Chapter 1, Problem 14Q

Authors in various fields often make interesting statements about evolution:

1. (a) A traditional view, particularly in parasitology and medicine, was that relationships between parasites and their hosts inevitably evolve toward peaceful coexistence (see Ewald 1983). Among the arguments for this view was that a parasite population is likely to survive longer if its host remains unharmed. Are the traditional view and the argument for it consistent with what you know about HIV—and about other diseases and parasites? What experiments do they suggest?
2. (b) HIV is a tiny, robotic, molecular machine. Many science fiction books describe robots that evolve to become intelligent and conscious (and, usually, seek freedom, develop emotions, and start wars with humans). Under what conditions could robots actually evolve? Is it necessary that the robots reproduce, for example?