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shminux comments on Does evolution select for mortality? - Less Wrong Discussion

12 Post author: DanArmak 23 February 2013 07:33PM

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Comment author: shminux 24 February 2013 12:51:54AM *  4 points [-]

Just wanted to note that, as any programmer or experimental biologist knows all too well, designing a program or an experiment to last a long time is expensive, with the effort required often scaling superlinearly with run time. And most features not needed for genetic fitness get optimized out during evolution, like eyesight of a cave dweller.

Comment author: DanArmak 24 February 2013 08:14:28AM 0 points [-]

But longevity does contribute to genetic fitness and is selected for if present.

Comment author: shminux 24 February 2013 08:45:02PM 0 points [-]

I don't see how this is a "but".

Comment author: DanArmak 24 February 2013 09:08:57PM 0 points [-]

I don't either. I may have replied to the wrong comment by accident. Sorry.