Cybernetic combatants support the importance of duels in the evolution of extreme weapons.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Murray P FeaGregory I Holwell

Abstract

A current evolutionary hypothesis predicts that the most extreme forms of animal weaponry arise in systems where combatants fight each other one-to-one, in duels. It has also been suggested that arms races in human interstate conflicts are more likely to escalate in cases where there are only two opponents. However, directly testing whether duels matter for weapon investment is difficult in animals and impossible in interstate conflicts. Here, we test whether superior combatants experience a disproportionate advantage in duels, as compared with multi-combatant skirmishes, in a system analogous to both animal and military contests: the battles fought by artificial intelligence agents in a computer war game. We found that combatants with experimentally improved fighting power had a large advantage in duels, but that this advantage deteriorated as the complexity of the battlefield was increased by the addition of further combatants. This pattern remained under the two different forms of the advantage granted to our focal artificial intelligence (AI) combatants, and became reversed when we switched the roles to feature a weak focal AI among strong opponents. Our results suggest that one-on-one combat may trigger arms races in diver...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1974·Journal of Theoretical Biology·J M Smith
Sep 1, 1974·Journal of Theoretical Biology·G A Parker
Jun 17, 2000·The American Naturalist·Richard GomulkiewiczMichael E Hochberg
Aug 13, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Darrell J Kemp, Christer Wiklund
Sep 3, 2005·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Douglas J EmlenClifford W Cunningham
Oct 21, 2006·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Leigh W Simmons, Douglas J Emlen
Dec 1, 2006·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Jerry F HusakRonald A Van Den Bussche
Jan 9, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Avraham Be'erHarry L Swinney
Feb 3, 2012·Animal Behaviour·Orlaith N Fraser, Thomas Bugnyar
Jan 8, 2013·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Geoff A ParkerLeigh W Simmons
Sep 10, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Erin L McCulloughDouglas J Emlen
Apr 17, 2015·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Jana GoyensPeter Aerts
Nov 16, 2018·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Ummat SomjeeChristine W Miller
Jun 27, 2019·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Devin M O'BrienDouglas J Emlen
Aug 1, 2019·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Christine W MillerZachary Emberts

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The American Journal of Bioethics : AJOB
Nancy S Jecker
BMJ : British Medical Journal
Health Services Journal
S Hubner
American Journal of Medical Quality : the Official Journal of the American College of Medical Quality
Mark A Keroack, Steven J Meurer
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved