Describe two examples of populations failing to achieve perfect adaptation, each

Question

Describe two examples of populations failing to achieve perfect adaptation, each from one of the following course topics: evolution of quantitative traits, life history evolution, kin selection or sexual selection. Do not use two examples on the same topic. Do not use any examples from before Lecture #15unless you do so in the context of an explicit discussion of one of the topics. Explain why your examples lead to imperfect adaptation. • 2 examples of pop failing perfect adaptation- evo of quantitative traits, life history evo, kin selection or sexual selection. (none before lect #15) o 1. Why imperfect adaptation o 2. Why imperfect adaptation

Explanation / Answer

The effectiveness of adaptation depends on the factors that determine the rate of exploration of design space: the rate at which variations are produced, the scope, depth and concurrency of variations, the rate at which the variations can be evaluated for their impact on fitness, the accuracy of the evaluation, the strength of the selection pressure, and the accuracy and tolerance of the selection process, and on the effectiveness of the exploration: what can be varied, whether the variations are random or targetted, and what the mapping is between the things that can be varied, and the resulting changes in system properties – the so-called genotype-phenotype map.

The results of failures of adaptation appear in every domain, from species extinction in evolution, to misdirected learning resulting in phobias and superstitions, from premature convergence on poor solutions resulting in disappointing or disastrous outcomes, to history repeating itself because lessons observed are not learned, from autoimmune diseases

Corresponding measures of failure for adaptation:

1. loss of agility in design space eg by overspecialisation or reduced diversity;

2. loss of useful information – leading to ‘mutational meltdown’

3. the propensity to act on the environment in such a way as to decrease its habitability either locally, or elsewhere.

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