3 ms·

Nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of parasitism (2021)

48 points by bediger4000 2y ago

bediger4000 2y ago
Original, very long, title: Nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of parasitism: evolution of complex replication strategies
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cs702 2y ago
Cool and interesting. The authors study how an artificial replication mechanism evolves to cope with emerging faster-replicating parasites in a spatial setting. Extinction occurs in about half the cases due to quick emergence of the fast-replicating parasites, but if the system survives long enough, the authors observe long-term evolution of intricate replication mechanisms for coping with the parasites, including slower replication and higher mutation rates. Quoting from the OP: "Diverse ecosystems evolve, with relatively long replicators, subdued parasites, and large population densities. The replicators may even subdue parasites to such an extent that the parasites become rare, and then the replicators, not needing the defence against parasites any more, lose their complex countermeasures and become simpler and shorter; but new parasites emerge, reversing this trend again."
- MichaelZuo 2y ago
  Amazing, it seems in the competition to fend off parasites the race to the bottom dynamic of evolution is negated?
zeristor 2y ago
Ooh, Susan Stepney’s one of the authors. 20 years ago I found her web page and learnt so much from the books she listed and reviewed. Ye Ole World Wyde Webb: https://www-users.york.ac.uk/~ss44/index.htm https://www-users.york.ac.uk/~ss44/index.htm Still impressive, although it was less of a list back then.
- RobinL 2y ago
  She's got a great blog too: https://susan-stepney.blogspot.com/ https://susan-stepney.blogspot.com/
- uslic001 2y ago
  Wow that is an impressive list of books. She has similar taste in SF as I do (lots of Robert Heinlein). I will have to read some of the books she reviewed and gave high marks to that I have missed over the years.
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48 points by bediger4000 2y ago

Original, very long, title: Nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of parasitism: evolution of complex replication strategies

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

cs702 2y ago

Cool and interesting. The authors study how an artificial replication mechanism evolves to cope with emerging faster-replicating parasites in a spatial setting. Extinction occurs in about half the cases due to quick emergence of the fast-replicating parasites, but if the system survives long enough, the authors observe long-term evolution of intricate replication mechanisms for coping with the parasites, including slower replication and higher mutation rates. Quoting from the OP: "Diverse ecosystems evolve, with relatively long replicators, subdued parasites, and large population densities. The replicators may even subdue parasites to such an extent that the parasites become rare, and then the replicators, not needing the defence against parasites any more, lose their complex countermeasures and become simpler and shorter; but new parasites emerge, reversing this trend again."

MichaelZuo 2y ago
Amazing, it seems in the competition to fend off parasites the race to the bottom dynamic of evolution is negated?

zeristor 2y ago

Ooh, Susan Stepney’s one of the authors. 20 years ago I found her web page and learnt so much from the books she listed and reviewed. Ye Ole World Wyde Webb: https://www-users.york.ac.uk/~ss44/index.htm https://www-users.york.ac.uk/~ss44/index.htm Still impressive, although it was less of a list back then.

RobinL 2y ago
She's got a great blog too: https://susan-stepney.blogspot.com/ https://susan-stepney.blogspot.com/
uslic001 2y ago
Wow that is an impressive list of books. She has similar taste in SF as I do (lots of Robert Heinlein). I will have to read some of the books she reviewed and gave high marks to that I have missed over the years.

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