Talk:Genetic diversity
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The example of the Irish potato famine is appropriate; however, the statement that this disease (blight) was caused by a virus is incorrect. There is abundant and consistent evidence that the potato disease responsible for the famine was caused by Phytophthora infestans (1), formely classified as a fungus, but now placed in the Kingdom Stramenopila, Phylum Oomycota, Class Oomycetes, Order Perenosporales, and Family Pythiaceae (2). This new classification includes the genus Phytophthora and other Oomycetes, the brown algae (giant kelps), the diatoms, the yellow-green algae, and the golden-brown algae. There is, to the best of my knowledge, no convincing evidence that the Irish potato famine was caused by a virus.
Sources: 1. Encyclopædia Britannica 2. Southern Illinois University website www.siu.com
