XX || XY = {Antifragile}
Lay off the Adderall. Time to blow your lid off without the pharmaceuticals.
This one is for Women.
For making life so magnificent. And for the inspiration, obviously.
Lay off the Adderall. Time to blow your lid off without the pharmaceuticals.
This one is for Women.
For making life so magnificent. And for the inspiration, obviously.
In the ancient world, philosophy and scholarship were reserved for men. Even nowadays, men account for the majority of "geniuses" (and of the knuckledraggers, too).
Why then are WISDOM goddesses so common – Athena, Isis, Ishtar, Minerva, Hecate, Saga, Anahita?
Why then are WISDOM goddesses so common – Athena, Isis, Ishtar, Minerva, Hecate, Saga, Anahita?
Why do so many cultures have a resurrection myth, where a male must be sacrificed to rejuvenate the world? Egypt, Greece, Thrace, Phoenicia, Akkad... the examples are so many.
Did the ancients intuit something that we can only begin to grasp at with our mediocre technology?
Did the ancients intuit something that we can only begin to grasp at with our mediocre technology?
Why have so many gender stereotypes held up against the tests of time?
Why have human societies viewed young women as priceless treasure and young men as cannon fodder?
Why does the art of so many cultures – males and females alike – worship the female form?
Why have human societies viewed young women as priceless treasure and young men as cannon fodder?
Why does the art of so many cultures – males and females alike – worship the female form?
Why do women seem to prefer men who take savage risks, yet appear to value men who make them "feel safe"?
Are they crazy, as some mentally challenged (you'll see this is not cheap snark) men would like to rationalize?
What is this maddening "feminine mystique"?
Are they crazy, as some mentally challenged (you'll see this is not cheap snark) men would like to rationalize?
What is this maddening "feminine mystique"?
Why would women be more agreeable & sociable & adaptable to changes in the social ecology?
Why'd they recover much more easily – and with finality – from failed relationships?
Why'd they do so much better in getting advanced degrees? Is it just the educational model?
Why'd they recover much more easily – and with finality – from failed relationships?
Why'd they do so much better in getting advanced degrees? Is it just the educational model?
Why is there gender?
Why do we have sex at all?
Why is gender vested in separate chromosomes – X and Y?
Why are women – muscle-wise the weaker gender – less susceptible to disease?
Why do we have sex at all?
Why is gender vested in separate chromosomes – X and Y?
Why are women – muscle-wise the weaker gender – less susceptible to disease?
You might think of tribal survival & gender roles in society. But that's just the froth on the beach of the deep ocean.
You might think of genetic diversity and fitness and adaptation.
You might even think of sexual selection.
And you’d still know none of it.
You might think of genetic diversity and fitness and adaptation.
You might even think of sexual selection.
And you’d still know none of it.
Because our "science" is stale and retrograde and siloed and mediocre.
Because evolutionary biology is incoherent and contradictory.
Because we don't teach probability and complexity.
BUT FEAR NOT!
Because you need just a few bits to see the Grand Dynamic of our intelligence.
Because evolutionary biology is incoherent and contradictory.
Because we don't teach probability and complexity.
BUT FEAR NOT!
Because you need just a few bits to see the Grand Dynamic of our intelligence.
The threads to it all may have lain before us for decades. Shall we weave them together?
What if I told you that we might know why our species has engulfed this little planet like a viral pestilence?
What if I told you something so beautiful that it might make your heart stop?
What if I told you that we might know why our species has engulfed this little planet like a viral pestilence?
What if I told you something so beautiful that it might make your heart stop?
Women are the living breathing savage memory of our species.
We can't rely on data and empirics because our science is broken.
But to see the savage beauty of it all, you need only three simple concepts:
• heredity
• asynchronous evolution
• antifragility
Easier than you could possibly imagine.
But to see the savage beauty of it all, you need only three simple concepts:
• heredity
• asynchronous evolution
• antifragility
Easier than you could possibly imagine.
There are three big pathways for non-environmental human heredity:
1. DNA
2. RNA and their molecular ecology
3. The microbiome
Contrary to popular belief, these pathways are very poorly understood - including DNA.
1. DNA
2. RNA and their molecular ecology
3. The microbiome
Contrary to popular belief, these pathways are very poorly understood - including DNA.
The microbiome is critical to:
- Brain health
- Diet and digestion
- Immune performance
- Fat accumulation/obesity
“Obesity can actually be infectious by changing our microbes.”
- Brain health
- Diet and digestion
- Immune performance
- Fat accumulation/obesity
“Obesity can actually be infectious by changing our microbes.”
The microbiome is about as large as your liver. It accounts for about 90% of the cells in your body. You’re only 10% “human”.
Your microbiome has 200 times more genes than you do and produces 25% of your hormones and vitamins, including neurotransmitters.
Your microbiome has 200 times more genes than you do and produces 25% of your hormones and vitamins, including neurotransmitters.
In the past decade or so, it's become widely accepted that RNA preceded DNA as a heredity molecule.
This stands to reason because a cell must have an energy use/transmission mechanism (RNA's mytochondrial role), while a dedicated heredity mechanism such as DNA is not essential.
This stands to reason because a cell must have an energy use/transmission mechanism (RNA's mytochondrial role), while a dedicated heredity mechanism such as DNA is not essential.
RNA experiments with mice have shown effects on metabolism and obesity independent of other heredity pathways.
Like the microbiome, RNA heredity is a recent "discovery", so we know very little about its relation to non/reproductive sex.
nature.com/articles/srep1…
Like the microbiome, RNA heredity is a recent "discovery", so we know very little about its relation to non/reproductive sex.
nature.com/articles/srep1…
Even if microbiomal and RNA heredity have some effect on human gender determination, we can be fairly certain that DNA is the key player.
Human DNA is organized in 23 pairs of chromosomes (strands of DNA packaged in proteins) contained in the cell nucleus.
Human DNA is organized in 23 pairs of chromosomes (strands of DNA packaged in proteins) contained in the cell nucleus.
Human gender is believed to be determined by a gene in one of the chromosomes in one of the 23 pairs.
While women have two X chromosomes in that pair, men have and X and a Y chromosome. The Y chromosome contains the sex-determining region (SRY) that triggers male development.
While women have two X chromosomes in that pair, men have and X and a Y chromosome. The Y chromosome contains the sex-determining region (SRY) that triggers male development.
It's believed the SRY gender gene evolved 350 million years ago on the XX chromosome pair.
Then the SRY-carrying X chromosome essentially rotted away to become what we today know as the Y chromosome.
Then the SRY-carrying X chromosome essentially rotted away to become what we today know as the Y chromosome.
Chromosome pairing allows DNA strands to repair each other by overwriting damaged sectors using information from the sister chromosome.
This backup mechanism is disabled in the XY pair because of the rotten-away Y chromosome, which mostly contains junk DNA anyway.
This backup mechanism is disabled in the XY pair because of the rotten-away Y chromosome, which mostly contains junk DNA anyway.
The XY gender system is shared by most mammals, some plants, snakes, fish and insects. It's evolved independently in each of these groups.
Other species use the X0 system, where the males simply have one X chromosome missing.
Other species use the X0 system, where the males simply have one X chromosome missing.
Birds use the ZW system, where the males have two Z chromosomes, but different groups have evolved distinct ZW systems independently.
Overall, it seems evolution has favored the development of chromosomal gender systems in more complex species. But why?
Overall, it seems evolution has favored the development of chromosomal gender systems in more complex species. But why?
Adaptation through genetic variation alone is insufficient to justify sex, let alone gender.
Bacteria exchange genetic information directly through conjugation.
Bacterial division occurs independently of conjugation, which is anti-extinction relative to sexual reproduction.
Bacteria exchange genetic information directly through conjugation.
Bacterial division occurs independently of conjugation, which is anti-extinction relative to sexual reproduction.
Scale makes conjugation unfeasible for higher-order organisms.
Some reptiles (partially) reproduce through parthenogenesis (virgin birth).
But the higher up the complexity scale you move, the more likely to see sexual and gender-sexual reproduction.
Some reptiles (partially) reproduce through parthenogenesis (virgin birth).
But the higher up the complexity scale you move, the more likely to see sexual and gender-sexual reproduction.
Sexual reproduction increases genetic variation, but adding gender to the mix reduces genetic diversity.
The possible genetic combinations for a gendered species are half of those for a hermaphroditic one.
If variation fosters adaptation, why restrict it – and pervasively?
The possible genetic combinations for a gendered species are half of those for a hermaphroditic one.
If variation fosters adaptation, why restrict it – and pervasively?
Complexity fragilizes, increasing the odds of extinction.
If a more complex organism is to survive, it must develop antifragile systems to enhance its adaptability. Because the environment is always changing.
If a more complex organism is to survive, it must develop antifragile systems to enhance its adaptability. Because the environment is always changing.
"Antifragility requires variation, but not too much, not too little." - NNT
The XX-XY system lets in local variation, but preserves aeons-old adaptations that may still be valuable.
This is the core of the Theory of Asynchronous Evolution.
geodakian.com/en/10_intro_en…
The XX-XY system lets in local variation, but preserves aeons-old adaptations that may still be valuable.
This is the core of the Theory of Asynchronous Evolution.
geodakian.com/en/10_intro_en…
Men are the guinea pigs of the species because of the genetic fragility of the XY chromosome.
Women are the gatekeepers to the long-term memory of human evolution because the XX chromosome is resistant to alteration - like the other 22 pairs.
Women are the gatekeepers to the long-term memory of human evolution because the XX chromosome is resistant to alteration - like the other 22 pairs.
When a genetic innovation enters the male X chromosome, it has to be selected by the females of the species in order to enter the broader genetic pool.
And only female offspring can carry it through to the next generation, ensuring it is tested by the other gender as well.
And only female offspring can carry it through to the next generation, ensuring it is tested by the other gender as well.
Male offspring cannot inherit the X chromosome of their fathers, which serves as a genetic reset back to the species' baseline.
Only gender-specific innovation inherent in the Y chromosome can be inherited from father to son.
Only gender-specific innovation inherent in the Y chromosome can be inherited from father to son.
Political correctness may have inhibited proper research and synthesis of gene transmission within the XY chromosome and into the broader genotype.
But there is anecdotal evidence of its tremendous power as a survival mechanism.
But there is anecdotal evidence of its tremendous power as a survival mechanism.
In birds, where sex determination is inverted, so is gender expression. Females, which carry the ZW chromosome analog of XY, are often larger and more conspicuous than the males.
Like many humans, some species (storks, albatrosses) nest with a single lifelong partner.
Like many humans, some species (storks, albatrosses) nest with a single lifelong partner.
Birds command the apex of movement – flight.
Complex movement is essential to mammal land predators – from chimps to cheetahs.
Birds and mammals share not just a reproductive system that allows asynchronous evolution, but also an organ critical to complex movement – the brain.
Complex movement is essential to mammal land predators – from chimps to cheetahs.
Birds and mammals share not just a reproductive system that allows asynchronous evolution, but also an organ critical to complex movement – the brain.
The X chromosome is packed with genes essential to building neurons, receptors, neurotransmitters.
"16% of the IQ-related genes are located on X chromosome. It is reported that only 3.4% of all human genes belong to the X chromosome."
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
"16% of the IQ-related genes are located on X chromosome. It is reported that only 3.4% of all human genes belong to the X chromosome."
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
"The further enrichment analysis identified 10 genomic regions with significantly larger amount of IQ-related genes. Among 10 regions, 4 belong to X chromosome...
...the genes on X chromosome are more likely to express in brain regions and reproductive tissues."
...the genes on X chromosome are more likely to express in brain regions and reproductive tissues."
Some studies have linked the X chromosome to "social" cognition & emotional regulation.
This is consistent with the X chromosome being a gateway for genetic innovation in asynchronous evolution, especially with respect to intelligence.
academic.oup.com/hmg/article/14…
This is consistent with the X chromosome being a gateway for genetic innovation in asynchronous evolution, especially with respect to intelligence.
academic.oup.com/hmg/article/14…
The largest study of brain physiology & IQ metrics (however flawed) to date included more than 5,000.
The study found considerable differences in average brain size AND physiological variation between men & women, but minuscule differences in IQ scores.
academic.oup.com/cercor/advance…
The study found considerable differences in average brain size AND physiological variation between men & women, but minuscule differences in IQ scores.
academic.oup.com/cercor/advance…
One explanation: women's brains have more optimal connectivity, while men's are a physiological testing ground:
"There was generally greater male variance across the raw structural measures." (MUCH greater.)
"There was generally greater male variance across the raw structural measures." (MUCH greater.)
"Functional connectome organization showed stronger connectivity for males in unimodal sensorimotor cortices, and stronger connectivity for females in the default mode network."
DMN ~ "selfhood", "centeredness". So much for women being "chaotic".
DMN ~ "selfhood", "centeredness". So much for women being "chaotic".
Another difference in brain physiology that did not pass all the robustness checks was women's relatively larger nucleus accumbens. This region regulates reward/motivation.
If you wanted to survive in a tedious academic environment, you'd go for a better nucleus accumbens.
If you wanted to survive in a tedious academic environment, you'd go for a better nucleus accumbens.
What do we know about genetics, gender and intelligence? Vanishingly little.
But we know this:
1. Only asynchronous evolution coherently explains sex, gender, gender differences and the XX-XY gender-determination system.
geodakian.com/en/ETS/90_Supp…
But we know this:
1. Only asynchronous evolution coherently explains sex, gender, gender differences and the XX-XY gender-determination system.
geodakian.com/en/ETS/90_Supp…
2. The X chromosome is loaded with instructions for your brain and its innovative collective-survival functions – social and emotional control.
These are expressed differently in the genders, consistent with the XX pair acting as a gatekeeper by selective activation.
These are expressed differently in the genders, consistent with the XX pair acting as a gatekeeper by selective activation.
3. Sacrificing subunits to get exposure to/information from the environment is how complex systems gain antifragility to survive their own complexity.
4. Asymmetric gender exposure is consistent with maximizing the antifragile dynamic between long-term (tested) memory and innovation.
"Variation but not too large, not too small."
"Variation but not too large, not too small."
5. Asymmetric exposure and filtering allows the species to preserve long-term extensity adaptations within a complex ecology while making room for local adaptations to intensity (variation in salience of specific dimensions).
Next time you wonder why women do what they do, consider this.
You may have triggered the aeons-forged BS filter of our species.
You may have triggered the aeons-forged BS filter of our species.
