If the genes want to preserve themselves without mutation, then why go to the trouble of crossover at all? Why not just replicate like a single cell? What's the purpose of such a convoluted system?
If I understand correctly from when I read it, it is because genes manipulate other genes. If you have a group of genes that just replicate forever, and another group of genes that do the same thing, but they also manipulate, say, .1% of themselves into mutating(and perhaps that .1% is very relevent to the physical characteristics of a particular survival machine like height or strength or whatnot), then the group of genes that manipulate .1% of itself is going to be more abundant over time, as it will be significantly more versatile in a world like ours. They still get to retain 99.9% (or whatever it is) of the genetic code.
In the "Immortal Coils" chapter he mentions this issue, and kinda addresses it with a bit of a tautology. If a gene for sexual reproduction, or crossover, suddenly appears in a gene pool with only asexual reproduction, its survival depends on whether its presence increases its chances of being propagated. Since we can observe that sexual reproduction thrives, we should be able to conclude that the gene for sexual reproduction has been preserving itself without mutation.
I feel like if single cells keep replicating, they’d go into extinct as they might not be able to single handedly adapt to the conditions that might spring forth.
Amazing talk! Found this while researching for a blog that I'm writing on the same topic. 😊
Excellent review - couldn’t have described it any better
passionating, even for a non scientific person, she explains well and clearly
If the genes want to preserve themselves without mutation, then why go to the trouble of crossover at all? Why not just replicate like a single cell? What's the purpose of such a convoluted system?
If I understand correctly from when I read it, it is because genes manipulate other genes. If you have a group of genes that just replicate forever, and another group of genes that do the same thing, but they also manipulate, say, .1% of themselves into mutating(and perhaps that .1% is very relevent to the physical characteristics of a particular survival machine like height or strength or whatnot), then the group of genes that manipulate .1% of itself is going to be more abundant over time, as it will be significantly more versatile in a world like ours.
They still get to retain 99.9% (or whatever it is) of the genetic code.
Changing cost/benefit circumstances. Basically, competition.
In the "Immortal Coils" chapter he mentions this issue, and kinda addresses it with a bit of a tautology. If a gene for sexual reproduction, or crossover, suddenly appears in a gene pool with only asexual reproduction, its survival depends on whether its presence increases its chances of being propagated. Since we can observe that sexual reproduction thrives, we should be able to conclude that the gene for sexual reproduction has been preserving itself without mutation.
I feel like if single cells keep replicating, they’d go into extinct as they might not be able to single handedly adapt to the conditions that might spring forth.