12. 'RUNTS' simulation (text-only)
https://droqen.itch.io/runts-sim
A gene pool sim designed to explore the viability of a 'runt' gene -- is it possible for a selfless adaptation to thrive and flourish given fluctuating natural pressure to survive? CONCLUSION: a single mutation will die out some of the time! but if a single child carrying a runt gene can survive long enough to have children, there is a chance that they will pass on the gene to their children. These runt-gene-carrying children will sacrifice themselves for the sake of the non-runt children, which seems to only benefit non-runts, but if by chance the gene takes hold, runt families are significantly stronger and survive better. A few families taking a foothold is all it takes for the gene to spread across the entire population across many generations: a gene which an individual would never select for if natural selection were only driven by selfishness.
Not sure how I'd take a system like this and make it into a game, but it is certainly interesting...
https://droqen.itch.io/runts-sim
A gene pool sim designed to explore the viability of a 'runt' gene -- is it possible for a selfless adaptation to thrive and flourish given fluctuating natural pressure to survive? CONCLUSION: a single mutation will die out some of the time! but if a single child carrying a runt gene can survive long enough to have children, there is a chance that they will pass on the gene to their children. These runt-gene-carrying children will sacrifice themselves for the sake of the non-runt children, which seems to only benefit non-runts, but if by chance the gene takes hold, runt families are significantly stronger and survive better. A few families taking a foothold is all it takes for the gene to spread across the entire population across many generations: a gene which an individual would never select for if natural selection were only driven by selfishness.
Not sure how I'd take a system like this and make it into a game, but it is certainly interesting...