This is as interesting as anything I've read this year. Here's the gist: researches developed a type of RNA that can replicate itself, put it in a warm environment, and watched as different types of 'host' (which can replicate) and 'parasite' (which depends on another's replication mechanism) variants evolved. These variants competed with each other at first, but after a time evolved into a stable cooperative network. "Scientists have focused on studies of competition in evolution for so long that the role of cooperation "has been a bit overlooked," Xavier said. "I think cooperation is also going to start having a major role, especially in origins, because there are so many things that have to come together in the right way."
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