Evolutionary arms race
An
evolutionary arms race is an
evolutionary struggle between competing sets of
co-evolving genes that develop
adaptations and counter-adaptations against each other, resembling an
arms race. The co-evolving gene sets may be in different
species, as in an evolutionary arms race between a
predator species and its
prey (Vermeij, 1987), or a
parasite and its host. Alternatively, the arms race may be between members of the same species, as in the manipulation/sales resistance model of communication (Dawkins & Krebs, 1979) or as in
run-away selection or
Red Queen effects.
Dawkins, R. & Krebs, J. R. (1979). Arms races between and within species. Proceedings of the Royal society of London, B 205, 489-511.
Vermeij, G. J. (1987). Evolution and escalation: An ecological history of life. Princeton University Press.
