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Also that the fitness function applies to the system as a whole. So a trait that's just amazing at something, but carries a large cost, may not be able to survi
by CWuestefeld 11y ago
Also that the fitness function applies to the system as a whole. So a trait that's just amazing at something, but carries a large cost, may not be able to survive. I guess that's kinda what you said, just phrased differently.
And this is getting away from the central point, but there's also much debate (at least at the level I'm reading; maybe it's solved by now for those in the field) about how traits can support a community at the expense of the individual - like with old humans losing the ability to procreate.
- JoeAltmaier 11y agoOk I've always wondered if maybe our old-age feebleness was adaptive! It means the old folks sit around the fire with the young folks, and teach. Once social groups began, that could really boost a community at the cost of a declining agility in old age.
- jacquesm 11y agoFeebleness in old age is simply run down machinery, otherwise there would be no old age, we'd feel the same all our lives long until we died of some kind of accident or ritual murder of those that outlived their welcome.
- JoeAltmaier 11y agoTrue. Yet other mammals have different clocks; other creatures seem to have no clock at all. So our clock is set by genetics. Why at this rate? That's the idea I was getting at.
- pas 11y agoThe community problem is largely covered by kin selection. (It even explains the gay uncle phenomenon.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_selection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin_selection tl;dr: those in the community have almost the same genes as you, so helping them is almost as beneficial as helping yourself.