Re:Why 'Sexual Mind Control' Is Rare in Nature
by etiam on Thursday January 30, 2014 @07:51AM
(#7150340)
I agree with that point with respect to the host's fitness.
But the conflict here stems from the fact that those other constraints (such as the host's long term survival or reproduction) has little or no value in itself to the parasite, so there's a chance to have a mismatch of fitness objectives between the host and the parasite.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:Why 'Sexual Mind Control' Is Rare in Nature
by terranstyler on Thursday January 30, 2014 @11:16AM
(#7151425)
If I understand correctly, you suggest that a parasite would sacrifice "long term survival" or "offspring adulthood probability" to achieve increased reproductive success!?
Hmm, the host could for example go on a "raping spree" but it unsure how this would lead to _significantly_ increased reproduction (I suppose this is an energetically costly enterprise) and why the raping spree wouldn't be already an "integrated" behavior if it were so successful.
Re:Why 'Sexual Mind Control' Is Rare in Nature
by etiam on Saturday February 01, 2014 @07:47AM
(#7161548)
In this case 'a parasite would sacrifice host long term survival or host offspring adulthood probability to achieve increase it's own reproductive success'.
The article concerns parasite manipulation of host behaviour, and to the extent that such manipulation can take control the host will act in the parasite's genetic interest rather than it's own.