EVOLUTION - THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH

Organisms have the ability to harness energy from the environment to c reate order and to reproduce. From early error-prone systems natural s election acted to produce present day organisms with high accuracy in the synthesis of macromolecules. The environment imposes strict limits on reproduction, so evolution is always accompanied by the discarding of a large proportion of the less fit cells, or organisms. Sexual rep roduction depends on an Immortal germline and a soma which may be immo rtal or mortal. Higher animals living in hazardous environments have e volved aging and death of the soma for the benefit of the ongoing germ line.