Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!linus!philabs!aecom!werner From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) Newsgroups: sci.bio Subject: The Red Queen Message-ID: <741@aecom.UUCP> Date: Wed, 17-Dec-86 15:45:24 EST Article-I.D.: aecom.741 Posted: Wed Dec 17 15:45:24 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 18-Dec-86 21:10:46 EST Distribution: na Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY Lines: 22 It has often been argued that biological change (evolution, I daresay) can occur even in the absence of environmental change. To some this has been used to discredit the entire evolutionary scenario. However, it was proposed (and I wish I know by whom) that interspecies competition may play a more important role than previously assumed. They dubbed this theory "The Red Queen Hypothesis", after the Red Queen's advice to Alice in "Through the Looking Glass": "Sometimes you have to run as fast as you possibly can just to stay in the same place." This (in my mind) has got to be the best-named theory in science. And it also echoes the prefacery remarks in (again I don't remember which text): this book is not designed to be an introductory text. The best introductory text on this subject is Alice in Wonderland, but then again, that goes for most subjects. -- Craig Werner (MD/PhD '91) !philabs!aecom!werner (1935-14E Eastchester Rd., Bronx NY 10461, 212-931-2517) "I tell you I'm a thief and you call me a liar?"