@alfiekohn

There is value to be appreciated here but I wish to draw a finer point. Academic discussion is unproductive when positions are taken/defended for their own sake. Instead, we need to explore perspectives and interests in order to articulate shared ground, consensus, and a way forward together.

I'll go further and say, as one of your fans, that the above is good advice for more progressive types like ourselves who are ready to work hard to gainfully challenge traditional views.

@ekmiller

I would help understanding parts of this paper.
But I can recognize a clever design and a well-written abstract when I see one.

@wonderofscience

Perhaps the bacterium was pushed from start to finish.

And the white blood cell? The chase was not consciously motivated, the catch was not consciously satisfying, and the episode went unremembered.

@MolemanPeter @wikicliff

Wonderful. Congratulations!

@wikicliff @MolemanPeter

I really like the quote Peter posted.

I think Richard Dawkins would say there is a larger discussion point here. It doesn't matter what we call the egg-laying species. And it doesn't matter whether some other species eventually gave rise to what we refer to as the "chicken." Dawkins simply asks this: Is the egg the (selfish) genome's way of perpetuating itself?