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TRANSPOSONS KILLING THE HOST. "This process may be associated with occurrence of new mutations in the transferred genes and their improved ability to survive in the new host. This mechanism has been suggested to occur in S. cerevisiae although the author allows that, “this hypothesis lacks direct experimental support”. https://lnkd.in/ecP3KMX View in LinkedIn

MOBILE ELEMENTS. "Genetic elements have been closely studied that routinely increase their inclusive fitness by killing their host. In some cases, this peculiar form of selection may explain the function and evolution of genes for unicell programmed organismal death When a cell has low chances for reproduction, programmed organismal death and the transfer of genes from the dying cell to a new host can save the genes." https://lnkd.in/ecP3KMX View in LinkedIn

COMPETING INTERESTS. "The reproductive interests of genetic elements can differ from those of the organism carrying them. It is well established that gene-level selection can generate traits that are detrimental to individual fitness, while benefitting smaller genetic entities within them." https://lnkd.in/ecP3KMX View in LinkedIn

DEATH FITNESS IN UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS. "There is considerable experimental evidence for fitness advantages from programmed organismal death to clonal kin groups of cells of species usually considered to be ‘unicellular’. These fitness advantages may represent a significant source of selection pressure." https://lnkd.in/ecP3KMX View in LinkedIn

CAMBRIAN PUZZLE. “Abrupt appearance of major bilaterian clades in the fossil record during the first three stages of the Cambrian Period has puzzled the scientific world since 1830s.” https://lnkd.in/ehHwFGP View in LinkedIn

ALTRUISTIC BEES. "One familiar example occurs in honeybee workers, which commit suicide each time they sting invaders in defense of their hive. Similarly, these workers altruistically commit suicide in ways that apparently function to prevent the spread of disease within the hive. In these cases, there is little mystery concerning function or evolution. Kin selection, or equivalently, selection among colonies, is a powerful force shaping the evolution of eusocial insects." https://lnkd.in/ecP3KMX View in LinkedIn

FULL RECOVERY. “It appears likely that for mass extinction episodes in the geological past, the recovery period usually lasted at least five million years.” https://lnkd.in/eyRBipn View in LinkedIn

POST-MATING DEATH IN SPIDERS. "Male self-sacrifice”, or apparent male cooperation with female cannibalism, is part of male copulatory behavior in several spider species, and in some insects. One study also reported that males of the spider Argiope aurantia spontaneously die when they copulate." https://lnkd.in/ecP3KMX View in LinkedIn

RAPID RESTART. “We emphasise the astonishing speed of biological diversification following a ‘catastrophic’ mass extinction. We could refer to this feature as ‘catastrophic biological diversification’.” https://lnkd.in/eRbPBJq View in LinkedIn

PEA APHIDS. "These insects live in groups of close kin, and their death prevents their body from producing parasites that would then attack their siblings. Death therefore increases the individual’s inclusive fitness, or equivalently, increases the fitness of the kin group." https://lnkd.in/ecP3KMX View in LinkedIn