3 ms·

> It maybe can be, but what is the maxima that is being solved for exactly? Survival rate/reproduction rate/rate of genes being spread?

• PetitPrince 1mo ago
  I think you're correct, but only if you add "for a given environment". It's good to develop the ability to store super efficiently fat when you're a Pacific Islander and food is scarce, but this advantageous trait becomes a liability with modern and plentiful (junk) food. see thrify gene hypothesis; I know it's not a good explanatory theory but it's a good illustration of my point
  • codethief 1mo ago
    Sure, the form of the function being maximized will usually depend on the environment.
    • i_love_limes 1mo ago
      That was kind of my initial point... there are far too many permutations that alter what you want to maximise to consider this as a good option right now. Environment, gene-environment interactions, epigenetics, polygenecity, pleiotropy, etc, etc.