Summary (counter-intuition?)

Only difference in ``intrinsic'' fitness of the different replicator species is in ``fidelity'' - and this shows a progressive, quasi-deterministic, decay.
Along with this goes reducing concentration of dominant species (increased mutational load) and consequently reducing fecundity (albeit with exactly inversely increasing longevity).
Long term outcome is total distintegration of the original organisation (progressive - no ``threshold'' effect).
But this is happens through a sequence of ``short term'' events, each showing perfectly ``darwinian'' selection!?

Barry.McMullin@dcu.ie