But Ler

I can only think of “pressure” and “inclusive fitness” as purely accidental, possibly emergent outcomes that just happen to increase fitness. The evolutionary sequence of exactly how that happens and is then reinforced by evolving genes is what we’re trying to understand here, right? All other inherited behavior must be cultural in nature, and is…[Read more]

I’m wondering if kids will eventually pose the largest risk of spread, and if grandparents should avoid them. At least religiously avoid each other in elder care facilities.

OK, dark science fiction here, but also wondering: In the long run, could the human race benefit from highly controlled infection parties? BYO chicken pox, too? And county…[Read more]

Take, for example, c. diff vs beneficial bacteria in the human gut. It’s well known now that the use of antibiotics can kill many of our beneficial gut bacteria. As a consequence, damaging bacteria such as c. diff can reproduce and take over, even causing death in the human host, unless and until beneficial bacteria can return and reproduce enough…[Read more]

Simon Paynton wrote:
Is sex the best thing ever?

I think I know what bonobos would say. But it doesn’t necessarily lead to offspring. Instinctive pleasure of sex here has been hijacked by evolution to promote social bonds, because enhanced social bonds (in this species and ours, at least) increases fitness. (And there I go, implying that Mother…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
Find out about it here.

Thank you!

I hope this doesn’t come in too handy. So to speak.

Unseen wrote:
DJI closed -2117.45 today.

jakelafort wrote:
The corona and the market spell doom for Trump. That is a shame.

One can hope!!

My Corona:

Simon Paynton wrote:
Any time there’s competition, there’s a pressure to win, as a corollory.

Perhaps. Meanwhile…

How does the pressure to acquire resources translate into a pressure to reproduce?

Isn’t “pressure” to reproduce always there, regardless of resources? And wouldn’t faster reproduction eventually reduce the resources, regardless of…[Read more]

It sounds like a good question, but without researching this (and not having read enough of the right books, I’m embarrassed to admit): I don’t think “pressure” is an enlightening concept, or at least not until sophistication of nerve systems or brains that exhibit “agency” has been reached. Ditto for the word “selfish” for genes. I think I…[Read more]

Unseen wrote:
dangerous nonsense like if you’re infected and feel up to it, you should go back to work

No way!? I hope he was speaking for himself, at least. 🙂

I’ll back off on my statement that people have been over-reacting with the hand sanitizer buyout. It’s much better than ignoring the warnings. But non-symptomatic people buying out the f…[Read more]

I think you must know this by now, but for others, I should have also added (e.g. from https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/ChildCare):

What are common symptoms of COVID-19?
Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. It takes 2 to 14 days…

[Read more]

Ivy, no! Doctors say to call them. It’s more likely he has a typical virus, and ER would be one of the riskiest places to go to.

I should add, typically, covid19 ramps up slowly, not suddenly. And no kid (under 9, at least) has died from it.

People are over-reacting. All hand sanitizer seems to be sold out everywhere, even on amazon, and so is isopropyl alcohol from which you could make your own. (FYI, 70% isopropyl alcohol is equivalent to 99% rubbing alcohol, which is also sold out.)

I started writing a topic that points to detailed updates by experts, but I’m sidetracked at the…[Read more]

For next time you need help falling asleep, or/but some people will find this interesting.

Dengue is a nasty virus that kills and maims a lot of people on the planet. There are four versions, named DENV-1 through DENV-4.

Often immunity against one virus can make one immune to other, very closely related viruses, but in the case of DENV, immunity…[Read more]

Woke up this morning with an unusual “thickness” of mucous membranes in my nasal cavity and uppermost throat. My first thought was ruh-roh, a pathogen!? [Warning of possible TMI here] Was also having an unusually thick coating of mucous, which I could snuff and swallow ok, gradually clearing out my passages and feeling more open… but since just…[Read more]

Wow, what a coincidence!

Are you performing on that recording, too? Is it an aerobic performance?

I should post the lyrics for everyone (but I haven’t checked them):

Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons,
Packed up and ready to go
Heard of some grave sites, out by the highway,
A place where nobody knows

The sound of gunfire, off in the…

[Read more]