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Lumifer comments on Open Thread, October 20 - 26, 2013 - Less Wrong Discussion

2 Post author: Adele_L 21 October 2013 03:11AM

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Comment author: Lumifer 21 October 2013 06:40:27PM 0 points [-]

we can't find any numerical parameter that is predictably increased by evolution

The chances of successful transmission of genes across generations given a stable environment. The number of offspring surviving to reproductive age is a good first-order approximation.

If you want something more tangible, predictions what features evolution would lose are rather easy -- those that are (energy-)expensive and are useless in the new environment.