If there's only one of a lifeform and it is immortal, can variation and natural selection still operate somehow? 🤔
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No. The four evolutionary forces (mutation, migration, drift, selection) only apply with breeding multiple members of a species.
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Is this some sort of meta-question about a global consciousness? Doesn't seem like you would ask that sort of question.
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I first heard of Gaia in my teens from Peter Russell 1982 book, The Awakening Earth
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Didn't know of Ship of Theseus but heard of concept via Stanislaw Lem's "Do You Exist, Mr. Jones?"
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