Big Think The ocean is evolving, and it’s not based on the ‘survival of the fittest’
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Aug 23, 2025 The discussion challenges the classic idea of evolution, emphasizing cooperation over competition. Astrobiologist Betül Kaçar reveals how microbes in the Black Sea collaborate, sharing energy to support each other. This highlights a new perspective on evolution, focusing on connections and communal survival rather than just individual strength. It’s a refreshing take that urges us to rethink the way we view the natural world.
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Evolution As A Cooperative Web
- Evolution is not only driven by ruthless competition among individuals.
- Betül Kaçar explains evolution functions as a web of cooperation and shared solutions across populations.
‘Survival Of The Fittest’ Misleads
- The phrase 'survival of the fittest' evokes ruthless individualism, but misrepresents biology.
- Kaçar argues selection acts on populations and many evolutionary outcomes rely on interaction, not sole superiority.
Black Sea Microbes With 'Solar Panel' Proteins
- Microbes in the Black Sea survive in low-light by using proteins that act like solar panels outside their membranes.
- Those microbes became food and energy sources that support the wider community and ocean connectivity.