Author: MalcolmMalcolm Date: Jul 22, 2006 17:22
"Catherine Woodgold" wrote> Catherine Woodgold (an588@freenet.carleton.ca) writes:
>> Optimal health is not necessarily obtained by duplicating
>> the circumstances under which the species evolved.
>
> I thought of a clearer way to state this.
>
> The phenotype tends to evolve to give optimal results
> given the particular environment. (Approximately and as
> a local maximum.)
>
> It does not follow logically that that particular
> environment necessarily gives optimal results given that phenotype.
>
In strict terms you are right.
Let's say we eliminate pathogens from the environment. This has been largely
done, and has greatly reduced mortality. However what we are seeing is lots
of allergic diseases, probably caused by the immune system not picking up
enough real invaders.
The solution is not to go back to dysentry and cholera, but maybe to reduce ...
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