Importantly, evolution is not about optimization in the abstract; it is about optimization relative to other genetic variants within and across species. While we are evolving, so too are our enemies (like the influenza virus) and our friends (including the microbiomes in our guts). To a large extent, evolution is about preparing for the unknown,
... See moreJessica C. Flack • Worlds Hidden in Plain Sight: The Evolving Idea of Complexity at the Santa Fe Institute, 1984–2019 (Compass)
this plant has developed poison leaves to prevent caterpillars from eating it but the caterpillars tolerate it and store it i. their skin, and now its become a defence for them too. and then it evolved to have fake little dots on the leaves that mimic butterfly eggs so the females think the leaf is already taken. how do they know?? how does the
... See moreUnsustainable agricultural practices reduce the ability of plants to form relationships with the beneficial fungi on which they depend. The widespread use of antifungal chemicals has led to an unprecedented rise in new fungal superbugs that threaten both human and plant health. As humans disperse disease-causing fungi, we create new opportunities
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