More about how evolution works: multicellularity (Evolution)

by dhw, Sunday, February 04, 2018, 10:57 (2273 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID’s comment: What I am surprised about is that multcellularity is clear evidence of convergence in evolution and I view this as a strong indicator of a drive to complexity as part of the mechanism that drives evolution.

dhw: While I accept that evolution is often convergent, I would see this article as evidence of divergence as cells cooperate in forming different combinations in the quest for survival and/or improvement. And I doubt very much that they say to one another: “Let’s get more complex so that we can be more complex.”

DAVID: As cell puppets talk in your play, it is my point that your dialogue is exactly on point. Complexity builds on complexity. Bacteria have never gone extinct, but multicellular forms always do. If survivability were an issue, multicellularity would never have occurred. And while the bacteria are talking, from their easy living standards, they wonder why we like being so complex. Small cell chauvinism on display. By the way, we have much agreement. Complexity goes hand in had with improvement, if designed that way.

Your last sentence is “exactly on point”. Complexity without a purpose makes no sense. Complexity for the sake of improvement makes perfect sense. Improvement “builds on” improvement. According to you, until 30,000 years ago ALL improvements were geared solely to survivability, so it is absurd to say survivability was not an issue. Evolution has advanced through the drive for survival and/or improvement. Doesn’t that make perfect sense?