Darwinian Gaia: the persister perspective on evolution. https://aeon.co/essays/the-gaia-hypothesis-reimagined-by-one-of-its-key-sceptics via @aeonmag

I think this an amazingly refreshing and interesting new view on evolution. For several reasons. What’s even more amazing is that one of the best evolutionary biologists today has completely transformed his view of evolution in light of new evidence. How rarely does this happen?

I have huge respect for W. Ford Doolittle to come forth with this revolutionary change of mind. So much of our field is mired in dogmatic talking past each other. This new approach is a much needed fresh breath of air!

That said, I must say I do not share Doolittle’s enthusiasm for saving the replicator/interactor account of David Hull (as popularised by @RichardDawkins). I think the persister perspective sits more comfortably atop James Griesemer’s reproducer account.

I’ll definitely have more to say about reproducers & persisters.

If you’re interested in this, please check out Doolittle's original ITSNTS paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/115/16/4006.short.

And his account of Darwinian Gaia: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169534719301417.

Awesome stuff!