If there are gross inaccuracies and/or over-simplification inmy understanding of the evolutionary process, this is because I'mnot a biologist, and I would accept happily any correction.
