in article coebn4$1m2i$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org, Catherine Woodgold at
an588{at}freenet.carleton.ca wrote on 29/11/04 6:22 PM:

> 
> Here is a definition of the fitness of a given gene in context.
> For this definition to make sense, I assume a multiple-universe
> model:  that due to quantum-mechanical fluctuations, a given universe
> at a given point in time develops into multiple future versions
> (possbilities), over which a meaningful probability metric
> can be defined.
> 
> Consider a gene A in a particular individual X in a particular
> environment.  Consider also all the copies of gene A, for
> example in siblings, cousins, and other members of the population.
> 
> Consider the universe U containing individual X.  Consider also
> the fictional universe U-prime which is exactly like U except that
> individual X does not exist.
> 
> Go forward in time 5 generations, and count up
> the average number of copies of gene A in the population, averaged
> over the alternate universes with a probabilistic weighting.
> 
> The fitness of gene A in individual X is the average number
> of copies of A in the futures of universe U, minus the average
> number of copies of A in the futures of universe U-prime.
> Descendents of cousins etc. are also included in the count.

In other words fitness is not a property of individuals ?
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