Simulating The Strange Way Life (Likely) Started

Derek Muller takes us on a whirlwind tour from “Why does poop smell bad?” to the mind-bending origins of life, showing how simple molecules could’ve snapped together into the first replicators. Along the way we get a primer on gene mutations, natural selection in action, and even kin selection—all backed by computer simulations and insights from top researchers like Szostak and Sutherland.

By the end you’ll see how Richard Dawkins’ “Selfish Gene” idea fits into this cosmic puzzle and why, at its core, evolution is essentially one big simulation of trial, error, and survival of the fittest.

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