GepardenK t1_iuh4u5u wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:29 AM

Reply to comment by avogadros_number in Conscious Reality Is Only a Memory of Unconscious Actions, Scientists Propose In Radical New Theory by mossadnik

>Remember that nothing has to be "beneficial" for it to remain, it simply needs not be selected against.

In theory yes, but not in practice.

Because things we recognize as 'traits' tend to rely on a complex set of dependencies they almost invariably get scrambled beyond functionality unless actively selected for.

It's a principle similar to that of entropy. If there is no force in play to actively maintain a particular structure, then, through sheer randomness alone, that structure is destined to dilute eventually; be it one way or another.

tkenben t1_iuhctgc wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:28 AM

Likely yes. Destined, I think, is a bit strong. Dilute in utility, maybe, but not necessarily in existence. That depends on other factors.

GepardenK t1_iuhdu0s wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:42 AM

It depends on the level of complexity of what you consider to be a 'trait' to begin with. If it's something like "flight", and a species goes 100.000 years without opportunity to use their ability to fly, then the chances of them still retaining their ability to fly after all that time is astronomically small. Simply due to the dependencies such a complex trait would require.

If, by 'trait', you mean something much more basic, like the presence of a particular protein, then that could obviously stick around much longer without active selection.

Destined is the right word, though. Given enough time things will go away without something to keep it in place.